SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE MANUFACTURERS know that success lies in lower costs, shorter cycle times and maximum production throughput. Successful manufacturers perform an expert balancing act between having enough material available to keep production running but not so much that it increases inventory holding costs. An enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system for manufacturing has the power to connect many parts of a manufacturing operation to improve productivity and profitability.
Manufacturing ERP systems help manufacturers avoid material shortages and better manage production. Everyone from the engineering teams to the production floor to the purchasing and finance departments can view designs and plans, production status, quality control, inventory, cost of goods sold and more in real time. Companies achieve on-time delivery of products, thanks to control over inventory management, accurate demand planning, streamlined production scheduling and effective coordination of distribution channels.
With the advent of Lean Manufacturing principles, many ERP systems incorporate lean thinking. Firms track detailed supply chain activities from start to finish, so that procedures and processes that hinder the design, creation and delivery of goods are identified and corrected. Manufacturing ERP software also makes it easier to monitor product defects and take needed steps to ensure the utmost quality. Enhanced precision in production floor processes reduces scrap and rework. Better tracking combined with more accurate demand planning eliminate costly excess inventory.
There are dozens of manufacturing styles — from job-shop to cell-type organizations to highly complex automated systems and robotics — each with unique requirements. Choosing the right ERP solution for your manufacturing operation is a very important decision. Use the link below to download the 10 Golden Rules for Choosing an ERP System.
Talk to DataCraft about deploying business and accounting systems that support your business model for the greatest benefit.
WITH MANY QUESTIONS still hanging over the U.S. economy, starting a business feels like a big risk. Yet thousands of entrepreneurs press on with their big ideas. Estimates vary, but generally more than 600,000 businesses are started each year in the United States. Millions more Americans likely want to start a business but never follow through.
People always wonder whether now is a good time to act. Fact is, there’s never really a bad time to launch a small consulting or professional services firm. In a strong business climate, people are looking for ways to spend money. But launching in uncertain economic times can be just as smart. Companies pursuing cost-cutting measures have shed staff but taken on marketing consultants, information technology contractors and management experts. All have an opportunity to grow.
The startup cost for a consultancy or professional services firm is practically nonexistent, and the majority of fees go straight into the bank — after taxes, of course. Keep in mind, too, that a down economy often means bargain sale prices on office equipment or even entire businesses.
The flip side of opportunities are clear risks. The same clients that have downsized may face tightened budgets. Likewise, the risk of nonpayment exists if a client company dissolves. However, if you can start a lean business, attract clients and cover yourself against the worst-case scenario, now could be the best time to take the plunge.
Still not ready to jump in? Check out the link below for “10 Clues That It’s Time to Start Your Own Business.” DataCraft has the ideal business and accounting technology your new or existing company needs to thrive. Contact us for more info.
Open Systems, Inc. is boosting the performance of the popular TRAVERSE version 11 with enhanced business and accounting tools for small, growing and mid-market companies. The TRAVERSE development team launched new Warehouse Management and Requirements Planning applications for TRAVERSE v11 earlier this year. In this week’s blog, we’ll look at the forthcoming Digital Dashboard and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications.
Digital Dashboard v11 consolidates data from several TRAVERSE applications to give the big picture of your company’s position in one glance. The dashboard summarizes top producers, important company statistics, key accounts payable and much more. Dashboard v11 will offer a more robust feature set for each component. The default view will be a user-configured display on the normal TRAVERSE shell. You can resize dashboard objects, change company information displayed and view information as a list or chart. Dashboard v11 will support Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Safari. Open Systems will build mobile clients for the Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone environments.
TRAVERSE CRM v11 will provide access from many entry points to a wide range of information while keeping your data safe. You will be able to connect to CRM v11 from the TRAVERSE shell, a browser, mobile devices and a Microsoft Outlook plugin. While some basic functions, such as setting up codes and marketing campaigns, will be limited to the standard interface, the majority of the functionality will be accessible in the other interfaces. Open Systems will provide native applications for the most popular mobile operating systems. CRM v11 is the first TRAVERSE application to support user-based data filtering. For example, you can configure a sales rep to see only his or her own contacts or only contacts in the rep’s sales region.
Use the link below to preview features and benefits of TRAVERSE CRM v11. DataCraft can help you gain a competitive advantage by integrating the accounting and business software tools best suited to your objectives.
ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE is on corporate executives’ minds these days, and understandably so. The enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is central to organizational efficiency by integrating financial, accounting, inventory management and sales applications. Still, ERP software is viewed as complicated stuff that involves re-engineering the most important business functions.
However, a silver lining has emerged in the cloud. Which makes perfect sense, actually. If small and medium-sized businesses can accumulate huge savings by switching to software as a service (SaaS) for line-of-business applications like customer relationship and human resource management, a future with cloud-based ERP isn’t such a stretch.
The main allures of cloud ERP for smaller companies are lower upfront costs and more predictable monthly fees. It also might make a good fit for companies facing upgrades to their legacy ERP systems.
We’ve listed some key benefits:
• No servers to buy or workstation expenditures; an Internet-enabled computer would work fine.
• Fewer staff to maintain on-premise systems.
• Easily expandable; just buy more licenses.
• Reduced costs of communications for multi-site companies.
And concerns you need to be aware of:
• The inherent questions about security and data privacy in the cloud.
• Integration with other systems may be more difficult.
• SaaS is less flexible than traditional ERP in that you can’t completely customize or rewrite the software.
• Less control to adapt complex business processes to fit the software.
The number of proven cloud-based ERP systems is growing, but limited. It‘s vital to determine how a system will integrate into your application portfolio. DataCraft implements user friendly ERP software systems. Give us a call. We can help.
During our business travels, we are fortunate to take in many great sights and some beautiful scenery, but nothing turned our heads like the photos below:
Guess the city, or city nearest to, where this was photographed and win a prize!
Submitted to us by a DataCraft client – and we are assuming a fan (at least he’s willing to take his hat off to us!) – we were struck by how well the cap was holding up since it was 8 years or more since we distributed our supply of these one-of-a-kind, all-purpose head warmers.
We were also struck with an idea – why not stage a contest and ask our faithful followers to offer up their best guesses as to where the cap was photographed. We’re looking for the name of city, or nearby city. The respondent whose answer names the city, or another city geographically nearest the actual hat location, wins a $25 gift card to a nice eatery in the greaterRockford,Illinois, area. If we receive more than one correct answer, the prize will be awarded to the correct entry received by us first.
Maybe you’ve heard the expression, “No profit, no firm.” Professional services firms turn a profit only when team members are billing their time to clients. The goal is to bill an amount equivalent to the value of the work done.
Most service professionals we work with offer several billing arrangements, whether they are lawyers, architects, financial advisers or engineers.
A fixed fee is just as it sounds: a fixed amount of money for a defined set of work. It’s attractive when the job is well defined and can be completed quickly.
With a time-and-materials agreement, you receive a set rate for hours worked plus reimbursement for specific expenses. Projects where the scope is flexible lend themselves to this approach.
For jobs that are loaded with unknowns, a two-phase agreement allows firms to receive payment for initial work that will help define the project and then follow up with a second-phase fixed-fee or time-and-materials arrangement.
Some clients seeking professional services prefer to pay a recurring fee (weekly, monthly or quarterly).
.
As any owner of an architectural or engineering firm will tell you, reporting of time and time management play a large part in hitting your profitability targets. Agency management software to track your work can help you maximize billable time, manage a large portfolio of projects and gain a competitive advantage.
At DataCraft, our goal is to make sure your business is fully integrated with the right business and accounting tools, with accurate and up-to-date status information, meaningful alerts and embedded project analysis and reporting.
Use the button below to download a guide to different pricing models and advice on how to manage pricing strategies.
A computerized point-of-sale (POS) system is an essential part of doing business for most retailers, restaurant owners and even service providers, like hairdressers. POS systems make it much easier to run a more profitable business. POS vendors constantly introduce features beyond balancing the cash drawer and processing credit cards. Advanced systems can include developing target marketing strategies, tracking supplier purchases and analyzing sales of each inventory item.
Here are 10 reasons to consider upgrading to state-of-the-art POS systems:
Faster checkout. From authorizing credit card transactions to printing receipts, checkout is faster. POS systems also can print barcode labels and interface with scanners to speed up checkout times.
Produce itemized receipts. POS software delivers detailed information, including item description, list price and sale price. Built-in checks ensure that the information is entered accurately.
Simplify the accounting process. Rather than requiring you or your accountant to pore over hundreds of individual receipts, a POS system allows financial personnel to review built-in reports or create their own.
Streamline inventory management. POS software tracks inventory quickly and accurately. A POS system can track your biggest sellers for reordering when stock gets low.
Increase customer loyalty. POS software can use a name, telephone number or loyalty card to uniquely identify a customer and offer discounts, record reward points or monitor customer buying patterns. You’ll know who your best customers are and why they’re buying.
Improve reporting. POS-generated reports contain a deeper set of information within your business. You can create sophisticated and useful graphs and charts.
Purchase order tracking. Some POS packages allow you to track purchase orders for inventory purposes. You can see where, when and what you paid for each inventory item.
Integrate POS into your business operations. Most POS software interfaces with popular accounting packages. Files and reports can be imported directly into your accounting software, reducing data re-entry and facilitating easier reporting and reconciliation of transactions. This also eliminates the need for paper, minimizes errors and improves bookkeeping and tax record-keeping processes.
eCommerce options. Integration with eCommerce platforms and websites results in more organized and accurate connections between your online and brick-and-mortar stores. Mobility to input orders, swipe credit cards and print receipts remotely further enhances customer service,
Track employee time cards. Some POS software packages allow you to record employee sign-in and sign-out times. The ability to scan employee cards enables more accurate hour and wage tracking.
Contact DataCraft to learn how we can help your company integrate an advanced POS solution or other business and accounting technology to automate your operations. Get started by downloading these “2012 Best POS System Comparisons and Reviews.”
A location scout, in movie lingo, looks for suitable settings for filming. Instead of scouting movie locations, we scanned the Rockford area to highlight some of the excellent opportunities available for companies seeking to expand their operations or establish a presence in a new market.
The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) website maintains searchable inventories of commercial and industrial real estate in Winnebago and Boone counties listed by local real estate firms. Similar data can be found on area commercial/industrial brokerages’ websites.
The RAEDC’s inventory of available Sites lists 180 properties in the commercial, industrial, retail and office categories. Of these, five sites exceed 100 acres in size. The average lease price for commercial and office locations — the two biggest categories — is $6.8 per square foot.
In addition, a seperate inventory of Buildings (including structures present on various sites noted above) lists just over 400 buildings, mainly in the commercial category. The commercial space ranges in size from 553 square feet to 113,921 square feet and leases for an average of $11.65 per square foot. Industrial buildings range from 1,220 square feet to 364,784 square feet with an average lease price of $4.7 per square foot.
The Rockford area not only boasts an abundance of affordable land and buildings for commercial and industrial uses, it offers proximity to customers, accessibility to raw materials, a modern transportation infrastructure, skilled labor supply and reliable utility services.
Just as Rockford has more to entice new companies into the area and encourage existing companies to expand, DataCraft has the ideal business and accounting technology your company needs to thrive. Contact us for more info. You can download the RAEDC’s list of buildings for sale and lease.
Companies rise and fall on their ability to act quickly on business intelligence. Competition in most industries is fierce and marketplace opportunities extremely time sensitive. Businesses that respond too slowly lose out to their quicker rivals.
Business intelligence is all about making better decisions faster. Better decisions lead to the realization of corporate objectives, such as minimizing waste, increasing the number of jobs per shift or reducing the number of hours per job.
Information is always changing rapidly, often in a big way. Decisions based on up-to-the-minute data improve customer relationships, increase revenue and maximize operational efficiencies. Thanks to the speed of today’s processing systems, real-time data warehousing and business intelligence systems put information at your fingertips. Take a company that sells merchandise online. Information on inventory levels available to call center representatives matches information on the company’s website.
Key Performance Indicators enable organizations that use business intelligence systems to analyze whether actions are resulting in progress toward their goals. Key Performance Indicators reflect critical success factors. The percentage of income derived from return customers or percentage of customer calls answered in the first minute are common Key Performance Indicators. When they are accessed, reviewed, analyzed and acted upon quickly, businesses achieve a higher rate of success.
A real-time approach isn’t required for every part of a company’s business. There are dozens of business intelligence products featuring various types of analytic capability (see the accompanying downloadable list of popular applications). DataCraft can help you gain a competitive advantage by integrating the business intelligence tools best suited to your objectives.
Manufacturers and assembly companies waste millions of dollars each year on untracked industrial tools. In some cases, distribution of cutting tools, fasteners, welding supplies and personal protection equipment is a free-for-all with little accountability and control. Any company that wants to cut costs is a good candidate for industrial vending.
Automated point-of-work (POW) vending machines have turned out to be profitable investments for small businesses. Automated replenishment of industrial tools and accessories decreases downtime, lowers labor costs, increases production and improves inventory management. Tool vending machines and dispensing cabinets manage the issue and return of both fast- and slow-moving supplies. These devices place critical items closer to areas where they are used. By providing 24-hour secure access, they ensure just-in-time delivery of components while eliminating the time required to move materials and supplies to and from the storeroom and workplace.
The main benefit of automated POW vending systems is inventory control. Built-in wireless communication systems monitor activities and track inventories precisely. Specialized machines feature telemetry or card systems. Vending systems can be customized to allow for real-time monitoring of stock levels. Managers can track which employees take what manufacturing consumables and how often they go back for more. Monitoring this activity cuts costs because employers can identify and correct wasteful employees.
Several firms design, build and deploy automated and semiautomated lineside tool vending machines, hosted software and services. For instance, AutoCrib Inc. industrial vending devices dispense various tools and safety equipment, even bulk items. AutoCrib’s software provides real-time data usage so that reordering tools and supplies is easy. Inventory management and control software for Remstar’s storage and retrieval systems can be used alone or interfaced with proprietary inventory control software.
DataCraft can help you seamlessly integrate these automated systems into your existing accounting or inventory management applications for optimum control. Download a free article that details the many advantages of tool/parts vending.
