Tag Archive for: business software

Get Your Business Bank Accounts & Business Software Talking

The payment processing industry has evolved in recent years, and it can be a challenge for small businesses to keep up with new standards and best practices. Modern business finance is becoming more sophisticated, with robust solutions to make it easier for the customers, but also with security in mind in order to protect buyers’ data from cyberattacks. 

Companies often hold multiple financial accounts that accept different payment methods. Why bother with multiple bank accounts? Reasons include security concerns and expense tracking. Your company has multiple needs with different expenses that can be served by separate accounts.

Accounting software such as Sage or Quickbooks, can assist you with controlling and managing your business’s expenses efficiently, whether it’s travel expenses, petty cash or maintenance fees. The financial transactions that occur in a given timeframe on a ledger are accounted to the client/customer on a bank statement. And the balance of the accounts at any time is the money-related position of the client with the organization.

Commercient SYNC integration connects all your bank transactions hidden in your accounting software to your chosen CRM. It gives you the ability to sync your transactions from several bank accounts.

Benefits of Commercient SYNC

  • All-in-one app: Manage your business transactions and CRM activity from the same app
  • Improve customer service
  • Reduce tedious administration by improving efficiency
  • Generate more sales
  • Improve cross-functional communication
  • Increase productivity
  • Reduce manual data entry: Commercient SYNC pulls in transactions from your bank accounts automatically

The integration between payment transaction processing and accounting software offers advantages not available before when all had to be done manually. Bank account integration allows for payment transaction data derived from credit or debit card payments, or other electronic payments, to automatically flow into your CRM when a sale is made. It eliminates the need to manually enter payment transaction data and reconcile accounts, saving time, reducing labor costs, and less risk of human error.

With bank account integration, the data for each sale seamlessly posts into your chosen CRM software. This is similar to how the money from a transaction is directly deposited into a business bank account. This way, a salesperson needs to see if a customer has paid doesn’t need to wait for the Accountants to be at their desks to find out. Everything moves faster.

As more customers are moving away from cash and check transactions, it makes sense to have the data from electronic payments seamlessly flow into the business accounting system. This helps eliminate the need for manual entry, provides improved accuracy, and streamlines your sales processes.

Does your business make use of multiple bank accounts? Make the most of your investment by fully harnessing the tools you already have and integrate your sales and accounting software. Become more efficient, increase sales, provide superior customer experiences, and much more with SYNC. Contact Commercient today for a free demo.

Internet of Things (IoT): Advantages For Your Company

By Isaura Martinez

Internet of Things is gaining space in people’s lives. More and more objects of daily use are connected to the Internet: Your thermostat, alarms, fridges, child and pet care devices, cars… the list goes on.

Also, IoT influences the ways companies do business. The need to optimize processes, improve communication, stand out from the competition, and even rethink business models have made companies consider technology as the main resource to achieve those goals.

According to a McKinsey survey, IoT has an economic potential calculated in $4 to $11 trillion dollars a year by 2025. “Business-to-business applications will probably capture more value — nearly 70 percent of it.”

So if you’re is still not using the power of IoT, what are you waiting for? Here are some opportunities IoT offers to your company:

 

Productivity increase

One of the most important business trends nowadays is automation. From solopreneurs to multinational corporations, businesses are taking advantage of this to save the only resource that cannot be recovered: time. The quote “time is money” is well-known, and now is more relevant than ever. So if you help your employees to save time in tasks that can be automated, this will not only increase productivity, but also motivation.

For example, Commercient’s IoT Pulse allows you to sync over 815 apps (and counting!), from CRMs to ERPs to email marketing, so if a customer places an order he can receive a confirmation email instantly, and an invoice is generated in the system; all this without having to wait for a staff member to come to the desk, turn on the computer, and check the orders. Businesses value time, and so do the customers. With more automated tasks, the attention customers receive is faster and more personalized, which helps to retain those customers and encourage them to recommend your company to their network.

 

Information about customer’s habits and behavior

This is especially valuable for B2C companies (like retail stores or online shops), IoT offers information about the customers that wasn’t available before: Routines, preferences, shopper and consumer patterns, and more. Even if your company is B2B, serving other businesses, the inclusion of IoT in your working processes allows you to know your customers more and anticipate to their needs, providing products and services that respond to their particular situations. This is marketing automation.

In other words, with IoT, data compilation and analysis is crucial. Analytics not only allow you to know more about how customers use and interact with technology, but also boost the creation of new business models. That’s exactly what the report “Top 10 IoT Technologies for 2017 and 2018” by Gartner found.

“The IoT demands an extensive range of new technologies and skills that many organizations have yet to master,” said Nick Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner.

Gartner also mentions the need of new analytic tools and algorithms as data volume increases.

 

Process optimization

According to the McKinsey report mentioned earlier, one of the industries that can get the most out of IoT is manufacturing. Processes like operation management, supply chain optimization, equipment maintenance will be done more efficiently and with less complications using this type of technology.

That’s not all: IoT is a great resource to integrate your ERP and CRM to the Internet. If you integrate ERP and CRM, it will be easier and faster to send quotes, manage inventory, control paid and unpaid invoices, among other key business management operations. That way, your staff can focus on what matters the most to grow your business: Acquiring more customers and keeping the current customers happy.

 

These are just some reasons on how your business can thrive in this highly competitive world thanks to IoT. Companies specializing in Big Data, analytics, and security will also see opportunities for growth in a world more open to the Internet of Things.

With all the opportunities that arise, a “tech” world brings new challenges. That’s why it is so important to solve these challenges focusing on integration. And there’s where Commercient comes in: We integrate your data and make it accessible to your staff, even from mobile devices, and making sure it’s safely stored in the cloud.

If you want to know more about our integrations, contact us today.

 

IoT Pulse connect ERP to the Internet

Does Your Business Need a Cloud Computing Strategy?

You’ve heard of cloud computing, right? Stratalux CEO Jeremy Przygode says it’s the norm for businesses today and it’s transforming the way we do business. A recent report shows that over 95% of businesses now operate on a public, private, or hybrid cloud platform. How about your company? Do you have a cloud computing strategy? Here are few reasons why you should consider developing one.

You can save more money

If you choose to migrate to the cloud, you can save a lot of money. Rackspace surveyed 1,300 companies and found that 88% of cloud users experienced significant cost savings and 56% of them noted an increase in profits. With the cloud, you reduce hardware costs because hardware repair and replacement costs are left to the vendor. It also saves on your power bills. Large data centers take up space and produce heat. You won’t have to worry about keeping that area cooled to optimal temperature if your hardware is offsite. You also save on labor and maintenance costs. That means your IT staff can focus on daily needs and development. If your company doesn’t have in-house IT, moving to the cloud will defray third-party hardware repair bills.

The cloud also allows you to take advantage of the pay-as-you-go model – you only pay for software as you utilize it, and it can be canceled at any time. The subscription model helps you avoid the costs that can come with defective software.

You can innovate and experiment

Migrating to the cloud will also help you innovate, experiment, and create new products and services. A study conducted at the London School of Economics and Political Science found that “One of the key ways that cloud computing supports operational and technological innovation is by moving an organization more briskly through the experimental or prototyping stages. With traditional IT models, a decision to prototype a new system generally involves the procurement and installation of expensive hardware, with the associated checks and delays that conventional purchasing requires. Cloud provisioning, on the other hand, can be implemented rapidly and at low cost.”

In other words, with the cloud, you can spend a lot more time on developing strategies and products to help your company grow and less time on maintaining infrastructure and hardware. In addition, because cloud software can be deployed within hours your staff can increase productivity because they won’t have to wait for installation.  

You can be more flexible

Cloud computing also allows you to be more flexible both inside and outside of the workplace. For example, if you need access to data while you are away from the office, you can easily access that data anytime and anywhere through any web-enabled device. With the cloud, you can also offer more flexible working hours to your employees and collaborate with them on the go and in real-time. An effective cloud strategy allows your employees to have more freedom, which yields happier and more productive workers.

You can increase security and protection of sensitive data

If you move to the cloud, you can also experience increased security, privacy, and control – all data sent to the cloud is encrypted and is hosted in a centralized and protected environment. Since your data is stored in the cloud, you can access it no matter what happens to your hardware. Commercient’s SYNC app, for instance, is a cloud-based application that provides a safe and secure environment for integrating data between ERP and CRM systems. The secure cloud environment makes it easier for you to grant your employees varying levels of controlled access to the data you sync into your CRM system. Hence, developing a cloud strategy allows you to take greater control of your data.

Cloud computing strategy or not?

Almost all apps and legacy software have already moved to the cloud. The scalability, flexibility, and increase in employee collaboration make a cloud strategy almost imperative for a growing business.  Cloud computing is also cost-effective, secure, and easy to maintain. A cloud solution simplifies hosting and allows your company to scale up or down as your business needs change. According to John Angove, CEO of Commercient, “In order to be nimble, moving your processes to the cloud is the best option for companies that want to stay competitive.”

The question isn’t whether you should adopt a cloud strategy, but when?

 

Commercient is pleased to introduce an amazing new product–IoT Pulse. Access to it is by invitation only, so contact us to get on the waiting list.

7 More Reasons You Need to Upgrade Your Accounting Software

Just like you need to upgrade your accounting software, we have upgraded one of our most popular blog posts for 2017. Here are 7 more reasons to upgrade your ERP software.

 

Being successful in the Age of the Customer means making sure you leverage the right software tools to create the ideal customer experience. For some companies, this can mean acquiring new software, while for the others, it can mean upgrading existing technologies.  If your business is growing or you have been in business for more than a decade, there’s a good chance you’re due for an upgrade. So which tools do you upgrade first, and should you upgrade? A good place to start is your accounting software. Here are seven signs it’s time to upgrade your accounting software.

 

You’re not able to run your business on the go.

Are you still having to call someone into the office for help when you’re trying to answer customer questions?  You can easily resolve this problem by upgrading to cloud-based accounting software. Using cloud-based accounting software like Xero and Zoho, for instance, gives you complete mobility; you can stay connected with your data on any device with an internet connection, respond to new opportunities, and thus exceed customer expectations. What’s more, cloud-based accounting software is often much more cost-effective and it’s often easier to use. It’s also one of the most secure ways to store information nowadays. By upgrading your accounting software you’ll stay ahead of your competitors and provide the customer service clients have come to expect.

 

You’re still using manual spreadsheets to produce reports.

If your accounting system has problems in producing certain types of reports quickly, and you end up creating manual spreadsheet reports, you know it’s time for an upgrade.  Often, smaller companies may supplement their accounting software with Excel spreadsheets. It requires double entry of data and is prone to errors. Why spend so much time producing manual reports, when you can have reports produced automatically, save time, and get more return on investment (ROI).

 

Your current software is too complex.

Not all accounting software is easy to use, and some systems are way too complex. If your employees have been trained, but are frustrated and are still finding it hard to use your current system, then it’s a good sign you need make some changes. The best accounting software is affordable and easy-to-use.

 

Your accounting software isn’t integrated with your front-end processes.

We keep saying it–this is indeed the age of the consumer.  If you want to stay competitive in this connected age, you have to stay on top of what’s going on in all aspects of your business.  This means that you need to have a 360-degree view of both customer accounts and customer service. Think about this scenario. A client calls and wants to make a purchase, but cannot remember what they bought last time. If you have all of that information at your fingertips and you can also tell them that the price has gone down and that there are enough of the item in the warehouse, you can pretty much guarantee that sale. If they can go online and talk with someone in customer service and their account history is instantly available to them, you can change an unhappy customer into a satisfied client. Integrating your front-end software with your accounting software can help you close more sales, keep accurate records, and ensure happy clients.  If your system won’t let you integrate, it’s time to upgrade.

 

You don’t have a comprehensive view of where you’re spending and earning.  

How many details about expenses and accounts do you have in one-off spreadsheets? Lacking an accurate and comprehensive view of where you’re spending and earning is going to catch up with you and hurt you in the long run. The ability to operate cost-effectively relies on your ability to utilize information like payroll and other expenses. You have to know when and where to cut costs and adjust budgets if you plan on continuing to grow. Analyzing your costs and earnings should be easy if the accounting software you’re using is up-to-date and it’s the right fit for your company.

 

Your current software is not compliant with all laws and regulations.

Does your current accounting software comply with current GAAP, tax laws and financial regulations? It’s time for an upgrade. Since tax and accounting laws are forever changing, by upgrading your accounting software, you can ensure that you are compliant with current laws and regulations. Most cloud-based software will upgrade automatically as the laws change.

 

Your software isn’t customizable to your business.

Your business is unique, so your accounting software shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Your business needs change as you grow. Modern accounting software offers improved features to adapt as you do. You should be able to customize data fields, transaction definitions, invoices, reports, and other functions so that they match your business’ needs. The last thing you need is to get stuck with a bunch of functions and processes that you don’t use. You don’t want to have to buy another system in a few short years. You need a flexible system that can evolve with your business needs as your business evolves.

So the question is not if you need to start upgrading, but when? If you’d like to learn more about cloud-based accounting, integrating software, or customization, contact the experts at Commercient for more information.

7 razones para actualizar tu sistema contable

Si quieres que tu negocio funcione más rápido y mejor a medida que va creciendo, debes mantener actualizadas todas las herramientas que utilizas. Un buen lugar para comenzar es tu sistema contable. En especial si tu negocio está pasando por una fase de acelerado crecimiento.

Tu software de contabilidad no debería ser difícil de usar, y ciertamente no debería resultar con clientes insatisfechos, un atraso respecto a tu competencia y ventas perdidas. Aún peor, si aún tienes que pensar en trasladar tu software contable a la nube, podría estarte costando tiempo y dinero ahora mismo.

¿Necesitas incentivos para comenzar este cambio en tu compañía? Aquí te damos 7 razones para actualizar ahora tu sistema contable. Si alguna de estas razones te suena familiar. ¡es momento de tomar acción y actualizar tu software!

Te da envidia ver a otros manejar su negocio desde su smartphone.

¿Todavía tienes que llamar a alguien de tu oficina para que te ayude a contestar preguntas de tus clientes? ¿Sabías que puedes resolver fácilmente este problema trasladando tu sistema contable a la nube?

Utilizar software de contabilidad situado en la nube te da completa movilidad. Puedes acceder a tu información y siempre tenerla a la mano a través de un dispositivo conectado a Internet, responder prontamente a nuevas oportunidades de venta y exceder las expectativas de tus clientes. Es un ganar-ganar para todos.

Bono agregado: un software de contabilidad alojado en la nube es más efectivo en cuanto a costos y 10 veces más fácil de usar. Ya no hay necesidad de estar a pocos pasos de una computadora de escritorio. Ah, y por si fuera poco, es una de las maneras más seguras de almacenar información en estos días. Te estás quedando atrás si no estás utilizando algún software utilizable en dispositivos móviles. No hay razones para no utilizar tecnología en la nube que te permita brindarles a tus clientes la atención que esperan ahora en esta era digital.

Alguna vez has dicho: “Creo que tenemos ese producto en bodega”

“Creer” no es lo mismo que “saber” o “tener certeza de”. Si tu sistema no es capaz de decirte qué está en bodega y qué ha sido distribuido a un cliente, no estás solo. Es sorprendente, pero muchos negocios operan sin conocer a fondo su inventario. ¿Por qué pasa esto? Hay muchas opciones ahí afuera esperando que las aproveches. Tu software contable debería brindarte la información de tu inventario con la facilidad de hacer scroll y “clic” en tu teléfono móvil. Así que si utilizas palabras como “tal vez” o “quizá” con demasiada frecuencia al referirte a tu inventario y otra información clave de tu empresa, ¿no crees que es momento de pensar en actualizarte?

Estás perdiendo ventas ante competidores -¡sin que sean mejores que tú!

Puedes ser el mejor de los mejores pero si tú o tu personal no pueden ver fácilmente la información de una cuenta, inventario disponible u opciones de autoservicio, tanto tus ventas como satisfacción del cliente caerán dramáticamente. No hay razón para perder clientes ante competidores con productos de menor calidad. En especial si esa razón tiene que ver con tu sistema contable. Es un problema relativamente fácil de resolver. ¿Cómo? Adivinaste: actualiza tu sistema.

Tu sistema contable es muy, muy viejo

Si todavía hablas de cómo tu sistema contable pasó las pruebas del Y2K, hay un problema. Cuando comienza a limitar ciertas funciones puedes decir que los mejores días de tu software contable han quedado en el pasado. En el mundo de la tecnología todo se mueve rápido, y si no has hecho ningún cambio en las últimas dos décadas lo más probable es que estés quedando desfasado. No limites a tu negocio aferrándote a sistemas y procesos desactualizados. El cambio es bueno. Asúmelo. Sigue moviéndote hacia adelante y actualiza tu software contable.

No tienes una visión integral de dónde estás invirtiendo y ganando

¿Cuántos detalles de gastos y cuentas tienes dispersos en hojas de cálculo de Excel? No contar con una visión integral y exacta de lo que estás gastando y ganando va a hacerte daño después. Para saber aprovechar las inversiones y no perder dinero, es necesario que sepas bien cuánto se gasta en planilla y otros gastos operativos. Si planeas continuar creciendo, debes saber exactamente dónde hacer ajustes de presupuesto para maximizar tus recursos y lograrlo. Analizar tanto tus ganancias como tus costos sería más fácil si utilizaras un sistema contable actualizado a la medida de las necesidades de tu compañía.

Tu software actual ya no beneficia a tu compañía

Aunque ya hemos abordado este aspecto en todo el artículo, vale la pena hacerlo una vez más. ¿Tu sistema actual te brinda actualizaciones automáticas? ¿Es multi-usuario y fácil de usar de manera colaborativa? ¿Tienes claridad de tu situación financiera en tiempo real? ¿Ha reducido costos de actualizaciones, mantenimiento y administración? ¿Hace que no te preocupes por una falla de servidores? Si no puedes responder que sí a todas estas preguntas, ahí está la señal. Es momento de cambiar.

Tu contador te recomienda una actualización de tu sistema

El trabajo de tu contador es ayudarte con la contabilidad, ¿verdad? Él o ellos entienden cómo funciona todo, y cómo te está limitando tu sistema actual. Si no estás seguro de que sea el momento de actualizar tu sistema, habla con él. Los contadores son un gran recurso para tomar decisiones como esta y probablemente puedan recomendarte aspectos que necesitas considerar para mejorar procesos y elegir el sistema más adecuado para tu negocio. Ellos te conocen y conocen tu empresa. Son expertos en lo que hacen, así que si te están recomendando una actualización de tu sistema, más vale que escuches, ¿verdad?

Petya Ransomware Attack: What it is and How To Protect Your Business

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 was no ordinary day for banks and businesses in Kiev, Ukraine. Government and business computer systems were infected by a virus known as “Petya” after users downloaded a popular tax accounting package or visited a local news site, according to the national police and international cyber experts. “The malicious code locked machines and demanded victims post a ransom worth $300 in bitcoins or lose their data entirely, similar to the extortion tactic used in the global WannaCry ransomware attack in May,” says Reuters.

Which companies have been affected by the Petya ransomware?

There are many companies that have been affected by the Petra ransomware. The attack started with local businesses in Ukraine to infecting computers worldwide. In Kiev, “ATMs stopped working. About 80 miles away, workers were forced to manually monitor radiation at the old Chernobyl nuclear plant when their computers failed.” Then the attack went global. “Tech managers at companies around the world — from Maersk, the Danish shipping conglomerate, to Merck, the drug giant in the United States — were scrambling to respond. Even an Australian factory for the chocolate giant Cadbury was affected,” according to the New York Times. Here is a list of companies that have been affected by the attack.

  1.    DLA Piper
  2.    Evraz
  3.    Heritage Valley Health Systems
  4.    Home Credit Bank
  5.    Kievenergo
  6.    Maersk
  7.    M.E.Doc
  8.    Merck & Co., Inc.
  9.    Metro Group
  10.  Mondelez
  11.  Nuance Communications Inc.
  12.  Rosneft
  13.  Ukrtelecom
  14.  Saint-Gobain
  15.  WPP

How can my company fight against ransomware?

According to theguardian, “Ransomware is a type of malware that blocks access to a computer or its data and demands money to release it. When a computer is infected, the ransomware encrypts important documents and files and then demands a ransom, typically in Bitcoin, for a digital key needed to unlock the files. If victims don’t have a recent backup of the files they must either pay the ransom or face losing all of their files.”

How can you protect your company against ransomware? Well, there are a few things you can do. One way is to ensure you have the latest version of your antivirus software installed. Some antivirus companies like Symantec and Kaspersky have already upgraded their software to help you fight against Petya and will notify you if there is a threat to your computer.

Another way to protect your business from ransomware is to download patches. Microsoft, for instance, released critical patches in March that can remove the Petya vulnerability and help fight against future attacks. If you’d like to see more ways you can protect your business, Jonathan Care, research director at Gartner, gives seven suggestions for preventing attacks and protecting your organization. Additionally, always backup your data and have the backup protected.

 

As we’ve seen with Petya, cyber attacks pop up unexpectedly. That’s why we are so scrupulous about security at Commercient — we have a rigorous security review process. For example,  our  Sync2Pay solution can take Level 3 payments and allow you to take quicker payments in your ERP, CRM, or eCommerce systems which ensures less fraud.

¿Qué es un CRM y cómo elegir el más adecuado para tu negocio?

Si trabajas en Ventas o Marketing, o estás a cargo de tu propio negocio y te gusta estar al tanto de las últimas tendencias, probablemente has escuchado hablar de CRM. Si no estás del todo familiarizado con este término, te estarás preguntando qué significa exactamente y por qué es tan importante para las empresas de hoy.

Definiendo el CRM

CRM, por sus siglas en inglés, significa “Customer Relationship Management”, que en español sería “Gestión de Relaciones con los Clientes”.

Sin embargo, debido a su fuerte orientación a la atención y fidelización de los clientes, también se le denomina “Customer Service Management” o “Gestión de Servicio al Cliente”.

Este término se refiere a un software que ayuda a las compañías a monitorear las interacciones con clientes y gestionar la información asociada a esas interacciones. Si estás usando un software CRM, dentro de ese sistema puedes almacenar información de clientes y prospectos, cuentas, oportunidades de venta y más.

Los sistemas CRM aportan mucho valor a compañías en rápido crecimiento porque te ayudan a mantenerte actualizado y gestionar adecuadamente las relaciones con tus clientes.

¿Qué pueden hacer los sistemas CRM?

Las especificaciones de un CRM varían según el sistema pero en general casi todos los CRM pueden almacenar información de prospectos y clientes. Algunos te permiten ingresar llamadas, emails a prospectos o incluso información de perfiles en redes sociales.

CRMs más avanzados proveen a los Ejecutivos de Cuenta (o representantes de ventas) la opción de visualizar el flujo de clientes y prospectos (pipeline) de su equipo, crear proyecciones de ventas, e incluso agendar reuniones con potenciales clientes. Todo dentro del sistema CRM. Independientemente de las características, la idea de utilizar un CRM es proveer a tu equipo de una alternativa más eficiente para interactuar con tu base de clientes.

¿Necesitas un software CRM?

La respuesta corta es sí. Todas las empresas quieren crecer y un CRM les ayuda a hacerlo. Si eres una empresa pequeña, podrías necesitar un CRM para ayudarte a comenzar a alojar esa información en la nube. Pero cuando comiences a crecer, te beneficiará tener un CRM ya funcionando para ayudarte con aspectos como colaboración entre los miembros de tu equipo, recopilar información de las redes sociales, enviar emails personalizados, y obtener una visión completa, de 360°, de tu negocio.

Si aún no lo has hecho, es hora de deshacerte de complicaciones y dolores de cabeza que conlleva usar Excel para monitorear todo. Claro, esto funciona cuando estás comenzando. Sin embargo, no te servirá de mucho cuando tu negocio comience a crecer como esperas. Debes prepararte para esos momentos de crecimiento abrupto que seguramente tendrás, y una de las mejores inversiones que puedes hacer para prepararte es un CRM.

¿Cómo elegir un CRM?

Hay muchísimos CRMs que podrían funcionar para tu negocio: Salesforce CRM, Dynamics CRM, Oracle Sales Cloud, Zoho CRM, solo por nombrar algunos. Todo depende de qué características necesitas realmente. Si estás teniendo problemas para elegir un CRM, puedes hacerte estas preguntas:

  • ¿Cómo interactuamos con nuestros prospectos? ¿Cuál es nuestra principal forma de comunicación con ellos? Si es por teléfono, redes sociales, emails, o una combinación de los tres. Investiga cómo diferentes CRMs podrían facilitar la prospección a tus ejecutivos de cuentas.
  • ¿Existe un proceso definido que el equipo de Ventas sigue respecto a quién contactar y cuándo? Si aún no lo tienes, podrías considerar invertir en un CRM que le dé claridad a tu equipo respecto a los prospectos más interesados.
  • ¿Mi compañía está tratando de obtener o ya trabaja con grandes contratos B2B? ¿Interactuamos con mucha gente dentro de una misma organización? Si la pregunta es sí, deberías buscar un CRM que facilite el almacenamiento y acceso a los datos.

Lo mejor que puedes hacer para decidir qué CRM utilizar es hablar con las personas dentro de tu organización que interactúan con los clientes, así como con los mandos medios y altos. Esto te ayudará a determinar qué funciones necesita todo tu equipo de un CRM.

Tomando una decisión

Una vez has encontrado el software CRM perfecto, tu siguiente tarea debería ser encontrar una solución que te ayude a maximizar los beneficios de tu CRM integrándolo con tu ERP.

 

 Si te interesa aprender más sobre una aplicación que te ayude a integrar la información de tu CRM con tu ERP, contacta a Commercient. Será un placer explicarte cómo nuestra aplicación de integración de datos te ayuda precisamente con eso.

 

ERP Health Check: 3 Signs Your ERP Project Might Be Failing

When was the last you time you ran a health check on your ERP system? Is your ERP system still the right fit for your business, or are you facing a failing ERP project? Or maybe have you outgrown your software? Just as the human body needs a regular check-up, so does your ERP system. In fact, doing a regular check-up on your system can save your projects from failing in the long run.

According to analyst firm Gartner, over 75% of all ERP projects fail. Here are a few signs that your ERP project might be failing.

Project management is sleeping

We all know that sleeping is good for the body, but when your project management team is sleeping on the implementation of your ERP project, it’s a big warning sign. Successful ERP projects are led by managers who actively participate in both software selection and implementation efforts. For the implementation of a successful ERP system, management should be able to identify and respond to risks, manage communications, and define the readiness of the organization.

According to ResearchGate, the role of a project manager in ERP implementation is to “Work efficiently in the following areas: deciding on project scope, managing risks, discovering gaps, the right staff, preventing brain drain, project scheduling, interface with other systems, monitoring progress, and managing chaos.” Therefore, your project manager is a driving force behind the success or failure of your ERP project. An inactive project manager is not an option.

Users lack in experience

In any business or company, you need the right talent to carry out certain roles and functions; and for your ERP project, you need people who know how to perform the functions of your ERP system. Moreover, your team members should not only understand their own department’s processes but also how other departments operate.

According to Pemeco Consulting,  “It’s vital to develop and execute a customized ERP training plan that gives your core team the skills they need to succeed…the training should provide your core team members the foundation they need to reengineer your business processes. In the long-run, these are the people who will become subject matter experts that others in your organization will turn to for guidance.”

Clearly, without the proper knowledge or training, how can users feel confident when performing their jobs? Or how can they be effective?

Testing phase is not implemented

All software should be tested; however, this isn’t always the case with companies implementing ERP software. Many companies end up skipping the testing phase when they are pressed to meet schedule deadlines or cost objectives. But, we all know too well that failures in your software implementation can result in unusable software later. According to Bistasolutions.com, “The purpose of testing in an ERP project is not to see if the software works. The purpose is to see if the system meets your business needs and produces the output you need.” Ultimately, how your system works with your company’s practices and processes will be a determining factor for long term success.

 

If you are still unsure about which ERP system is right for your organization, contact the experts at Commercient today.  We can walk you through the entire process and make it as easy as possible.

¿Debería invertir en un sistema ERP?

Según el reporte Software Advice’s Enterprise Resource Planning BuyerView 2015, “dos tercios de los negocios buscando un sistema ERP nunca antes han utilizado uno; el 59% mencionan la necesidad de mejorar la integración de la información entre distintos procesos y áreas del negocio; y un 47% asegura que la necesidad de mejorar su CRM es una razón para la compra de un sistema ERP”.

Cada negocio es diferente, y no habrá una señal del cielo que te indique “necesitas un sistema ERP ahora mismo”. Sin embargo, si te identificas con esto, probablemente sea tiempo de considerar invertir en un ERP. Si recientemente te has preguntado si deberías invertir en un sistema ERP, sigue leyendo y descubrirás 5 señales importantes de que es momento de comenzar a considerar opciones:    

 

Tienes varios programas para muchas cosas diferentes

Tómate un minuto para pensar en cómo tus empleados dan seguimiento, almacenan y procesan la información. ¿El personal de Contabilidad usa un programa de software para las cuentas por cobrar y cuentas por pagar, mientras que el equipo de ventas utiliza otro para procesar las órdenes de compra?

Cuando los sistemas front-end y back-end funcionan de manera separada, puede crear problemas donde todo debería marchar de manera más fluida. Puedes aprovechar las ventajas de tu sistema ERP mediante aplicaciones de integración y conectar todos tus sistemas de información front-end y back-end para que cada función de negocio esté localizada en una sola base de datos. Un software ERP ayuda al staff a tomar mejores decisiones, libera espacio y ayuda al negocio a crecer.

 

Las ventas y la experiencia del cliente resultan afectadas

Cuando tu compañía crece, uno de los principales retos es el manejo de inventario. Asegurarse de que la cantidad correcta de productos esté localizada donde debe estar en el tiempo correcto es una parte vital de las operaciones del negocio.

Mantener separada la información de los clientes, ventas e inventario puede traer serios problemas a tu compañía. Por ejemplo, si un cliente llama para preguntar sobre el estatus de una orden y tus empleados no pueden rastrearla -no pueden ver si ya fue enviada o ni siquiera si el producto está en existencias- tu compañía será reconocida por brindar mal servicio y ser poco o nada confiable. Pero con un sistema ERP, tus agentes de ventas no tendrán problemas para responder a las preguntas de los clientes y ayudarte a construir una reputación positiva en vez de negativa.

 

No es fácil acceder a la información de tu negocio

Si alguien te preguntará hoy cuál es tu margen promedio de ventas, ¿cuánto tiempo te tomaría responderle esa pregunta? ¿Y si quiere saber sobre indicadores clave de desempeño? Si solamente cuentas con hojas de cálculo en Excel y otros sistemas no integrados, probablemente te tome más tiempo del deseado.

Todos vivimos y trabajamos en un mundo que se mueve rápidamente, y los actuales o potenciales clientes no están dispuestos a esperar demasiado por la información que desean. Quieren respuestas ahora, y si no se las puedes dar buscarán a alguien que sí las tenga y se las dé más rápido que tú. Esto significa que tus empleados necesitan acceso instantáneo para importar información. Los sistemas ERP hacen esto posible.

 

La gestión de Tecnologías de la Información (IT) es una pesadilla

Tener múltiples sistemas para distintos procesos en tu negocio puede convertir la gestión de Tecnologías de la Información en un proceso demasiado complejo y tomar demasiado tiempo. Personalizar, integrar y mantener estos sistemas a base de arreglos y actualizaciones constantes puede resultar a la larga muy caro y requerirá invertir tiempo que podría haberse dedicado a otras funciones.  

La tecnología ERP ha reemplazado sistemas ineficientes para introducir la simplicidad y agilidad necesarias para responder con rapidez a las necesidades cambiantes de tu negocio. Seleccionar soluciones basadas en la nube es crítico para cambiar la manera en que opera tu negocio y simplificar la gestión de las Tecnologías de la Información.

 

La contabilidad tarda demasiado

Con frecuencia, esta es la razón principal por la que más negocios consideran la implementación de sistemas ERP. Si tu equipo está obligado a recurrir a órdenes de venta y facturas en papel, tómate un minuto para reflexionar la cantidad de tiempo que toma eso. Ahora considera el hecho de que un sistema ERP puede manejar esas y otras tareas de manera casi instantánea.

Un sistema ERP le ayudará a tu personal de Contabilidad a ser más productivo y a generar reportes críticos a tiempo según sea necesario. Sin tardanzas ni frustración. Sólo procesos de negocios sin complicaciones innecesarias.

 

Una vez has decidido invertir en un sistema ERP -por ejemplo, Acumatica o Sage Live-Commercient puede ayudarte a mejorar tu experiencia con el sistema CRM integrando esa información a un sistema ERP, a través de la aplicación SYNC. Para aprender más acerca de nuestra app SYNC para Salesforce y los otros sistemas ERP con los que trabajamos puedes revisar la información en Salesforce AppExchange.

SYNC también está disponible en Sage Marketplace.

Two Remarkable Ways Bots Can Help to Improve Your Business

Are you familiar with bots?  If you run any kind of service- or retail-based business, you need to be. According to Mark Armstrong, a managing director of EMEA at Progress, bots are a necessity for businesses that want to succeed in the digital age. Armstrong says, “Bots, specifically chatbots, are being hailed as the next big thing, replacing the need for downloadable apps. Integrated into an already viable platform, a bot can do things that a normal human chat wouldn’t necessarily be able to accomplish easily, like check the local weather, order pizza, or hail a cab.”

What is a bot?

So what exactly is a bot? Recode.com defines it as, “Software that is designed to automate the kinds of tasks you would usually do on your own, like making a dinner reservation, adding an appointment to your calendar or fetching and displaying information. The increasingly common form of bots, chatbots, simulate conversation. They often live inside messaging apps — or are at least designed to look that way — and it should feel like you’re chatting back and forth as you would with a human.”

To put it another way, bots are like human agents or assistants which make it easier to get things done more quickly. Different types of bots include chatbots, crawlers, transactional bots, and game bots. Some of these bots appear in apps like Skype and Facebook Messenger.

Bots will significantly affect the way companies use technology. Here are two ways that bots can help to improve your business.

Focus on more complex issues

With bots, you can provide customers with personalized,  immediate customer service and support. You can use bots to answer frequently asked questions and create custom answers. This means that your customers can have their questions answered instantly instead of having to experience long wait times as with a call center. This will allow your customer service representatives to focus on more complex tasks and issues. It will also allow your business to handle more customers and add value to your business overall.

Anant Kale, CEO of AppZen, says that, “Bots will be doing processes and transactions that today require human understanding. It may be checking for that payment issue on your credit card [or] contacting the help desk in your company to fix a problem on your laptop.”

Boost sales and increase profit

Since bots are automated agents which are available 24 hours, your customers can get their questions answered quickly and make a purchase right away. Otherwise, without having their questions answered, they may decide to put off the purchase or forget to return. This could result in you losing business to your competitors in the end.

Some companies like H&M are using bots, particularly chatbots, to influence their sales. Ohmybot.net reports that, “These bots ask users a number of questions about their clothing style and then offer them a variety of clothing choices. This type of Chatbot can also recommend accessories or outfits related to the questions asked. This helps employees gain more time as consumers can turn to sales consultant 24/7.”

In short, bots have infinite patience and endless time to devote to your customers, assets that your employees may not have. In that manner, bots can help improve every aspect of customer service and support.This will give your human employees more time to concentrate on the more complicated facets of their job.

 

If you would like to know more about how integration and automating processes can improve your business, please contact us at Commercient.