How to Write a Compelling Company Description

How to Write a Compelling Company Description    Brian Hart, Inc. Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned business professional, writing a company description can be a difficult task to attract new business.  This description is a core part of your messaging, and it’s important to be succinct when everyone is now inundated with too much information.  Learn about the steps you can take to craft a compelling company description. read more

The Season for ERP Solutions

The season for buying, purchasing and the season for inventory control are now.  The season for change is now.  Now is the time for the changes you need to make to better prepare yourself and your organization for the next season. 

 

The season of change is now.

 

When a business has a consistent yearlong demand for its products, planning is a little easier with the right tools.  After all if you pick, pack and ship a thousand units a month and you know your suppliers lead time and balance order point with applicable discounts, the purchasing effort can be automated.  You can ensure that you have enough inventory to meet demand, but not too much that warehouse space is wasted or consumed where other products could be better stocked.

 

When a business’ products have seasonal demand, the challenges increase.  Add another level of complexity when the seasonal products are perishable, such as found in the food industry.  Productivity has increased importance as does handling.  The need to drive operational efficiencies increases as the penalties for not doing so become increasing cost prohibitive. 

 

Some organizations in food processing are still using the look-and-see method of reordering.  Someone who has been in the business a relatively long time walks through the warehouse or is able to keep a running count in their head and orders what they think is right at that time.  Chances are if they have been doing this long enough they may be accurate.  They may also not be.  What happens when this person goes on vacation?  What happens if they take a leave of absence?  What happens when they retire or are suddenly not able to work anymore? 

 

How do you transfer someone’s gut instinct into a reproducible formula for optimum inventory levels?

 

The challenges of the supply chain have not fundamentally changed since the beginning of commerce.

 

What has changed is the need for quicker access to greater and greater amounts of information.  The need for mobility and anywhere access.  Analytic analysis of the repository of information collected to identify and respond to new business demands.

 

 

The season of the switch.

 

 

New business environments require a comprehensive set of integrated, cross-functional business processes.  There needs to be an alignment of both strategic and tactical operations to improve productivity and insight, reduce costs through greater efficiencies and flexibility in computing environments. 

 

Industry requirements are constantly changing and new systems are needed to meet those demands and reduce risk through improved financial management. 

 

The benefits are more profitability, peace of mind and a restful night of sleep.

 

The solution starts with a solid foundation of financial management.  Add to that advanced options in distribution management.  The end result is a system that integrates the entire operation.  Better integration means superior customer service levels. 

 

A happy customer should be the goal of any solution.

 

Inventory management with comprehensive sales analysis and forecasting enables a more strategic approach.  Are you achieving your goals for inventory turnover?  How well do you meet customer demand?  Do you have what they need when they want it?  Do you have excess inventory taking up space and increasing overhead?

 

There are different seasons for inventory and seasons for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions. 

 

What worked well years ago may not be able to keep up with demand or the changing landscape of commerce today.  The overhead of maintaining an older system can often outpace and out cost a new system optimized for your industry.

 

All businesses struggle to some extent somewhere along the business cycle.  Each business has their challenge spot.  A fresh set of eyes and thorough analysis can reveal these bottlenecks and open the door to increased efficiencies and profits.  Profits that can be reinvested to further drive efficiency. 

 

Experience has shown that the more of any business that is integrated into a single system the better that organization is capable of operating.  What we do not know is where your organization struggles without talking with you. 

 

Is your season of change upon you now?  How will you address the challenges of the next season?

 

Contact Dolvin Consulting today.  Not tomorrow, not next season.  We are here to listen and help.  We are not here to tell you how to operate your business.  We are a resource that you can utilize to identify areas of improvement that will help you compete more effectively with your competition enabling you to fulfill your customer’s needs.  A happy customer is a loyal customer.

 

Complete ERP Solution

What are people saying about your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution?  Does it improve your bottom line results by leveraging the latest technologies?  Can it run on-site (on premise) or in the Cloud to meet your needs?  Is it an all-in-one solution?  After all is that not what an “Enterprise” solution is supposed to do?  Do your people have anytime anywhere access to the information they need to make intelligent decisions and to get their work done?

 

Does innovation in your ERP solution accelerate your results?

 

 

Video quotes and thoughts:

·         I am a better manager with my employees.  I can clearly see what they are doing.  I never have to wonder if they are working.

o   Productivity improved.  More accurate and on time shipments to your customers.

·         Efficiencies have gone up 47%.

o   This is a key component on making a decision to implement or switch an ERP solution.  To drive efficiencies.  Increased efficiency means lower costs and better profits.  What are they doing with that increase in efficiency?

·         My team is better prepared.

o   Success lives in the details.  The better prepared your team is, the better they are able to handle customer challenges and provide great customer service.

·         Everything went off without a hitch.

o   Great planning and experience from the solution provider which took the time to understand the challenges and impact the solution could bring to make the transition as painless as possible.  Does your ERP provider care about you?

·         Very good forecasting package.

o   Better planning means better operation.  Being able to plan well helps to drive efficiencies.  Having the information and knowing what to do with it is key.  Do you think that a better forecast would lead to better on hand inventory and better customer service?

·         Increase sales volume.

o   Whatever your particular threshold, doing more sales means you are likely running more efficiently and you are delivering great customer service.  There is some reason why the customer are purchasing more.

·         Nothing compares to the Power Systems reliability.

o   Concentrate on your business and customers, not the system it is running on.  One really important consideration about the equipment your solution runs on.  More time for customer service!

·         We were guaranteed speed and uptime.

o   You cannot keep your customers happy, market your product, or compete effectively, if the system you are relying on does not work.  A fast system is nice, but worthless if it is not up and running.  There is a big difference between up and available.  Which do you think your customers prefer?

·         Likes the process as it helps to develop corporate relationships.

o   Of course, people do business with people they like, first and foremost.  That is why a system with integrated functions helps to develop and nurture relationships.  Those relationships lead to more business and happier customers.

·         Flexible ad-hoc reporting. 

o   Built in reports are a nice asset.  Many times ERP systems either have too much or too little information or the information is there, but not in a way that is easily digested.   The ability to see “what-if” and the ability to put that power in the hands of end users is empowering.  What higher level of customer service could you achieve with the right information at your finger tips.

·         The Warehouse Management System (WMS) enables to us to know exactly where every case is located and how many we have.

o   Inventory accuracy is a key component in any system.  Finding the inventory is really important.  On time, accurate shipments, replenishment ordering, labor efficiency are just a few benefits.  From a customer perspective – did I receive what I ordered when it was promised?

·         We are informed about our customers.

o   How do you feel when you purchase and the supplier knows who you are, what you purchased in the past, your buying habits, your budget, what you like and what you do not?  Do you feel special?  Do you feel that they care?  What did they just do to keep you as a happy customer?  Would you want your customers to feel that way about you?

·         Multiplatform coexistence.

o   All in one systems are a great asset and help to drive efficiency, however, there are many legitimate reasons that organizations may have a need for more than one system.  When those systems work together, then you can concentrate your time and budget on what matters most (customers).

·         Our service level is second to none.

o   On time, accurate production and delivery.  Sufficient, but not excessive inventory levels.  Reduced overhead, better planning.  Who benefits?

·         Saturday cashier levels dropped from 4-5 to 2 or 3 people.

o   Reduce labor costs, more efficiency, quicker customer checkout.  Redeployed labor to areas in greater need.  Win-win.

·         We stopped having to look else ware.

o   The solution does what it says it will.  Our ERP supplier not only promised, but delivered.  Our operations are better.  Our customers are happier.  We are happier.  Finally.  A supplier that treats its customers how they like to treat their customers.

 

Any solution should not only drive efficiency to lower costs, but should have the net effect of delivering the best possible customer service possible.  No one has an unlimited budget.  So Return on Investment (ROI) is important.  Any organization that invests in itself wants to feel comfortable that they made wise decisions. 

 

How your ERP solution provider treats you is an indicator of how you treat or would like to treat your customers.  How well do you stack up?  How happy are your customers?  When was the last time you asked them?  Have any given you a referral (with or without you asking for one)?

 

Each time I watch this video I see and hear another aspect of this particular ERP solution and I look to see how that highlighted feature, module or solution better enables that company to serve their customers.   Take three minutes now and go watch it again: http://youtu.be/z6FGBQW0mQA

 

 

What would the net effect of an investment like this one have on internal operations and personnel?  Will it enable them to achieve better levels of service to their organization and their customers?

 

At Dolvin Consulting we like solutions that achieve the same high level of standards to which we hold ourselves.  Contact us today to see how we can help you help your customers.

 

 

What specific problems are you trying to solve?

How do you fix something, deliver new services, increase efficiencies if you do not know what is broken or worse yet you do not know what you are trying to solve?  When companies look at Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, they are typically looking to increase operational efficiencies in order to decrease costs and overhead in order to drive better profits. 

 

Full integration of all departments or functional roles in an organization is benefit of ERP solutions.  This may be accomplished over time or all at once, but any solution should address this need.  If you do not recognize this need or its potential benefits, then that is a great place to start in your analysis. 

 

 

The left hand needs to know what the right hand is doing.  Management needs access to real time information in order to address critical issues and make better and faster bottom line decisions.

 

Business Intelligence (BI) software is one module that usually comes after an initial implementation.  It works best when there is a lot data to massage.  Trends only become detectible when there is enough data or information to recognize them.  BI is one of the true gems of ERP solutions in what it can deliver in regards to forecasting and real-time data analysis.

 

BI comes in many varieties.  Most ERP solutions come with a Sales Analysis module which will give you basic trends and analysis.  That coupled with dynamic report writers and of course your friendly programmer will provide a good transition as you build the volume of information that makes a full BI solution worthwhile. 

 

A formal BI solution typically requires a data warehouse to store the information.  Many times this data warehouse involves some processing of the core data to massage it into a useable format.  This process of massaging the information can delay the real-time availability.  Size of the data warehouse and physical location, whether on premise or hosted in the cloud all factor into the equation.  A cloud solution may not be a good choice unless the entire ERP solution is based there as the overhead to populate the cloud can be a real hindrance.  Building it in house can generate a lot of upfront costs in labor, equipment, training, support and redundant support systems.

 

BI solutions may be fully integrated with the ERP solution or may become Add-on solutions from third parties.  Both have plusses and minuses.  Full integration as long as it provides the analysis your organization needs and fits your budget is preferred.  It has to be affordable, but comparing to an Add-on solution is not an apple-to-apple comparison.  There are flavors of Add-on as well.  Some Add-ons are supported by the ERP provider and act closely in functionality as one that might have been developed in house.  There are others that are great packages, but require a lot of effort to integrate and are often time delayed in providing information, from a few hours to whole day(s).  Full integration often allows for real-time analysis. 

 

One of your analysis questions should be is real-time even necessary?  If you are dealing globally, it may not be that critical.  If you are dealing with retail outlets across a geographic area, then knowing where your inventory demands becomes more time sensitive.

 

Of course the base of any decision to purchase new software, upgrade an existing solution or add new modules to fill holes should be better customer service. 

 

Happier customers purchase more, more often and tell others how happy they are with your organization.  What is guaranteed even more than this positive customer feedback is what your customers or should I say former customers will say if they have a bad experience dealing with your company. 

 

Happy customers like dealing with friendly, happy people that make them feel valued, their business is important regardless of order size as well as on time deliveries, accurate shipments and being kept informed.  

 

A fully integrated system in which empowers your people to purchase the right materials, pick pack and ship accurately and keep your customers informed is a great step in the right direction.  The primary is goal is good people and has nothing to do with software or hardware.  Good people are happy people.  Happy people have the right tools to answer and solve customer issues directly and quickly (this is where good software helps).

 

So what are you trying to achieve with BI?  How quickly do you need to look at and analyze your information?  Do you understand what BI is and how it can help? 

 

A thorough analysis should be undertaken first to build and answer a list of questions.  BI solutions should be able to provide a Return on Investment (ROI) to offset the upfront costs.  This is where Dolvin Consulting can help.  We have experience in Enterprise Solutions and BI to help you define the questions and look find the answers.  Contact us today to see how we can help you help yourself.