Blog Posts
The latest software research, trends, and advice.
Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where your eCommerce business sells items through a third-party supplier. Instead of a traditional retail model, you purchase inventory from a supplier when a customer buys that product on your site. The…
A balance sheet is a snapshot report that details how much worth or value a business has in assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity. It captures the health of a business at a specific time. Follow the guidance in this post to help you calculate…
Microsoft Power BI offers built-in AI capabilities, real-time analytics, Excel integration, and intuitive visualizations. First, jumpstart your dashboard design with these eight Power BI examples, each following a common reporting scenario and…
Business intelligence (BI) is a technological infrastructure that compiles, parses, and turns data into helpful or actionable information. BI software helps source, analyze, and present business data through visualizations like charts, reports, and…
Businesses of all sizes wrestle with the demands of accounting. Accounting software automates these time-consuming tasks and minimizes critical errors. Cloud-based accounting software provides secure access to accounting functions online from any device…
Fleet telematics consolidates vehicle tracking information into one location, like a dispatch office or garage, to gain up-to-date or real-time information about vehicles or driver behavior. A vital part of fleet management, telematics provides a…
Managing finances can be complicated and often daunting when running a business. As such, many business owners choose to hire a specialist to carry out this essential financial duty. So who do you hire; a bookkeeper, an accountant, or both? In short…
Subscription plans, the number of users and trackable assets, and other factors can affect the pricing of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). For example, entry-level CMMS software costs $29-$79/user/month , while subscription-based CMMS…
Three common ways of measuring manufacturing production are takt time, cycle time, and lead time. Takt time is the rate of production needed to meet customer demand, cycle time is the actual time it takes to produce one unit of a product, and lead time is…
Successful enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations take between 4 and 6 months on average. Projects can take significantly longer depending on factors like scope, company size, and required customizations. If implementation estimates are more…
Inventory shrinkage occurs when actual inventory levels are lower than your accounting records. A loss of inventory ultimately translates to a loss in profit, diminishing your bottom line. By calculating your shrinkage percentage rate, you can determine…
Amortization writes off the cost of an intangible asset over its useful life, while depreciation tracks loss in value for tangible assets. Depreciation and amortization are methods by which you can spread out the cost of an asset over time. These expenses…
It’s that time of year again where businesses re-evaluate their processes on a longer time frame to find ways to save and improve. In 2023, inflation, looming recessions, and mass layoffs are putting extra stress on businesses. Enterprise resource…
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software can be an invaluable tool to help large companies stay organized and maximize profit. Though, more often than not, the quest to implement this software solution costs businesses hundreds of millions of dollars…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) provides modern companies the tools they need to automate important business processes. Here are 40+ ERP statistics you need to know to fully understand the potential benefits, costs, and drawbacks, based on both…
Tool-tracking software tracks parts inventory, equipment performance, and preventative maintenance scheduling. Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems make maintenance workflows more efficient and…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has a long and storied past, stretching from manufacturer’s ledger books in the 1940s to the integrated suite of business applications we know today. ::: alert blue Looking for ERP solutions? Find the best ERP software…
Calculating total manufacturing cost involves a simple formula: Total Manufacturing Cost = Direct Materials + Direct Labor + Manufacturing Overhead While this formula is as easy as adding these costs together, you must first know how to calculate direct…
Manufacturing overhead (or factory overhead) is the sum of all indirect costs incurred during the manufacturing process . You can calculate manufacturing overhead costs by adding your indirect expenses, such as direct materials and labor, into one total…
The accounting software experts at Software Connect pulled together a list of offline accounting software , showcasing the top products in two categories: perpetual license pricing and QuickBooks Desktop replacements. The majority of modern accounting…
Running your small business isn’t cheap, and every expense adds up. One way that many small businesses can cut costs while remaining competitive is to use free accounting software. Free accounting software is a great way to simplify and automate financial…
In bookkeeping, Accounts Payable (AP) are the amounts you owe to your vendors and suppliers. Accounts Receivable (AR) are the amounts your customers owe to your business. For small business owners, it’s important to understand how these two are different…
Employees are the lifeblood of businesses, and ensuring they are paid accurately and on time is of the utmost importance. Running payroll manually might work for a small business, but you’ll need a more robust solution as you grow. If you use QuickBooks…
Accounts receivable (AR) aging reports are summaries commonly used in accounting software . An AR aging report displays unpaid customer invoices grouped by date ranges of time since issued. It helps you understand the distribution and average age of your…
QuickBooks Online is undoubtedly the most recognizable name in accounting software, but there are many other options for small businesses to consider. While QuickBooks is the most notorious, other popular software like Xero could be the better choice for…
No matter the size of your business, bookkeeping software is a must-have. QuickBooks Online and FreshBooks are two of the most popular accounting software options for small businesses looking for a cloud-based platform. They boast exceptional tools for…
QuickBooks, the popular accounting software by Intuit, often has small business owners wondering if it is the right solution for their financial needs. Learn more about what QuickBooks has to offer: QuickBooks by Intuit is a well-known accounting software…
A mobile ERP is any enterprise resource planning solution intended to be used primarily on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Most of these operate as apps which are available as part of cloud-based ERP software systems , though this…
Nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and charitable businesses often run with minimal budgets and limited staff. In addition to serving the mission, your employees and volunteers need to handle administrative tasks to stay running smoothly. Everything…
Field service management or FSM covers any task necessary for completing work in the field, whether it’s installing telecommunication cables or performing on-site maintenance. Covering a wide range of industries, any off-site job can be considered…
Modern healthcare facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and private practices, are more reliant than ever on proper maintenance processes to ensure consistent patient care. Implementing preventive maintenance practices via CMMS software can help…
Work orders and purchase orders are often used interchangeably in business. Yet they really have a lot of important distinctions. If you’re wondering when or how to use each type of order, read on to learn more about both: A purchase order, also called a…
There are a lot of different maintenance programs out there, all made to protect your assets like machines and equipment. Two, preventive and predictive maintenance, are almost the same, though there are a few key differences to consider when adopting…
Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) increase the lifespan of your machinery and equipment by automating maintenance practices. But is that the sole reason you should buy a CMMS? Alongside increasing the lifespan of assets, any organization…
Whatever your line of business, unexpected equipment breakdowns or machine failure can lead to expensive complications. What if you could stop a costly problem before it happens? Fortunately, a preventive maintenance system software can help you stay on…
Work orders, sometimes called job orders or service orders, are the lifeblood of your maintenance department. They outline what workers need to do and in what order, and include follow-up actions from inspections and audits. Mastering maintenance work…
CMMS (computerized maintenance management systems) help with all sorts of businesses optimize their maintenance operations. Any company dealing with regular maintenance needs, whether it’s high end machinery or point-of-sale terminals, can actually…
Procurement and sourcing go hand in hand to ensure your supply chain is as efficient and accurate as possible. By using tools such as procurement software , your business can ensure faster delivery times, economies of scale, better efficiency, and lower…
In the world of business, purchase orders and invoices are sometimes used interchangeably. Both play a vital role in procurement, so it’s important to know how similar and different they really are in order to optimize your business processes. A purchase…
There’s more to a customer ordering system than just making a sale. You need to ensure your business processes go smoothly to avoid missed revenue and disappointed customers. The order to cash process is one way of optimizing your sales. Order to cash…
Quality standards are designed to prevent losses and improve compliance. Using tools such as quality management software will offer methods for companies to measure products, services, processes, procedures, and production and keep employees informed…
A quality management process consists of guidelines that ensure a high quality of work is performed by a team or company when producing goods and services. Properly maintained quality standards throughout a project can also be referred to as being “fit…
Small businesses have different needs from global enterprises. Yet no matter how small, they still have to deal with procurement, or the sourcing of goods and services, in order to run. Fortunately, low cost and free procurement software makes it possible…
A quality management system (QMS) offers a comprehensive tool kit to analyze risks, set quality objectives, implement workflows to achieve standards and audit for optimal performance. The ISO 9000 family of quality management systems is a set of standards…
Procurement, the acquiring of business assets ranging from raw materials to office supplies, plays an important role in every company. A key part of this process is managing timely payments to suppliers and vendors after receiving goods and services…
No company is entirely self-sustaining at the start. There is a need for materials, equipment, and labor. How can a business acquire these? Through a process known as procurement. The simplest definition of procurement is the act of acquiring goods or…
The last decade has seen e-commerce and other online marketplaces explode in popularity. This trend has led to the development of warehouse inventory management processes that help manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers meet the needs of…
Every business wants to deliver quality goods and services to their customers. In order to do this, companies adopt various quality management processes to ensure products meet certain standards. Two notable processes are quality assurance (QA) and…
Every business on Earth has to deal with some degree of quality control to ensure the products and services they deliver are both high-quality and compliant with local or international safety standards. Two terms which frequently come up in this area are…
There are many ways to manage your company’s inventory. Detailed inventory management systems are often used alongside warehouse management systems (WMS). In fact, some people refer to these management systems interchangeably. While there are undeniable…
Every business needs a way to accurately and efficiently perform asset management. While employees can go onto the warehouse floor to manually count products and update spreadsheets, it’s time consuming and can lead to human error. Through Radio Frequency…
Progress billing is a new way of doing business. Instead of waiting to be paid at the end of a project, you can receive payments based on a payment schedule. This means receiving a paid invoice every week instead of once or twice per year. Progress…
Cycle counting refers to the continuous tracking of inventory levels in a warehouse environment. Without accurate inventory counts, you can fall behind and fail to fulfill customer orders. Cycle counting makes inventory management easier by using select…
New technology is helping to rebuild the construction industry. From the earliest automated hand tools to the latest 3D printing and drone possibilities, the industry is booming thanks to new advances in equipment, machinery, and methodology. Discover how…
Accounting forms the cornerstone of every business, yet some industries have different accounting methods than others. The construction industry is one which has its own set of accounting techniques and tax regulations because of the long-term timelines…
Creating invoices for construction work can be difficult, particularly if you’re an independent contractor with limited experience or resources. Yet you need high quality invoices in order to properly bill your customers for services and start the payment…
The world of the ERP software market overview has existed in some shape over the last 40 years, and the competitive landscape continues to grow every year. The global ERP software market size was valued at $50.57 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach…
Buying an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system , is an unfortunately difficult process, especially when software providers hide their prices from the public. This guide can help you at least get in the ballpark when estimating the total cost of…
Enterprise resource planning, better known as ERP , is an integrated suite of business applications. These robust software suites contain comprehensive tools useful for streamlining back-office tasks from basic accounting to inventory control. ERP…
All consumer goods and commodity products are created with a manufacturing process. Whether a large production plant or a small workshop, or producing a large number of products vs one single item, every manufacturer will rely on a process to keep up with…
Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) are those designed to allow manufacturers the ability to make sudden changes to production plans. In contrast with mass production on a traditional production line, the goal is easy adaptation of the process at any…
Before you can know the tools, you have to understand the concept: What is lean manufacturing? The idea of lean manufacturing originally began as early as the 1930s with what is now known as the Toyota Production System (TPS) or Toyota Way of…
Hundreds of thousands of manufacturing companies use varying types of manufacturing ERP software for production and inventory control. These manufacturing businesses stay profitable by being able to maintain their demand as well as establish priorities in…
The very short definition: A manufacturing execution system (MES) is an information-based system designed to follow the processing of raw materials into finished products. The in-depth answer: MES uses computers and software to monitor raw materials in…
Demand planning and supply planning are commonly confused, or sometimes used interchangeably when discussing the overall optimization of inventory and supply chain management. While these two concepts are closely related (enough that a small business can…
Nonprofit organizations require a lot of work to meet funding compliance all while operating on a tight budget made up of donations. Spending time manually performing accounting processes can take away valuable time and money from the mission. Intuit…
Every company requires some degree of project management, the coordination of tasks along the production lifecycle. From planning and scheduling to quality checking and time tracking, a successful project manager is only as good as their method…
Product lifecycle management is the process of managing a product through the typical stages of its existence, including design and development (manufacturing), the sale of the item, service done to the item, and the eventual decline or abandonment of the…
The industrial internet of things (IIoT) refers to interconnected sensors, tools, and devices that are connected via computer networks (the cloud) and software applications for primarily manufacturing and energy management. By communicating…
EQMS (enterprise quality management software) is a system that enables businesses to organize procedures, processes, and responsibilities related to best practices for achieving product goals and policies. Compared to standard quality management software…
In the world of managing employee pay and timesheets, small business owners have many tasks in order to manage their payroll smoothly, including calculating pay for hourly and salary workers, handling tax deductions, and printing checks or transferring…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software creates a system of business applications designed to streamline and automate the back office functions of your organization—including accounting, forecasting, customer relationship management (CRM), and human…
In the world of property management and real estate, landlords have many tasks in order to run the operation smoothly. This includes collecting rent from tenants, keeping tabs on when payments are received, charging late fees when appropriate, maintaining…
Logistics forms a vital part of any company regularly dealing with the multi-echelon, global supply chain. The right logistics system can manage transportation operations, track vehicle maintenance, determine optimized routes and maps for shipping, and…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are a critical part of any modern business. An ERP software is an integrated suite of business applications that automate the back-office functions of your organization—primarily focused on financials, sales…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a popular method for managing business operations, particularly those which involve financial management. Made up of an integrated suite of business applications, financial ERP modules offer a wide range of…
If your company relies on an ERP to optimize business processes, you’ve probably heard you need to integrate with other software to gain the most benefits. How does ERP integration work? In short, integration establishes communication between two or more…
AppFolio is one of the most popular property management software options available, designed to streamline the day-to-day business processes of property managers, landlords, and real estate owners. This software covers accounting, maintenance requests…
Real estate management can be incredibly lucrative, yet renting out commercial property or selling residential homes is difficult in the best of circumstances. How do you find the best tenants to fill vacancies? How do you schedule maintenance across…
Is QuickBooks good as a rental property management software ? Simply put, yes, QuickBooks does have the capacity to be used for managing rental property accounting transactions. The software lets you set up properties as customers, tenants as…
Property management is an incredibly high growth industry. Yet there are a lot of potential pitfalls facing real estate managers. From collecting rent to securing new tenants, there’s always work to do in property management. Additionally, both commercial…
AppFolio and Propertyware are both popular property management software which are made to handle in-house accounting, schedule maintenance requests, facilitate unit inspections, automate tenant communication, and streamline reporting processes for…
Appfolio has been one of the leading integrated cloud business software suites in the world of property management and real estate since the company was established in 2006. The solution is routinely considered to be one of the best property management…
Appfolio and Buildium are both online property management systems designed to assist property managers, landlords, and real estate owners with accounting, maintenance requests, inspections, tenant communication, and reporting processes. Each of these…
OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) is the process of grabbing measurements of machine availability, throughput, and quality—turning it into a score that grades your manufacturing performance. This means OEE is a measure of manufacturing productivity…
When small business owners look for the best accounting software , they will routinely find QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Online at the top of most website ranks. It is also a commonly used solution for CPAs and accountants. Because of this, many…
The Sage Group, more popularly known as Sage Software or just Sage , is a worldwide provider of several different cloud-based accounting software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools . Based out of Britain, they are the third-largest ERP software…
An integral part of project management is establishing an accurate project timeline before any work begins. Otherwise, missed deadlines can quickly snowball and derail the entire project. Fortunately, PERT charts are an easy solution for project managers…
Project managers across every industry know assigning the right person to a task is one of the most critical factors behind a successful job. Then there’s the need to communicate with team members, clients, and consultants about project expectations…
What is the difference between a construction manager and a project manager ? Surprisingly, it’s quite a bit, and it’s important for construction industry firms to understand the key differences to ensure success in their construction projects. In short…
Warehouse management tools control actions and coordinate inventory throughout distribution centers. Warehousing without any sort of established system can lead to costly mistakes and poor customer relations. Often shortened to WMS, these systems offer…
A change order is an amendment to a construction contract that changes the contractor’s scope of work. Additive change orders modify the works required by the construction documents, while deductive change orders reduce the amount of time needed to…
Lawson Software , started in 1975 before being acquired by Infor Global Solutions in 2011, offered one of the largest enterprise resource planning (ERP), general ledger, and human capital management (HCM) solutions after SAP and Oracle. Known for…
Infor has been around in some capacity since 2002 providing enterprise resource planning software functionality—but has been one of the leaders in cloud-computing since 2010 when they begin an aggressive push towards modernizing their product lines and…
Microsoft offers a variety of enterprise resource planning systems through its Dynamics ERP software line. These options help optimize your financials and operations in order to help your team make data-driven decisions that improve business performance…
Sage is a worldwide provider of accounting software and ERP systems . Sage Peachtree has historically been one of the most popular small business accounting systems—and Sage continues to support individual functionality needs and industries through…
SAP and JD Edwards both offer incredibly popular, Tier I enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, designed to help businesses with balancing financials, sales, supply chain management, human resources (HR), and more. Most modern ERP platforms are…
The healthcare industry relies on using electronic data to streamline and improve medical services now more than ever. “Electronic health records (EHR) “, a specific method of healthcare data collection, is often used interchangeably with “electronic…
Microsoft Power BI and Tableau are two incredibly popular business intelligence (BI) tools used by companies for data analysis and visualization. These two powerful software suites allow businesses to handle all sorts of tasks, from basic reporting to…
SAP and Oracle provide some of the most popular ERP software products in the world. The main functions covered by these Tier I ERP vendors primarily include financials, sales, supply chain management, and human resources, though there are specialized…
Tableau is one of the best business intelligence (BI) software and data science tools available for connecting data, creating visualizations, and sharing dashboards. Recently acquired by Salesforce, Tableau provides a variety of products (such as Tableau…
Acumatica is a relatively new player in the world of ERP software. Founded in 2008, the ERP solution has quickly become one of the leading options on the market with its integrated approach to financial management, customer relationships, and…
There are many differences between an ERP system and standalone accounting software . But despite these differences, there remains a misconception that leaves many people sharing the terms interchangeably. Understanding the differences between these two…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, an integrated suite of business applications , allow organizations to streamline and optimize their business processes , such as financial, sales, and operations, which can lead to higher accuracy in your…
Warehouse automation is the growing process of replacing human workers in the supply chain with robots, vehicles, and other automated technology systems. An advanced automation system compiles all these different warehouse management software (WMS…
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software offers many benefits to businesses. As a software suite, ERP includes many popular features for customizing your company operations across multiple departments. However, before implementing a new ERP system you…
There are always ways to improve your business operations. Two popular types of software for streamlining business processes are enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools and manufacturing resource planning (MRP) . Both are used to improve how your company…
QuickBooks has long been one of the most popular accounting software options. The low cost and ease of use offered by QuickBooks programs—such as QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Enterprise —has made them a preferred bookkeeping choice for small business…
NetSuite has been one of the leading integrated cloud business software suites since the company was formed in 1998. The solution is a top choice for companies looking for complete accounting software with integrated CRM and eCommerce capabilities. Sage…
More and more businesses are expanding their sales to the online marketplace. Two incredibly popular website builders available are Shopify and Squarespace . Each can be used to build easy-to-use, customizable eCommerce sites. Which one is right for…
The debate of the best accounting software can’t be complete without a mention of QuickBooks. In some way, shape, or form, QuickBooks has been one of the leading small business accounting software solutions since it’s inception. This post will discuss the…
eCommerce sales are continuing to grow all around the globe. Building a high quality eCommerce store online is often a requirement for companies hoping to expand their sales in the modern age. Two of the most popular eCommerce website builders are Shopify…
Infor has been around in some capacity since 2002 but has been one of the leaders in cloud-computing since 2010 when they begin an aggressive push towards modernizing their product lines and providing a solution for virtually every industry. Today, their…
eCommerce sales are on the rise all over the world. Even one-person operations can now expand their business globally thanks to online marketplaces. Two of the most popular eCommerce platforms for sellers are Shopify and Etsy . Which one is right for your…
Are you looking for an ecommerce software that can help you launch an online store? Perhaps you’re looking to jump to a new ecommerce platform that can provide you with ease of use, transparent pricing, and a number of integrations and add-ons. Whatever…
Online donation tools are a donor management software that can help increase your fundraising totals like you never imagined. In addition to being able to raise more funds , you’ll be able to expand your fundraising efforts to ensure more people sign up…
When you’re searching for software, you’ve probably encountered terms like “SaaS”, “cloud-based”, “hybrid”, and “on prem” before. Wondering what makes them different? And more importantly, trying to figure out which one would benefit your company? Find…
In today’s age of digital transformation, more and more businesses are taking advantage of the benefits of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software . In fact, most businesses can’t afford to pass up on the automation, integration, and efficiencies…
If you run a business, you’ve probably considered using software to streamline operations. Two terms you’ve likely encountered during your search are enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) , as these are two of the…
NetSuite has been one of the leading integrated cloud business software suites since the company was formed in 1998. The solution is a top choice for companies looking for a complete accounting software with integrated CRM and eCommerce capabilities…
NetSuite ERP cloud-based software is one of the most deployed enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions in the world. It’s popular because, as an ERP solution, it helps companies to collect and utilize business data through automated applications like…
Most workplaces depend on an ERP to handle all sorts of business processes, from general accounting to human resources. Yet what exactly is ERP? How can one software suite serve so many departments in different ways? Find out what an ERP really is and how…
NetSuite has been one of the leading integrated cloud business software suites since the company was formed in 1998. The solution is routinely considered to be one of the best enterprise resource planning software (ERP software ) options on the market…
SAP has always been one of the leading multinational software corporations that produces enterprise resource planning software (ERP software ). The SAP ERP options available today are some of the most well known on the software market. However, their…
Order picking is one of the most critical tasks in warehousing and supply chain management. If you can’t quickly and efficiently find the right product in your warehouse, your entire operation will lag behind in fulfilling orders, and your reputation as a…
Creating an item from thin air may once have seemed like science fiction, but for today’s manufacturers, it’s not only a possibility - it’s become a critical component of their workflow. Bringing parts, difficult-to-build items, and entire products to…
Teams tend to prefer the familiar to the unfamiliar - especially when it comes to enterprise systems. The reality is that in order to create significant, measurable improvements in business processes, managing change is critical. Resistance to change is…
Running payroll for the first, second, or even third time can be complicated and confusing. If you’re overwhelmed thinking about your employer responsibilities, you’re not alone. Registering for accounts, setting up payroll, withholding taxes, and…
Each year, thousands of nonprofits and government entities contact Software Connect for help selecting fund accounting software. These regular conversations provide us unique insight on market trends and software buyers’ needs. We reviewed our notes on a…
QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) recently estimated that buddy punching—when one employee clocks in for a coworker who is late for work—costs U.S. companies more than $373 million annually. Put another way, buddy punching on average costs $298 per…
We’re interested in understanding what motivates buyers at all organizations, including churches. That’s why we commissioned an exclusive survey of church software buyers. We reviewed our recent conversations with 270 churches in North America buying…
Each year we help thousands of distributors and manufacturers select warehouse management platforms . Many high order volume businesses need to optimize inventory logistics, storage, and shipping. These regular conversations provide unique insight into…
In today’s strong economy, businesses large and small are booming. But with growth comes added complexity. Are businesses using accounting software that’s up to the task? At Software Connect, we’re always seeking a better view of the market. Who’s buying…
Each year thousands of manufacturers contact Software Connect for help selecting MRP software to support their processes. These regular conversations provide us unique insight on market trends and software buyers’ needs. We reviewed our notes on a random…
What impact is new technology having on manufacturing jobs in the U.S? Recent software innovations, from material requirements planning (MRP) to manufacturing execution systems (MES) software, have revolutionized the daily operations of manufacturing…
We speak with a wide range of contractors and construction companies to help in their technology sourcing decisions with construction software . These regular discussions help us spot construction tech trends (mostly in United States and Canada). In…
Every year we speak to thousands of manufacturers who contact us for advice on software to help manage operations. Through these regular conversations we discover new trends in the industry. In September 2017 we surveyed previous contacts: 154 small to…
Buying new manufacturing execution system (MES) software is a difficult decision. In addition to being faced with a wide array of commercial products to choose from, MES buyers understand that their product choice will be one of the most significant IT…
Many entrepreneurs spend months or even years dreaming about the day that they’re able to grow their business successfully enough to add staff. But once that threshold is crossed, some important decisions are waiting. One of the most important is figuring…
How can successful companies evolve past an over-reliance on gut instincts in favor of analytically based decision making? It’s a question of enough importance that it’s created one of today’s fastest growing business software markets. Big data and…
Competition in the distribution industry is tough. But it’s especially fierce in the office products vertical. Despite the challenges, though, independent distributors of office products are setting an example for all distributors about how the right…
Not long ago, the idea of perpetual, real-time software access to customer, work order, and inventory records from the job site was just a pipedream for service contractors. Less than ten years into the era of iOS and Android, though, things have changed…
The debate around open source has been a hot-button tech topic for decades now. But it’s a question that has largely stayed off of the desks of ERP software decision-makers. To this point, open source projects have gained more traction further down the…
Key Takeaways: SMB organizations must embrace cloud accounting or miss out on the competitive advantages of anytime, anywhere application availability. SMBs must also choose the right private versus public cloud accounting strategy to maximize benefits…
The positive relationship between reducing lead times and improving efficiency and customer satisfaction isn’t news to manufacturing executives. Lead time reduction has been a primary objective of lean manufacturing principles since the origin of lean…
ERP consultants love to recommend switching platforms. It’s the product they’re paid to sell, after all. So it might surprise you to hear an ERP consultant suggesting that might not always be the best plan. As companies grow, an inevitable side effect is…
It’s not enough to simply carry the products that customers want. Especially in competitive markets, success demands more. The stiffer the price competition, the more important each opportunity for operational efficiency becomes. And the less wiggle room…
2016 will go down as a notable year for product development within the Microsoft Dynamics suite of business management solutions. Dynamics GP has already seen a landmark version update previously this year, while significant updates of NAV and SL are also…
Back in 1980, the following quote appeared in an issue of the Harvard Business Review : Nonprofit organizations are under pressure to make their financial status better understood. Their managers, their board members or trustees, and taxpayers need to…
Non-profit management is different than for-profit management. How could it be any other way? Pursuing a mission—rather than profits—puts an entirely different engine behind what drives organizational success. Responsible financial management is no less…
Most small business leaders don’t spend any more time than they have to thinking about accounts payable work. It’s understandable. Paying the bills isn’t much fun. It’s also one of those purely administrative tasks that doesn’t directly create value for…
If you’ve been struggling to decide between a cloud or on-premises software deployment, determining what’s right for you might be as simple as asking the right questions. Small and medium-sized businesses will spend billions of dollars this year…
Got three minutes? That’s all it will take to pin-down the must-haves when it comes to finding software that supports the professional services billing model. Professional services billing gets messy. It’s just the nature of the beast. There’s a lot going…
Successful businesses don’t stop pushing to outpace the competition. But year after year they also get help from an unlikely source: rivals who take a pass on giving themselves a headstart in the race to sales success. In business times when everything…
Along with small business success come new challenges. Responsibilities expand beyond what the core team can handle. New employees must be brought on to manage growth. And at some point, keeping up with increased revenues—and expenses—requires more than…
There’s no question that “better software technology” is becoming a more frequent answer to the big question of how to conduct better business. In fact, it’s a trend significant enough to have genuinely expanded the role of the contemporary business…
Wholesale customers are demanding more product choices than ever before. The answer why is simple. Buyers demand choice because they can. Lower barriers to market entry for start-up distributors and accelerated global competition continue to expand…
What does it take to be a good accountant? Traditional answers to that question might include things like: “an eye for detail,” “a mathematical mind,” “an ability to spot patterns,” and “above-average organization skills.” In today’s day and age, though…
If you contract with a third party CPA, you should absolutely seek out their opinion when purchasing accounting software . But if you rely solely on their opinion, you could be making a mistake. Having spoken with hundreds of software buyers over the last…
Global CRM software revenue increased from $16B in 2011 to $23B in 2014. A 31% increase in revenue for a single business is remarkable. When an entire industry vertical increases market share by a third, though, it qualifies as a mega-trend. Sales and…
Being a small business owner isn’t for the faint of heart. But of all the fears and uncertainties small business owners face, a lack of available capital has to be the biggest monster under the bed. For a lot of small business owners, though, the fear is…
Everybody loves discounts. Well, everybody except maybe the accountants and order managers at the companies offering the discounts. They’re the one’s who have to deal with what can often be cumbersome back-end challenges related to managing promotional…
“It’s not at all what we expected.” Lots of software buyers have told us exactly that when explaining why they needed to replace recently purchased accounting software . Nobody plans to have their software purchase experience end with them furiously…
The same terms appear over and over again in discussions of enterprise social media. Buzz. Brand advocacy. Promotion. Outreach. Engagement. When it comes to enterprise social media, connecting with the customer is priority number one (and seemingly…
IT said, “No.” What a bummer. You spent hours assembling feature needs, talking to sellers, gathering proposals, and demoing software. You found the perfect accounting software . It has a beautiful interface. The reporting is awesome. It would definitely…
In this article, we take a deep dive into the most-effective strategies for making phone contact with web-lead submissions. Read on for the full details of our in-depth case study or skip ahead to the key findings for simple steps you can take to double…
If your company is at the point where you are losing pennies or even dimes on every dollar-earned due to inefficiencies in key businesses processes, there’s no time like the present to make a software change. The hardest thing about switching software…
Efficiency through automation has been the goal of every manufacturing business since Henry Ford. But how do you automate while manufacturing an entirely customizable product? That’s the real question for any growth-minded ETO manufacturer. Edmonton-based…
Starting Jan 2016 many organizations will be required to begin providing the IRS with new reports based on the ACA (Affordable Care Act), aka Obamacare. The new ACA requirements will represent a significant additional reporting burden on qualifying…
As technology advances and business management techniques continued to be refined, there’s an increased focus on enabling data-based decision making. These days it’s hard to find a company that’s not talking about how to turn analytics and business…
Craig Violante from King County Housing Authority shares the story of how improved financial software allowed their organization to more nimbly pursue funding, increase efficiency, and deliver more fully on their organizational mission. Imagine this…
Really? “Drag your good name through the mud?” That’s a bit dramatic, no? It is—but rightly so. If you find yourself leading an ERP selection and implementation project, the reality is that you’re staring down one of the largest technology projects of…
What happens after your customers place orders online? Good things? All the time? Let’s get a bit more specific. Are you ever running into post web order submission issues like late shipments, cancellations due to out-of-stock inventory, or returns due to…
Alaska, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Virginia are the states with the largest percentage of their companies investing in new business management software. The data is the result of five years of input from 27,824 individual companies. The study…
2015 is off to a fast-start in terms of ERP news. A number of new solutions have been released, existing products have been updated, and key players in the market have undergone significant business changes. On January 13th, Oracle announced the launch of…
Enterprise resource planning systems , or ERP software, are an integrated suite of business applications to help your business manage financials, sales, and operations. Breaking down these core 3 areas, you’ll find accounting capabilities such as a…
There’s one voice that’s often conspicuously absent from the online ERP conversation: the one belonging to actual users. It’s easy to find information from developers, integrators, consultants, and the tech media. But to find out what real users are…
Sales leaders looking to boost sales with an investment in CRM software face a challenge. Here’s the crux of the problem: Every departmental manager wishes they had more resources. Extra head count, superior equipment, new software—investment…
Let’s face it. The anonymous company gift exchange doesn’t ever seem to work out quite as well as you hoped. Somehow Fred from the warehouse ends up with the spa gift card, while Patty from HR pretends like she loves her awesome new paperweight. This…
It’s something everyone understands in concept. If your firm bills clients as a function of time worked, missing timesheets mean missing revenue. The equation seems simple enough. But missing and late timesheets are common business management issues for…
What’s the worst part of losing a grip on your contracting company’s job costs ? Billable costs not making it to the final invoice? The difficulty of identifying which jobs are actually making money? The productivity-killing chore of reassembling…
Really? The top 10 ways an ERP project is like Thanksgiving Dinner? Thinking ERP and Thanksgiving might be more apples and oranges than long lost brothers? Well, guess again! After reading this list, you’ll wonder how you ever told ERP projects and…
“Would you like to pay extra?” Nobody wants to say yes to that question, of course. But isn’t that how the question of whether to sign up for accounting software updates and support comes off? It doesn’t matter how nice the name of the plan sounds. They…
There’s really only two qualifiers for inclusion on our list of the top 100 accounting software features. If a feature appears here, it’s either: Something which every accounting software package simply must have. Or,; and Something which offers…
TJ Maxx. Home Depot. Albertson’s. None of these credit card fraud targets deserved it, of course. But Goodwill? Goodwill?! Unfortunately, yes. Goodwill is the latest household name retailer suffering a major credit card data breach. The grim stats in the…
@youtube Recently we surveyed 142 fundraisers about their use of technology and fundraising software . Each of the fundraisers shared with us how successful they’ve been growing contributions. They also described their software management platforms…
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” No doubt, many aspects of the bitcoin phenomenon would astound Benjamin Franklin if he were alive today. (Though perhaps not as many as you might expect. He did help architect the…
80,000 businesses already accept bitcoin. And to echo a recent Entrepreneur article , “Why not yours?” It’s no longer an idle question. If the bitcoin question hasn’t landed on your doorstep, it will soon. The Wall Street Journal op-eds are already here…
Once upon a time, the idea of attaining a paperless office seemed a bit like the business management version of scaling Mt. Everest. These days we’re all a lot closer to the summit than we might have ever expected. The digitization of records of all kinds…
I’ll admit it. The moment I see that “Terms and Conditions” box come up on my screen, I’m hunting down the “Agree” checkbox as fast I can, just so I can get on with it and access the software already. Compared to consumer software, social media, or app…
Imagine this: A product hasn’t quite fit the bill. Your customer attempts to return it. But the replacement item is out of stock and the account credit is misapplied. The customer calls to find out what the heck is going on, but a clear answer is tough to…
How do you break the deadlock in the in-house payroll versus outsourcing debate? There’s no shortage of case studies sponsored by payroll software providers demonstrating ROI from in-house payroll. On the other side of the coin, you’ll find plenty of…
It’s been around since accountants ditched adding machines for Apple II’s. And it’s a feature that—when used correctly—can save your business from some truly nasty predicaments. Ladies and gentlemen, reintroducing your old, but underappreciated friend…
There is a major correlation between achieving business success in the service industry and providing mobile capabilities to field technicians. That’s probably not a controversial statement now that we are several years into the mobile revolution—but…
Consider the following questions: How do you ensure you have the right systems to operate effectively?; How do you evaluate your technology needs?; and How do you choose the right ERP solution?. If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll recognize these as…
In a perfect world, construction billing would be correct, quick, and easy. Not the terms that come to mind when you think of your process? Construction accounting is undeniably complicated and unwieldy, yet you need it to ensure your construction…
CRM software is becoming a more and more indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes. A 2013 study by Nucleus Research identified that every $1 spent on CRM software yields $5.60 in revenue. Not surprisingly, with even the potential of that kind of…
There’s no denying enterprise resource planning (ERP) software provides many useful benefits to workplaces of every size across every industry. With an ERP, you can automate backend processes to streamline day-to-day operations in every department from…
“Do I need accounting software or an accountant?” It’s a question that many small business owners ask themselves at some point. And given that I’ve spent the last decade helping companies find accounting software , you might think I’d come down squarely…
Migrating data is one of the most mysterious parts of switching systems for new accounting software buyers. Even for experienced buyers who have previously implemented software, the big question remains: How easily will our data transfer? The dream is to…
In the non-profit world, an increase in giving isn’t just a number on a ledger. It means more meals delivered, patients treated, classes taught, or programs funded. In other words, it means affecting more of the change that motivates your mission. And…
The end of XP support isn’t just a technology story. XP’s retirement will also have very real monetary consequences for millions of companies still using the OS. To put it another way—if your company is still using XP and you’re the one responsible for…
“Solution” is a word that draws a fair amount of bad press from the technology jargon police. Some people seem to think it’s fuzzy or puffed up. I don’t happen to agree with those people. I actually use the word “solution” quite a bit. And there are good…
Retired. Discontinued. Expired. However you put it, Sage PFW ERP and Sage Pro ERP have reached the end of the road as officially supported Sage products. Since nothing raises questions like a product retirement when it comes to ERP software, we thought a…
Landed cost tracking doesn’t catch many headlines in the tech press when it comes to the big data and business intelligence revolution—but maybe it should. In many ways, landed cost tracking is the poster-child for how turning data into information can…
The basic aspiration of ERP software is comprehensive support of all business management processes and data in a single system of record. So here’s a question: That being the case, does it really make sense to isolate the evaluation and selection of an…
The web continues to change how businesses engage with customers, as an increasing percentage of transactions move online. Meanwhile, integrated software application suites are revolutionizing business management capabilities with better data-handling and…
The idea that we can separate out a process, task, or problem and fix it up with a singular approach is tantalizing. It even works—in some cases and to some degrees. Take the case of manufacturing operations software. For years, manufacturing software…
One of the benchmark moments for any retail business is when it moves to a software-enabled POS system . For some retailers, it happens the day the doors first open for business. For others it may occur after many years spent relying on an electronic cash…
There are a lot of synonyms for enterprise resource planning (ERP) : financial suite, system software, basic operating system, business planning software, and so on. Why so many? Because there’s no single, canonical definition of ERP. And as a result…
On September 5, 2013 the New York Times published an article titled “Secret Documents Reveal N.S.A. Campaign Against Encryption .” The article contained an excerpt from a 2013 NSA budget request document for the $250M a year “SIGINT Enabling Project.” The…
If your company is a small business looking to market effectively, the web has some ideas for you. Lots of ideas, in fact! But what if you’re a B2B seller and you’re more interested in figuring out best practices for marketing to small businesses? Go…
What happens when a paradigm-shifting tech trend collides with what Time Magazine described as the biggest news story of 2013 ? That’s the question for anyone wondering how the exposure of unauthorized NSA communications surveillance is affecting…
Your inventory data wants to talk. And, here’s the good news: With today’s inventory technology , it’s actually not hard to help it get its way. Contemporary inventory management systems are built to communicate. Consider the options: Sales, purchasing…
Here’s a question for you: What’s a “small business”? Think about it for a second. It’s actually a bit tricky to define, isn’t it? It’s definitely the small-town, one-chair barber shop. But what about the ten person contracting business doing a few…
The federal government can’t quite make up its mind about what constitutes a “small business.” When it comes to the government, “small business” is a relative term. What it means depends on whether it’s being applied to securing a loan, qualifying for…
“The cloud debate is over.” That’s what a CIO.com article reported almost two years ago now, quoting a major software company executive. I’m not so sure it is, though. At least, not when it comes to the real decisions that many small businesses are…
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology that uses computer chips and radio. Readers will likely be familiar with the term ‘RFID’ and its usage in modern-day tracking systems. However, understanding how RFID…
Scalability. It’s a term that pops up in the ERP program conversation often—but often with too light a touch. If you’re serious about protecting your software investment, the concept of scalability demands a deeper look. From a practical perspective, how…
It’s probably not too controversial to suggest that software can accelerate quality management capabilities. In fact, it sounds a lot like common-sense. But in the world of quality management, common-sense is just a starting point, rather than a…
Tax Form W2 is part of the ‘W series’ of tax forms and is a six-part federal Wage and Tax Statement. This form reports all of the wages earned by employees and taxes that were withheld for that year. Providing the W2 to an employee on time is one of the…
Every entrepreneur who makes it past the “business plan on a napkin” stage will have some level of familiarity with the income statement. It is, after all, the fundamental report for understanding financial performance over a period of time. But in my…
Budgeting, by definition, involves preparing for change. But lately prominent business thinkers are insisting that the very process of corporate budgeting itself is due for an evolution. Increasingly, the call to advance budgeting practices is being…
High profile product recalls have hit everything from cars to cribs. No product is immune from the possibility of a recall and wholesale distributors in every market niche carry a percentage of the risk exposure. What are the risks related to product…
Alas. Hidden costs—they’re everywhere. Imagine this: You get a call from a friend. $30. That’s all it takes to see 80’s hair rock sensation Winger live in the flesh on-stage at the local casino theatre. Whether its the flood of hairspray-scented memories…
The numbers are in: Senior managers are moving data to the cloud with or without company sponsored software. The digital forensics and security services company, Stroz Friedberg, recently published a survey that found that nearly 75% of information…
It’s not exactly spilling a secret to say that accounting has a reputation for being slow and boring. And, let’s be honest, get 5 or 10 checks into posting a batch of receivables checks, and you’ll probably second that reputation yourself—even if the…
Having recently published our commercial printing accounting software guide , we thought it would be useful to share some software success stories directly from companies in the industry. Today’s profitable commercial printing businesses increasingly rely…
How big is the mobile technology trend? Big enough that the numbers needed to measure it are calculated in the billions: There are over 1.2B mobile device users globally. Source: Mobify.com ; Global enterprises invested $21.1B in tablets alone in 2013…
The employee performance review is a time-honored tradition at every company around the world. Whether annual, quarterly, or monthly, these performance indicators are vital for showing who needs improvement, who is exceeding expectations, and who needs to…
In small businesses, where employees wear many different hats, processes are sometimes just habits formed over the years. @: BlueLinkERP.com, “The Importance of Evaluating Processes During the Inventory Management Software Search “ When I came across this…
For a pretty straight-forward concept, catch weight management generates a fair amount of questions: What is catch weight management?; When is it required?; What processes are affected by it?; What benefits can it provide?; and Which software solutions…
‘Tis the season for family, food, presents… and confusing payroll administration situations? Could be! Handling holiday pay may be easier than juggling multiple state holiday travel plans or hanging lights on an icy roofline, but it can still raise some…
I know. Your Twitter feed is jammed. You might even be plotting your next mass unfollow to clear out the junk. So following yet another B2B source on Twitter might not exactly be at the top of your to-do list. But it should be . The value of social media…
Congratulations on selecting your new accounting software system! Now the work really begins. The question is who is going install, setup and train everyone on your new system and what is all involved? The good news is that your software provider is an…
Accounting software is a critical tool for any business. But the rapid pace of change can make it tough to stay current. While it may be your job to make sure your company is taking advantage of the opportunities software technology presents, we figured…
Implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software , an integrated suite of business applications, isn’t as simple as downloading some files and going live instantly. Depending on the system requirements, it can take weeks, months, or years to…
Why do some start-ups “make it?” A lot of credit tends to go to hustle and hard work. Having a great idea at the core of the business doesn’t hurt, either. And, let’s not forget to the value of a great team. But to augment these advantages, tech savvy…
Product demos are an amazing tool for software buyers. But it’s important to keep one thing in mind: What you’ll see in your software demo will at least partly be defined by what you’re looking for. Are you looking for the right things? Asking the right…
“A necessary evil.” If we’re being honest, that’s probably most defense contractors’ answer to the question, “What is the DCAA?” As the organization responsible for vetting defense contractor qualifications, the Defense Contract Audit Agency is also the…
Overcoming the factors that stand in the way of making the most cost-effective software decision is largely a matter of applying a bit of commonsense and basic decision psychology to your ERP platform purchase. Let’s take a closer look at some of the…
Is your company feeling some technology growing pains? Many small businesses struggle to know when they should adopt software to improve operations. While low-cost, entry-level solutions are great when you’re starting out, there often comes a point where…
Searching for business or accounting software for a client can be a lucrative consulting job. Through a bit of organization, you will be able to provide your client with a quality deliverable in return for your billable services. This eight step guide…
Are you looking for a software solution that’s designed specifically for your niche industry? Do you also want a program that has the largest possible install base to ensure supportability? In an ideal situation, the answer to both questions is likely…
Every company is looking to save some money. And, the right software solution can undoubtedly save you money by creating efficiencies. But is it better to add on to your current system by purchasing third party modules or is it better to replace the whole…
You’ve gotten your software search underway. Now what? You know the main question: Which program is best for me? But there’s another very important one to consider as well: Which company should I buy from? Different software companies are able to perform…
Technology is ever changing. One of the biggest buzzwords in relation to software is “cloud” computing. But what does “cloud” computing mean and is it a fit for your company? The reality is that there are several ways to host and run your software…
There are lots of reasons to purchase ERP software . But start to poke at any of the reasons you might brainstorm and you’ll find a common driver emerging behind the majority of them: the desire for improved automation and efficiency . The more automatic…
There are thousands of so called ERP experts out there. But the truth is no one understands your business like you do. You may be one of the few that has reviewed and evaluated ERP programs extensively before. But, odds are that it’s probably been a few…
An ERP purchase is one of the most substantial and important IT investments your company will make. Choosing the right partner is critical to making sure you meet your targeted return on investment. Add these 6 underrated questions to your ERP and…
The worldwide cost of failed IT projects could be as high as 3 trillion dollars , reported ZDNet analyst and columnist, Michael Krigsman. It’s an astounding figure to consider and not the only number related to IT failures that is bound to raise eyebrows…
SaaS , better known as software-as-a-service or cloud-based software , has become a popular option for running a modern company. It’s no surprise one of the fundamental questions surrounding every software purchasing decision seems to be: should we move…
It’s easy to assume that accounts payable fraud is a problem for other companies. But the statistics say it is surprisingly common. In a 2013 study underwritten by J.P. Morgan, the Association for Financial Professionals found that “61% of surveyed…