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ERP and the Cloud: Should Everyone Jump on the Bandwagon?

There are a number of heavy hitters in the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planing) vendor world in 2015. Not to name any one in particular, but the top 3 or 4 ERP giants have stayed at roughly the same spot for a number of years (with one notable change recently). These legacy ERP vendors have relied on innovation combined with tried and tested methods to bring efficiency, lower costs, and increased ROI to many enterprise industries.

However, as the rest of the world has begun shifting to the Cloud in almost all areas of business and commerce, some big name ERP vendors are struggling to play catch up. One such organization has gone so far as to do a complete 180 and rebrand their entire business model around the Cloud. Is this the best choice, or a desperate grab for relevance?

ERP and the Future of Cloud

Some of the big name ERP vendors have spoken unfavorably of Cloud based services and products in the past. The reasons given are numerous; from security concerns to lower functionality, there are legitimate concerns for some businesses over switching to the Cloud for the business software needs. With that being said, there are also many benefits to Cloud based enterprise software, such as lower costs due to less implementation and forward-compatibility. Choosing between an on-premise ERP and a Cloud based ERP truly comes down to your specific situation and needs.

Yet some big ERP companies seem to be panicking. One such vendor has gone from denying the threat of Cloud products as a “fad” to completely redesigning their entire business plan to incorporate the Cloud into every single product and service. The idea is that in the future, “everyone” will be using the Cloud and therefore they want to base their business model around that. Unfortunately, this could backfire for such large companies; the amount of effort it takes to convert a legacy of on-premise products into Cloud based services is huge, and the costs associated with retooling old products to match Cloud frameworks is going to keep rising the more they try to keep up.

Banking on Buzz: Cloud, Cloud Cloud

The problem with trying to play catch up and capitalizing solely on current fads or trends is that it is fairly apparent to your target demographic that you aren’t concentrating on a focused strategy. If you have said for years that Cloud is useless and the suddenly switch to doing nothing but Cloud, it seems disingenuous or even deceitful.

With that being said, investing in Cloud adoption is still a good idea. With competitive prices and a low barrier for entry for most organizations, switching your enterprise operations to a Cloud based system seems like a smart move – one which ERP vendors wish to accommodate as much as they can. The key is not to put all your eggs in one basket, especially if the basket is new and unlike any you’ve used before. If you’re a vendor who has only recently started adopting Cloud technology, then the initial revenue growth is going to look good on paper but ultimately not be that big of a factor – so you shouldn’t ignore the trusted technology that got you into the big leagues in the first place.

ERP and the Cloud: The Future is Coming

When all is said and done, Cloud is probably here to stay. In the next few years, more and more enterprise organizations will either be using a Cloud service/software or something similar. The key thing is to know that the way we develop, implement, and utilize applications in the future is going to be vastly different to how we’ve done things in the past. This is exemplified by the digitization of most companies important data.

What is most important, however, is having a well thought out plan for transitioning to these new methods and technologies. By creating a plan and modeling your business around a slow transition, you not only set yourself up for more structured success but you bring your old clients along with you. Instead of suddenly abandoning ship and being a completely different company than the one that got you to where you are, you can instill confidence in your audience that you are simply adapting to customer needs – instead of jumping on the bandwagon just because it seemed like the right thing to do.

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CRM and Live Chat: Customer Relationship Management Etiquette

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is all about finding out what makes your customers tick. From analyzing their purchasing history to listening to what they say about you on Facebook; CRM is how companies learn from and interact with their customers.

One of the many useful tools for CRM is live chat on your company website; software that gives your customers the opportunity to talk to your brand representatives first-hand. However -just like social networks and advertising- you have to be conscious of how you are talking to the customer.

Customer-centric CRM

We’ve mentioned before how social media now plays a huge role in CRM. The way your brand presents itself online is a direct reflection of how customers see you; posts on Facebook and Twitter act as vehicles for your company message.

Similarly, when talking to a customer through live chat software (like ours!) it is imperative you remember that you are there for the customer and not the other way around. Don’t be tempted to abuse the customers use of your live chat by bombarding them with advertising or product name-dropping; most consumers have already completed the majority of their purchasing process before they even contact you.

Instead, focus on the basics of customer relationship management (CRM): ensure you are addressing their needs or concerns before anything else; respond as quickly and clearly as you can; avoid using commonplace slang or casual language; stay positive and helpful even when they are not happy. It is in key areas such as these that many companies lose focus and potential customers by not putting the customers interests first.

Why Live Chat and CRM?

Live chat software is useful for CRM because it not only gives your customers even more access to company representatives and information, but it can be used to gather important data about your existing and potential customers as well. Live chat and CRM go hand-in-hand to provide you with an all encompassing view of your customers through manual surveys and automatic CRM database entries, as well as important analytic data for your site (visitors, keywords, etc). All of this information can be fed into your CRM solution to give you a 360 degree view of your customers.

By harnessing the power of live chat software and connecting it to a CRM solution (such as Microsoft Dynamics), you are giving your company even more fuel to drive it to success. Your customers are your business so keeping them happy should be your priority; combining live chat with CRM means you can better serve your customers while gathering important data about them too.

Contact an ECI representative today to learn more about our CRM solutions!

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Mobile CRM – Keeping Your Customers Closer

A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution can undoubtedly improve your company’s bottom line, yet the only way it will do that is if you or your team recognize the opportunities as soon as they appear in the sales pipeline.

That’s where Mobile CRM comes into the picture.

Mobile CRM

In this digital age of on-the-go information, it makes sense that you would want real-time access to your CRM solution. It contains all the information you need to turn a lead into an opportunity, and an opportunity into a sale. With Mobile CRM you can see that data and utilize it immediately, updating your team the moment it happens.

Most top-tier CRM solutions have a mobile offering (ECI specializes in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, in case you’re curious), giving their users an instant view of how their company is dealing with customers. Whether your CRM solution is hosted or on-premise, you are still able to direct your team through your CRM while out in the field or even on vacation. You’ll never have to worry about missing that golden opportunity if you can see it arrive immediately, giving you ample time to inform the right people of what the next move should be while simultaneously changing the status of that customer for all to see.

Be Effective Out of Office

A CRM solution has all the data your business needs to thrive. By enabling your CRM for mobile use, you get the same resources and functionality synced directly to your mobile device. Need to visit a client? Click their address from inside the CRM and navigate there from your GPS map. Want to change your ad campaign after seeing a billboard? Notify your entire marketing team from your phone. Just closed a deal? Enter the information into the mobile application so everyone can see how the numbers change your figures.

For every CRM feature that improves your business, there is a need to make it mobile. By having mobile access to the data that controls your business, you can rest easy knowing that your customers are in the best possible hands; yours.

Contact a representative today for more information on how a CRM solution from ECI can improve your bottom line.

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ERP updates: Infor Releases Advanced Planning 11

Infor, a leader in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) field, recently announced a new version of Infor Advanced Planning 11, a configurable constraint-based supply chain planning solution to optimize supply chains.

This latest update to their ERP suite gives enterprise users access to a highly configurable business software solution that adheres and adapts to the unique requirements of the clients supply chain. This allows for faster and more accurate business decisions, which in turn leads to better efficiency and increased revenue for everyone. The changes to Infor Advanced Planning include large investments in scale and performance, which helps users of the software to predict, plan, and react to new or rising issues before they impact the flow of the supply chain.

ERP and Supply Chain Optimization

Advanced Planning 11 from Infor offers customers an optimized plan that takes into the costs and constraints associated with their supply chain across the board, from sourcing and inventory to manufacturing and labor. By focusing on these key areas, Advanced Planning 11 can help to lower the supply chain costs while simultaneously meeting organizational and customer needs.

Featured enhancements to Infor Advanced Planning include a Supply Chain Optimization model, which provides built-in flexibility enabling users to deploy the model in various situations. This template will also help reduce implementation times and lower the total cost of ownership. Additional improvements have been added to boost the performance and scale of the application. This is achieved by using a new version of the optimization engine CPLEX 12.6, and by converting the application to run exclusively in 64bit, which provides the needed scale to solve larger supply chain problems. In addition, Advanced Planning 11 boasts new conditional formatting that emphasizes important values and removes the noise for the planners, resulting in improved, more informed decisions.

“For this Advanced Planning release, Infor really honed in on improving the scale and overall performance of the product to provide customers with increased flexibility and visibility across the entire supply chain,” said John Bermudez, vice president, Product Management, Infor. “Advanced Planning 11 allows organizations to tackle bigger problems with more efficiency and confidence, resulting in bigger and faster decision-making.”

For more information on how to improve your supply chain and manufacturing processes, read our FREE eBook below.

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Infor Partners with Quality Reviews, Inc. to Improve the Patient Experience

Infor is once again improving the world we live in via innovative partnerships, this time by teaming up with Quality Reviews, Inc. – a leading builder of real-time consumer and patient feedback software for the medical industry. With their combined experience and attention to customer service, Infor and Quality Reviews are changing the way hospitals collect patient satisfaction data.

Infor Improves Medical Care Feedback

Quality Reviews creates software that reports on patient satisfaction and feedback, which is a big priority in todays pay-for-performance medical world. By giving hospital customers access to a secure patient relationship management tool known as RateMyHospital, Infor is providing Quality Reviews with the instant information they need to monitor and improve the quality of inpatient and outpatient care for hospital visitors.

Read the full story here.

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ERP: to Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

As we often mention, an ERP system is integral to the success of your modern enterprise business. ERP software and technology suites ensure the daily functions of your operations run smoothly and efficiently, attempting to reduce costs through improved processes. Some say an ERP is the heart of your organization; all processes need it to survive and operate, and it needs to be “healthy” to keep the business running. So why are we seeing a decrease in the number of ERP upgrades?

ERP Upgrades: Why Don’t You Need Them?

Recent surveys from 3rd party ERP providers have shown that many customers are running slightly-to-greatly outdated versions of their ERP software. If ERP is so important to a business, why would this be so?

Part of the blame lies in the cost of upgrades; some ERP providers offer little to no improvements in their upgrades, touting basic bug fixes and surface level UI changes as the biggest factors in upgrading. Another reason for the low ERP upgrade numbers is the cost involved to get new features when they could just utilize 3rd party applications and software to fill in the gaps.

What this ultimately comes down to is the direction different ERP providers are taking. Some seem content in tweaking their existing products to be slightly more efficient at what they already do, while others are innovating their entire product to offer newer and more versatile features to keep up with the recent demand for interconnectivity and big-data analytics.

ERP Upgrades: When DO You Need Them?

The future is built by visionaries. Rehashing the same old tactics is not going to impress any new or existing customers. Creating new and effective tools to augment and improve your current features is what ERP clients really want to see. As ERP software has conquered the front end processes and activities, it is up to ERP providers to start revolutionizing the back end processes.

Mobile functionality, predictive analytics reporting, even social integration; these are the new frontier of ERP software offerings, so if an ERP system upgrade does not include this functionality then many enterprise organizations just do not see the point. When deciding on whether your company should upgrade your ERP or not, consider the functionality you already have, the services you want to see, and – most importantly – whether they are worth the investment for your specific situation.

For more in depth advice on how to plan for an ERP implementation or upgrade, download our FREE eBook below. // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '84b4eb99-3f8d-46f1-900b-bc5847d9a9de'); // ]]>

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MS Dynamics ERP Executive Joins SalesForce

As a legacy name in the ERP world, Microsoft was hit with some big news yesterday; Corporate VP and head of Dynamics ERP Bob Stutz is leaving Microsoft and joining SalesForce, a leader in the CRM (customer relationship management) software world.

This is an important moment in the business software realm, as it shows the intricate relationship and overlapping services inherent in enterprise business software such as ERP’s and CRM’s. Stutz’ deep software experience and leadership in the ERP realm is going to carry over well to his new position as chief analytics officer for the CRM front-runners.

As more and more enterprise industries realize the importance of business software solutions such as ERP and CRM, expect to see more shifts in the hierarchy like this as these two important business tools become more entwined over the years.

You can read the full story by following this link to recode.net.

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VoIP: the New Way for Businesses to Communicate

As enterprise businesses are growing rapidly, many of them are looking to increase the efficiency of their communication systems. With the high adoption rate of ERP and CRM software, outdated methods of telecommunication such as landline phones and voicemail boxes cannot keep up with the needs of a modern enterprise business. This is where Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is coming in to revolutionize how we do business.

VoIP: Connecting Employees

There are many useful technologies to support your organizations business efforts, both internally and externally. As we have mentioned in great detail over the years, ERP and CRM are two of the most popular ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs, as well as improve the customer experience. However, another new technology which is being added to that arsenal is VoIP communication systems within a company.

Chances are high that you’ve already experienced VoIP communication; Skype is an extremely popular product for both consumers and businesses, allowing individuals and groups to communicate via their voice or even video over vast distances. This technology is now being applied to enterprise organizations, and the benefits are astounding. From improving the experience for telecommuting and in-the-field employees, to providing even more valuable information about customers as soon as they call; VoIP for businesses is being applied across all industries at a fast rate.

ERP, CRM, and VoIP: a Match Made in Business Heaven

Two other huge factors in the success of VoIP as an enterprise organizations primary method of internal/external communication are reduced costs and software integration. By using the internet as the mode of communication, many VoIP providers can offer reduced rates and inexpensive data plans, eliminating the need for costly and ineffective legacy systems such as landlines. By using VoIP, you are not only getting increased efficiency and functionality but also at a lower cost than before which makes VoIP an obvious choice in this internet age.

The software integration factor is huge boon to businesses who run ERP and CRM systems. By combining VoIP communication with these enterprise software systems, you can get real time information about customers who are calling you such as the most recent orders, open support tickets, and even useful information to help upsell them on additional or add-on products. You can know not only who is calling, but why and other integral data about the caller.

VoIP is fast becoming the communication method of choice for many enterprise organizations; whether they are looking for reduced costs, improved efficiency, or extra functionality and integration, VoIP offers a host of benefits that are hard to ignore in this internet-connected business world. If you have any questions about how ECI can connect your business with VoIP communications, contact an ECI representative today.

Alternatively, if you want more advice on how to improve your business processes, download our FREE eBook below! // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '618218ce-7dee-403f-8161-c65af421c124');

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ERP Top 3 Becomes Top 4 as Infor Rises in Popularity

Infor’s CEO Charles Phillips has been quoted as saying that he runs “the worlds largest startup” in reference to how he’s turned the global ERP provider into a formidable challenger to more established enterprise software companies. This has become apparent recently as Panorama Consulting has reported that the Top 3 ERP providers in the world has now become the Top 4, with Infor joining Oracle, SAP, and Microsoft as the largest and most widely adopted ERP choices in the world.

Infor: an ERP Force to be Reckoned With

Since taking the helm in 2010, Infor CEO Charles Phillips has turned Infor into a Tier I ERP provider above smaller competitors with similar market share. Infor products now make up 16% of total market share, which might seem average when compared to some other offerings. However, what makes Infor ERP products Tier I material is the scalability of the products ability to handle large projects, the size of the installed base, and the sheer amount of system functionality. As it stands, Infor has managed to take a large chunk out of all three of the big name Tier I ERP providers in terms of market share.

Another reason for Infor’s rise to the top is the fact that they have shown a decrease in “actual” vs “planned” costs, while other top contenders have shown increases in this area. Giving clients the functionality and accessibility they need within a reasonable budget is a huge concern for most enterprise businesses, so delivering on their promises gives Infor an edge in this fast paced software environment.

Rapid Growth, Embracing the Future, and Customer Satisfaction

Another reason for Infor becoming a Top Tier ERP provider is a result of their rapid growth in the enterprise software realm. Part of this is due to Infor’s heavy investment in user interface (UI) development and embracing open-standards architecture. Infor understands that the employees who use their products need software that is intuitive, attractive, and effective; this is why Infor has retained the services of an in-house creative lab known as Hook & Loop to give their products a slick and easy interface that is also highly effective in reporting and affecting business operations and processes both on-site and in the field (“mobile”).

On top of this commitment to an improved UI experience, Infor has a great track record when it comes to client satisfaction post-implementation; despite only having 24% “Cloud” ERP deployment (preferring to focus on the tried & tested on-premise ERP systems), Infor can boast that all of their Cloud ERP implementation customers have seen at least 40% in cost savings. This is something that their top competitors cannot compete with at the moment.

As ERP finally starts hitting the mainstream in terms of popularity and attention, it is exciting to see another contender like Infor enter the Top Tier ring; competition is good for customers and encourages the top ERP providers to up their game and improve their products across the board. For more information on Infor’s ERP product offerings, visit our SyteLine ERP page and learn how this software can revolutionize the way your company does business.

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CRM: You AND Your Customers Best Friend

We often talk about Customer Relationship Management (CRM), an enterprise software tool that allows organizations to connect with current and potential clients by engaging and interacting with them throughout the sales life-cycle. Many companies use CRM software to manage their relationships with their customers, which is integral to both keeping customers happy and learning how to attract new ones. CRM also helps businesses by storing pertinent customer information in a simple and accessible format which allows the organization to discuss and report on the relevant data. But why is CRM so integral to modern businesses?

CRM: Communication is Key

Communicating with customers is one of the most important things a company can do. By managing and retaining these customer relationships, a business will increase trust and connectivity with their target audience which will lead to more sales/revenue and increased word-of-mouth advertising. A modern and increasingly popular way to communicate with customers is by using social media. Businesses can benefit from using social media by giving quick responses to problems their clients are facing and making them feel that they are important and very valuable. They can keep in touch and build better relationships with clients and respect their opinions.

By connecting their CRM to social media platforms, organizations can use social media to determine what their customers need and want which will improve future business decisions, product creation, and customer service. They can learn about and fix what they need to work on in order to satisfy their customers, as well as just being an overall better business that current and future customers will look for. Another benefit of a social media-connected CRM is that companies can advertise their products and services through social media. They can post updates and even special deals on their social media profiles and create marketing campaigns around them, feeding even more valuable and actionable data into their CRM sales process.

Your Customers are Listening

Organizations can focus more attention on customers by using CRM software. They can give customers outstanding services and build great relationships. For example, companies can set up emails such as thank-you notes where the CRM system can send them out automatically whenever they get new customers or sales, which will make sales teams jobs more effective. By using CRM software, businesses will feel more confident about contacting or interacting with their customers due to the business having such in depth and specific customer data. Companies will be able to discover problems that they might not have known about with future customers or that they already have with current ones.

CRM software for enterprise companies is basically a new and effective tool to both serve the customer better while improving products, services, and sales. CRM software is fast becoming one of the most important tools in an organizations arsenal. Whether you want to find out what your customers are thinking, what they want more of, or even what they dislike; CRM is how you do it. If you want even more advice on how to improve your business operations, check out our FREE eBook below! // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '618218ce-7dee-403f-8161-c65af421c124');

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Why Your Employees Need Business Intelligence (BI)

We often talk about the benefits of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for your business. From improved processes to quicker response times and real-time data shared with everyone, an ERP system can be just what your organization needs to take your business to the next level. However, a major yet often overlooked aspect of ERP is something that can improve your future as well as your current status; Business Intelligence.

What is Business Intelligence?

Business Intelligence (BI) is an ERP feature or software which has the potential to allow organizations to make better and more precise business decisions by providing real-time data about the comings-and-goings of your day to day business practices, such as purchase orders and inventory levels and even employee schedules. It is not just for senior management either, but also for companies to use on an enterprise-wide basis. Many employees have to make lots of important decisions on a daily basis. Some may be small and varied while their managers make a few big and strategic decisions. Therefore, BI needs to be available or expanded for all the employees to use.

Things to Know About BI

Providing Business Intelligence Software gives employees access to “timely information” so they can perform their tasks faster and make smarter, better decisions. But having too much access to this information may cause some obstacles for certain employees, especially if provided without direction or training. For example, if employees get unlimited access to all the information that their organization has then it would be hard for the HR department to check employees collected data without avoiding personally identifiable information. This is why it is important to set up user roles and permissions for each department, so that non-relevant or even sensitive data is not spread around the company.

Many employees will need training on how to use their BI software in order for them to perform tasks such as generating reports, instead of calling in the IT person to do it for them. This is why it is important to select an ERP or standalone BI software that has this user-friendly capability built in. It would also be prudent to choose BI features that include mobile utilization (such as smartphone and tablet access), so that the modern “in the field” employee can reap the benefits of this information without being tied to a desk.

By providing BI insights to all of your employees, you are giving them the tools and data they need to make quick, informed decisions that will prevent mistakes and improve your business. The first step to giving them this valuable tool is choosing the right ERP implementation for your company, so check out our FREE eBook below to learn the best practices when thinking about choosing a new or upgraded ERP for your organization. // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '84b4eb99-3f8d-46f1-900b-bc5847d9a9de');

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3 Scenarios Where ERP is the Right Choice

As popular as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are these days, many organizations are still unsure whether they’re worth the time and expense for their specific business situation. Once considered purely geared towards the manufacturing industry, ERP in 2015 has become as widespread and adopted as POS systems and CRM software across all enterprise industries. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you. Here are some examples of scenarios where selecting an ERP would be the smart thing to do.

1) Your Business Has Too Many Disparate Software Systems

Regardless of industry niche, many businesses utilize a plethora of unique and separated software/processes to perform certain tasks and produce certain data. Be it payroll or HR or Inventory control; it’s still a fairly common occurrence to see multiple pieces of non-communicative software attempting to handle all the day to day necessities of running a business. Unfortunately, even if that has worked “this far”, it’s likely causing a host of inefficiencies that could be easily solved by implementing an all-in-one ERP package.

Many organizations in this situation feel as if they are stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place; they want to improve their processes and systems but aren’t in a position of economic growth that would justify the expense of implementing what amounts to a company-wide heart transplant. This scenario comes down to the chicken or the egg dilemma; do you wait until your business has grown enough to afford the new system, or do you take the plunge and use the new technology to facilitate the growth you’re looking for? It’s a tough call, but there are alternatives such as Cloud based ERP systems that could suit smaller companies quite well without breaking the bank or interrupting crucial business operations.

2) You Keep Hiring More Labor to Offset Labor Inefficiencies

This is one of the more frightening scenarios businesses face; your labor productivity levels are waning, so you hire more labor to pick up the slack. But if your processes and organizational/reporting systems are inefficient to begin with, you’re just going to add more fuel to the flame and end up with even more labor inefficiencies. Seeing as manual labor is arguably the most expensive asset in many enterprise organizations, this can be a troublesome situation.

A properly selected and implemented ERP system can often help waylay these labor related issues. By providing more accurate real-time data from the shop floor and using the ERP to better organize/direct your labor force, you can potentially remove the need for more labor by using your current employees to the maximum effectiveness. It’s a perfect example of the old adage “Work smarter, not harder.”

3) Your Outdated Systems Cannot Keep Up with Modern Technology

These days, both people and business software requires a constant connection to the internet and all the data it can provide your organization. You need to know about current trends and statistics in real-time, as well as getting usable feedback from consumers, retailers, distributors, materials suppliers, and your competition. If your business systems are too old and disconnected, then chances are you’re missing out on valuable information that can improve your processes, your products, and your customer interactions.

By implementing an ERP in this situation, you’re gaining the advantage of being able to make changes on the fly instead of waiting for quarterly reports. It’s a proactive versus reactive situation where you predict the best course of action as opposed to waiting until the numbers drop before making improvements. This type of business management isn’t even a preference anymore; it’s become a necessity for most organizations.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then it might be a good time to start looking into implementing an ERP for your business. It may seem daunting at first, but the end result will be more efficient business processes and increased revenue – which will allow you to make even better decisions in the future.

If you need help selecting a new or upgraded ERP for your business, check out our short FREE eBook below; we walk you through the most important steps you should take before you even think about selecting an ERP system, from planning to purchasing. // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '84b4eb99-3f8d-46f1-900b-bc5847d9a9de');

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ERP and What It Does for You

We talk a lot about the various reasons for why your business should invest in a comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system; from integrating financial and operational management systems to improving the quality of products and services, the benefits abound. However, it may not be apparent what exact features and results can be expected. Which is why we’re here to explain what ERP actually does for you.

ERP; An Industry Standard

In the 21st Century, ERP software has become a broad and varied industry. Once the exclusive realm of manufacturers and other industrial businesses, these days it can be found in most any enterprise industry thanks to the adoption of modern technology and emphasis on utilizing “Big Data” to improve processes and services. It’s no longer a question about whether ERP is right for your business or not; it’s about which ERP features and products you want most.

The only limitations inherent with an ERP system today are those on the business end. Can your software developers keep pace with new requirements and functions? How many business operations do you actually want it to control/report on? Modern ERP systems have a module for almost every conceivable task, process, and function your company can come up with. To name a few;

Purchase Order Processing

Shop Floor Management

Product Configuration

Project Management

CRM integration

Business Intelligence and Analytics

Forecasting

Human Resources Management

Financials (sales, payroll, etc)

Quality Control

ERP; Bringing Your Organization Together

Your business may already have multiple systems that handle all these tasks and features individually, but the beauty of an ERP is that it centralizes all of this valuable data into one interconnected system. This prevents the negative attributes associated with “information silos”; lone pieces of software where integral information is stored separately from each other, unable to interact and affect each other in meaningful ways. With an ERP bridging all these areas together, you can give your sales team real-time access to inventory levels and order statuses which allows them to give an “honest” report on availability. Similarly, by accessing the CRM, the marketing department has a better idea of which products/services are performing best which allows for more accurate forecasting and budget allotments as well as improved customer interaction and satisfaction. All of these features end up providing a better product and customer experience while at the same time saving time and money on the company end – everyone is happier!

At the end of the day, your company shouldn’t even be considered about whether they should or shouldn’t invest in an ERP system; that’s a given in 2015. The question is – how to find the right ERP system. The benefits of an ERP speak for themselves, as better customer satisfaction and improved products/services guarantee an increased bottom line and increased market share. However, careful consideration should be taken when researching and choosing the right ERP for your specific industry, or you will end up on the list of “Failed ERP Implementations” which many naysayers point to as a reason to not think about using such a revolutionary business update.

That’s why we at ECI have put together this comprehensive yet easy to follow plan for how to choose the right ERP for you. No sales tactics, no bias, just the pertinent steps you need to take when planning for and selecting an ERP system. Download our FREE eBook today, and get on your way to the organizational improvements you’ve been missing out on. // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '84b4eb99-3f8d-46f1-900b-bc5847d9a9de');

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ERP Selection: Get Your Company Interested

Implementing an ERP for your business is one of the most important and beneficial decisions a company can make. However, before you implement it, you have to choose which ERP you want to use. And before that, you have to plan and analyze all the features you want the new ERP system to have. But even before all that, you have one key task to accomplish; getting your company interested in an ERP. These are the people who will be using the software and features, so they’re the ones you’ll want to convince. If they already have a multi-software legacy system in place, it may seem obvious to you that it needs to be upgraded/replaced – but for them it already works, so why bother? This is just one of the challenges you’ll need to overcome when trying to get your company interested in an ERP system.

Getting Your Company Interested; First Steps

Information gathering and analysis is already known to be one of the first steps in selecting an ERP solution. However, it should also be a major part of getting people interested in the first place. Find the employees who will be using this new software the most, then do your due diligence; find any pain points your current system has, flaws and weaknesses that would be addressed with an updated solution. These employees may not even realize they’re working harder instead of smarter, so tailor your research to areas that would benefit them. This could be anything from how Purchase Orders are processed to the customization of a customers specific needs.

ERP Interest Second Steps; Sell It

Once you’ve gathered the information necessary to point out how a new ERP system will benefit both your business and your employees, the more difficult stage begins; selling the ERP to your coworkers and C-level executives. Oftentimes you will be met with stubbornness or even ignorance in the form of hangers-on who don’t want to change “what works”, or others who automatically distrust new forms of technology for fear that they are gimmicky and worthless.

Your goal is to change their opinions; remind them that the horror stories they’ve likely heard about ERP failures are a small minority compared to the many successes you can find (which you should have found in preparation for this conversation). Explain that the difficulties inherent with an ERP upgrade or implementation (cost, time, training, etc.) are wholly worth it in the long run, with an impressive ROI that nobody can turn their nose up at. But remember to be honesy; sometimes an ERP implementation can have unexpected difficulties. Sometimes it may go over budget, or not have all the features you initially thought it would. This is why using an experienced consultant is instrumental to a successful ERP implementation, but before that happens you need to make sure you’re being open and honest with your team.

The Final Hurdle; KEEP them Interested in ERP

ERP selection and implementation can take a long time. Depending on the size of your business and the scope of the work needed, it can take anywhere from 3 months to over 12 to fully complete the project. In that time, many employees might lose their enthusiasm or get scared by the costs before seeing the ROI. This is when the foundation you built earlier needs to be reinforced. Keep people excited and remind them of the bright future ahead of them; greater functionality, more efficiency, faster processes, etc. Jog their memory as to why they wanted this in the first place, and keep pointing to the horizon where the benefits of their new system awaits.

ERP generally sells itself, but many people are hard to convince. Once you’ve taken care of your coworkers, the hardest task is out of the way. Now you just need to find the right ERP for them.

For more advice and tips on how to select an ERP for your organization, download our FREE eBook today. We outline the best practices and solutions for choosing the perfect ERP system that fits your needs. // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '7cdd948a-9b93-4125-b889-a98efc90de2a');

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ERP Business Intelligence: Unlock Hidden Potential

We’ve talked before about how Business Intelligence (BI) is a crucial aspect of utilizing your ERP system to the best of its abilities. But a surprising amount of manufacturers and other industries don’t realize how important BI is to the future of their business. By ignoring the important data provided by your ERP systems BI analytics, you are losing out on valuable information that will improve your processes and keep you aware of any potential roadblocks.

ERP Gives You the Tools; Use Them

After an ERP implementation is complete, many businesses want to sit back and bask in the efficient improvements their new system will bring. A lot of work went into their ERP solution, so it’s only natural to want to take a break and enjoy the rewards. However, what seems to be getting lost in translation is that your new ERP isn’t just a set-it-and-forget-it solution; you need to monitor the data and analytics it dutifully provides, giving you insight into your customer orders, total value of invoices, new customers and their pertinent information, etc. Your new ERP system is their to improve your current process and improve your business’ future by giving you real-time data on trends and company information that can help you perform better. Ignoring that data can lead to thinking that your ERP isn’t performing to it’s potential, when in actuality you aren’t using what it’s giving you.

Ideally, your ERP will provide your employees with a dashboard that shows you all the data you need to make better decisions. From mission-critical information such as how your plant floor is running, interactive selections to manage time frames and risk assessments, to charts and graphs that assist you in better decision making; your ERP wants to help your business, you just need to know where to look. Once you’ve gotten the hang of using your BI you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it – which you’ll never have to do again thanks to the mobile capabilities inherent in most ERP’s today. That way you will have real-time actionable data at your fingertips to make the best decisions, no matter where you are.

Hidden Opportunities, Tomorrow’s Successes

Utilizing the Business Intelligence baked into your ERP is imperative for simple reasons; it shows you the hidden opportunities that can transform your performance and maintain a competitive advantage, while allowing you to achieve growth and lower expenses by monitoring the daily activities that occur within your organization that would otherwise go unseen. Don’t let this valuable resource go to waste, take the time to look at what your ERP is showing you, and take action when necessary to capitalize on the amazing amount of real-time data your ERP can provide.

For more tips and ideas on how to improve your operations, download our FREE eBook that outlines 5 Ways to Improve Plant Floor Productivity! // <![CDATA[ hbspt.cta.load(458505, '618218ce-7dee-403f-8161-c65af421c124');

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Whole Foods and ERP: Business Innovation

Infor, a leader in business software technology, is partnering with Whole Foods Market to innovate how the grocery chain handles their merchandising and supply chain.

Whole Foods is known for being at the forefront of best practices and quality when it comes to food; their brand recognition has grown steadily over the years and they are famous for being early adopters of modern services like grocery-delivery and digital payments. However, Whole Foods has nw struck a partnership with Infor to further revolutionize how they handle their grocery supply chain and merchandising.

ERP: Innovation for Your Groceries

As Infor is known for their streamlined and efficient enterprise business technology, it makes sense that these two companies would form a powerful alliance to build a cloud-based ERP platform for the grocery chain. Like many other smart companies, Whole Foods recognizes the increasing competition in their organic and natural foods niche from other grocery chains like Costco and Trader Joe’s, and have taken a step in the right direction to not only differentiate themselves from the pack but also improve their business operations as well. Through better controlling and analyzing of their inventory and sources, Whole Foods can use that data to speed up processes and services as well as use it to better serve their shoppers.

From weights and quantities of products on hand being immediately available in real time, tracking and reporting on when certain produce was harvested, to monitoring environmentally conscious aspects such as their water usage and energy output; Whole Foods can use Infor’s ERP technology to continue their momentum towards being an organization that values accountability, traceability, and responsibility. The new ERP software will also allow Whole Foods to improve their existing processes; the company has fairly fragmented existing systems currently in place, which means they are still manually performing some tasks that similar competitors have already automated. The new technology from Infor will allow Whole Foods to jump to the front of the pack by unifying all of their systems into one cohesive and communicative solution.

ERP Paves the Way

This Whole Foods/Infor partnership is also mutually beneficial; Infor intends to use the lessons learned from this experience to develop a new platform of retail software that could be used by other like-minded companies in the future. As Whole Foods blazes a trail, they set a precedent for other companies to follow suit – which Infor intends to provide for. Infor CEO Charles Phillips has stated that even though the retail world has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, he has noticed that there hasn’t been much innovation or change in the way these businesses manage and sell their products. Something that Infor is going to change by partnering with Whole Foods Market.

To find out how to select the best ERP solution for your business, download our FREE 5 Step Plan to ERP Selection Success eBook below! You’ll be on your way to picking the best software that fits your needs and improves your processes in no time.

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How ERP Empowers Your Company Rep: Stability

(Part 1, Part 2) Like it or not, the world we know is all about relationships. Finding a job has always been less about your skills than about your inroads into the company through who you know at said company. Relationships between companies and their customers are equally powerful, even when those customers are other companies. Most powerful of all, however, is a lengthy relationship as that long-held credibility won’t be dropped at the first mishap. Second chances arise only with time and people (and companies) are loathe to begin a new relationship when a longstanding one can be salvaged. Obviously, a long-term relationship only happens if your company lasts long enough to have built those relationships. While sudden market changes can spell the death of your company (and the hope of any future relationships), negative trends that build over time can be just as deadly. When choosing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with powerful business analytics, it can help you stick around as a stable, unshakeable business partner, able to track changes and intervene before any situation gets out of hand.

ERP as a Foundation for Trust and Success

Stability also invites new relationships. The very fact that your company has weathered the worst the market has to throw at it gives present and potential companies the confidence that your company is operating with intelligence and foresight. Choosing an ERP with advanced business intelligence tools enables you to see both the moment-to-moment as well as future trends that can spell trouble. Your company’s stability is a mark of strong leadership internally, that you handle both your problems—and your customer’s—quickly and competently.

No one starts a company hoping it will last only a few short months. Building a company is always a process of looking forward and with hope for a long future. Choosing an ERP that can help you look down that long road will add to your reputation as a leader that can handle the bumps and leap at the opportunities. Get the best information with the best tools on the market and prove to customers old and new that you will be around for a very, very long time.

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