In today’s world, most successful companies implement some type of accounting software. After all, when we take in money, we have to account for how it moves and what ultimately happens to it. But what truly defines a company’s ability to execute in an efficient manner is how they do things with their software. We call these “things” business processes, and – whatever degree of success a business already enjoys – there always seems to be room for improvement!

Only 30% of small and mid-sized businesses are employing a ‘progressive’ technology strategy. However, those businesses that were able to ‘figure it out’ reaped the rewards—fueling growth, streamlining business processes, controlling costs, and more. Does your business match the characteristics of a progressive business?

What your budget contains and how you plan to allocate it says a great deal about your organization's vision for how the implementation will proceed. We find that companies are frequently protective of their budget details in the initial conversations about Enterprise Resource Planning deployment. Such safeguarding tends to indicate a lack of confidence in the process, the numbers, or the consultant. Make sure you're working with a truly Trusted Advisor who you feel has your business's best interests at heart. Candid conversations about timing, motivation, and even budget are the best path to an honest appraisal and successful outcome. Here are some warm-up questions for talking about your project budget.

How does your business technology stack up to your competitor’s? Are their systems integrated? Do they use systems with modern order entry techniques (online)? Can they promise and meet delivery dates? Do you know how much you should be spending on technology compared to your competition? 

"Whose idea was this anyway?" If employees are asking that question mid-implementation, then the project is already on a bad path. By the time an ERP deployment undertaking kicks off, everyone around the table should be crystal clear on the key reasons motivating the venture. The best implementations seem to occur when people working in separate areas of the business are able to articulate the same influences behind this grand investment in time and resources. As you think about your own implemenation, ask these three questions to help get all participants reciting the same inspirations for the long climb ahead.

Time is often perceived as the enemy of an ERP software implementation. Minutes and hours and days tick away whether your team is making the best use of them or not, and so we often speak of "working against time." In reality, time is a friend to those who thoroughly prepare for this endeavor. One of the first conversations we have with potential customers aims to assess their awareness of the role time plays in their desire to implement - and will continue to play should they proceed. In our experience, those who don't take the clock for granted or overestimate their capabilities with regard to speed tend to have better outcomes. Here are three questions that help us evaluate prospective success.

The great news: Your business is growing. The unfortunate news: You're spending more and more of your time updating and cross-referencing the dozen or so spreadsheets required to know where anything and everything is. Eventually, unless you find a more effective system, your business's ability to grow will be severely compromised. So you decide to invest in that Enterprise Resource Planning software that can take your operation to the next level. Selecting the right system for your needs takes careful analysis of the options and an agreed-upon methodology. Yet, perhaps more than anything, it requires a candid and dedicated frame of mind on everyone's part. This is not an endeavor to undertake lightly.

It’s been said that good leaders are good readers. How do you position yourself for success in leadership without learning from those who have gone before you? 

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? In a quickly changing market, you need technology that supports your business goals. In this one-page guide, we share with you the basics of becoming a “smart-up,” going beyond business as usual to brace for growth and position yourself for the next phase—scaling. 

It is almost impossible to hide from technology today. It’s everywhere. Moreover, advertisers and marketers flood our inboxes and fill the borders of just about every website we visit. We are constantly bombarded with who has the latest technology tools that will supposedly make our personal and business lives better and easier. It’s so easy to fall prey to marketing strategies designed to spin offerings so that they seem perfectly matched to what I think I’m looking for. Whether via traditional methods or through social media, everyone advertises as if they have our best interests at heart. Interestingly, they all primarily talk about themselves. Wading through all of this information is a daunting task for anyone who encounters it; especially companies striving to stay competitive in their own market with their own products.