There are a number of reasons for attending conventions, expos, trade shows and so forth, but one thing is for certain - you are there with a purpose. Whether you are there to learn, looking for partnerships, searching for a solution, etc., you should have some questions ready for vendors that you encounter. This way, you can get the most of our your time and money. Keep in mind that their answers are not always what you seek.

Any program (system, application, service, etc.) that has ever existed, big or small, was created with a purpose - to solve a problem. But, as your company grows, evolves, and adapts to industry changes, your needs change. And as your needs change, so do your problems.

What value is your project manager (PM) bringing to your projects? 

All Dressed up and Nowhere to go?

Sometimes running a business can feel like that. Especially if you’ve got a good one.

You’ve got a Solid Mission, Product, Team, and Systems to deliver an amazing customer experience, but not enough customers to impact. What’s worse is they don’t seem to understand the difference between you and your lower-priced, lower-quality competitors.

If you’re in the wholesale and distribution industry, you’ve probably come across the need to track warranty claims against a product or part that has been sold.  But this process can be complicated and be even more so depending on the unique ways your company and perhaps, product line, requires.

NetSuite’s saved search feature is a powerful tool that allows you to create customized reports based on your unique criteria.  Saved searches can be created for standard record types as well as custom records, and can even use formulas and SQL statements to accommodate more complex criteria or display more dynamic results. 

CFO’S, Controllers and managers have a lot on their plate.  Managing a business is a challenge on its own.   Imagine running a business without data or information that helps provide a basis for change.  Not having a solid financial reporting structure in your business will prevent you from making the necessary changes, or in some cases, from preventing significant losses.  The same can be said with too much data or “information overload” when that information is not meaningful to your business. 

One of the most contentious issues in the world of ERP and IT is how much attention to give to current state and future state ERP business processes.  Opinions on the issue run the whole spectrum on how this should be addressed; some people feel that companies should let their ERP systems dictate what new processes will be, while others feel that current state and future state processes should be documented and analyzed in detail. Many people, including myself, feel that the approach should fall somewhere in between.

A good account manager should be your advocate. They are a representation of you to your partner and should be making sure that all of your needs have been met. They should understand fully understand your business challenges and be proactive about offering the right solutions for any problems you are experiencing. They should not be upselling you on every single item they have available, but rather finding the ideal solution to help you meet your goals.

What would it be like to have a great Partner, not just a vendor?