Getting More Out of What You Don’t Have

I know, I know.  It looks like I accidentally slipped in the “don’t”.  For many years now, a prominent “tag line” for ESC Software has been, “Getting More Out of What You Have”.  We have consistently promoted learning more about the software you already own, implementing new features with each release, more fully utilizing built-in paperless options, etc…  Well, now it’s time for us look at what we don’t have, and how we can save money by embracing recent and not-so-recent technologies.

This is not just a plug for the “cloud”, but I’ll get to that later!  There were 4 main areas of emphasis that I focused on for 2011, and I have decided to keep the list the same for 2012.

1. CRM – Yes, CRM!  So many have still not embraced using an integrated CRM system.  Admittedly, the so called “integrations” have not been that well, well…. “integrated”!  However, this is no longer the case.  Take a look, you will be impressed!
    
2. Document Management – Until just a couple of years ago, I didn’t give this much thought let alone any attention.  There are many areas that a fully implemented document management system can cover.  Start simple!  Focus on one or two basic processes in your organization that required paper flow and approvals.  Accounts Payable invoices are a good place to start.  Scan, review, approve, integrate to accounting, and file electronically.  There’s a lot more to this than that, but the ROI is very real with these systems.  Take a look; you will understand the value very quickly!
    
3. Business Intelligence – Yup, seems like an oxymoron, but it’s not supposed to be.  Now, I am one of those folks that believe Excel is the greatest program ever written since the beginning of man!  However, if you are completely caught up in the world of Excel calisthenics for reporting, KPI’s, charts and dashboards, then you either need therapy or a basic business intelligence software package, or both!
    
4. The “Cloud” – I have spent a significant amount of time over the last 2 years trying to understand and apply cloud technology to small and medium sized businesses.  I recently learned how the cloud got the name “cloud”.  I’ll save that for my next blog post.  Here’s the deal.  If applying a “cloud” based system doesn’t save you money, then don’t do it!

Feel free to contact me on any of the above.  Strategic discussions and meetings do not occur often enough.  And, blogging is not something I ever saw myself doing, but an occasional post will be forthcoming.  I am an introvert after all!