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Future Proofing Your Business

Breaking Free of the Technology Trap

Ever feel like you just can’t get off the technology treadmill? That the latest new processor, operating system, or application requires you to purchase it or you’ll be left at a disadvantage? It’s a common problem and one that is especially acute for small and medium businesses.

The concept of ‘future proofing’ a business isn’t new. In fact, it has been around as long as there has been, well, the ‘future.’ The idea is that no one can predict the future with accuracy and circumstances will occur that have a direct impact on the business. Future proofing is about mitigating or eliminating the impact future events may have on the business. It is this concept that is one of the main reasons why businesses carry insurance. Right?

Using technology, is it possible to ‘future proof’ your business? To protect your capital and critical business data through reducing or eliminating the impact of future ‘events’? The short answer is yes.

Today, most business information is kept within information systems. Computers, servers, networks, applications, databases, and mobile devices have all become an integral part of the business. Such technology has been procured over time, as the business has grown, to meet new challenges or business requirements. Unfortunately, though, each has ‘locked in’ the business to upgrade, maintenance, and management – all costly and distracting to the business.

A business can eliminate these upgrade, maintenance, and management costs and challenges by thinking differently. By taking a ‘future proof’ perspective to technology. By evaluating solutions that eliminate the need for the business to have technology‘in-house’, and adopting options that provide required functionality without the capital investment, maintenance, upgrade, or management.

Today, there is a new suite of services offerings that ‘future proof’ your business. These solutions allow you to break free of the ‘technology trap’ without compromising on the power, functionality, and benefit you need to run the business. Offered under the banner of “Software as a Service”, or SaaS, a business can have ready, secure, and fast access to the applications and functionality they need, at the time they need it, without direct capital investment and the need to upgrade and manage the technology. SaaS ‘future proofs’ the business – it’s that simple.

How does SaaS ‘future proof’ your business? In five distinct ways:

The Advantages of Moving from On-premise to Cloud

As companies look for innovative ways to slash IT expense, improve resiliency and remain competitive, Cloud technologies are becoming more appealing especially to the small and midsize business owner looking to better manage their cash flow and be a part of the next generation of cloud computing.  In the past, it was common for companies to purchase, deploy and maintain their software applications on-premise.  Now with Cloud technologies leading the forefront of change, organizations are interested in exploring new options and want to understand the economic advantages of on-premise vs. cloud and what moving to the cloud really means in terms of TCO (total-cost-of-ownership).  

One of the most compelling reasons for moving to the cloud is a company’s ability to convert a capital expense to operational expense.  This combined with quicker deployment times, no longer having to maintain software, hardware and infrastructure, or having the resources to internally support make Cloud technologies attractive.  

To really understand Cloud TCO, we break down the value prop so a company like yours can look beyond the obvious to the drivers that will be the most beneficial to the health of your organization.

Overcoming Obstacles to Small & Medium Business Success

 QuickBooks is amazingly diverse and easy-to-use software for a growing business, with many ways to expand the software so that it can evolve with your business. However, there will come a point when your company will outgrow QuickBooks and it is no longer the best choice for your financial management software.

You love QuickBooks. QuickBooks may have been good to you. But maybe it’s time to move up.

Your business has been using QuickBooks for years to manage customer accounts, keep track of inventory and business finances, create forms for your business use and store information on your customers, vendors and other contacts. You’ve purchased all 20 concurrent licenses, you’ve set into motion aggressive growth plans, and you’re ready to formalize the financial management of your company. Now is the time to consider why you need to move beyond QuickBooks:

Hidden Costs of Small & Medium Business Software

Are there hidden costs in business software?

Before you reach for a calculator, it’s a trick question. Even technology industry analyst and seasoned business executives have difficulty putting a hard figure on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of today’s traditional SMB application solutions.

In computing the cost of software, businesses tend to focus on the purchase price. Yet even when fully operational, software is never free. It must be supported, maintained and upgraded.

Software’s “Hidden” Costs

Beyond the purchase price, the “hidden” costs are: implementation, training, support, maintenance and all subsequent upgrades. Also included should be the cost of ‘downtime’ while the business tries to figure out how to fix the software should it fail. Together, the hidden costs of software can easily exceed the original purchase price by a factor of 100-200%!

How do SMB software cost break down? The U.S. Department of Commerce study shows that software purchase expenditures account for only approximately 30 percent of the total. The biggest hidden costs is represented by labor expenditures ranging from 37 percent for support and 33 percent related to software getting the software up and running. The numbers translate to a ratio of 1:2, software license to management/labor costs; and 1:1 license fee to implementation.

 

Dynamics GP 2016 Feature of the Day: Web Client Part 2

Welcome to the Feature of the Day

HTML Web Client

  • Support for Multi-Browser (IE, Chrome, Safari, Edge)
  • Support for Multi-device (Windows, iPad, Android)
  • New Controls created for HTML client
  • UI Changes
  • Windows Search
  • Office Banner
  • Navigation, Color, Etc.

Check out all of the new 35+ enhancements to GP 2016!

Link to the PDFs for all of the new enhancements: OneDrive

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 Feature of the Day: Web Client Search

Welcome to the Feature of the Day:

The new Web Client Search allows for you to search for a window or report within the GP web client.

  • Shows a list of all open windows and reports based on search criteria
  • Shows a list of all windows and reports and the navigation based on search criteria
  • Ability to close all open windows at once

 Check out ALL of the new 35+ Features below!

Link to the PDFs: OneDrive

Ready, Set, Grow Your Business

No Matter what type of business you own, your business depends on the people who run it. Equip them with the information and tools they need to work efficiently and watch your business thrive.

 Every growing organization reaches a tipping point where the very tool that supported their initial growth began to hinder their ability and insight. Is your entry-level accounting software holding your people and business back?

 When your business begins to diversify and grow in complexity, you need more than basic bookkeeping, inventory management, and backward looking reporting. You need efficiency and accuracy from your desk to the front desk. You need a complete business management solution.

 Evaluating new business management solutions may seem daunting. But the options and resources available for small to midsized businesses have never been better-or more affordable.

 Outgrowing_QuickBooks_eBook

Steve’s been with SMB Suite since 1998 and has been involved with nearly every aspects of the Company’s business as a strategist, professional services executive, cloud solutions architect, and senior consultant. In his current role, Steve is responsible for SMB Suite’s revenue and oversees the execution of ERP, CRM and BI projects for customers across a broad range of industries. Steve combines his expertise in MS Dynamics GP, CRM and other Microsoft products with a strong foundation in accounting and business to identify gaps and streamline customers’ processes. Prior to co-founding SMB Suite, Steve was previously Corporate Controller for MEHLE Behr and, prior to that, Audit Senior for Ernst & Young. Steve holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Jeremy is responsible for SMB Suite’s technology vision, strategy and implementation and is the architect of the Company’s Dynamics Cloud Platform. Highly adept in every facet of managed services, ERP systems and e-commerce platforms, Jeremy’s expertise spans the implementation and support of business and financial software solutions, as well as the customization and integration of SMB Suite’s cloud ERP technology stack. He holds numerous Microsoft and industry-related certifications, and was primarily responsible for designing the Company’s progressive business services platform in the early days of the Cloud. Prior to SMB Suite, Jeremy served as the financial analyst, systems administrator, and information systems liaison for a $2 billion financial services corporation.

Monty is responsible for SMB Suite’s day-to-day operation and, most importantly, its customers. As a leader, motivator and mentor, Monty creates loyal high performance teams willing to “walk through walls” to accomplish their goals. Prior to SMB Suite, Monty served as President of The Bradshaw Group (TBG), a global distributor, manufacturer, and repair facility for digital printers. In this role, he was the Company’s ambassador to its most important domestic, European and Latin American customers and TBG achieved a best-in-class Net Promoter Score of 74 for its superb customer satisfaction. Prior to TBG, Monty served as the General Manager of Sam’s Clubs three highest grossing U.S. stores and was named Regional Operator of the Year in 1999. Monty holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University and is an active member of Business Navigators. He has been active in Vistage International, Executives in Action, the Dallas/Fort Worth Retail Executives Association, as well as, A.P.I.C.S., the leading professional association for supply chain and operations management. Monty also volunteers with Hunger Busters and ManeGait, a therapeutic horsemanship organization.

David is a proven financial and information technology professional with expertise in providing business accounting software and computing solutions. He began his career by starting and managing a successful independent consulting practice for several years. He then launched the local systems consulting unit of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Services Group, leading the office into the hi-tech consulting arena. After successfully developing the unit for Ernst & Young, David founded NextCorp (which became SMB Suite in 2013) to serve the business software needs of clients throughout the US. David has made SMB Suite one of the best cloud ERP providers in the industry. In addition to being a successful entrepreneur and leader, he is a software and technology specialist, holding certifications in various Microsoft and other technologies.