iPhone CheatSheet - Visual from MakeUseOf.com
9 Things Successful People Do Differently: ERP Software Day 4: Be a Realistic Optimist « Software Solutions Guide to Business Knowledge
Successful ERP Implementation – getting it right from the start!
This post by Fran McKee, from Sage UK Partner, Pinnacle, outlines what to pay close attention to when choosing ERP Software. Her outline is the process I follow and works from businesses of any size. This one is worth the read!
Successful ERP Implementation - Getting it right from the start!
Leading businesses from across Europe will this week grace the doors of Softworld (18th & 19th Oct Excel London) seeking the right ERP solution fit for their unique business. Many operate globally and across multiple sites so naturally prompts the question, what are the critical success factors of selecting and implementing an ERP solution? Enormous benefits can be reaped from a well planned implementation, however even the most successful businesses have suffered massive ramifications from poor ERP implementations.
Finding the right partner
Attending vendor gatherings such as Softworld helps the process right from the start. The search for vendor capability is fundamental to finding the right product, and importantly the partner, that is capable of project delivery and support of the solution. Attention to the quality, capabilities and capacity of the implementation team from the vendor is crucial. Engaging the right consultants, at the right time, coupled with a proper requirement exercise beforehand will assist in getting the implementation right at all stages.
Management support
Getting support from management at the outset ensures the business is committed to best of breed processes that can be realised through the selection and implementation of an ERP solution. This means investing people and time into process adaptation, data cleansing before transformation into the new ERP solution and sufficient testing before go live. Making sure the project manager within your business is right – communication internally and externally is essential.
Training
Successful implementation of ERP requires an educated and well trained workforce so the users understand the changes in workflow and jobs that the new ERP software and business processes bring. This is especially important for companies who operate globally and across multiple sites. Continuous roll out of training programmes for existing and new staff reinforces existing processes while also introducing latest software releases and technology changes.
A common understanding
A useful tip is to create a “glossary” of industry specific terminology and processes which are clearly understood by the ERP implementation provider. Misunderstood terminology can lead to significant increases in both implementation costs and time.
Keep the project moving
Ensure key management and staff agree to measurable steps, goals and project milestones with the vendor throughout the implementation process to ensure the project keeps moving. Perhaps hold last payment to the vendor to ensure all their commitments have been met. Be realistic – don’t be tempted to go-live before you are really ready!
Fran McKee, Sage Business Partner Pinnacle
Don’t forget to visit the Sage solutions team and its ERP partner Pinnacle at Stand AF130 Softworld, 18th and 19thOctober Excel London and discover how Sage’s ERP software solutions can support your local and global operations.
Why setting realistic expectations are important!
Here is funny exaggerated look at expectations not met... Enjoy then back on task!
http://pleated-jeans.com/2011/07/20/expectations-vs-reality-17-pics/
The little stuff can be said in this forum at this moment because Steve Jobs did his job
Here's the blogpost from my ipad:
About three months ago, I bought an iPad. I was amazed by the thousands of "apps", software that can be implemented with the tap of a finger, available to me for little or no cost. Not only were they easy to download and delete if I didn't like them. Most cost little or nothing. This eliminates the agonizing decision process of the purchase. Talk about freedom! A few apps have just made my world better. I gain efficiency or productivity at work or spend some down time watching a funny video or playing a game I never thought I would enjoy. Can you say, Angry Birds or iHoops!
My best discovery by far is FlipBoard. Ed Kless tweated about it a few weeks ago, and I have used it every day since. It takes my area of interests and social networks and puts them in one place, in a format that reminds me of the Life Magazine of my parents generation. Like getting Life in the mail when I was a girl, I anxiously await opening my Flipboard every day. Self described as "Your Personalized Social Magazine", it delivers on it's promise of a beautiful way to flip through your Facebook or Twitter, relevant articles and photos. It's like a Saturday trip to your local Target. One place for everything you need or want, in a clean, organized environment. It's a great way to start your day.
In five minutes this morning, I learned that 39% of LinkedIn's members make more than $100K, there was a group texting app built secretly inside Google called "Disco" that may be the next big thing...or not. I now know that my daughter hasn't posted anything to her Facebook today which translates to she is still asleep. I read the blog of several colleagues and updated my Twitter. Pre Flipboard I would have gone to several on line magazines and spent an hour or two digging through information that didn't matter to me at all. If you own an iPhone or an iPad, get this app. Rarely do I see anything as cosmetically appealing that saves time and costs nothing. It's the perfect companion to my morning coffee!
Thanks again Steve...you gave us freedom to share our thoughts from anywhere, sing our songs loudly without feeling embarrassed and taught thousands of kids it's ok to love a computer. Apple changed our expectations of technology. A computer became Simple, then fun, then free of an office...Our work became fun and our fun Became our passions. Our Passions did great things for our fellow man. So keep running the race Apple lovers, use the ipads,iphones and the other cool stuff to continue to impact the world. Let's do it for Steve and pray his joy was as complete as he made ours!
Is free software good for my business? 5 reasons that answer is no!
The software industry is changing. Free product offerings are everywhere. Websites are simple to navigate and promise great success with a few clicks of a mouse. Happiness is only as far away as the completion a single download. You will make millions of dollars and retire at 30 if you start using their product today. Best of all, it's free no risk at all!
An exgageration? Yep, representative, I think so.
How does a business know today if they should invest in business software or try a scaled down version of a product at a free or nearly free price? My "5 "cents....
- Remember that value and price are different: The price you pay can be large or zero but the value the solution brings your company is the real win. Free doesn't help you if it doesn't solve your problem or shuts down your network.
- Free software is often a showcase for advertisers. This isn't bad if you don't mind advertising pop ups or flashes while drafting your business plan or entering expenses. Distraction costs companies money every day but it isn't often measured. Could it be that the cost of that distraction could have paid for a stonger more features rich product with no ads? Maybe.
- Free software usally has an upgrade path for a paid version. If you need more functionality, buy it. Don't try to get by. Bite the bullet pay for a product as soon as you need the features. Trying to save the amount of the upgrade costs more time and lowers effectiveness. You wouldn't hammer a nail in with a crab fork, don't create a project plan in a to do list app on your smartphone because it's free.
- Free today, gone tomorrow: Good news, there is a money back guarantee for the entire purchase price. They won't however help you recover any data that was lost. How much is your data worth? Uh...yeah...That one speaks for itself.
- Control: Most entrepeneurs I know are control junkies, yours truely included. Paying for something is a way of ensuring the vendors are responsive to your needs. Businesses are always trying to segregate and rate their customers. The formula is often profit and quaility of life per customer (well some just measure profit...BIG mistake) so a customer using a free service is likely to be less valuable then a paid customer long term. This drives the paid customers' ranking way up. A friendly honest paid customer hits the top of the list or if they don't they should!
Free software has it's place but it's unlikely to be in a growing business that is dedicated to customer satisfaction and long term success.
Software Solutions Class Pass Training
How Calculating a Break Even Point Can Improve Sales
This is a great article that helps Small Business understand what things really cost and how calculating a break even point is can help sales and improve the bottom line. It was published in More Business and is really relevant. Here is a link to the article, How Calculating a Break Even Point Can Improve Sales.
Enjoy and Get Calculating!
