Can You Spot the Next Marketplace Trends?

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Site Administrator

Challenges and opportunities come at you quickly and they are rarely the same ones you faced yesterday.  With Business Intelligence (BI) you’ll be ready for whatever the competition, your customers or the economy throws at you. You can be more confident in your decisions and more agile in your responses to manage and grow your organization.

Properly used, BI systems assist management in developing a data-based decision making model that provides more consistent results when compared to non-BI methods. Organizations that have successfully implemented BI systems have better and timelier access to customer activities, marketplace trends, supply chain issues and a host of other key performance indicators (KPIs) that are not able to be easily measured in a non-BI environment

Having the right information at the right time and in the right format — regardless of where that data comes from — will help you make better informed decisions, thereby reducing risk and increasing your operation’s efficiency and effectiveness. Consider how much would it help you to know:

  • Month to month or even day to day sales com­parisons to any level of detail and between any elements of your business.
  • Current invento­ry levels, orders pending and sales trends by individual sales rep or by specific geography or by SKU.
  • Exactly where expenses are being spent, by whom and when.
  • How to quickly find that error causing your trial balance to be off.
  • Where you are in compliance and where you are not.

Would it help you to have a real-time dashboard of the most important operational parameters of your business at your fingertips?  You can get the information you need exactly how you want it with an integrated business intelligence system. You can integrate multiple sources and multiple formats, blending information from across the orga­nization.  You can then analyze with ‘slice and dice’ capabilities that allow you to view data and reports that matter to your business. Most importantly, you can empower your people to make the best decisions for your company based on real time data.

Learn more by reading “Making Business Intelligence Easy”. HGH vs steroids

Posted in Business Intelligence (BI), July 2011, Newsletter | Leave a comment

Tips, Tricks & Tutorials

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Site Administrator

Video tips, tricks and tutorials help you become more productive with your Sage Accpac ERP and SageCRM systems. Featured this month:

View our Entire
Video Learning Library

Adobe Flash Player is required
Posted in CRM Videos, ERP Videos, July 2011, Newsletter, Tips & Tricks Videos | Leave a comment

Tips, Tricks, & Tutorials

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Site Administrator

Video tips, tricks and tutorials help you become more productive with your Sage Accpac ERP and SageCRM systems. Featured this month:

View our Entire
Video Learning Library

Adobe Flash Player is required
Posted in August 2011, CRM Videos, ERP Videos, Newsletter, Tips & Tricks Videos | Leave a comment

Lead Your Business to Higher Profits with Business Intelligence

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Site Administrator

To remain competitive, businesses must react faster to changing profitability and customer trends. To do that, you need the ability to access and analyze critical data about your business quickly. You need up‐to‐the‐minute information about your income, costs, and customers in order to make the best possible decisions. In many businesses, collecting and analyzing this information is challenging because different departments store the data in non‐integrated systems and provide varying levels of reporting. In order to get the information you need, you must rely on the IT department to sort out the data you need, or ask individual employees in each business unit to create reports. If IT is busy or employees are unavailable, you don’t receive reports.

A Business Intelligence (BI) strategy provides managers and executives with meaningful insight that is always available, real‐time and easy to interpret. BI plugs into data streams in every part of your business, so you can have unfettered access to organization‐wide information – without waiting for departmental reporting. When you automate the availability of critical performance data, you will streamline the workflows in your organization and improve productivity across the company.

An investment in BI creates an asset that will be used to generate incremental after‐tax cash flow. Without BI, reporting is usually a tedious and time consuming process at most companies. It takes time to access relevant data and the data is not always up‐to‐date.  With BI, you don’t have to rely on your IT department or business unit managers to prepare reports. Information is always available in an easy‐to‐understand format. If you choose a Web-enabled system, you can access your key performance indicators from any computer when you are at home or traveling. User‐level security features restrict who has access to the data, so you can safely share business intelligence with managers and key personnel across the organization.

Once you have a BI system, you will gain tremendous insight into what’s happening in your business.  Not sure if BI will produce real returns? Download our whitepaper “How better analytics can lead your business to higher profits”, then contact Axis Global Partners. Our goal is to provide our clients with the fastest and highest possible return on your software investment. esteroides comprar

Posted in Business Intelligence (BI), June 2011, Newsletter | Leave a comment

Spreadsheets vs. ERP

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Site Administrator

Spreadsheets are an amazing tool that are simple to use and readily accessible.
They can be used effectively for modeling, analysis, building lists, scenario planning and complex calculations.  However, companies will often use spreadsheets to duplicate tasks that are already built into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.

In a recent survey, 17% of small to midsize companies had yet to take the plunge to an ERP system.  What do they use to run their businesses? 57% said they still use spreadsheets to run their business.  However, there is a certain element of danger inherent in using spreadsheets to run a business:

  • Spreadsheets do not offer an auditable system. Spreadsheets are considered an “undocumented application” because the formulas are so easily edited by the user.  If all of your financial data is recorded using spreadsheets, you would have a very difficult time substantiating claims using only a spreadsheet.
  • It’s really easy to delete or amend data. Research recently conducted found that only one in every five spreadsheets are error-free and will give you correct results.  They offer so much flexibility that calculation mistakes are incredible easy to make.
  • They lack collaboration. We’ve all had three versions of the same spreadsheet floating around in the same organization.  This is troublesome when you are in need of actionable financial data.  How can you know which one is the most accurate and up to date?  Oftentimes, they all have pieces of correct data but not the complete picture.
  • They offer only limited reporting. Spreadsheets provide graphing and some reporting but it is limited to the fields that the spreadsheet designer elected to include.  What if you need a PO report by date and they have only included PO numbers?  Most companies need a lot more flexibility in their reporting.
  • Security is very low. Spreadsheets are easily transportable and offer very limited security.  Financial data deserves more protection than that.  You never want that data to get into the wrong hands.

ERP systems allow collaboration, high and customizable security, a trustworthy audit trail and limitless reporting without any of the drawbacks that spreadsheets can create.  Of companies that did take the plunge into ERP, they saw the following results about nine-months after their “Go-Live” date:

  • 21% saw a reduction in operating cost
  • 17% reduction in inventory
  • 19% reduction in administrative cost

If you’ve outgrown spreadsheets, click here to download our whitepaper “Ten Signs You Need  A New Solution”.

*statistics adapted from www.erpsoftwareblog.com

Posted in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), June 2011, Newsletter | Leave a comment

How Human Resources Self Service Can Increase Productivity

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Site Administrator

The question, “Is now a good time?” is a difficult one to answer for most Human Resource Managers.  They want to take care of the employee’s needs but struggle with the constant interruptions and piles of paperwork.

Many software programs have been developed to now allow employees to manage many of their own HR functions such as vacation requests, view skills, job history, and performance reviews and even print pay stubs.  Managers can access information on employees, approve time off requests, and locate personnel information all without a single knock on their door.

Here are a few benefits that come from employee self service:

  • No more paper! Employees fill out all requests through a portal and there is no need for the endless forms that once accompanied these tasks.  Because the data is already in the system, the HR manager does not need to duplicate that effort and re-enter it into the HR software.
  • Reduced Data Entry. Many HR self-service applications can integrate to ERP and take another step toward reducing data entry.  Payroll data is linked without user intervention to ensure that paychecks are always correct.
  • Increased Accuracy. Most software solutions will not allow the employee to submit the form unless they have completed all the necessary fields.  What does that mean for you?  No more chasing down employees for that last bit of information.  Also, all requests can be checked against company and benefit policies to ensure complete accuracy.

Empowering your employees to manage their own requests simply makes life easier for all parties, improving everyone’s productivity.  Managers are not bogged down with paperwork and employees are able to submit their requests or print their records whenever the urge strikes.  Learn more about Employee Self-Service and the increased productivity that comes with it by clicking here.

Posted in Human Resources (HR), June 2011, Newsletter | Leave a comment

3 Steps to Reducing Inventory Shrinkage

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Site Administrator

The year-end physical count often reveals inventory losses you were not expecting to incur.  That shrinkage can be the result of flawed receiving processes, mislabeling of products or even theft.  It can be tempting to focus only on accuracy, but productivity must be considered as well.  Here are 3 simple steps to implement that will help you to increase both accuracy and productivity while eliminating any year-end surprises:

  1. Track your put-away location. As items are received into your ERP, it’s easy to make the mistake of assuming the product has been put away in their default put-away location.  But what if the warehouse staff puts the product in another bin due to overflow?  Recording your put-away location can give you greater visibility into the placement of your inventory and may lead to unexpected productivity improvements. For example, your fastest selling items may be stored near the back and should be brought closer to your shipping dock.  Knowing what you have and where you have it can prove invaluable.
  2. Cycle Count by Bin. Once you know where your items are stored, you can begin counting them more frequently.  Institute a schedule of weekly or even daily counts of a specific selection of bins to ensure that the items reflect the quantities in your ERP system.  Counting more frequently and systematically will give you real-time visibility into your inventory levels and warn you of a possible shrinkage issue before it becomes a huge problem.
  3. Pick by Location. It is easy to create a pick list by order but the true productivity and accuracy improvements come from picking by bin.  Most ERP systems have the ability to print a pick list in bin location order.  Simply print the pick list with one order or a group of orders then deliver that to your pickers via paper or handheld computer.  The picker will be directed through the warehouse in the most efficient path and is asked to pick from specific bins.  This type of picking helps orders ship quickly and tracks your inventory levels closely.

 

Learn more about Putting Your Warehouse to Work for you. Attend a FREE Webinar and learn more about reducing shrinkage while maintaining productivity by tracking your put-away location, including cycle counts and picking by location.

June 22, 2011
1:00PM – 2:00PM Eastern Time
Click here to register

Posted in June 2011, Newsletter, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) | Leave a comment

Tips, Tricks, & Tutorials

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Site Administrator

Video tips, tricks and tutorials help you become more productive with your Sage Accpac ERP and SageCRM systems. Featured this month:

View our Entire
Video Learning Library

Adobe Flash Player is required
Posted in CRM Videos, Customer Relations Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), ERP Videos, June 2011, Newsletter, Tips & Tricks Videos | Leave a comment

5 Ways to Accelerate and Improve Your Company’s Cash Flow

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Site Administrator

The average collection time for a small to medium sized business is 19 days.  According to CashEdge’s recent 2011 Small business Payables and Receivables survey, the majority of the 405 businesses surveyed indicated that they wanted to reduce the time to collect by 50%.  How can your business achieve this lofty goal?  ERP systems have a series of powerful tools that can aid the collection process.  Here are five easy ways to utilize existing tools your ERP system to increase cash flow:

  1. Auto-Invoice out of your ERP. Emailing invoices to your customers seems easier but that process can be almost as time consuming as physically mailing the invoices.  ERP systems, like Sage ERP Accpac, give you the ability to automatically email all invoices to your customers when you post.  Build in automatic email reminders as the due date approaches and you will save yourself hours of phone calls.
  2. Process credit cards within your ERP system. Accepting credit cards has become more complex with the introduction of the PCI Security Standards but your ERP system is already outfitted with tools to ensure your compliance, including Sage ERP Accpac.  Simply enter the credit card information into your ERP then receive notification of approval or denial. Many systems have the option to automatically show the receipt of funds in your ERP once they arrive in your account.
  3. Accept checks by phone. Paper checks account for 1/3 of non-cash payments according to the Federal Reserve but they also take the longest to arrive.  Shorten that time by getting the pertinent information over the phone as soon as the check is issued.  This gives value to your clients by making the payment process easier and can significantly reduce the time it takes for you to receive money owed.
  4. Scan in checks for immediate deposit. Getting to the bank can be difficult in the course of a busy day. You can easily outfit your accounts receivable department with small reader that authorizes the check online then immediately deposits the money into your account.
  5. Accept ACH payments. The Automatic Clearing House (ACH) is a U.S. Government run system that allows money to be electronically transferred from one bank to another through an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Accepting ACH payments eliminates the delay of the “next check run” and allows you to collect payment the day it is due.

Receiving payments owed allows you to operate properly and make necessary investments in equipment or staff to keep your company growing.  Technology can be a powerful driver in increased receivables without much user intervention. To find out what accelerated cash flow could mean to your company’s bottom-line contact Axis Global Partners. comprar esteroides online

Posted in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), May 2011, Newsletter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Empower Your Sales and Marketing Teams

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Site Administrator

Ten Things You Can Learn about your Sales and Marketing Efforts from Your CRM System

Customer relationship management (CRM) vendors often claim that their software can do practically anything, from revealing which leads work (and which don’t) to who your best customers are to which products are the most or least profitable. But what do business owners have to say?  To find out if CRM systems really deliver on what they promise, dozens of business owners and managers were asked what they can learn from their CRM systems.  Here are the top 10 responses:

  1. You can learn which leads work (and which ones don’t). By tracking leads you can spot trends which will tell you where to focus your efforts. This allows sales team to be more productive for increased sales.
  2. You can learn how much you are selling of a particular product and what your profits are — in real time.
  3. You can see which trade shows are the most profitable — and tailor marketing efforts accordingly.
  4. You can better segment and target customers based on criteria such as responsiveness to discounts and promotions, frequency of purchases, referral and influencer activities, marketing channel origin and gifting activity.
  5. You can learn when is the best time to contact prospects and existing customers.
  6. You can pinpoint the most effective marketing strategies by tracking leads from inception to close. By knowing the source of each lead and how much it costs to convert that lead you can demonstrate the ROI that each of your marketing efforts yields.
  7. You can learn how often you really need to call prospects. Call history can be analyzed to show which call and which message generated the most appointments, opportunities and sales wins. From there, you can determine how many call attempts are needed to get the best results.
  8. You can discover what your closing cycles really are. From the initial customer contact to the number of appointments required to close the deal, you can learn what percent of purchases are made at 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, etc.
  9. You can improve the quality of communication with your customers. Instead of just sending out automated replies or form letters, take the time to chat or email with your customers. Find out what their concerns or problems are, and do your best to resolve or address them. Not only does that build good will, it builds customers for life.

10.  You can learn about outstanding customer issues and resolve them faster.

If you could benefit from just one of these points, what would the impact to your business be?  Contact us today to learn more about the real world impact and return on investment you could realize by tapping into the power of a full featured CRM system.

Posted in Customer Relations Management (CRM), May 2011, Newsletter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment