“VAI truly
understood our business challenges and developed a flexible solution that has
transformed our organizations’ operations. VAI was able to get both
organizations up and running in six months and we are already delighted by the
results. With truly automated operations and real-time access to critical data,
we are now able to offer customers outstanding service and support that truly
sets us apart from the competition.”
THOUGHT:
It is not only comforting to know that your solution
provider cares, but truly understands your challenges. You business depends on their ability to
deliver the right solution. Nice to know
that your business is important to
your solution provider.
QUOTE:
The companies’ previous ERP system limited their ability
to efficiently and cost effectively perform critical every day sales and
service functions. Service billing was a
labor intensive process, as both organizations used paper invoices that needed
to be printed before going to the customers’ sites. In addition, sales and service reps didn’t
have a clear snapshot of what products customers were using, what they were
already billed for and what they already paid. In one instance, inventory processing and billing
were previously delayed by one full week as a result of the salesmen checking
in on a Friday, and then the accounting department entered the sales and cash
receipts during the following week.
THOUGHT:
Any system that limits your ability to do business is a
problem. The whole point of real
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions is to drive efficiency, reduce
costs and make you more profitable.
Great solutions do this and enable great customer service.
QUOTE:
Situation Summary
• Manual and offline processes used.
• Labor intensive service billing due to using paper
invoices.
• Inventory processing and billing extensively delayed.
• Limited insight into inventory and customer data.
THOUGHT:
Manual anything is not good. Labor intensive anything is not good. Delayed anything is not good. Limited anything is not good. All of these “not good” items are heavy cost
overhead to a business trying to compete.
QUOTE:
Objectives
GLE and HRT needed to improve service billing operations,
streamline inventory management and reduce costs associated with truck routing processes.
THOUGHT:
Any company that wants to remain competitive and stay in
business needs to concentrate on operational efficiencies which include
billing, inventory and other processing.
QUOTE:
Solution
GLE and HRT evaluated several ERP solutions but
discovered that these offerings were not able to provide them with the
manufacturing processes they needed to ensure streamlined operations and
reduced costs. Madden, along with management
in both companies determined that with its ease-of deployment and real-time
data discovery, VAI S2K was the ideal solution for GLE and HRT.
THOUGHT:
Good to evaluate multiple systems, you want to make sure
your solution fits your challenges. Even
better is the analysis that gives you the metrics to make that decision. Streamlining operations is key to operational
efficiency. Without this no solution
would be worth the investment.
QUOTE:
Business Results
After implementing VAI S2K remote access and service
billing, the entire billing and invoicing process was completely automated,
allowing GLE and HRT to significantly enhance the level of service and support
they provide to customers.
“Not only was the
implementation of VAI S2K seamless and quick, but its performance has been
flawless as well. Since deploying, technicians are no longer burdened with
customer service and billing issues, and we have been able to integrate all of
our ERP systems so that we have one, accurate view of all our data,” said
Madden.
THOUGHT:
Automation is a key component to efficiency and operating
competitively. Really great news is the statement
indicating that their service levels to their customers was improved. Quick implementation is great also as long as
it does come at the compromise of quality and effectiveness.
QUOTE:
Key Benefits
• Rapid implementation.
• Seamless integration of VAI S2K.
• More efficient and up-to-the-minute inventory
management.
• Real-time accounts receivable control.
• Transitioned from paper to electronic records/management.
• Reduction of human error, manual processes and employee
resources.
• DOT sheets can be printed automatically based on truck
loads.
• Suggested truck loads can be obtained and altered in
real-time.
• Royalties and commissions generated automatically in
the system after each sale.
THOUGHT:
·
Rapid implementation is good. Who likes to wait to open their Christmas
presents.
·
Seamless integration is the goal of an ERP solution. The more the left hand knows what the right
hand is doing, the more likely anything is to get done.
·
Managing inventory is the most challenging and
yet cost savings activity that can be done in an organization.
·
Real –time AR as well any real-time information
is critical to making accurate business decisions now, not later. Management needs information to make
decisions.
·
We are all in the process of transitioning to
electronic solutions. From personal
banking and other paperwork. Our
businesses should do the same. This
increases efficiencies in the back office as well as in customer service.
·
Reduction of human error is a natural byproduct
of investing in an ERP solution. Anytime
a human is involved errors are likely to manifest.
·
Producing the right paperwork, when actual paper
is needed, is a good thing. The cost of
corrections and remediation far out way the cost of doing the job right the first
time.
·
Real-time information leads itself to being able
to be modified in real-time. Let the
efficiencies rule.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I have made many comments about the published
article. What stands out to you? There are two that I would like to leave with
you.
1. From
my perspective I see a fairly typical company that reached the strong part of
the growth curve and seemingly a sudden inability to keep up. Their old processing worked well with a lower
level of business operations, but that solution did not have the ability to
scale well.
It is like a set of tires on your car. They start out strong and well suited to the
vehicle. Over time the tires wear and
you adjust to the worn tread. Then seemingly
all-of-a-sudden you find you had trouble stopping in enough time or you took a
turn wider than usual. The changes are
happening all the time and you are adjusting, yet at some point you realize
that the tires just need to be replaced, because they are more of a liability
at this point than an asset.
2. Customer
service from the ERP solution provider, in this case VAI, to you enables you to
provide better customer service to your customers. Apply the Golden Rule here (and everywhere
for that matter). Treat others how you
would like to be treated. No rocket
science here. By increasing your ability
to service the needs of your customers, you increase the ability of your
customers to keep doing business with you and to spread the word about how your
relationship with them helps.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: Anything you do, in the name of your business
or anything for that matter must have increased customer service as the driving
factor. Without happy customers you are
out of business. Period. People try to draw
many overlays over an ERP solution. Kind
of like throwing cooked pasta on the fridge.
Let us see what sticks and go with that.
Bottom line –
Efficiency is great. Automation is
great. But, ask yourself, WHY?
Sure, we all would like more business.
In fact I would like you to reach out to me now so we could sit down and
talk. That is right, just talk. No one that I talk with needs what I can
offer at the time we make contact or they need the solutions, but they do not
have budget. So we talk, just talk. Let us find out what keeps you awake at
night. Let us work on your budget so
that you have the information you need to make improvements in your operations
that drive customer satisfaction and increase your profitability.
I do not expect you to say “Wow, let us go to Dolvin and buy something today”. But, I hope and I mean this sincerely, you
will engage me in conversation. I truly
want to help your organization, business, do better. Sometimes this means pointing you in a
different direction. Regardless, we (me,
myself and I) will never try to sell you something you do not need or that will
not help you.
Contact
Dolvin Consulting today. We are here
to help. Here to help you. If you do not like what you hear, then just
hang up. We all have good days and bad
ones. Let us help you have more better
days.
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