WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Sam Gupta
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WBSRocks podcast features in-depth conversations on ERP, digital transformation, supply chain, eCommerce, enterprise software, and industry 4.0. The purpose of the show is to help CFOs, COOs, CEOs, and business owners with their daily commercial, operational, or financial challenges by taking a deep dive into business cases and processes, technology strategy and architecture, transformation initiatives, and business models. The show also offers an independent analysis of technology trends, various enterprise software, ERP and eCommerce vendors and solutions, and enterprise software mergers and acquisitions. Subscribe today to stay on top of digital transformation trends!
Available episodes
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Oldest first
5 days ago
WBSP543: Grow Your Business by Understanding Project44's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Among a million supply chain visibility platforms out there, how do you decide who does what? One critical difference is whether the data provider is tracking the entire supply chain or just the carrier data. The one that tracks carrier data is really the transportation visibility platform tracking just the transportation supply chain. So where does Project44 stand among supply chain solutions?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Project44's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique strengths with transportation visibility. Finally, we covered the sources and the strength of their datasets, including their partnerships with ELD providers as well as ERP and TMS systems.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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6 days ago
WBSP542: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Real-time Transportation Visibility Platforms in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
In 2023, the transportation industry is witnessing a transformative shift towards real-time visibility, and it's no surprise that the top 10 platforms leading this charge are making waves across the sector. These platforms are revolutionizing the way businesses manage their supply chain logistics, providing crucial insights and data-driven decision-making capabilities. Topping the list is a platform that combines advanced AI and IoT technologies to offer end-to-end visibility, enabling businesses to track shipments in real time and optimize routes, ultimately reducing costs and improving delivery times.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 real-time transportation visibility platforms of 2023. He also discusses how they differ from supply chain visibility platforms and why supply chain visibility platforms might rely on this platform to be effective with their decision-grade data. Finally, he discusses the importance of carrier onboarding and why that’s critical for the success of these platforms.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 28, 2023
WBSP541: Grow Your Business by Learning the Opportunities and Limitations of the Salesforce Platform w/ Hunter Austin
Salesforce started as a CRM but then grew in many different areas. It has grown to the extent that it has become almost like a platform. But even though Salesforce might come across as you can build pretty much anything on the platform, there are limitations. Most people don’t understand how bad these limitations might fire back, especially if you plan to overcustomize the system. Planning to customize would require you to understand how each object links to each other and how deep you can go while creating these objects.
In today's episode, our guest, Hunter Austin, discusses the opportunities and limitations of the Salesforce platform. He also discusses why companies struggle with the Salesforce platform and what they need to know to be successful with it. Finally, he discusses the vertical and horizontal relationships of the Salesforce platform and why you need to understand them to be able to get the analytics you would need to be successful with the platform.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 27, 2023
WBSP540: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Supply Chain Suites in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
In 2023, when you delve into the realm of supply chain suites, you'll discover a landscape filled with highly specialized solutions tailored to specific industries. These suites are not one-size-fits-all; instead, they are meticulously designed to cater to the unique challenges and requirements of particular sectors. The top 10 supply chain suites in 2023 exemplify this trend, offering industry-specific solutions that empower businesses to streamline their operations, enhance visibility, and optimize their supply chains. Among the leading supply chain suites of 2023, you'll find giants like Oracle, SAP, and Infor, which continue to dominate the field with their comprehensive offerings.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 supply chain suites of 2023. He also discusses how each of them differs and why they need to work together to really capitalize on the AI opportunities. Finally, he discussed how supply chain suites differ from ERP suites and why supply chain suites matter in certain industries more than ERP.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 21, 2023
WBSP539: Grow Your Business by Understanding E2 Open's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While several companies claim to have supply chain tower capabilities and visibility platforms, very few of them own a network. Also, companies that might own a network might not be open, requiring vendors to opt in each time with every customer. So, even if a software vendor claims to have millions of businesses in their network, they might not be meaningful unless you have access to them and their data. One such network that is completely open and perhaps the largest is E2 Open, which is also the strongest AI platform because of the amount of data they have. So where does E2 Open stand in its capabilities? Where do they fit among other supply chain technologies available?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of E2 Open capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique strengths with the combination of network, analytics, and execution. Finally, we covered other unique layers with them, such as MDF planning and channel incentives, and why they might be penetrating the market of other traditional players, such as QAD and IQMS.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 20, 2023
WBSP538: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Supply Chain Business Network Platforms in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Supply chain planning and management have witnessed a significant transformation in recent times, largely attributed to the emergence of industry-wide networks. The intricate web of connections among supply chain stakeholders has proven to be a powerful force in shaping the industry's dynamics. COVID-19's disruptive impact accelerated this shift, forcing businesses to reevaluate their strategies and adapt to new challenges. In 2023, these business networks hold even greater importance, serving as the glue that brings the supply chain ecosystem closer together. These networks have become the lifeblood of the modern supply chain, fostering collaboration and information exchange. They have transcended traditional boundaries, connecting suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers on a global scale.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 supply chain business network platforms. He also discusses how each of these platforms differs and their importance when it comes to AI-driven and decision-grade data. Finally, he compares and contrasts several business networks and how they each differ in their focus.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 14, 2023
WBSP537: Grow Your Business by Learning Restructuring and Turnaround Strategies for Retail Businesses w/ Michael Appel
While everyone would talk about the importance of understanding your customers, it’s even more critical when working with stressed and distressed businesses. Most CEOs, when they are given an assignment for fixing a distressed business, all start with evaluating their team, but then what really moves the needle is the deep understanding of the customer and crafting strategies around that. But even that is not enough, as you would need enough liquidity to ensure that you have enough time before the transformation efforts can pay off.
In today's episode, our guest, Michael Appel, discusses the restructuring and turnaround strategies for retail businesses. He also discusses several stories where he was personally involved in turning around large retail businesses. Finally, he discusses the importance of building the right team and a deep understanding of customers for the successful turnaround of the business.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 13, 2023
WBSP536: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 S&OP Systems in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Supply chain management is a complex field that relies heavily on the seamless integration of various software components. One of the common challenges faced by supply chain professionals is the distinction between the planning and execution aspects of enterprise software. This struggle to differentiate between planning and execution can hinder organizations from optimizing their supply chain operations effectively.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses a critical aspect of supply chain management: S&OP software. For supply chain-heavy organizations, choosing the right S&OP software is paramount, as it can significantly impact their operational efficiency. So, in this discussion, we will explore the top 10 S&OP systems in 2023 to help you make informed decisions.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 7, 2023
WBSP535: Grow Your Business by Understanding MercuryGate's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While the ERP space has seen some independent companies, the independent term is even more important in the TMS and WMS space. This is because the large majority of the TMS platforms are owned by managed transportation and supply chain companies. The space is also interwoven, with most vendors collaborating with each other because of data sharing, even with their competitors. Also, while TMS platforms have advanced their technology, most are still running on legacy platforms. So, where does MercuryGate stand in its capabilities? And how does it compare with other supply chain solutions?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of MercuryGate's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including how the independent TMS vendors differ from the vendors that might offer managed services. Finally, we covered their journey in how they acquired several capabilities over the period of time and became the top TMS vendor.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Nov 6, 2023
WBSP534: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 WMS Systems in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
If you're in the market for a Warehouse Management System (WMS), you're about to embark on a journey through a vast landscape of options. The world of WMS is brimming with diverse solutions, each designed from a unique perspective, offering specific layers of functionality that cater to various business needs. As you delve into your evaluation process, it's crucial to recognize that the success of your operations hinges on selecting the right WMS. With so many choices available, it can be challenging to determine which solution aligns best with your requirements.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 WMS systems for 2023, helping you make an informed decision that will optimize your warehouse management and streamline your supply chain processes. He also dives deep into each system, dissecting its features, capabilities, and suitability for various industries and business sizes. Whether you're a small e-commerce startup seeking efficient order fulfillment or a large-scale distribution center managing complex inventory operations, this episode will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the labyrinth of WMS options.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Oct 31, 2023
WBSP533: Grow Your Business by Understanding Kinaxis' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The planning systems serve a critical function in architecture. They are not meant to be a replacement for an ERP. They are also not supposed to host the ERP processes inside them. The planning systems could vary per industry and sometimes could be even more complicated than an ERP. So where does Kinexis stand in its capabilities, and how does it compare with other supply chain systems?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Kinaxis' capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique strengths and how they compare with other Infor products. Finally, we covered how it compares with other supply chain solutions out there.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Oct 30, 2023
WBSP532: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 TMS Systems in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
If you're in the market for a TMS (Transportation Management System) solution, the sheer number of options available can be overwhelming. The landscape of TMS systems in 2023 is vast and diverse, making it challenging to identify the ones that truly align with your specific needs.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the world of transportation management systems and explores the top 10 TMS systems in 2023. He also discusses how narrowing down your choices and focusing on these industry-leading solutions, you can make a more informed decision about which TMS will best suit your organization's requirements and objectives. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer understanding of the solutions that can make a real impact on your global logistics operations.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe o…
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Oct 24, 2023
WBSP531: Grow Your Business by Learning Why Trademarks are Critical for eCommerce Merchants w/ Paul Rafelson
There is always a fine line in running a business. eCommerce businesses take trademark and IP issues very lightly until they are involved in a transaction where business buyers might see them as a risk if their brand assets are not protected. eCommerce merchants take these issues lightly as they don’t understand what’s necessary to protect vs. what may be overkill. So, what does an eCommerce merchant need to know about protecting assets that matter the most during business transactions?
In today's episode, our guest, Paul Rafelson, discusses why trademarks are critical for eCommerce merchants. He also discusses why business buyers are likely to be worried about buying businesses that might not be protected by trademarks. Finally, he discusses other issues, such as protecting brand images and when IP protection might be overkill vs. when it’s absolutely necessary.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.…
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Oct 23, 2023
WBSP530: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Project Management Systems in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
If you're currently on the hunt for project management software, brace yourself for an array of choices that can easily overwhelm you. Evaluating these options is a crucial step.
In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top project management systems in 2023. He also discusses the differences between different architectural needs for project-centric companies and why that could drive an appropriate choice for project management software.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Oct 17, 2023
WBSP529: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor WMS' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The WMS systems come in various shapes and sizes. While it may not be appropriate for every business model, getting a WMS pre-integrated still matters. WMS integration is extremely hard, especially for the high volume businesses. It might also be substantially expensive for mid-market companies that might not have as much IT budget. Also, does international localization matter for WMS systems the way it would for ERP systems? So where does Infor WMS differ from other solutions in the market?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Infor WMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique strengths and how they compare with other Infor products. Finally, we covered how it compares with other supply chain solutions out there.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you ne…
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Oct 16, 2023
WBSP528: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for the Director/VP of IT, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
What are the roles and responsibilities of the Director/VP of IT? Also, the role has changed substantially with cloud technologies. Additionally, each industry may have different expectations from the Director/VP of IT role. So are IT directors/VPs responsible for managing the helpdesk or infrastructure? Or would their responsibility be primarily to manage business systems? So which are the KPIs they need to measure to manage their function?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for the Director/VP of IT. We discussed how the VP of IT role differs from other roles present in an IT organization and how that could drive their KPIs. We also discussed the top KPIs for the VP of IT role and what companies need to know to create the right metrics that will drive their adoption and compliance within the organization.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ER…
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Oct 10, 2023
WBSP527: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Companies That are not Independent ERP Consultants in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Navigating the ERP industry can be challenging. While numerous companies offer ERP-related services, not all are independent ERP consultants dedicated solely to unbiased advisory and guidance.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 types of companies that might provide some level of ERP-related assistance but are not independent ERP consultants.
He also discusses that while they all have great strengths in their respective areas, they are not necessarily fit for ERP selection or implementation.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Oct 9, 2023
WBSP526: Grow Your Business by Learning the Strategies for Building the S&OP Framework w/ Lee Bartlett
Forecasts are often wrong. But not planning in the fear of forecasts being wrong is like operating in the dark. Some companies are likely to be slightly more mature in planning, while others might not be as sophisticated. The same thing goes for the industries as well. Planning is must-have in certain industries but not so much in other industries. Regardless of how much time and money you invest in planning, not planning is not smart.
In today's episode, our guest, Lee Bartlett, discusses the strategies for building the S&OP framework. He also discusses why formalized planning is absolutely essential for most organizations, regardless of whether they are retail or distribution-centric organizations or not. He also discusses how not only the forecasts but several stories where adoption could be equally critical for the forecasts to work and to be implemented inside an organization.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our comm…
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Oct 3, 2023
WBSP525: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Processes Requiring Governance to Maintain ERP Implementation Integrity in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Maintaining data integrity post ERP implementation is crucial for the sustainability of an ERP implementation. Most companies end up corrupting their data right after implementation as soon as they release it to users due to the lack of governance processes. Some issues might be so severe that they are irreparable. The issues are of special significance in the world of cloud as now companies don’t have access to databases, and because of this, they don’t have the same level of controls that they would have in the case of on-prem.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 processes requiring governance to maintain ERP implementation integrity in 2023. He also discusses why governance processes require a thorough analysis of the workflows, implementation of controls, and continuous monitoring not only during the time of implementation but also when new employees get hired. But understanding these areas will help you prioritize your governance efforts.
For more inform…
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Oct 2, 2023
WBSP524: Grow Your Business by Understanding Tecsys' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
What do you have in common in the retail and healthcare market? You would think nothing. Believe it or not, it's Workday and Tecsys. In fact, they both are installed together and tightly collaborate. In a world with plenty of Supply Chain solutions out there, Tecsys is unique. It not only has the software components such as WMS, TMS, OMS, etc., but it also has several hardware solutions integrated with it. So where does Tecsys fit in its capabilities? And how does it compare with other Supply Chain solutions out there?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Tecsys capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique capabilities in the pharma and retail space and how their capabilities compare with other supply chain solutions. Finally, we covered several unique layers of this solution, like their capabilities for footage marking, point of use in healthcare facilities, and their claimed…
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Sep 26, 2023
WBSP523: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Data Re-engineering Candidates Leading to ERP Implementation Failure in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Data re-engineering plays a crucial role in successful ERP implementation. If not handled well, they can lead to implementation failure regardless of how good the technology or the new system may be.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 ERP data re-engineering candidates that demand careful consideration during your implementation journey. He also discusses why if you don’t re-engineer these datasets, they might drive even more complications with the new system, especially with the cloud, as the customizations that may have been possible with on-prem may no longer be possible with the cloud.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Sep 25, 2023
WBSP522: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Run Sustainable DTC Operations w/ Manish Chowdhary
Even the coolest DTC brands are struggling now as investors look for accountability and profitability. The cost of shipping and products has added substantial pressure for DTC brands to rethink their operations. Also, consumers' demands are harder to manage with their expectations of one or two days delivery. So what can DTC brands do to stay competitive in this market?
In today's episode, our guest, Manish Chowdhary, discusses why only acquiring customers is not enough to run sustainable DTC operations. He also discusses concepts such as GRR increase from carriers such as UPS and FedEx and their impact on the overall profitability of the DTC brands. Finally, he discusses why one or two delivery is not optional and why each brand needs to have a unique fulfillment strategy.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on…
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Sep 19, 2023
WBSP521: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Critical Components of the ERP Selection RFP in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
Choosing an ERP solution that delivers business results is challenging. The foundation of this momentous undertaking lies in a well-crafted Request for Proposal (RFP). Whether you plan to write a formal RFP or not, understanding its components can help you hit on the points that are make or break for your ERP selection and implementation.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 critical components that must take center stage in your ERP Selection RFP. He also discusses why the RFP must delve into essential functionalities, scalability, and integration with existing systems, enabling ERP vendors to present tailored solutions that align perfectly with your long-term vision.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Sep 18, 2023
WBSP520: Grow Your Business by Understanding CH Robinson/Navisphere's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There is a clear divide in the TMS market. Some TMS systems are provided by technology companies, while others are marketplaces that combine their managed services. The marketplaces also compete as a carrier on their own platform. The question is: how much would you trust their data when they have a clear conflict of interest with their rating engine? This is very similar to carriers such as UPS or FedEx providing their software and integrating with every other vendor in the market for rate shopping. But obviously, it is in the best interest of these managed services providers to push their brokerage service and contracted rates above anyone else. So where does CH Robinson Navisphere in its capabilities? And how does it compare with other Supply Chain solutions out there?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of CH Robinson/Navisphere capabilities. We covered many grounds, including how the TMS sol…
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Sep 12, 2023
WBSP519: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Steps of the ERP Selection Process in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
When contemplating an ERP project, one of the primary obstacles you'll face is establishing a structured process for selecting the right ERP solution. It is crucial to have a well-defined roadmap that can guide you through the decision-making journey.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 steps of the ERP selection process in 2023. He also explores the individual steps that constitute an effective ERP selection process. Finally, he shares valuable insights on how to navigate the selection process successfully.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Sep 11, 2023
WBSP518: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 ERP Selection Deliverables in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
If you're considering embarking on an ERP project, one of the critical choices you'll have to make is whether to incorporate a comprehensive selection process. It's natural to have some uncertainties about the benefits you can expect from this process. However, grasping the essential deliverables is vital to guarantee the success of your ERP implementation.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 ERP selection deliverables in 2023. He also explores the crucial deliverables that are necessary for making an informed decision and proceeding confidently with your ERP project.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Sep 5, 2023
WBSP517: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 ERP Selection Biases in 2023 w/ Sam Gupta
In discussions about ERPs, it is common for individuals to criticize the technical vendors or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and argue that their biases stem from financial arrangements or compensation. While these monetary factors can undeniably influence biases, it is important to acknowledge that biases in ERP selection can arise from various sources, each posing equal dangers.
In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the Top 10 ERP Selection Biases. He also thoroughly examines all of these biases, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the potential pitfalls in the ERP selection process.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Sep 4, 2023
WBSP516: Grow Your Business by Understanding TransplaceTMS's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The startup, consumer, and enterprise markets are like different planets in the business galaxy. Disrupting the consumer market doesn't guarantee enterprise success. It's like rocking the party but struggling with a corporate ball. Also, the convergence of the consulting and enterprise market is not new, whether consulting companies bundle products as part of their portfolio or product companies offer consulting as part of their bundle. Transplace was one of the most cloud-native platforms, along with the managed transportation offering. The interesting part about Transplace is that it has some very large accounts, but it's also a leaner offering positioned for smaller companies. So where does Uber Freight in its capabilities? And how does it compare with other Supply Chain solutions out there?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of TransplaceTMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including t…
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Aug 28, 2023
WBSP515: Grow Your Business by Learning Conversion Rate Optimization Techniques w/ Eric Even Haim
There are several techniques for conversion rate optimization. But unless you test, it’s hard to know what may perform. Also, the conversion techniques could have nuances based on the platform. What may work on Shopify may not work on BigCommerce. So which are the conversion rate techniques that are most effective on the Shopify platform?
In today's episode, our guest, Eric Even Haim, discusses conversion rate optimization stories and techniques. He also discusses the differences between the marketing and pricing strategies for a SaaS business from a Marchant business. Finally, he discusses the nuances of conversion techniques with Shopify using different platforms.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Aug 21, 2023
WBSP514: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP EWM's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Running warehouse operations for an enterprise isn't easy. Most people talk about the complexity of SAP. But when you are heavy lifting at that level, you need firepower besides layers of data objects. You get traceability because of these objects. But that also makes implementation extremely challenging. Also, when you are over $1B in revenue with warehouse and retail operations, you need to figure out how you would decouple your architecture. If you have an embedded WMS with an ERP, it might be too bloated to move at the same speed as they process their transactions. This is where SAP EWM shines.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of SAP EWM capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique capabilities with embedded and decentralized architecture for their EWM solution, along with the difference between WM and EWM solutions. Finally, we covered several other concepts, such as how…
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Aug 14, 2023
WBSP513: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Streamlining Physical Processes for Warehouse Transformation w/ Gary Newbury
You get bad results faster by automating broken processes. And warehouse is a classic example where thinking through your physical processes and aligning the physical and digital layout is important. But most digital consultants, not experts in products or retail operations, miss the intel that is critical for safety and warehouse efficiency. They might put a product at a location where it might not be safe for warehouse workers or might feel like a cart before a horse. And that’s where you need a ton of expertise managing warehouses for the respective industry for digital implementation to be effective.
In today's episode, our guest, Gary Newbury, discusses the importance of streamlining the physical process for the effective digital transformation of a warehouse. He also discusses why understanding the product type while designing a warehouse layout is critical for operational efficiency and safety. Finally, he discusses several stories where implementing digital processes without…
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Aug 7, 2023
WBSP512: Grow Your Business by Understanding Trimble TMS' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The problem with software applications and concepts is that what TMS means to you may be very different from what TMS means to me. Each TMS solution is designed from the perspective of a very specific business model, transactions, and micro-industries. Even among the same TMS vendor, there might be several TMS applications that they might carry targeted for very specific use cases. Also, a TMS designed for international operations is very different from local truckload-centric operations. So where does Trimble stand in its capabilities?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Trimble TMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the depth of the transportation companies and why features such as dispatch scheduling might be completely different for trucking companies than for other companies needing similar supply chain capabilities. We also covered how different TMS solutions could be when…
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Jul 31, 2023
WBSP511: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of eCommerce Guided Search w/ Lamees Butt
The tech stack of eCommerce has grown so much that you require several middlewares, with the middle being different for each of them. Also, the middle keep shifting as time advances, and as a result, the architecture changes accordingly. Guided selling has been one area in which it is hard to pinpoint where it would fit in the architecture, although it plays a crucial role in providing tailored experiences for users who might not know what they are looking for. Also, let’s admit that the search experience is completely broken, with the number of product categories and options available for the consumers, making the experience confusing.
In today's episode, our guest, Lamees Butt, discusses the importance of guided search and how that provides a cutting-edge digital commerce experience. She also discusses several stories about the Zoovo platform and how that resulted in the eCommerce experience for B2B companies. Finally, she discusses the difference between several technologies, suc…
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Jul 24, 2023
WBSP510: Grow Your Business by Understanding Descartes' TMS Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Where do you draw the line whether the enterprise software companies are the information processing, communication, or industry data repository platform? Also, is the role of TMS to provide you with the best rates, manage the external supply chain, act as a control tower, or full-blown ERP for freight forwarders? Well, the reason why these platforms look so confusing is that what's TMS for a manufacturer could be very different from a TMS for a freight forwarder. So where does Descartes stand in its capabilities? And how does it compare with other Supply Chain solutions out there?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Descartes' TMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the depth of functionality for a pure-play TMS system, as well as how the ERP needs of freight forwarders are completely different. We also covered why TMS platforms are more of a data platform along with the operation…
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Jul 17, 2023
WBSP509: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Architecture in Designing Commerce Solutions w/ Indrit Selimi
Architecture is a bureaucratic term. At least, that’s what business users might feel, as it comes across as more of an IT boilerplate. And business users are not off as most technical and IT professionals end up using too much IT and technical boilerplate with architecture that it might not make any sense to the business users. However, having good architecture is like having a plan for your journey. No plan means a lot of wandering around and taking too much time to get to a destination. So regardless of your preferences for the architecture, it’s not optional.
In today's episode, our guest, Indrit Selimi, discusses the importance of architecture in designing commerce solutions. He also discusses white architecture may be perceived as more of a technical term, but having an architecture is critical regardless of the term you use. Finally, he discusses the difference between several different commerce solutions in the market and their differences, such as headless, monolith, and s…
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Jul 11, 2023
WBSP508: Grow Your Business by Understanding Korber/HighJump' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
WMS and supply chain systems come in various shapes and sizes. And there are very few systems in the market that could catch up with the speed of the cloud ERP vendors. While NetSuite and Acumatica both had native capabilities for WMS, they both relied on High Jump for advanced WMS capabilities. While High Jump succeeded in being a default choice for a WMS solution, the game has been completely changed since its acquisition by Korber. And now Korber can provide similar capabilities as Manhattan or Blue Yonder. Korber also has some unique layers, such as managing DSD and last mile, as well as transportation spend management. So where do High Jump and Korber stand in their capabilities?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Korber/HighJump capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their unique strength in the cloud native market, and how they rule the mid-market, especially in the NetSuite…
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Jul 10, 2023
WBSP507: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Connecting the Dots for the Supply Chain Function w/ John Hantzis
There are two types of chaos. You have a manageable chaos that can be planned easily. And then you have organized chaos that requires you to shift gears all the time as the planning variables change. If there is one function that can challenge any planning model, it would be logistics. There are so many variables, such as labor, traffic, third-party carriers, geopolitical conditions, and macroeconomic factors. As a logistics executive, you not only need to make sure that you have timely delivery, but you also need to do it in a cost-effective manner.
In today's episode, our guest, John Hantzis, discusses why connecting the dots among strategy, operations, and execution is critical for the Supply Chain function. He also discusses why communication and collaboration are key, even among the same supply chain function covering different regions, to find operational synergies. Finally, he discussed why ops is all about shifting the gears on the fly and describes concepts such as cross-dock…
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Jul 5, 2023
WBSP506: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Pickers, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The picking function is all about KPIs. The larger the facility, the more fine-tuned your picking process needs to be. More errors during picking mean inferior customer experience and slower operations. Picking proceses might also vary based on the product type and industry. The manufacturing may have different picking processes from retail or distribution. So which are the KPIs most relevant for picking operations and pickers?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for Pickers. We discussed nuances of the picking function, including the performance incentives, issues due to warehouse integration, and picking efficiencies gained by modern picking strategies. We also discussed the pros and cons of real time vs batch connection and how that might impact picking KPIs and efficiencies, as well as how politics and biases may influence the architecture, leading to issues and…
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Jul 4, 2023
WBSP505: Grow Your Business by Understanding Logiwa WMS' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The warehouse has been the receiver of most automation technologies. Now so much hardware is available that you can automate your entire warehouse, including picking, packing, sorting, loading, or unloading. There are also various categories of software available, ranging from WMS, TMS, WCS, S&OP, and a lot more. The software is segmented depending on the complexity of warehouse operations. So where does Logiwa stand in its capabilities, and how does it compare with the other supply chain software?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Logiwa WMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strengths with eCommerce and DTC fulfillment capabilities. We also covered the architectural issues with business models where either they might be overcommitting their capabilities or overstretching themselves.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation…
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Jul 3, 2023
WBSP504: Grow Your Business by Learning Why Local expertise is Critical for ERP consultants w/ Wassim Sayerh
Most people underestimate the importance of country-specific expertise when it comes to ERP systems. For them, what difference could it make as it’s just pure tech? France and Europe are especially unique when it comes to their localization requirements. But the culture plays a huge role as well. So what can companies do if they want to penetrate the French market? And why is culture such as huge issue when it comes to ERP implementation?
In today's episode, our guest, Wassim Sayerh, discusses why local expertise is critical for ERP consultants. He also discusses the specific nuances of the France market and what consultants need to know to be successful in this market. Finally, he shares several stories to illustrate the cultural differences and how they might affect the outcome of the ERP projects.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of t…
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Jun 28, 2023
WBSP503: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Warehouse Managers, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The warehouse should be renamed as the KPIhouse. That's where most KPIs live. Most warehouse operators have very slim margins, and they not only need to be efficient with the transactions to reduce the costs. But they also need to ensure timely delivery to maintain the customer experience metrics. So which are the KPIs warehouse managers should care for the most?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for Warehouse Managers. We discussed the role of warehouse managers and how that might affect their KPIs. We also discussed the role of AI, the introduction of robots, and the importance of user feedback to understand the critical KPIs for warehouse managers.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your…
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Jun 27, 2023
WBSP502: Grow Your Business by Understanding Manhattan Associates' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Where do you draw the line with supply chain software? There are various flavors. Some are more transactional processing systems, while others excel at planning. Some integrate several layers, including TMS, WMS, OMS, and planning. While planning is super critical, integrating transactional systems is always harder than most people would think. One of the most critical components of the supply chain software would always be the POS layer, especially for retail organizations, which need to process millions of transactions. So where does Manhattan Associates stand in its capabilities, and how does it compare with the other supply chain software?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Manhattan Associates' capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strengths with enterprise WMS, TMS, and OMS capabilities, as well as their unique positioning of an integrated POS. We also covered the archi…
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Jun 26, 2023
WBSP501: Grow Your Business by Learning the Supply Chain Issues of the Chemical Industry w/ Beth Schlitt
Each industry has its own nuances. The chemicals industry is particularly very challenging because of its supply chain issues. The black swan events, such as winter storms or macroeconomic changes, can shake any model, regardless of how sophisticated it might be. But the more information you have about your operations, regardless of whether internal or external supply chain, the more prepared you are likely to be for such events. And even if you are not prepared, the data will help create the playbook and minimize the risks caused by these disruptions.
In today's episode, our guest, Beth Schlitt, discusses the supply chain issues of the chemical industry. She shares several stories of recent disruptions and what supply chain leaders need to do to plan the risks. Finally, she shares her insights into how to plan for data governance in larger organizations and why companies must invest in modern technologies such as AI and machine learning.
For more information on growth strategies for…
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Jun 19, 2023
WBSP500: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Transform a Company Into a Digital Company w/ Chris Stegner
The innovation projects could be perceived as risky. It might also be harder for operational and financial executives to assess the ROI of such initiatives. But done right, companies can not only improve the customer experience while converting them into digitally native culture, they could also increase the enterprise value of such companies by 2x.
In today's episode, our guest, Chris Stegner, discusses how to transform a company into a digital. He also discusses cultural issues such as politics and how they could be barriers to innovation-driven culture. Finally, he shares several stories of companies where he was able to increase the enterprise value of companies purely by transforming their customer and user experience.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Jun 14, 2023
WBSP499: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Inventory Managers, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The inventory manager's role is very interesting. Sometimes it might be clubbed with an operations manager. Other times it might be the responsibility of an S&OP or materials manager. But without a solid inventory manager, your customer experience is likely to be fragmented. Or they would be overstocking to eat up all your margins and cash. So what are the KPIs relevant for an inventory manager?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for Inventory Managers. We discussed how the role of the inventory manager could drive their KPIs. We also discussed several inventory KPIs, such as inventory turns, ABC, excess inventory, and more.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platfor…
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Jun 12, 2023
WBSP498: Grow Your Business by Learning the importance of Centralizing and Controlling SaaS Spend w/ Indus Khaitan
Once positioned to reduce the overall software spend, SaaS has become one of the highest spend categories for companies. A company could use as many as 1600 apps across the software categories. The spend might even be more for software companies that are buying someone else’s software to manage their own infrastructure. Industrial companies might struggle to understand why building custom software might not be the smartest idea because of the amount of software required to manage the software infrastructure.
In today's episode, our guest, Indus Khaitan, discusses the strategies for centralizing and controlling SaaS spend. He also discusses the difference between other similar technologies such as P-card, corporate credit cards, and the technology he developed. Finally, he discusses other features, such as why it's important to control the spend before it actually occurs and blacklisting the spend categories.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital t…
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Jun 7, 2023
WBSP497: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Production Managers, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most companies may not have a dedicated role for a production manager, and sometimes that might be shared with the business or operations manager. The role might also differ in various industries, where most manufacturing companies are likely to have a dedicated production manager role. The production manager might also overlap with quality managers, with their primary responsibility being managing production, managing schedule, and getting the max out from the production floor. So which KPIs are most critical for the production manager role?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for Production Managers. We discussed how the role of the production manager could drive their KPIs. We also discussed several industries where production may be relevant.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks…
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Jun 6, 2023
WBSP496: Grow Your Business by Understanding Blue Yonder WMS' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Planning and forecasting software is not meant to be an ERP. Also, the software designed for the internal supply chain might not be the best fit for tracking the external supply chain. The scope of planning and forecasting and ERP might differ in various industries. Retail is especially a unique beast. Due to the transaction volume, the OMS, WMS, TMS, and S&OP layer does the major heavy lifting for retail. So where does Blue Youder fit, and how should it be used in enterprise architecture?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Blue Yonder WMS capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their evolution, role in the enterprise architecture, and the industries that are the right fit for them. We also covered their unique capabilities, such as planograms, retail planning, and supply chain control tower capabilities.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital trans…
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Jun 5, 2023
WBSP495: Grow Your Business by Learning from the Challenges Entrepreneurs Face with Business Growth w/ Roger Knecht
Some entrepreneurs might not choose to hire help just because they might make less. Also, their ego might prevent building a business with the exit strategy in mind. But the others already have their game figured out. They know when to delegate and how to decouple the business from them to ensure that the business is completely decoupled from the founders.
In today's episode, our guest, Roger Knecht, discusses the challenges entrepreneurs face with business growth. He also discusses why it’s important to build a business with an exit strategy in mind. Finally, he discusses the art of delegation and why skillsets and the ability to hire the right expertise play an important role in why certain entrepreneurs are wildly successful while others are not.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcastin…
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May 31, 2023
WBSP494: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Operations Managers, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The KPIs for operations managers would differ based on their responsibilities, the size of the org, and the industry. The role of ops management could be as diverse as managing tactical roles such as logistics to strategic roles such as procurement. Weak operations management leads to weak sales and operations planning, which might, in turn, lead to operational disruptions and inferior customer experience. So which are the KPIs that are most relevant for the operations managers to ensure streamlined operations? So which are the KPIs that are critical for operations managers?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for operations managers. We discussed how the role of the operations manager could drive their KPIs. We also discussed several KPIs in various different industries, such as professional services, manufacturing, and many more.
For more information on growth stra…
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May 30, 2023
WBSP493: Grow Your Business by Understanding Glovia G2 ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While most people might want to put ERP into generic categories such as make-to-order vs. make-to-stock, you need a much deeper analysis to identify the right software packages. Even inside the engineer and make-to-order verticals, there could be nuances such as program management and contract compliance for the automotive verticals. Also, the companies that own the software might drive specific capabilities depending on their strategic alignment. So where does Glovia G2 stand today? And how does it differ from other automotive-centric software?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Glovia G2 ERP capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in automotive capabilities and their evolution as a company. We also covered their weaknesses with their technology and why upgrading to the latest cloud capabilities might be a challenge for them.
For more information on growth strategies…
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May 29, 2023
WBSP492: Grow Your Business by Learning Epicor advanced MES’ Quarterly Updates for Q1 2023, an Objective Panel Discussion
There will always be confusion about the role of MES vs. ERP because of so many different feature sets that are common in both systems. The role of MES is limited to the shop floor, while the ERP is responsible for the enterprise workflows. Also, the MES systems come in many different shapes and sizes, some with very deep capabilities for a specific industry, while others may be technically sound. So where does Epicor advanced MES fits?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Epicor advanced MES’ capabilities. We covered several topics, such as how Epicor advanced MES and ERP differ and their role in the enterprise architecture. Finally, we covered different feature types that Epicor is working on to advance its MES capabilities.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never mis…
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May 24, 2023
WBSP491: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Cost Accountants, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most people understand why unit economics is critical as that drives profit margins. They might use different names for it. Some might call it cost accounting. Depending on the industry, different terms may be used. But the intent is very similar. To understand the cost to produce a product. Cost accounting is also a unique profession, as it sits at the intersection of finance and operations. You need to understand the depth of both worlds to be effective as a cost accountant. So which are the KPIs that are critical for cost accountants?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for cost accountants. We discussed the maturity of cost accounting in different organizations and how that might impact KPIs that cost accountants might track. We also discussed different challenges, such as currency fluctuations, regulatory requirements like market pricing used for regulatory repor…
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May 23, 2023
WBSP490: Grow Your Business by Understanding BatchMaster ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The add-ons come in various shapes and sizes. Some of them were so well done (and tightly embedded with some of the most popular packages) that they became gold standards. The process industry is particularly unique, with each micro-vertical having its nuanced needs. And there aren't a ton of solutions out there that are particularly suited for the process industries, especially with the native experience and robust functionality like BatchMaster.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of BatchMaster ERP capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their corporate strategy, how they evolved as a solution, and where they are really strong. We also covered unique capabilities such as super jobs, safety capabilities, and the NPD and PLM capabilities that might typically reside in a PLM system.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our commun…
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May 22, 2023
WBSP489: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Pre-integrated eCommerce Platforms for ERP Systems w/ Arno Ham
B2B companies have very different needs for eCommerce than B2C. In some B2B verticals that might be slightly service-oriented, even the product model might not be defined. But to be successful with B2B eCommerce initiatives, having a refined product model is essential. By the way, that’s not the only challenge. The bigger challenge would be the integration of eCommerce with ERP. And while you might feel that it might be plug-and-play, it rarely is because of the ever-changing interfaces and APIs.
In today's episode, our guest, Arno Ham, discusses the importance of pre-integrated eCommerce platforms for ERP systems. He also discusses the challenges with ERP and eCommerce integration, such as the need for eCommerce to be real-time while the ERP systems require downtime for maintenance and upgrade. Finally, he discusses the industries that are fit for the configurator and B2B commerce business model.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformati…
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May 16, 2023
WBSP488: Grow Your Business by Understanding BizAutomation ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There will always be a divide in opinions about who should lead the design of business software. ERP platforms designed by CPAs argue that CPAs design the best software. The manufacturing packages designed by shop floor owners tend to argue that they design the best manufacturing packages. The firms started by software engineers and architects might be perceived as disconnected from the needs of business users. Like it or not, software design fundamentals still matter, and most standard packages that scale follow the core software engineering and database design fundamentals. So where does BizAutomation stand?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of BizAutomation ERP capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength with their design and architecture. We also converted their weaknesses, such as their infrastructure and documentation.
For more information on growth strategies for SMB…
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May 15, 2023
WBSP487: Grow Your Business by Learning the eCommerce challenges for the Electrical and HVAC Industry w/ David Gordon
How different could electrical and HVAC industries be? Shouldn’t their processes be as simple as distribution and field services? What is so complex about their eCommerce processes? Well, electrical and HVAC industries are unique as their products need to be aligned with the trade associations. If they don’t follow the same coding standards, there might be issues in integrating with the buying groups and other collaborators. They also have unique processes such as electronic signature and dispatch to delivery confirmation.
In today's episode, our guest, David Gordon, discusses the eCommerce challenges for the electrical and HVAC industry. He also discusses why these industries are lacking compared to their peers in innovating their processes and providing a cutting-edge customer experience. Finally, he discusses why these industries are unique in their ERP needs and why the vanilla system would fail for them.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digita…
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May 9, 2023
WBSP486: Grow Your Business by Understanding QT9 ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The debate between what's an add-on vs. what's an ERP is not new. The add-ons will never have the traceability requirements that regulated industries such as Med Device and Pharma require. But unfortunately, due to the limited technical background of auditors, they can't distinguish whether a record is traceable inside the system. Or would it require manual steps to establish the linking? Also, because of the fragile integration between QuickBooks and Sage50, there are likely to be significant data integrity issues. Most QuickBooks add-ons suffer from the same problems, but they all have a tendency to call them ERP. So where does QT9 stand?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of QT9 ERP capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength with document management and quality workflow processes, including how it compares with other life sciences-centric ERP systems such as Deacom, Blue…
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May 8, 2023
WBSP485: Grow Your Business by Learning the importance of Supply Chain at the Industrial Level w/ Arnoud Star Busmann
While ERP systems have done a wonderful job in providing the traceability of transactions in the four walls of the factory, the traceability across the industry is limited. The limitation exists because of so many factors, such as technology limitations, disparate datasets, political control, and data-sharing agreements. Technical concepts such as digital material and blockchain technologies are powerful to help provide visibility for shippers, trade finance companies, or any other stakeholders involved with the end-to-end supply chain transactions.
In today's episode, our guest, Arnoud Star Busmann, discusses the importance of Supply Chain at the industrial level. He also discusses the importance of digital material and how that helps track the expensive commodity across the supply chain. Finally, he discusses how blockchain technologies are helping track supply chains across non-traditional datasets where there might be political issues with data sharing.
For more information on gr…
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May 3, 2023
WBSP484: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for AR/AP, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
If there are any departments that have seen the majority of automation, they are AR and AP. Most companies, even QuickBooks, would use some form of automation to manage their AR and AP. The automation could be auto-parsing and capturing the PDF documents to manage their entire workflow. The experience around AR and AP processes has changed as well because now, even the customers expect their invoices in one place. So which KPIs do AR and AP need to use to measure their efficiency?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the Top KPIs for AR/AP. We discussed the differences between these roles and how the roles might differ per geography, size of the company, and industry. We also discussed the top KPIs that they need to be successful in their roles.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com…
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May 2, 2023
WBSP483: Grow Your Business by Understanding Multiview ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Buying software is hard, especially business software. There might be companies that might appear to be rated relatively well by the affiliate sites. But when you look under the hood, they might be completely different. Affiliate sites are not necessarily looking at the demo of the product or are experts at reviewing the ERPs. Software companies are also really smart at not posting their demos publicly, which could be even hard for customers to know if they have a real product. Or if they have an outdated product. These decisions could fire back as bad as not going live. So how does Multiview ERP compare with other mainstream ERP software?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Multiview ERP capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their capabilities for service-centric industries such as healthcare and non-profit. We also covered the issues associated with the lesser-known software packa…
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May 1, 2023
WBSP482: Grow Your Business by Learning Why Data Consolidation is Critical for AI and ML Initiatives w/ Claus Jepsen
AI is changing the world. You have an infusion of AI at every step in the process, whether you talk about the first mile or the last mile. Whether you talk about AI being used to intelligently and automatically capture paper-based invoices or to enrich, augment, and predict incomplete data. But you can’t get results from AI if you have data silos. In fact, AI initiatives might fire back if you trained your models with the wrong data.
In today's episode, our guest, Claus Jepsen, discusses why AI and ML solutions are less effective if businesses still have data siloed. He also discusses Unit4 stories and their unique approach to the cloud. Finally, he discusses issues with the first and last mile of AI and how they each offer unique challenges.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platf…
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Apr 25, 2023
WBSP481: Grow Your Business by Understanding Katana Manufacturing ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The hate of ERP systems is not new. Every time a new kid in the town challenges how they are making the ERP systems easier. There are some companies that have approached this in the right fashion, such as Odoo or Acumatica, by understanding how ERP systems work and why they need to have layered complexity. The others have simply eliminated the necessary details for them to have a scalable data model. These systems are great poor man's ERP solutions as you might not be able to afford the consulting dollars and change management at that stage. And that is OK when you are small. But you can't go very far with them without understanding how to model your customers, vendors, items, BOMs, and chart of accounts to get the tangible business benefits with costing, inventory, supply chain, and scheduling.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Katana Manufacturing ERP’s capabilities. We covered many grou…
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Apr 24, 2023
WBSP480: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices for Managing Unmanaged Spend w/ Sudhir Bhojwani and Yuan Tung
Which spend categories should procurement control would always be debatable. Most companies may have a budget threshold where they might dictate the involvement of procurement. But this approach might not be suitable for every category. Some categories may be so strategic, even if the budget threshold may not be as high, that the business might want to take over because of the cross-functional implications or risks. These categories might also have very unique workflows and processes that require unique designs compared to the other categories.
In today's episode, our guest, Sudhir Bhojwani and Yuan Tung discusses the best practices for managing unmanaged spend. They also discuss the disconnect between procurement and business and the scope of procurement. Finally, they describe where ORO labs fit in the enterprise architecture and how it compares with other workflow automation tools, P2P, CLM, etc.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformati…
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Apr 18, 2023
WBSP479: Grow Your Business by Understanding ECi Deacom’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While there are several process manufacturing solutions out there, they all differ in their capabilities. Some are designed for growers and processors, while others are friendlier for distributors and DTC companies. The process manufacturing verticals have unique nuances, such as the hierarchy of serial and lot numbers. The serial numbers need to be managed at the UoM, case, and license plate levels. The pharma distribution may also have requirements such as DSD and route accounting with e-signature required for the delivery and then e-signature required at each process step for pharma compliance. So where does ECi Deacom fit, and how is it different from the other process manufacturing solutions in the market?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of ECi Deacom’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their depth with pharma and process manufacturing capabilities with features such as…
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Apr 17, 2023
WBSP478: Grow Your Business by Learning Sage Intacct’s Quarterly Updates for Q1 2023, an Objective Panel Discussion
The needs of the services industry might differ substantially, especially when you think of subscription, revenue recognition, and ASC 606 compliance capabilities. The ERP systems designed for the service industry might be very deep with grant and fund accounting, having payment terms and multi-element allocation at the line item level on the contract, and HIPAA compliance capabilities. These industries also have very unique requirements, such as the integration with best-of-breed CRM and project management software flavored with the capabilities of these industries. And that’s where Sage Intacct really shines.
In today's episode, we invited Mike O’Brien from Sage Intacct from the ERP community. We discussed the target market and its capabilities for many different industries. We also discussed their roadmap and which features and capabilities their customers can expect in the next few years.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation,…
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Apr 12, 2023
WBSP477: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for Controllers and the VP of Finance, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Is the controller a lead accountant? Are they responsible for preparing financial reporting for a business unit? Are they responsible for planning, budgeting, and spending? Do they work with the CFOs to manage both strategic and tactical activities? Are they also responsible for IT projects such as ERP implementation? Are they also responsible for FP&A? Is there a difference between a controller and a comptroller? Does the role vary depending on the size of the organization and geography? But most importantly, what are the KPIs that a controller needs to serve their responsibilities?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for controllers and the VP of Finance. We discussed the differences between these roles and how the roles might differ per geography, size of the company, and industry. We also discussed the top KPIs that they need to be successful in their roles.
Fo…
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Apr 11, 2023
WBSP476: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean bcFood’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While ERP consultants might put all process and food verticals under one umbrella, there are massive differences among these verticals. And some of these verticals require substantially different capabilities. The food vertical that also caters to growers and processors are very different from plain vanilla food distribution. Grower accounting is unique and may require DSD accounting as well. So which customers would be the right fit for Aptean bcFood?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean bcFood’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including how the needs of growers differ from other food and beverage companies and why you would need grower accounting built as part of the package. We also discussed concepts such as catch weight, scale integration, and the compliance requirements around weight management.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital tran…
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Apr 10, 2023
WBSP475: Grow Your Business by Learning Content-driven Customer Acquisition Strategies w/ Rishabh Jain
There are several strategies that you can explore while starting on your paid media journey. You can either go general or specific, depending on your target market and the audience. But the strategy that may work for B2C might not work for B2B unless it’s a consumerized B2B business. Also, once you start on the customer-driven content acquisition, you need to keep collecting data and experimenting until you have a clear working model.
In today's episode, our guest, Rishabh Jain, discusses content-driven customer acquisition and content experimentation for eCommerce brands. He also discusses how brands can formulate their strategy while starting on the journey of paid media. Finally, he discusses why it is critical to have the purchase funnel and the customer journeys right to get ROI from the paid efforts.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episod…
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Apr 4, 2023
WBSP474: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean JustFood's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
What is a better choice? Go for a well-known horizontal solution. Or opt for a vertical solution that can provide the last mile functionality? What if you could get the best of both worlds? And that's where Aptean JustFood is super handy. Built on the Microsoft BC platform, it provides one of the best interfaces out there. And then it has all the bells and whistles that you might need for the food business, including support from Aptean. So which customers would be the right fit for Aptean JustFood?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean JustFood’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the best-of-breed capabilities of Just Food solution, which would have the best of Microsoft and Aptean while getting support from Aptean. Finally, we discussed the food-specific features and how involved food traceability could get that only solutions such as Aptean JustFood could handle.
For…
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Apr 3, 2023
WBSP473: Grow Your Business by Learning Kibo Commerce’s Quarterly Updates for Q1 2023, an Objective Panel Discussion
The retail industry is unique in its architecture. You have layers such as B2B and B2C. The B2C and FMCG industries have always had unique architecture, with their needs for the POS being the most important. The role of ERP was limited to just financial reporting. The order management layer always consisted of the OMS in a combination of WMS and TMS, with the POS forming the fabric for inventory, allocation, and fulfillment. Now with the needs of eCommerce, things are a bit challenging as the architecture needs to change. So how is Kibo changing that?
In today's episode, we invited Mark Wright from Kibo Commerce, one of the hottest vendors in the microservices-based OMS solution. We discussed the strengths and weaknesses of Kibo along with its target market. We also discussed the latest and greatest features that Kibo has been working on in the past quarter.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or el…
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Mar 30, 2023
WBSP472: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for CMOs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Marketing could be a time sucker if you don't track your numbers. But if you track too much, you might come across as too salesy that your prospects might not trust you. Marketing is all about the right balance. So how do you find that balance? And what KPIs CMOs use to track the balance?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for CMOs. We discussed the best KPIs that CMOs should be measuring. Finally, we discussed how the KPIs might differ for a CMO depending upon the industry and the stage of their company.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Mar 29, 2023
WBSP471: Grow Your Business by Understanding X-Cart’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There is typically a difference between open-source and commercial eCommerce platforms. While you might save a little bit on the licensing with open source, it might end up costing the same with payment processor integrations, etc. Also, there are several categories of eCommerce platforms in the market. A lot of them are owned by payment companies. But there are other platforms that are owned by agencies. Both of their pros and cons, but you need to decide what will be in your best interest. So where does X-Cart fit in the value chain?
In today's episode, we are going to independently review X-Cart’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including how X-cart’s unique capabilities for automotive and their integrations with several payment providers. Finally, we covered their migration to a recent version and unique customizability that might be available through other platforms.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our comm…
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Mar 28, 2023
WBSP470: Grow Your Business by Understanding ERPNext’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The open-source systems could be as expensive as their commercial peers once you account for all the costs associated with deploying software. Also, not all open-source software is created equal. Some have great governance processes in their communities, while others struggle to enforce controls, causing issues during upgrades. The open source systems are also more suitable for companies that have internal development expertise or have access to developers for free, like non-profits or universities. But just because developers might be available, you might still need business consultants who can help you re-engineer your processes. So where does ERPNext fit in the ERP value chain?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of ERPNext’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the differences between Odoo and ERPNext. Finally, we discussed the specific nuances of ERPNext, such as their approach…
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Mar 27, 2023
WBSP469: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Approach eCommerce Initiatives w/ Isaiah Bollinger
When businesses think of upgrading their capabilities, they might feel that they need to hire an agency that can help them get off the ground. Or they might feel that internally they might be able to manage the majority of work. But the reality is that to be successful with eCommerce platform implementations, you need several resources with different skill sets. They spend years sharpening their craft, and it’s very hard to match this expertise with internal resources. So how to approach the right mix for the teams in planning the digital transformation journey?
In today's episode, our guest, Isaiah Bollinger, discusses how to approach eCommerce initiatives for brands. He also discusses how the needs of different sizes of the company may be different at each stage of their life cycle. Finally, he discusses how to build a hybrid team with the right balance of internal and external talent.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit…
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Mar 23, 2023
WBSP468: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for CROs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
CROs are responsible for meeting their numbers. Making sure their teams are hitting their quotas. Or they will struggle with their own. Also, they need to have control of the entire funnel, starting from the lead acquisition to signing the contract. But sometimes, the journey may start well before that. Also, the customer journey could be different per industry type. So which are the KPIs they need to master in order to meet their numbers?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for CROs. We discussed the best KPIs that CROs should be measuring. Finally, we discussed how the KPIs might differ for a CRO depending upon the industry and the stage of their company.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe o…
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Mar 22, 2023
WBSP467: Grow Your Business by Understanding OpenCart’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When it comes to the available options to design your storefront, there are a ton of them, whether you are looking for open-source or paid ones. Most open-source platforms have a trend. Making money by selling hosting, tightly coupling with payment providers, or selling premium themes or add-ons. Open-source platforms are also more suitable for communities and universities where development resources are free or not as expensive. So how does OpenCart compare with the other platforms?
In today's episode, we are going to review OpenCart’s capabilities independently. We covered many grounds, including how OpenCart has a slightly superior model in making money through books than restricting their customers with a payment provider or limiting the integration options available. Finally, we covered the overall business risks with the open source platforms, such as having duplicate pages for the SEO, the uptime of the servers, and untested plugins being promoted to the platform without qual…
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Mar 21, 2023
WBSP466: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean ProcessPro’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The process manufacturing space is complex, with several different PLM options. As well as manufacturing processes that require completely different capabilities. Food manufacturing requires things such as Yield measurement, while the process space might be super heavy with the versions and revisions of its formulas. There might also be other complications, such as fleet management and eCommerce.An average process manufacturer needs a lot in an ERP. So how does ProcessPro differ from other manufacturing solutions?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean ProcessPro’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the differences between Ross and ProcessPro, even though both are Aptean’s products and they both are positioned for process manufacturing industries. Finally, we discussed several other nuances of process manufacturing industries, such as versions and revisions, process-based…
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Mar 20, 2023
WBSP465: Grow Your Business by Learning the First Steps for Your Data Science Journey w/ Tony Aug
Finding the right system for the right job is more difficult than you would think. Most companies end up mixing the boundaries of the systems. While the journey of data science could be powerful, it’s hard to get meaningful insights that will be actionable and drive business outcomes with data siloes. So what do companies need to do to get results from their data science initiatives?
In today's episode, our guest, Tony Aug, discusses the first steps enterprises need to take for their data science journey. He also discusses the architectural differences between decision science systems and operational systems. Finally, he discusses the budget planning for the data science projects and how to be successful with them.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Mar 16, 2023
WBSP464: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for COOs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Operations are all about KPIs. You need a ton of KPIs to measure efficiencies. To lead your team. To motivate them. To make sure they are moving at the optimum speed. Manufacturing or non-manufacturing ops can't operate with KPIs. Don't have good data? Most likely misleading KPIs. Don't have data at all? How would you have KPIs at all? Have a ton of data but no insights? How would your KPIs be reliable? So which are the KPIs COOs need at their fingertips to ensure their success?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for COOs. We discussed the best KPIs that COOs should be measuring. Finally, we discussed how the KPIs might differ for a COO depending on the reporting and org structure.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the…
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Mar 15, 2023
WBSP463: Grow Your Business by Understanding EKM Powershop’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The smaller eCommerce platforms might claim to be cheaper than other mainstream platforms such as Shopify or BigCommerce. They might also have claims such as not charging the transaction fee. But let's face it! Most eCommerce platforms are owned or have an alliance with payment companies. That's how they make money. Running an eCommerce platform is expensive, and the fee that you pay barely covers the cost of running the platform. So is EKM Powershop really a deal, as they claim?
In today's episode, we are going to independently review EKM Powershop’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the affiliation of eCommerce merchants with payment providers. Finally, we covered the risks with the smaller eCommerce providers and why these risks may not be worth the discount you might be getting on your transactions through smaller vendors.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To…
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Mar 14, 2023
WBSP462: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean Ross’ Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The systems designed for process manufacturing differ completely from discrete manufacturing. The process manufacturing verticals are also deep into logistics and transportation management, as the regulatory bodies might need to report as part of the traceability compliance. They also have very strong QC requirements with the shop floor equipment integrated. Finally, recipe management and yield calculation are completely different from discrete verticals. So which system in the Aptean portfolio is designed for process manufacturing? If you have guessed Aptean Ross, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean Ross’ capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its unique features for the F&B industries. Finally, we discussed the nuances of process manufacturing industries and drew parallels with some of the discrete industries.
For more information on growth strategies…
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Mar 13, 2023
WBSP461: Grow Your Business by Learning How CFOs can be Successful with ERP Projects w/ Buddy Blattner
Running a business is hard. But changing business at each inflection point could be harder. You need changes in people, processes, and technology to enable growth at each inflection point. But the hardest change management project that any organization can ever undertake is the ERP implementation, as the ERP implementation touches every discipline possible in the entire company. And regardless of how many times you have done it, you will still get surprises. But the more implementations you have under your belt, the easier the process becomes.
In today's episode, our guest, Buddy Blattner, who discusses how CFOs can be successful with an ERP implementation. He also discusses how to plan for operational capacity during a growth inflection point, including an ERP implementation. Finally, he discusses several stories related to ERP rescues and the lessons learned from each of the stories.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our…
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Mar 9, 2023
WBSP460: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for CIOs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most smaller companies struggle to understand the importance of a CIO. In smaller companies, it's not uncommon to have developers, a CFO, a VP of Supply Chain, or a VP of marketing playing or claiming the role of a CIO. They might also not understand the importance of enterprise architecture, IT portfolio planning, and master data governance. But a CIO is a very specialized skillset that requires experience in managing complex enterprise applications and infrastructure. It takes many years of implementation to get used to enterprise architecture patterns and learn the best practices for managing large IT departments and programs. So which are the KPIs that CIOs need at their fingertips to ensure their success?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for CIOs. We discussed the best KPIs that CIOs should be measuring. Finally, we discussed how the KPIs might differ for a CI…
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Mar 8, 2023
WBSP459: Grow Your Business by Understanding osCommerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The ecommerce shop owners are likely to be lured by the idea of open source. But once you start managing your store on an eCommerce platform, you might spend more time with technical issues than selling. osCommerce is one such platform that is often among the popular open-source cart options and has been installed on thousands of sites. Also, there was a time when osCommmerce was an OK option because the other options were equally outdated. But not anymore. And definitely not in 2023.
In today's episode, we are going to review osCommerce’s capabilities independently. We covered many grounds, including why estimating the cost for open source may be harder than commercial options. We also discussed how evaluating software purely based on functional capabilities is likely to fire back. Finally, we discussed why speed, security, and SEO are perhaps the most important factors for a commerce solution.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation…
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Mar 7, 2023
WBSP458: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean Excenta’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There are nuances right within the ERP system, such as most processes being driven using size, style, season, brand, and color. But then the integrations are super involved too. You have integration as thick as PLM, WMS, and a designer toolbox such as Adobe Illustrator. Then the supply chain processes are fairly unique as well, with the need for vendor collaboration, sampling, and order placement during R&D. So, which are the systems designed for the Apparel industry? If you have guessed Excenta, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean Excenta’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its unique capabilities for the apparel industry and why this industry has different needs for ERP and integrations. Finally, we covered why there are only a few solutions available in this industry unless you plan to use several add-ons on top of the horizontal ERP systems.
For…
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Mar 6, 2023
WBSP457: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of the Packing Step w/ James Malley
Most SMBs don’t understand the importance of the packing process. They might have a very serialized pick, pack, and ship process and might pack one order at a time. As companies mature, they gain efficiencies by decoupling the process steps and optimizing them individually. Packing is one step that is often ignored. Most SMB companies might simply send the order from their eComm or ERP to print the shipping label using the order or pick list, skipping the packing step. So not only having a good packing step is necessary, but there are several technologies available that can help you optimize the packing step by doing the math for you for the ideal packaging configuration, saving freight costs and losses due to misconfigured packaging.
In today's episode, our guest, James Malley, shares his insights on the importance of the packing step of the pick, pack, ship process. He also talks about the importance of having good product dimensions and packaging data that can help to streamline…
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Mar 2, 2023
WBSP456: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for CFOs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
CFOs need a ton of KPIs to ensure profitability. To ensure all revenue and expenses get accounted for. To maintain the debt-to-equity ratio. To get favorable terms from the bank. To maintain the price of the stock. But doing all of this might require thousands of KPIs. Also, as companies grow, CFOs might not have the bandwidth to keep track of every transaction of the business. So they require KPIs that are not only reliable but traceable in a manageable manner. So which KPIs are the most critical for CFOs?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the top KPIs for CFOs. We discussed the best KPIs that CFOs should be measured in several industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare. Finally, we discussed the KPIs that are typically meaningless to measure and might be counterproductive.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our…
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Mar 1, 2023
WBSP455: Grow Your Business by Understanding Vue Storefront’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Headless, composable, and microservices architecture could be confusing even for developers. But it gets more confusing when you look under the hood. With too many moving parts. And not a clear understanding of which component is supposed to do what. What is most confusing is this whole notion of the front end for the front end. Sound cryptic? It is! Why would you need that? There are many reasons. Caching, performance, ease of development, composability, and scalability. But mainly offline experience! But is offline experience important for retailers? Hell yeah, when you are going to be installing commerce front on every corner. Internet may not always be available. While this is great for developers as they have a lot more control over the process the way they like, are practitioners going to have the same control? So how does Vue Storefront help? And where does it fit in the architecture?
In today's episode, we are going to review Vue Storefront’s capabilities independently. We c…
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Feb 28, 2023
WBSP454: Grow Your Business by Understanding ECi DDMSPLUS’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
One channel that might not be immediately apparent to be different would be the office dealer space. It has similar flavors, such as building material and auto parts distributors, for the requirements of local fleets and PODs. It also has unique integration requirements with furniture manufacturers and distributors that might be more expensive with horizontal offerings. Also, they have unified commerce requirements at a much smaller scale where they need inventory to be synched between stores and eCommerce portal, along with mobile. So which ERP system is suitable for this industry? If you have guessed DDMSPLUS, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of ECi DDMSPLUS’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the nuances of the office supply space and how the needs of this space are very similar to building materials and HVAC space. Finally, we covered ECi's corporate st…
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Feb 27, 2023
WBSP453: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Work with Large System Integrators w/ Vignesh Khade
Large programs require a lot more planning and strategy than smaller ones. Due to the number of functions involved and the need for collaboration among those functions. The default answer for most companies while leading large programs would be to go to a large SI and start it. The challenge with the approach is that each SI has practiced and might not have a centralized entity that could help you identify the right products and define the architecture. And might result in conflict by pulling the architecture in their direction.
In today's episode, our guest, Vignesh Khade, who shares his insights on how to work with large system integrators while leading digital transformation programs. He also talks about where the role of architects fits in the overall process and why it is critical to design the business processes and define the architecture prior to engaging with SIs. Finally, he described the nuances of the corporate structure of SIs and how to engage with them to be successful…
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Feb 23, 2023
WBSP452: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top KPIs for CEOs, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Rework issues could eat up all of your margins. There could be several reasons why there might be rework orders. The rework could be quality issues in the production process. Or they could be because of the issues with incoming raw materials. So what are the best practices for reducing rework in the manufacturing industry?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interviews on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Manufacturing Rework best practices. We discussed the triggers and process boundaries for manufacturing rework. Finally, we discussed the best practices to reduce it.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Feb 22, 2023
WBSP451: Grow Your Business by Understanding Fluent Commerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While there is much talk about the coolest eCommerce platforms out there, the large majority of the market share is still in the brick-and-mortar setting, especially among retailers. This makes the POS and OMS experience far more critical than eCommerce. Also, to get the eCommerce experience right, you need to have: Omnichannel experience and Unified experience. Whatever the name you may want to give, it's a necessity. In today's commerce experience. So how can Fluent Commerce help?
In today's episode, we are going to independently review Fluent Commerce’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including why the OMS is going to be a need for large retailers in their architecture, even if it might feel unnecessary. Then we discussed how it interacts with other toolsets in the architecture. Finally, we discussed why the best-of-breed approach may not be as expensive as it might appear due to the pre-baked integrations available through the commerce providers.
For more information on…
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Feb 21, 2023
WBSP450: Grow Your Business by Understanding ECi JobBoss’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The small job shop market is also flooded. With unique software that could be perceived as different. From the mainstream ERP systems. The JobBOSS2 system is one example. That was created by jamming together the best of E2 Shoptech and JobBOSS. JobBOSS was known for easy to use QuickBooks-like functionality. For smaller shops, but had a much superior UX. E2 Shoptech, on the other hand, had robust features and was behind in its technology.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of ECi JobBoss’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including the changes in the ECi portfolio and how they might impact the ECi product. Finally, we reviewed its data model and which segment the solution fit the most.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subs…
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Feb 20, 2023
WBSP449: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Centralizing Data for Retail Companies w/ Kathy Aronson
The foundation of retail business relies on having access to good quality data. Without the right data, retailers make uninformed decisions, such as raising their prices or targeting expensive channels that are likely to fire back. The problem is much worse when they might have multiple systems, as getting true insights from this architecture is much harder. So what do retailers need to do to operate in a hybrid environment where the traditional methods of running a retail business are likely to fall short?
In today's episode, our guest, Kathy Aronson, shares her insights on centralizing data for retail companies. She talks about why data sharing is critical for retail channel partners, and the retailers need to think beyond the four walls of retail. Finally, she discusses why data could help retail brands lose their marketshare when they don’t make decisions based on data.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community…
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Feb 16, 2023
WBSP448: Grow Your Business by Learning Manufacturing Rework Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Rework issues could eat up all of your margins. There could be several reasons why there might be rework orders. The rework could be quality issues in the production process. Or they could be because of the issues with incoming raw materials. So what are the best practices for reducing rework in the manufacturing industry?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Manufacturing Rework best practices. We discussed the triggers and process boundaries for manufacturing rework. Finally, we discussed the best practices to reduce it.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Feb 15, 2023
WBSP447: Grow Your Business by Understanding 2Checkout/VeriFone’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
How hard could it be to choose a payment provider? And what could go wrong with eCommerce integrations? Well, if you don't understand how to integrate them, you could be locked out of your account. You might not be able to access your funds for the products you may have sold. But that all might be necessary if you want to protect yourself from fraud. So how would 2Checkout help?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of 2Checkout/VeriFone’s capabilities. We covered why payment providers are the hardest to work with among eCommerce technologies. Finally, we discussed how different payment processors differ and why companies will need a payment processor such as 2Checkout/Verifone despite their negative reviews and clunky technology.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never mis…
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Feb 14, 2023
WBSP446: Grow Your Business by Understanding Abas ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP from Germany, but it is not SAP? Do you know an ERP system that has a similar look and feel as the other manufacturing software such as Infor or Aptean? Do you know an ERP system that has similar workflows built up as NextWorld? Do you know an ERP system that might not be as penetrated in North America? If you have guessed Abas ERP, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Abas ERP’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its origin, architecture, and target market. Finally, we analyzed several user reviews to explore the strength and weaknesses of the solution.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Feb 13, 2023
WBSP445: Grow Your Business by Learning the Business Model Nuances of Machinery Dealers w/ Noah Graff
Buying a machine is an expensive investment that most companies would think twice before thinking about replacing. Also, replacement decisions could be complex as various factors need to be considered including buy vs maintain, and the overall cost of ownership for both of these decisions including taxes. If you are thinking of replacing, machinery dealers could not only help you maintain but might be able to sell at the carrying costs on your balance sheet, if not for profit.
In today's episode, our guest, Noah Graff, shares insights about the business model of machinery dealers. He also talks about the best practices of working with a machinery dealer. Finally, he compares different machines and how a different strategy might be required for each of these cases.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favor…
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Feb 9, 2023
WBSP444: Grow Your Business by Learning Job Sequencing Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How hard could job sequencing be? Isn't it all about the order of the jobs? Yes, but there could be several rules that could be used depending on your strategy. Earlier due date, Longest Processing Time, Shortest Processing Time, First-Come, First Serve, and Least Setup Hours - to name a few. So what are the best practices when it comes to job sequencing?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Job Sequencing best practices. We discussed how the competing priorities could be problematic for the shop floor and how job sequencing rules affect the outcome for on-time delivery. Finally, we covered several stories related to job sequencing.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Feb 8, 2023
WBSP443: Grow Your Business by Understanding Amplience’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a CMS platform that is often installed alongside commercetools and SFCC? Do you know a CMS platform that is completely headless and not part of the suite like HCL Commerce? Do you know a CMS platform that is designed for a best-of-breed composable experience? Do you know a content modeling platform in the headless world? If you have guessed Amplience, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Amplience’s capabilities. We covered why it’s so popular among other headless platforms and why most enterprise companies end up using it regardless of the choice of their eCommerce platforms. Finally, we covered why it would require changing the mindset and consulting help to come up with the data model.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an…
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Feb 7, 2023
WBSP442: Grow Your Business by Understanding Blue Link ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP that has one of the strongest functionality for pharma? Do you know a pharma ERP that is targeted at SMB wholesale distribution customers? Do you know an ERP that might have pre-baked functionality for CSOS reporting? Do you know an ERP that has POS and eCommerce built as part of the ERP? If you have guessed Blue Link ERP, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Blue Link ERP’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its superior design compared to another tier 4 systems. Finally, we covered its pharma-specific functionality and why it would be a heavier lift for pharma companies to develop this functionality on top of the vanilla ERP systems.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscri…
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Feb 6, 2023
WBSP441: Grow Your Business by Learning On Time Delivery Performance Issues w/ Meagan Elkes
Logistics planning requires an understanding of constraints and building relationships with carriers. While your KPIs might appear OK on the surface, there might be other issues such as packages arriving damaged or the carriers sub-contracting most of their operations. Understanding the root cause of these issues requires you to simplify your KPIs. But ensure that KPIs are well communicated and understood by everyone involved. As they say, change for the sake of change is not good. Similarly, creating KPIs just for the sake of tracking is not good.
In today's episode our guest, Meagan Elkes, shares insights about the On Time Delivery performance issues. She also talks about how OTD and carrier performance is correlated and how the declining performance may be a sign of issues with the other one. Finally, we discussed concepts such as lane design, supply chain planning, and network mapping.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit…
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Feb 2, 2023
WBSP440: Grow Your Business by Learning Consignment Inventory Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Consigned inventory could be a great strategy for startups trying to get space in retailers' warehouses. It could also be a great strategy for distributors and retailers to carry an inventory of unfamiliar brands without committing too much capital. But consigned inventory complicates the business processes for all parties involved. So what are the best practices when it comes to incorporating consigned inventory as part of the business model?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Consignment Inventory best practices. We discussed the differences between consignment and borrowing. And how the inventory will be treated in each vendor’s and customers’ ERP systems. Finally, we discussed the issues related to international consignment, along with several fun stories.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wb…
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Feb 1, 2023
WBSP439: Grow Your Business by Understanding Algolia’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
If I had to describe eCommerce in three words, it would be search, recommendation, and personalization. And 90% of the eCommerce sites are extremely poor at these three things. But fear not; headless is changing that. While Algolia is used in the context of headless, you could have the same search experience even with monolith platforms. So what is Aloglia, and where does it fit in the eCommerce value chain?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Algolia’s capabilities. We covered why the best-of-breed search capabilities aren’t as threatening to the composable commerce experience. Finally, we discussed its capabilities such as AI synonyms, tweaking search results for each query, and personalized search.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS…
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Jan 31, 2023
WBSP438: Grow Your Business by Understanding Priority ERP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP system that is from Israel but is not SAP Business One? Do you know an ERP system that has a similar look and feel to SAP Business One but is way ahead in the cloud? Do you know an ERP system that can support configurable mobile workflows right within the app without requiring developers? Do you know an ERP system that has thousands of installations in Israel but is virtually non-existent in North America? If you have guessed Priority Software, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Priority ERP’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its look and feel very similar to SAP Business One and its deep manufacturing capabilities. Finally, we covered its evolution, strategy, roadmap, and its strengths and weaknesses.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.co…
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Jan 30, 2023
WBSP437: Grow Your Business by Learning the Challenges Associated with NetSuite Data Migration w/ Paul Giese
Data migration is extremely complex. It is especially more challenging when the source data may have a different structure and governance rules than the destination structure. For example, File driven datasets may allow edits of journal entries, as well as debits and credits on the same account. The downstream datasets such as GL entries are far easier than the upstream datasets such as inventory transactions, fixed assets, or projects. If not analyzed carefully, data conversion projects may take forever and might not provide meaningful insights.
In today's episode our guest, Paul Giese, shares insights about the challenges associated with NetSuite data migration. He also talks about how the limitations of QuickBooks may require reversing the transactions before data can be migrated. Finally, he discusses why the upstream datasets such as inventory, sales transactions, projects, and fixed assets could be more challenging to migrate than just the journal entries.
For more information…
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Jan 26, 2023
WBSP436: Grow Your Business by Learning Dimensional Inventory Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Dimensional inventory is more than just a bunch of attributes at the product level. It affects how the items are created, planned, and tracked. Using an ERP system without the support for dimensional inventory might result in planning issues. It might also result in ad-hoc processes and increased admin effort in correlating dimensions on top of raw data. So what are the best practices when it comes to dimensional inventory?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Dimensional Inventory best practices. We discussed how dimensional or matrix inventory differs in various industries, as well as why systems not designed for dimensional inventory may lead to increased admin efforts. Finally, we discussed the impact of matrix inventory on planning, merchandizing, shop floor, warehouse, and logistics.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, v…
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Jan 25, 2023
WBSP435: Grow Your Business by Understanding WooCommerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that is designed for WordPress users? Do you know an eCommerce platform that may require several plugins to build a complex store? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is designed for SMBs and doesn't charge based on GMV? Do you know an open-source eCommerce platform that is written in PHP but is not Magento or OroCommerce? If you guessed WooCommerce, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of WooCommerce’s capabilities. We covered how it compares with other open-source and commercial platforms. Finally, we covered the businesses that would be most benefited from WooCommerce and where they might be stretching their capabilities.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe to your…
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Jan 24, 2023
WBSP434: Grow Your Business by Understanding Aptean Made2Manage’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP system that is designed for manufacturing but is not from Infor or Epicor? Do you know an ERP system that may not support as many layers of BOMs that Infor or Epicor systems might be able to support? Do you know an ERP system that might struggle with diverse business models, such as a business that might do both construction and distribution? Do you know an ERP system that has a very similar look and feel to Infor? If you have guessed Aptean Made2Manage, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Aptean Made2Manage’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its similarity in look and feel with Infor. Finally, we covered its BOM structure, traceability, costing layers,and technology.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an…
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Jan 23, 2023
WBSP433: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Get Products Listed on Retailers’ Shelves w/ Gil Bar-Lev
Every vendor out there would love to get on the shelves of big-box retailers. But the conversation finishes as soon as they ask for the price list. It might finish even sooner if you don’t know how to find the right buyer and understand their interests before pitching to them. So what are the best practices to get the attention of retail buyers?
In today's episode our guest, Gil Bar-Lev, shares insights about the challenges associated with getting products on retailers’ shelves. He also talks about how dropshipping works and how some people might confuse it with the wholesale model. Finally, he discusses different strategies in navigating larger procurement organizations and how to get their attention.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.
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Jan 19, 2023
WBSP432: Grow Your Business by Learning Lot/Serial Control Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The lot and serial numbers strategies can help improve customer experience and traceability. But over-implementing lot and serial numbers might fire back with the increased overhead and admin efforts. In some industries, the lot numbers could be so involved that you might require multiple lot and serial numbers as part of the same product. There might also be requirements for different BOMs that may contain traceable assembly. So what are the best practices when it comes to implementing lot and serial numbers?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts to live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Lot/Serial Control best practices. We discussed the layers of the lot and serial numbers and how they might be different in different industries. Finally, we discussed the unique lot and serial number requirements of industries such as defense, pharma, and custom manufacturing.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP a…
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Jan 18, 2023
WBSP431: Grow Your Business by Understanding Volusion’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that targets very small eCommerce startups, just like Wix or GoDaddy? Do you know an eCommerce platform that had recently filed chapter 11 to restructure its debt? Do you know an eCommerce platform that may not have as high a transaction fee similar to Shopify? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is based in Austin, TX? If you guessed Volusion, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Volusion’s capabilities. We covered its strengths such as not having as high transaction fees and its alignment with smaller businesses. Finally, we discussed its financial challenges and the problems users reported while using this platform.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe to your fa…
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Jan 17, 2023
WBSP430: Grow Your Business by Understanding BisTrack’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP system that is designed for the lumber and building materials industry? Do you know an ERP system that is integrated with most modeling software in the building materials space? Do you know an ERP system that allows entering delivery # and carrier while receiving inventory in the warehouse? Do you know an ERP system that allows picking based on sales orders? If you have guessed BisTrack, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of BisTrack’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its alignment with the building materials distributors and why this vertical has very unique needs where a vanilla ERP might struggle. Finally, we covered different integration requirements such as with the estimation software and eCommerce platforms, and how critical that is for ERP systems in this industry.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and di…
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Jan 16, 2023
WBSP429: Grow Your Business by Learning How to Shift Your Mindset to Cash-focused Strategies w/ David Safeer
While companies understand the importance of cash, they struggle to create processes and KPIs that will help them drive cash for the company. Cash is the ultimate lifeblood of the companies. And they could have cash issues because of so many reasons. The cash issues could be because of how you are allocating your inventory to each channel. They could also be due to the inability to map the cash cycle of the business. Finally, they could be because you might be hyper-focused on revenue.
In today's episode our guest, David Safeer, shares why companies need to shift their mindset to cash-focused strategies. He also talks about cash-related topics such as variables that drive cash issues with businesses, the KPIs that mislead businesses and cause performance issues, and how sales strategies might result in cash improvement. Finally, he shared several stories where he was able to save cash for several companies through this mindset.
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Dec 8, 2022
WBSP428: Grow Your Business by Learning Inventory Replenishment Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
What comes to mind when you think of engineering change control? Well, if you are a small shop with a few changes per month (or relatively straightforward products), then you might not see as many change orders. But if you are a highly engineered shop or sell custom products, you might receive change orders even after shipping your products. Heavy on change orders? Then you must need a formalized engineering change control process. Otherwise, you might struggle a lot. So what are the best practices of engineering change control?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Inventory Replenishment best practices. We discussed the nuances of simpler replenishment strategies such as min/maxes to more advanced such as Kanban, bin, and MRP-centric replenishment strategies. Finally, we discussed the advancements in the inventory replenishment strategies such as DDMRP and how that differs from…
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Dec 7, 2022
WBSP427: Grow Your Business by Understanding Unilog’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that can handle all your content and data needs for you? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is really targeted at B2B companies and has pre-built integrations with several industrial B2B ERP systems? Do you know an eCommerce platform that has a similar go-to-market strategy as Optimizely? If you guessed Unilog, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Unilog’s capabilities. We covered its strengths such as its unique services for content creation that are extremely friendlier for the buying groups. Finally, we discussed its pros and cons and its similarity with other B2B eCommerce platforms such as Episerver or Optimizely.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe to your f…
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Dec 6, 2022
WBSP426: Grow Your Business by Understanding FinancialForce's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP platform that started with the investment from Unit4 as the subsidiary but ended up being on its own and calling itself an ERP? Do you know an ERP system that got its PSA capabilities from the Salesforce consulting firm Appirio, which is now part of Wipro? Do you know an ERP platform that is primarily targeted at service-centric industries? If you have guessed FinancialForce, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of FinancialForce’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its origin and alignment with Unit4 and how it shaped up the target market for FinancialForce. Finally, we covered its strengths, weaknesses, and target industries.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your f…
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Dec 5, 2022
WBSP425: Grow Your Business by Learning Why ERP Implementation is More of an Art than Science w/ Tom Pierce
Most people when they start on their ERP journey feel it's more of a science, which engineers can figure out easily. But then they quickly realize that irrespective of whether the model is built on a spreadsheet or a complex computer program, it relies on the quality of inputs and the context. And that’s what makes ERP implementations so hard as it’s really more of an art than a science. And just like the way an artist gets better as they get more experience under their belt, the chances of ERP implementations would be higher as you figure out the art of ERP implementation.
In today's episode our guest, Tom Pierce, shares why ERP implementation is more of an art than science. He also talks about several issues related to ERP implementation projects such as how siloed culture impacts the outcome of ERP implementation, the disconnect between digital and physical processes, and how minor changes such as six vs twelve characters on bin number could result in more than 300 programming…
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Dec 1, 2022
WBSP424: Grow Your Business by Learning Engineering Change Control Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
What comes to mind when you think of engineering change control? Well, if you are a small shop with a few changes per month (or relatively straightforward products), then you might not see as many change orders. But if you are a highly engineered shop or sell custom products, you might receive change orders even after shipping your products. Heavy on change orders? Then you must need a formalized engineering change control process. Otherwise, you might struggle a lot. So what are the best practices of engineering change control?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interviews on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Engineering Change Control best practices. We discussed the nuances of the engineering change control process for various industries and how form, fit, and function derives the ECM process. Finally, we covered several other concepts related to engineering change control such as revision number, reference designator, eng…
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Nov 30, 2022
WBSP423: Grow Your Business by Understanding Shopware’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that is open source but has UX as good as Shopify? Do you know an open-source eCommerce platform born out of Germany? Do you know an open-source platform that has that is built on PHP but can support headless? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is upcoming and targeted for SMBs? If you guessed Shopware, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Shopware’s capabilities. We covered its strengths such as its UX similar to Shopify, business events, and flow builder. Finally, we discussed the pros and cons of open-source software and how their model compares to other open-source software such as Magento, PrestaShop, and OroCommerce.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on yo…
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Nov 29, 2022
WBSP422: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage 100's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a Sage ERP that is designed for companies with up to 100 employees? Do you know a Sage ERP that was part of the MAS portfolio, just like MAS 500? Do you know a Sage ERP that has a contractor version, just like Sage 300? Do you know a Sage ERP that might allow multi-companies as part of its database but doesn't allow intercompany transactions? If you have guessed Sage 100, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage 100cloud’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its history, product architecture, and industry alignment. Finally, we covered its different versions such as the main version which was targeted mainly at the distribution industries, and the contractor version which was a leaner product for companies before they moved to Sage 300 CRE.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community…
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Nov 28, 2022
WBSP421: Grow Your Business by Learning Migration Challenges of Financial Data w/ Richard Ray
Most people struggle to understand the data migration challenges with ERP systems. They also struggle to understand why ERP data is harder to migrate than other technical systems such as CRM. The challenges could be even more grave if there are multiple currencies involved. As well as when you might be migrating data from incompatible or incomplete sources. So what are the best practices for data migration?
In today's episode our guest, Richard Ray, shares his insights into the data migration challenges of financial data. He also talks about several issues with data migration projects such as multi-currency, incomplete source data, and incompatibility of source and destination data sources. Finally, we discussed the differences between migration financial and operational data, the rationale for bringing data, and how each system has different ways of handling charts of accounts.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our communi…
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Nov 17, 2022
WBSP420: Grow Your Business by Learning ERP Document Management Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How hard could ERP document management be? Just get a dropbox subscription, and dump all your files into that. Well, regulated industries may have significantly complex processes. The needs could be as simple as maintaining the versions of drawings. Or as complex as driving your quality and production processes. Not having a good document management system could throw off your production and quality processes. So what are the best practices for ERP document management?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss ERP Document Management best practices. We discussed the difference between document and data and how there is a very thin line between both Finally, we covered ERP document management concepts such as metadata, BOM, engineering drawings, and paperless.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or ele…
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Nov 16, 2022
WBSP419: Grow Your Business by Understanding Kibo Commerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a platform that is fully integrated, whether you need mobile commerce, store experience, merchandising, or personalization? Do you know a platform that has out-of-the-box processes, whether you need BOPIS, ROPIS, Curbside, or Whitelabel dropoff capabilities? Do you know an eCommerce platform that truly gets the DTC experience with the merge of physical and digital experience? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is truly unified commerce? If you guessed Kibo Commerce, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Kibo Commerce’s capabilities. We covered its strengths such as unified commerce capabilities, the omnichannel experience for retailers with a physical presence, and the integrated mobile POS experience. Finally, we compared its weaknesses such as poor documentation because of acquired products, inconsistent UX experience, and legacy programming model for some…
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Nov 15, 2022
WBSP418: Grow Your Business by Understanding Oracle JD Edwards' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP system that was once considered SAP from the USA? Do you know an ERP system from Oracle that has enterprise-grade capabilities for complex manufacturing organizations? Do you know an ERP system from Oracle that is still supported but may have an uncertain future? Do you know an ERP system from Oracle that has super-deep functionality for F&B and pharma-centric industries? If you have guessed Oracle JD Edwards, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Oracle JD Edwards’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its product architecture, evolution, release deadlines – and how it compares it with other products in Oracle’s portfolio. Finally, we discussed its strengths with complex manufacturing functionality such as several layers on OEMs, lot and serial numbers, and the process manufacturing functionality.
For more information on growth strategies…
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Nov 14, 2022
WBSP417: Grow Your Business by Learning How Industry4.0 Technologies can Drive Customer Experience w/ Rob Rastovich
When you think of industry4.0 technologies, maybe you are thinking of them as increasing operational efficiencies. Or reducing waste. But did you know that industry4.0 technologies can drive customer experience and sales? And we are not talking about the companies that might be selling industry4.0 components to system integrators or OEMs. These are upsell and crosssell opportunities by simply gathering data from devices and overlaying that with your CRM data.
In today's episode our guest, Rob Rastovich, shares his insights into how industry4.0 technologies can drive customer experience. He also provided his insights into the industry4.0 company that he ended up selling to Amazon. Finally, we discussed the differences between machine-to-machine IOT, pub-sub model and where MQTT would be a fit in the architecture, and what is required to replicate industry4.0 workloads on cloud farms.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our com…
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Nov 10, 2022
WBSP416: Grow Your Business by Learning Product Traceability Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Product traceability is extremely complex to implement. If it is mandated by the regulations, you might not have much of a choice. But to shoulder the administration overhead imposed by traceability processes. It could be so challenging that it might break your processes while inputting serial numbers during your receive operation. There is also a very thin line in deciding between lot numbers and serial numbers. Finally, the recall management might require you to have the infrastructure set up for the entire recall process.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Product Traceability and Recall Management best practices. We discussed the nuances associated with deciding between when to use the lot vs serial numbers. Finally, we covered many stories related to product traceability and recall management from several industries.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using…
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Nov 9, 2022
WBSP415: Grow Your Business by Understanding Intershop’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that was the hottest before the .com bubble? Do you know an eCommerce platform that has personalization built as part of its core before personalization was a thing? Do you know an eCommerce platform that had a market valuation of $11 billion but now has less than $100 million in revenue? Do you know an eCommerce platform that has a very tight relationship with Microsoft and is often installed with Microsoft Dynamics 365? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is really strong with multi-country workflows in regulated industries? If you guessed Intershop, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Intershop’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its unique position in the market with B2B companies and the history of how it was one of the hottest products once upon a time but then ended up being just a moderate success among ecommerce…
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Nov 8, 2022
WBSP414: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage 500's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a Sage ERP that was very similar to Acumatica with its data model and functionality? Do you know a Sage ERP that was targeted to discrete manufacturing, distribution, and project-centric manufacturing companies? Do you know a Sage ERP that was SQL-based and allowed multi-company accounting? Do you know a Sage ERP that is in maintenance mode and not going to receive any future updates? If you have guessed MAS 500, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage 500’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its product architecture, evolution, release deadlines – and how it compares it with other products in Sage’s portfolio. Finally, we discussed its strengths with field service and project management capabilities, even though it is perceived primarily as a manufacturing and distribution product.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ER…
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Nov 7, 2022
WBSP413: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of Apparel Industry Supply Chain w/ Ben Hopwood and Anant Agarwal
Which country would you think would be most strategic for you for your supply chain? Which country would be the most strategic for an apparel business? Do different components such as Zippers vs textiles need to be sourced from different countries? How do different regions of India provide different textile materials such as performance fabric vs organic? How would this all help in creating a robust supply chain?
In today's episode our guest, Anantveer and Ben, shares their insights into how to create a robust supply chain for an apparel business. They also discussed the challenges with the global supply chain due to macroeconomic conditions, war, and inflation. Finally, they discussed several other concepts impacting the apparel industry such as different regions for sourcing, marketplaces, and logistics challenges.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss…
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Nov 3, 2022
WBSP412: Grow Your Business by Learning Fixed Asset Management Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Fixed asset management could be extremely complex whether you are implementing it for the first time. Or calculating the depreciation schedules on an ongoing basis. Changing regulations could also add to the complexity. So what do you need to know about managing fixed assets? Do different countries or states have reporting requirements? If so, what do you need to look for in an ERP?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Fixed Asset Management best practices. We discussed why fixed assets are a unique beast when it comes to ERP implementation and historical data migration. Finally, we discussed the pros and cons of using an EAM solution on top of the core ERP offering vs using full-suite as part of one solution.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an…
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Nov 2, 2022
WBSP411: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sitecore’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that is designed for enterprise-grade websites? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is primarily designed for B2C experiences with the ability to build composable experiences? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is? Net-based? Do you know an eCommerce platform that can accommodate up to five rules to provide personalized experiences through deterministic identity? Do you know an eCommerce platform that has support for GraphQL? If you guessed Sitecore, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sitecore’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its unique position in the market with B2C companies and its strength in all layers of commerce, from content to experience management, to commerce. Finally, we discussed how the layers of deterministic identity work with CDP platforms, and why that is important for the personalized experienc…
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Nov 1, 2022
WBSP410: Grow Your Business by Understanding Oracle E-Business' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an ERP that is targeted at fortune-500 industries? Do you know an ERP that can process more than 200 million journal entries per hour? Do you know an ERP that can accommodate more than 200 countries in one database? Do you know an ERP that can be sold as individual cloud apps such as SCM or PPM? Do you know an ERP that is primarily targeted for banking, insurance, media, telecom, utility, energy, healthcare, and the public sector industries? If you have guessed Oracle Cloud ERP, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Oracle E-Business’s capabilities. We covered many grounds including its product architecture, evolution, release deadlines – and how it compares it with competing products. Finally, we discussed unique features such as risk management, general ledger level security settings, and its leaner capabilities for manufacturing and supply chains.
For more…
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Oct 31, 2022
WBSP409: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of European Regions and Their ECommerce Practices w/ Reinis Valters Krumins
The world may have come closer due to the penetration of the internet. But the eCommerce practices and consumer behavior remains very different in terms of payment methods, email open rates, and ad performance. The Europe market, in particular, is very different, with market patches that behave very differently. And brands that want to scale in the Europe market must have a comprehensive strategy, not just to grow but to sustain.
In today's episode our guest, Reinis Valters Krumins, shares his insights into the nuances of different European regions and their eCommerce practices. He also discussed differences in payment methods in North America vs Europe and the payment methods that you need to accept to support different regions in Europe. Finally, he discussed the best practices for launching new products and how email could be an effective tool given the higher open rates and success in the European regions.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital t…
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Oct 27, 2022
WBSP408: Grow Your Business by Learning Bank Account Management Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How hard could managing your business bank accounts be? Just run your EFT, receive your statements, and match your transactions. Right? Well, bank account management could get extremely nuanced as well. For example, if you are not set up positive pay, your accounts could get locked down for several days. Sure, you will get your money back if you have had a fraudulent transaction. But the money might not be available for months. So what do you need to know to set manage your bank accounts?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Bank Account Management best practices. We discussed bank accounts management concepts such as the right mix of chart of accounts for each bank account, the importance of sub-ledgers, and the challenges during audits without the processes for cash hygiene. Finally, we discussed horror stories covering concepts such as the disappearing of cash and using ghost…
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Oct 26, 2022
WBSP407: Grow Your Business by Understanding Prestashop’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that is open-source and targeted at SMBs? Do you know an eCommerce platform originated in France? Do you know an open-source platform that has thousands of installations? Do you know an eCommerce platform that makes money primarily from selling add-ons? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is built on PHP but not on Magento? If you guessed PrestaShop, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Prestashop’s capabilities. We discussed its unique value proposition, its strategy to make money using add-ons and themes, and the pros and cons of open-source software. Finally, we discussed its customers and target market, the transactional history workflow, and its strength in European regions such as France, Italy, and Germany.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community…
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Oct 25, 2022
WBSP406: Grow Your Business by Understanding E2 Shoptech's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Which ERP system has been in the market for more than 20 years? And designed from the perspective of job shops? It is the ERP that was built by shop owners who had owned a shop before. It is the ERP that gets its name from its owners' last name. It is also the ERP that would be fit for smaller shops and that ECi acquired in 2000. Which one did you guess? If you have guessed, E2 Shoptech. Then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of E2 Shoptech’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including which its superior data model compared to other smaller products targeted for job shops such as ECi M1 and ProShop. Finally, we discussed unique features that are commonly found in the products targeted for make-to-order manufacturing such as release functionality for sales orders – and discussed if these features might be necessary or might be a result of broken processes.
For more infor…
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Oct 24, 2022
WBSP405: Grow Your Business by Learning the Process Challenges of Make-To-Order Manufacturers w/ Nirav Shah
The ERP needs of make-to-order manufacturers are completely different from the make-to-stock ones. The make-to-order manufacturers need to collaborate with their customers during the design phase. And even after finalizing the design, there might be several change orders. These iterative changes make planning extremely difficult for the make-to-order manufacturers. And understanding these nuances is extremely critical to implement an ERP for make-to-order manufacturers.
In today's episode our guest, Nirav Shah, shares his insights into the process challenges of make-to-order manufacturers. He also talks about the order and product differences of make-to-order manufacturers and how that impacts the downstream ERP processes. Finally, he talks about planning and scheduling processes and the value MRP brings to make-to-order manufacturers.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure t…
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Oct 20, 2022
WBSP404: Grow Your Business by Learning Cash Flow Management Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
If you ask anyone what's most important for a business, they will have a million different answers. The answers could be things such as marketing, engineering, quality, and employee experience. But if there is one thing that matters more than anything else, it's cash. Either you have it, or you don't. You can fake marketing. You can fake revenue. You can fake success. But you can't fake cash.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Cash Flow Management best practices. We discussed the differences between cash and accrual accounting and how that might impact the predictability of cash flow. Finally, we discussed the impact on cash flow because of poor inventory optimization, supply chain unpredictability, and inability to collect your AR.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensu…
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Oct 19, 2022
WBSP403: Grow Your Business by Understanding fabric’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a headless platform that has received millions of dollars in funding in the last two years? Do you know a headless platform that is equally strong with B2B and B2C but primarily targeted at retail-centric brands? Do you know a headless platform that has logos such as GNC, McDonald's, and BodyBuilding.com? But it's not commercetools, Spryker, or Elastic Path? So which one is it? If you have guessed fabric, then you are right.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss fabric’s capabilities. We discussed its unique value proposition, its deep capabilities with DTC and B2B companies, and its journey of multiple rounds of funding within a few months. Finally, we discussed the background of their executives and how that might influence their corporate and go-to-market strategy.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our…
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Oct 18, 2022
WBSP402: Grow Your Business by Understanding Oracle PeopleSoft's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Which ERP is designed for people-centric industries in mind? It is the one that Oracle acquired. And got two major ERP brands in one go. In fact, this brand was so big that they ended up rebranding some of JD Edward's ERP assets to this one. This is also the Workday of the 80s and 90s. And the first Windows HRMS application in the era when most other systems were mainframe-based. In fact, the founder of this ERP co-founded Workday. Any guesses yet? If you guessed PeopleSoft, then yes, you are right. It's the ERP that is still supported by Oracle and is majorly used by universities and public-sector organizations.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Oracle PeopleSoft’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including which industries would be a fit for Oracle PeopleSoft and its history being as popular as Workday in the 80s. Finally, we discussed its features such as overlap % with project sc…
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Oct 17, 2022
WBSP401: Grow Your Business by Learning How To Start on a 3D Experience Journey w/ Beck Besecker
3D should always be better than the 2D experience, especially for the furniture and home goods industry. This industry also has one of the highest return rates even if there might not be anything fundamentally wrong with the product. Sometimes it’s the perception of the measurement or fabric that might turn off some of the customers. The 3D experience allows companies not only to help their customers visualize the product. But it also helps in increasing bag size as the furniture may not appear so well without the right lamps or the art. But creating a 3D experience is very expensive. It requires planning and building quality assets. Or the 3D experience is likely to fire back because of the perception of poor quality.
In today's episode our guest, Beck Besecker, shares his insights into how brands can start on their 3D experience journey. He also shares his insights into the entire process of what is involved in creating the 3D assets and which roles are likely to be involved. Fina…
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Oct 13, 2022
WBSP400: Grow Your Business by Learning General Ledger Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How important is the general ledger to your organization? You might not care until you get a huge bill from your tax department for incorrectly coding an expense. Or you come to know that your financial position might not be as strong as you thought. The correct setup of the chart of accounts determines how much admin effort you would have with your accounting. In fact, it's the foundation of the ERP system implementation. If you lump everything under one account, you might lose the insights that you need to be able to find the root cause of financial issues. If you make it too broad, you might enter too much data during your transactions and may have adoption issues among your operations team because of the overly engineered processes.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss General Ledger best practices. We discussed the scope and boundaries of the general ledger processes and why…
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Oct 12, 2022
WBSP399: Grow Your Business by Understanding OroCommerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know an eCommerce platform that is open source and built on PHP? Do you know an eCommerce platform that is very strong with B2B features with complex approval flows? Do you know an eCommerce platform that can bump up the products in the search list based on the score of product attributes? Do you know an eCommerce platform that can have a separate landing page for different users and customer types? If you have guessed Magento, then it's not right. It's OroCommerce.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss OroCommerce’s capabilities. We discussed its unique value proposition, developer-friendly nature, and its roadmap. Finally, we discussed some of the very interesting features such as its ability to rank different products in its search results and rank based on product attributes, workflows to enable B2B approval flows, and the hierarchies of its business objects.
For mor…
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Oct 11, 2022
WBSP398: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage 200's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Do you know a Sage product that has multiple location functionality but is not designed for multiple countries? Do you know a Sage product that has multiple versions of its products for different countries? Do you know a Sage product that is targeted for distribution, agriculture, and light manufacturing and has a SQL-server-based database? Do you know a Sage product that has rich functionality for on-prem but may not be as rich in the cloud just yet? Would it be Sage 50, 100, 200, 300, 500, or X3? Well, if you guessed it right, we are talking about Sage 200.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage 200s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including which industries would be a fit for Sage 200 and which industries might not be the best fit. Finally, we discussed its features such as allowing duplicate serial numbers, having only mins and not maxes on some screens, and costing and pricing la…
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Oct 10, 2022
WBSP397: Grow Your Business by Learning How Shadow ERP Processes Leads to Implementation Failure w/ Peter Joeckel
ERP implementation is easy. Anyone can do it. But, ironically, anyone can fail it as well. So how can ERP implementation be so easy and difficult at the same time? There are several reasons. But the core reason is how ERP systems are selected and implemented. Most companies follow a checklist approach. And this approach often results into hit or miss scenarios because creating a generalized checklist approach for ERP implementation is nearly impossible, especially for the processes that might be happening outside of the ERP system.
In today's episode our guest, Peter Joeckel, who shares his insights into the concept of shadow ERP and how that drives ERP implementation failure. He also discussed how measuring and understanding the shadow ERP processes can result in better outcomes for your ERP implementation. Finally, he shares his insights into the importance of data plumbing and the challenges associated with having multiple software systems in the architecture.
For more information…
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Oct 6, 2022
WBSP396: Grow Your Business by Learning Account Payable Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How hard could it be to manage the vendor side of processes? Well, sometimes, it could be more complex than your customer side of processes, especially for B2C businesses. Also, it might vary based on your industry, product type, and supply chain. You might need to make arrangements such as prepayment. The R&D side of processes could be completely different from operational processes. You might want to have complex arrangements such as pre-printed shipping labels or packaging arrangements. They all could have implications on your AP processes. Also, each industry may have its own requirements on how AP is supposed to be done. On top of it, each ERP system is likely to treat the AP processes differently. So what are the best practices for streamlining AP function?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Account Payable best practices. We discussed the scope and systems involved with…
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Oct 5, 2022
WBSP395: Grow Your Business by Understanding Elastic Path’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The B2B companies have needs for eCommerce functionality such as catalog management, saving of carts, and complex product variants. But do catalog management needs vary even among B2B companies? While there are solutions that can promise catalog management, there are very few solutions that have gone as far as decoupling these three completely. This is where Elastic Path lives to its name in providing true elasticity to headless experiences. But how does it compare with other headless platforms such as commercetools and Spryker?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Elastic Path capabilities. We discussed its unique product and data model that allows it to create a fluid catalog and pricing bundles for enterprises with complex channels and product offerings. Finally, we discussed the pros and cons of their architecture and compared it with other eCommerce platforms in the market.…
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Oct 4, 2022
WBSP394: Grow Your Business by Understanding Tally's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The number of installations for an ERP is a metric that is often used as a purchase criterion. But it can often be misleading. Misinterpreted. Misunderstood. Also, the product sold to small-to-medium-sized businesses is likely to have a higher number of installs because of the larger customer base. How about different geographies? Is that also a factor? Yes, the products sold in developing countries are also likely to have a higher number of customers due to the market being fragmented. One such product is Tally, which is considered Oxyzen for the SMB markets in India and the middle east. It used to be accounting software. But later promoted as an ERP solution. So does it really have ERP capabilities? Like the real ones? Or are they simply trying to pretend like an ERP? Also, what are the major factors for its popularity? Loyalty? Cost? Users not willing to change? Lack of options?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct…
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Oct 3, 2022
WBSP393: Grow Your Business by Learning Automated Testing for ERP Systems w/ Thomas Clyma
70% of the ERP implementation time is spent on testing the functionality. In fact, some people might argue that most of them manual data entry with ERP can be automated. But it’s easier said than done. Because of the rigidness of the ERP data, even manual testing could be extremely challenging. Also, the testers who might not have as much background might not understand why it’s so hard to design test cases for ERP systems. With ERPs, you not only need to know how to write good test cases, you also need to know the ERP functionality deeply.
In today's episode our guest, Thomas Clyma, who shares his insights into the automated testing for ERP. He also shares his insights into the differences between the testing strategies in the pre-implementation phase as well as post-implementation. Finally, we discussed why automated testing for ERP is uniquely challenging than other technical systems and why it is hard for software testers to learn how to test ERP systems.
For more information…
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Sep 29, 2022
WBSP392: Grow Your Business by Learning Account Receivable Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Account receivable functions should be as easy as sending a bunch of invoices, making a few phone calls, and collecting cash. It must be the easiest job in the world, right? Well, once you get into the nuances of billing, you will quickly realize that it can get very complex with different payment arrangements, payment schedules, and partial payment options. Each industry may have its own requirements on how AR is supposed to be done. Each ERP system is likely to treat the AR processes differently. So what are the best practices for streamlining AR function?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Account Receivable best practices. We discussed the process boundaries along with different processes that need to be supported by the AR function for different industries. Finally, they shared several stories related to the AR processes and lessons learned from them.
For more information…
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Sep 28, 2022
WBSP391: Grow Your Business by Understanding Shopify’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Shopify is the name that is now synonymous with eCommerce. Shopify is so easy that you can get up and running within hours and start selling. You also probably don't need the coding background to start selling on Shopify. Then you have thousands of apps that are pre-integrated. But as you add more apps, the cost increases. Also, you might be limited with your options unless you use Shopify Plus, which is relatively expensive. So would Shopify be the right fit for any businesses? Or are there businesses that might not be a fit for Shopify?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Shopify capabilities. We discussed their journey and the overarching corporate strategy to understand their product roadmap. Finally, we discussed their different tiers and how to evaluate Shopify as a platform for your next eCommerce project.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and…
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Sep 27, 2022
WBSP390: Grow Your Business by Understanding ECi Macola's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Most people underestimate the role of products or services in defining your processes' structure. This is also probably the reason why most industries would have comparable operations. And as a result, they would be using a similar ERP system. For example, the needs of FMCG distributors are likely to be different from industrial distributors. While most distributors might have similar processes, their processes might vary based on the industry served. This is also perhaps the reason why selecting an ERP system is so hard. So, where does Macola fit based on its data model and product architecture?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of ECi Macola's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its unique capabilities and where it’s likely to be the strongest fit. Finally, we discussed how ECi is trying to rearchitect to align it with other products in its portfolio and why its design has alwa…
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Sep 26, 2022
WBSP389: Grow Your Business by Learning the Lean Procurement Prioritization Workflow w/ Richard Lebovitz
COVID has taught us that Supply Chain issues can shake the whole economy. And everyone is attacking Supply Chain issues from their perspective. And sometimes it’s very hard to understand how these solutions will collectively solve the overarching issues within Supply Chain. One of the most critical perspectives that are often missed when we talk about production scheduling is of the buyer who is responsible for procuring materials and ensuring that the shop floor has the materials timely. But managing the procurement process while optimizing the inventory is easier said than done.
In today's episode, our guest, Richard Lebovitz, who shares his insights into procurement prioritization and its impact on scheduling and inventory. He also compares and contrasts various systems such as S&OP, IBP, P2P, and vendor collaboration software and where procurement-focused systems such as LeanDNA fit in the architecture. Finally, he discusses how the underlying data and business and the configura…
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Sep 22, 2022
WBSP388: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Nesting Business Process, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
If you cut any materials on your shop floor, you might have nesting software to reduce waste. But the admin efforts increased by a standalone nesting software might eliminate the benefits of reducing waste. Also, if you have multiple software on your shop floors, such as MES, QMS, EAM, nesting, SPC, etc., it might be harder to create the roles and responsibilities of different systems with a clear source of authority. This is especially harder due to the amount of back and forth churn involved for each job order with these integration flows. So what are the best practices for incorporating nesting processes and software into your shop floor?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Nesting best practices. We discussed what the nesting process is and which industries are likely to use it as part of their production process. Finally, we discussed the pros and cons of integration archit…
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Sep 21, 2022
WBSP387: Grow Your Business by Understanding BigCommerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
BigCommerce is the name you will hear in the B2B space. But does BigCommerce have the same options as some of the other sophisticated platforms such as Magento, with a security layer to enable procurement flows, quoting functionality, and catalog release process? Even for the omnichannel experience, you might need an external POS. But one thing it does offer is a very strong variant layer, which might be helpful for brands that might offer customizable options for each style. These variants might also be helpful for industrial brands that might have dimensional inventory. BigCommerce also has headless options to work with other best-of-breed options, such as using it with WordPress. So which companies would appreciate BigCommerce and which one would not?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss BigCommerce capabilities. We discussed their capabilities in the B2B market and if they ar…
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Sep 20, 2022
WBSP386: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor Visual's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When an ERP system uses a specific buzzword or something that customers might relate to, it's typically the marketing hype. And not really the strength of the product. For example, several cloud products might include a "cloud" word, even if they might be legacy products. Just to prey on uninformed customers! But there is one system that really lives to its name called Infor Visual. That has similar visual capabilities and organization that is rare to find in smaller software packages. Also, most of the smaller packages targeted for job shops typically exploit the broken processes of the customers. Infor Visual is surprisingly an exception there as well. But is Infor Visual a fit for every business out there?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Infor Visual's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its unique capabilities and where it’s likely to be the strongest fit. Finally, we di…
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Sep 19, 2022
WBSP385: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of the OEM Distribution Model w/ David Taylor
There are many different business models for how each ERP vendor promotes its products. Some like to go direct to the customers with their own professional services team while the others only sell through their partners. While not common, some vendors also have OEM arrangements, which is similar to the technology licensing business model, where a distributor may have exclusive rights to modify the product and white label with their branding. This additional layer of complexity may add another layer to the already confusing ERP buying cycle. So what do you need to know about the OEM business model?
In today's episode, our guest, David Taylor, shares his insights into the pros and cons of the OEM distribution model for ERP systems. He also discusses the nuances of Australian geography and how different states might have different statutory and compliance requirements related to vendor payments, e-invoicing, and bank integration. Finally, he discusses why the data model for the Australia…
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Sep 15, 2022
WBSP384: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Product Configurator, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
eCommerce consultants have been the most enthusiastic about the importance of product configurators. How this is a need for every custom manufacturer. But product configurator comes in many shapes and sizes. A product configurator could be a simple form on a WordPress site that sends out an email to the backend team. Or a 3D configurator with a live product experience. Just like the way you would experience in the Virtual Reality world. But while talking about configurator experience is easy, executing on it is very hard. As that requires a complete alignment of product, pricing, and BOM data across systems. So what are the best practices for implementing product configurators?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Product Configurator best practices. We discussed why product configurators matter and which businesses would be the right fit to enable the configurator experience. Fi…
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Sep 14, 2022
WBSP383: Grow Your Business by Understanding Adobe Commerce/Magento’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
If you were to name the top 2-3 eCommerce platforms, I am pretty sure you would have Magento on your list. Sure there are always going to be pros and cons of every single platform, but you might find a lot more pros with Magento than cons. The pros are going to be especially applicable for businesses with complex products and catalogs. The businesses that are B2B are likely to benefit from Magento's capabilities. But can Magento be a good replacement for companies exploring enterprise-grade platforms such as SAP Hybris, Oracle Commerce, HCL Commerce, and Salesforce Commerce? If not, what would be the limitations of the platform?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Adobe Commerce/Magento capabilities. We discussed their strength of being open source and which organizations will be the right fit for Magento. Finally, we discussed their unique capabilities such as B2B features, pro…
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Sep 13, 2022
WBSP382: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage 50's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Sage 50 is the household name for companies that might be in the revenue range of up to $10 million. In fact, there was a time when Sage 50 literally meant that the software was designed for companies with up to 50 users. But some companies may use it even after they outgrow that mark. Sage 50 competes with QuickBooks desktop and will have all the problems that QuickBooks Desktop is likely to have. These problems are likely to become severe with the interaction of offline and online channels. This is especially true when multiple users may be using the file from multi locations. Is that the reason why Intuit decided to move away from its desktop licensing model? And how long would it take for Sage to do the same with their Sage 50 software?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage 50's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their target market and data integrity issues with multiple…
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Sep 12, 2022
WBSP381: Grow Your Business by Learning How AI Can Be Used To Improve Customer Engagement w/ Erica Salm Rench
Creating good content takes time, effort, and investment. But targeting the right content for the right target buyer and prospect is even harder. Because how do you know which prospect might care for which piece of content? Also, even if they might care about a specific topic today, they might move on from that topic in the future. And this makes engagement marketing super hard. But artificial intelligence is changing that in helping curate content and distributing to the appropriate channels as per the preferences of your readers.
In today's episode, our guest, Erica Salm Rench, shares her insights on how AI can be used to improve customer engagement. She also discusses the challenges around email marketing and how AI can reduce the time in compiling the newsletters in an automated fashion to reduce the costs of marketing. She also shares her insights into the technical underpinnings of the AI technology of her platform and the emerging AI trends and technologies that will change how…
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Sep 8, 2022
WBSP380: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Outside Process Management, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Outside process management is a critical process for manufacturers. It's hard for them to run their operations without the support for this process. But you will be shocked how many ERP systems don't support this process natively. Despite their claims that they all are designed to work for any industry. So what are the nuances when it comes to outside process management? And how involved does it get across the industries? Can you manage it outside of the ERP?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Outside Process Management best practices. We discussed the nuances and best practices of Outside Process Management processes and how they might vary in different industries. Finally, we discussed the overlap and boundaries of Outside Process Management processes across systems and functions.*
*For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visi…
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Sep 7, 2022
WBSP379: Grow Your Business by Understanding HCL Commerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Consulting companies have never been good at selling products. IBM is a classic example. They have always struggled with their true identity. While they were one of the strongest engineering organizations, just like BlackBerry, product marketing is a different skill. And that's probably the reason why they ended up selling all of their software assets to other organizations.' WebSphere Commerce is one example. At one point in time, WebSphere Commerce used to be the gold standard for the enterprise commerce platform. But they ended up selling to HCL. Wait, but what is HCL doing with a software product? You would think that this is probably a "mainframe" strategy with a deliberate intention to buy legacy assets. So they can make charge a premium on their billing rate. But if you review the rearchitected version of HCL Commerce, you will be pleasantly surprised how fine of a job they have done with the product.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live…
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Sep 6, 2022
WBSP378: Grow Your Business by Understanding ECi M1's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
ERP systems get a bad rap for being biased toward manufacturing. So manufacturers must feel comfortable using the mainstream ERP systems out there. Right? Well, at least that's not true for job shops. Job shops are unique in the way they think and work. They have a tendency to feel that they have unique business processes and workflow that require them to use a unique ERP system. But if you review the ERP systems that job shops typically appreciate, you will begin to notice a trend. That these ERP systems were created because the job shops were not willing to change how the other manufacturing businesses run. And that's probably the reason why most job shops very rarely cross the inflection point of $25-50 mil of lifestyle businesses. And one software that is extremely popular in the SMB job shop community is ECi M1, which promises a lot for them. But it's so unique and different that you might face migration issues if you ever grow to cross the inflection point.
In today's episode, w…
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Sep 5, 2022
WBSP377: Grow Your Business by Learning the Impact of Macroeconomic Trends on Supply Chain w/ Michael Van Keulen
Recent economic events have taught us that Supply Chain is much deeper than most people think. These events, regardless of whether macro- or micro-economic, have the potential to throw off Supply Chain planning. And it requires careful calibration and cross-functional collaboration. So the Supply Chain professionals have data they need to take preventive measures to ensure that you are prepared for Supply Chain disruptions before it is too late.
In today's episode, our guest, Michael Van Keulen (MVK), shares his insights on the current supply chain trends and opportunities. He also discusses the procurement maturity model for companies at various stages and what companies that are successful with their procurement and supply chain do differently. Finally, he discusses macroeconomic trends and their impact on the supply chain planning for the company in the short- and long-term.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our communit…
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Sep 1, 2022
WBSP376: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Reverse Logistics, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most companies would rather give a product for free than worry about reverse logistics. Especially when the cost of the supply chain may be higher than the product itself. By the way, reverse logistics is not as simple as printing a shipping label and sending it to your customer. It could include getting a product to your facility and then recycling it or sending it to the vendor for repair. Managing these transactions could be even more difficult when multiple systems might be involved in your architecture. So what are the best practices of reverse logistics?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Reverse Logistics best practices. We discussed the nuances and best practices of Reverse Logistics processes and how they might vary in different industries. Finally, we discussed the overlap and boundaries of Reverse Logistics processes across systems and functions.*
*For more informat…
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Aug 31, 2022
WBSP375: Grow Your Business by Understanding Episerver Digital Commerce/Optimizely’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The debate about whether a platform should be more business vs. developer-friendly is classic. Even the platforms that might claim to be friendly for business users might struggle with aesthetically pleasing interfaces. But Episerver takes a very different approach with their rich CMS that is already integrated with several ERP platforms popular in the industrial space. The B2B space also has very different needs with customer-specific pricing and the availability of products for specific customer groups and divisions. So how is Episerver positioned among other headless vendors and the enterprise-grade platforms such as SAP, Salesforce, and Oracle commerce cloud?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Episerver Digital Commerce/Optimizely’s capabilities. We discussed their strengths and weaknesses and why they have one of the friendliest CMS for B2B mid-market companies. Finally,…
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Aug 30, 2022
WBSP374: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor CloudSuite Distribution/SX.e's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Most people might think of the distribution business as buy-and-sell. But distribution really gets really complex in the industrial space. You have challenges such as price and rebate management, buying groups, rush orders, and millions of SKUs. Unlike manufacturing, you might have very different planning for your warehouses, including push and pull-based replenishment. The bin structures are so complex that they may contain layers and layers of information to ensure that the warehouse crew is able to manage their operations smoothly. So what do industrial distribution businesses need to know about selecting software? Also, how do industrial distribution software such as Epicor Prophet 21, Epicor Eclipse, and Infor CloudSuite Distribution SX.e differ?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Infor CloudSuite Distribution/SX.e's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in the…
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Aug 29, 2022
WBSP373: Grow Your Business by Learning the Implications of Big Bang ERP Rollouts w/ Nate and Jessica Schisler
Whether to go for iterative deployment or the big bang is always subject to debate. But one factor that is often missed is the number of issues you might get on the day of deployment. As well as, the number of resources that you may require to avoid and control the impact of business disruptions. Most consulting companies would often advise against massive rollouts. The smaller the deployment, the more manageable it is. But that may not always be possible due to the system architecture. And the amount of additional temporary overhead that may be required to support a phased deployment.
In today's episode, our guests, Nate and Jess Schisler share their insights on Lululemon’s case study of a massive rollout of their ERP and WMS. They also discuss the specific decisions that led to them opting for the one-weekend rollout despite their system integrator advising otherwise. Finally, they share details about the architectural considerations and resulting inventory issues that required mo…
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Aug 25, 2022
WBSP372: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of RMA, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
What comes to mind when you think of RMA? Well, for me, I always feel that I have a fundamental right to return any product as I so please. However, if you think about the people and businesses that have to enable processes such as store credit, refund, sending the shipping labels, and getting the merchandise repaired, you might no longer feel like returning a product. Each of these processes could be so involved that it might require its own ERP systems for each area. Also, RMA processes could have an impact on your profitability. And most issues with RMA can be traced back to engineering or production. So what are the best practices of RMA processes?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss RMA best practices. We discussed the nuances and best practices of RMA processes and how they might vary in different industries. Finally, we discussed the overlap and boundaries of RMA processe…
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Aug 24, 2022
WBSP371: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP Commerce Cloud’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When people think of SAP Hybris, they are definitely not thinking of the modern stack such as React, headless, or PWA. But SAP Commerce has come a long way in its capabilities and stack. While it might not be as headless as some of the newer breeds of the tools, not many tools can match the enterprise-grade infrastructure capabilities of SAP Commerce Cloud. SAP Commerce Cloud has one of the most robust B2B features that other platforms can hardly match. And it is also a nice blend of headless with enterprise security in mind.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Hybris, Detailed Independent Review. We discussed their strengths and weaknesses and where they might fit in the eCommerce architecture for both B2B and B2C business models. Finally, we discussed their different approach to headless and why that may be slightly more sensible way of approaching head…
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Aug 23, 2022
WBSP370: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage 300's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Sage 300, also known as Accpac, is the household name for many companies when they think of an ERP system. It has always been a powerful accounting package, especially for SMBs. It has also been very strong with construction, real estate, and field service verticals. Especially very deep functionality for unions, cost codes, retainage, submittals, and commitments. While most people might think that any package that might have project-centric functionality may be suitable for construction. That's not true at all. So, would Sage 300 be any different than most construction packages?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage 300's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in the construction and real-estate industries. Finally, we discussed their construction-specific functionality such as union reporting, retainage, submittals, and transmittals.
For more information on growt…
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Aug 22, 2022
WBSP369: Grow Your Business by Avoiding Odoo ERP Implementation Disasters w/ Nick Foy
It’s very hard to pinpoint the real cause of ERP implementation failures due to the number of moving pieces involved. Some people would always blame the software vendors while others would blame the system integrators. In reality, these factors might not contribute to the ERP implementation failure as you would think. But one factor that has a much higher chance of firing back is the customization of the software. The more you customize, the more cans of worms you will be opening for yourself. The open-source software is more customized than its commercial variants. And because of that, they also have a much higher failure rate.
In today's episode, our guest, Nick Foy, shares his insights on the reasons for ERP implementation and adoption failures based on his team’s experience in saving Odoo implementation. He also discusses why technical teams shouldn’t think of over-customizing an ERP solution just because they can. Finally, he discusses why the business analysis of each soft…
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Aug 18, 2022
WBSP368: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Committed Inventory and Allocation, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Committed inventory and allocation are perhaps the most complex processes to master in the ERP world. But they are critical after a certain point in your growth. If you don't have committed inventory processes figured out, you might not be able to reserve for key customers. Every department may create ad-hoc arrangements to preserve its inventory. And that might result in inventory accuracy issues. But for the committed inventory processes to work, you must have your inventory in order. So, where do you start in your journey of committed inventory? And how to get it right?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Committed Inventory and Allocation best practices. We discussed why commitment is inventory and how the commitments might vary in different industries when the inventory may be allocated at the lot or style level. Finally, we discussed complex inventory allocation processes…
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Aug 17, 2022
WBSP367: Grow Your Business by Understanding Oracle Commerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
The whole idea of eCommerce and the web have always been making IT and programming easy for marketers. So easy that they don't need to learn coding to run eCommerce operations. But the world of headless seems to be taking the opposite approach. So is every vendor treating headless as the same? Not really. Also, should the headless experience always be based on React? Probably not. Why should a technology trend be biased toward a specific tech? Also, React is not the only way to write Javascript-based apps. Oracle Commerce is often criticized for being monolithic and Java-based. But that's perhaps not true. They are one of the easiest and most customizable without requiring the clunkiness of headless. So is there only one way of doing headless? If a tech is achieving the same outcome conceptually, then it doesn't really matter whether the tech is headless or not.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant e…
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Aug 16, 2022
WBSP366: Grow Your Business by Understanding Microsoft SL's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Before Microsoft started migrating all of their customers to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and F&O, they had a similar strategy as Epicor or Infor, with several products in their portfolio targeted to specific industry verticals. In fact, they still sell products such as Microsoft SL. While they have announced the end of life for the SL product, some community members feel that the deadline is likely to be extended. They claim this as, in their opinion, Business Central might not be the best migration path for SL customers. And they are perhaps accurate in their assessment. This is because Positioning a product designed for FMCG distribution may not be the best fit for companies primarily in the project business. So, where does Microsoft SL stand as of today?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Microsoft SL's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in the construc…
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Aug 15, 2022
WBSP365: Grow Your Business by Learning Taxation and Localization Nuances of Mexico w/ Agustín Cruz Lozano
Most people underestimate the differences in taxes and localization and their implications on the ERP processes. Some countries may have requirements such as reporting on pollution or privacy standards. But countries such as Mexico have completely transformed their taxation system to prevent corruption and bribery in the market. This transformation, however, creates unique challenges for the companies implementing an ERP system as they not only need to comply with the admin overhead registering their product and services with the govt, but they also need to automate their processes to integrate with the govt system in order to remain profitable.
In today's episode, our guest, Agustín Cruz Lozano, shares his insights into the taxation and localization nuances of Mexico and why the vanilla ERP would fall short for Mexico. He also discusses concepts such as electronics invoicing, unique numbers for each submission, and the differences in the tax filing processes. Finally, he discusses h…
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Aug 11, 2022
WBSP364: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Shop Floor Scheduling, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Shop floor scheduling is always the hottest debate in the ERP community. In fact, it is so complex that most SMB companies end up managing their scheduling on spreadsheets. Also, the problems are much worse when multiple systems might be involved in the architecture. They each might claim how inadequate the other system is. With no clear consensus on what works when it comes to scheduling. One of the problems often discussed on the root causes of scheduling is the number of exceptions that the shop floor has to manage. And the ever-changing nature of the schedule. So can you ever fully automate shop floor scheduling? Or would it always require manual interventions? And if scheduling is this hard, how do larger companies manage their plants where the schedule of one plant may impact the other.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss shop floor scheduling best practices. We discussed…
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Aug 10, 2022
WBSP363: Grow Your Business by Understanding Salesforce Commerce’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When it comes to enterprise platforms, it's hard to meet the expectations from all fronts: performance, customization, developer experience, and functionality. Most platforms can perhaps check a couple of these boxes. Salesforce Commerce Cloud might be able to check a lot of them. That's probably the reason it's the leading platform for enterprises. It has deep industry-specific capabilities in both B2B and B2C space. For example, localized OEM-managed sites for dealers. Or, a HIPAA-compliant web store for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Some people may argue that headless should be able to solve the customer needs of most industries.But some of these features could be so deep that unless your data model supports it, it might be harder to build on vanilla platforms. So, where does Salesforce Commerce Cloud stand as of today in comparison to the headless and legacy platforms?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who br…
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Aug 9, 2022
WBSP362: Grow Your Business by Understanding Epicor Eclipse's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Epicor Eclipse has a more loyal community than crypto and Metaverse. But why is that? Based on the amount of technological innovation happening, you would guess that any school grad might be able to write ERP software. Right? So then why do technologies such as Mainframe, AS400, and Epicor Eclipse still exist? Is it really because change is hard. But change is hard for whom? For companies that are using it or companies that are selling it? Or is it because customers are unwilling to change because of their strong affinity with a technology or product? If so, why should we blame the companies trying to sell and support what customers are willing to buy? Epicor Eclipse has a loyal community for a reason. But what are those reasons?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Epicor Eclipse's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in HVAC, plumbing, and trade contracting industri…
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Aug 8, 2022
WBSP361: Grow Your Business by Learning Workflow Automation Technologies w/ Ravi Vaidya
Automating a process is easy. But understanding which process is the right candidate for automation is more difficult than most people think. Also, not every process is the right candidate to be hosted inside an ERP. By the same token, not every process can be as ad-hoc as RPA. There is one category that is in between the enterprise-wide cemented processes of ERP and ad-hoc processes automated by RPA technologies. It’s called workflow automation. Workflow automation inherits approval and transaction elements of ERP and ad-hoc elements of RPA. And that’s perhaps why the workflow automation category is so hot. But which processes are the right candidate for workflow automation technologies?
In today's episode, our guest, Ravi Vaidya, shares his insights into workflow technologies and where they fit in the enterprise architecture. He also compares several technologies such as iPaaS, BPM, P2P, and RPA, and why workflow automation deserves its own category. Finally, he compares several…
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Aug 3, 2022
WBSP360: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Co-products/By-products, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The bill of materials becomes complex when you might have multiple layers of costing and sub-assemblies. But you need to be at a different level when you might have co-products and by-products involved as part of your manufacturing process. The co-products can help you optimize your production process and allocate costs appropriately. The by-products can help you measure the yield percentages accurately. But unless your SKUs and BOMs replicate the physical production processes, your costs and yield percentages may be all over the place. So what are the best practices for capturing by- and co-products appropriately as part of the production process?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Co-products/By-products best practices. We discussed their definition and how the definition and their treatment might vary in different industries. Finally, we discussed these concepts from many di…
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Aug 2, 2022
WBSP359: Grow Your Business by Understanding VTEX’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Most people might not even pay attention to the location in the digital world. We can hire workers from any country remotely. We can trade with most countries easily. But when it comes to eCommerce and ERP systems, location is still a huge factor. The solution from North America may not work well in Europe. The solution from Latin America might not work well in North America. There are challenges such as payment providers or taxation being different. But even if a platform may support these integrations, the solution may still feel alienated due to the localization issues, whether we talk about product or documentation. One such platform is VTEX, which is highly advanced in its headless capabilities. But it still carries its Latin American roots, which might be a barrier for North American countries, even if the platform may be technically advanced. So which companies would most benefit from the VTEX platform?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a li…
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Aug 1, 2022
WBSP358: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of ERP Bank Integrations w/ Matt Bernot
Most businesses take a reactive approach to their banking needs. They are likely to default to the bank that has the lowest fee. Also, they might have several exposure points for attackers to get access to your accounts. But does the lowest fee always mean the best strategy for your business? What if someone gets unauthorized access to your account and drains all the funds? Well, you will be able to get your money back. But it might take several months. And during these months, you might have to deal with the cash flow challenges. So a solid bank integration strategy is essential for businesses.
In today's episode, our guest, Matt Bernot, shares his insights into the nuances of bank integrations and considerations for ERP buyers. He discusses the differences in several options that might be available from banks and through the ERP integration and how that might impact business. Finally, he discusses bank integration concepts such as positive pay, NACHA files, and exposure points.
For…
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Jul 28, 2022
WBSP357: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Bill of Materials, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Just like ERP, the Bill of Materials is perhaps the overused and oversold term. A BOM could be the assembly of two materials like wrapping a gift for your birthday. Or it could be the manufacturing process of the whole spaceship. But what if the process of manufacturing a spaceship resulted in waste material that could turn into a nice lamp. Would this whole process be captured as part of the bill of materials? How would the cost be accounted for each of them? Does the BOM differ for different teams? How much engineering data does the BOM need to carry? How much financial data does it need to carry? Can it also help procurement teams with their scheduling? Can it produce Gantt charts? Can it compute your contribution margins? These are the questions you are going to have if you are structuring BOMs for your manufacturing shop. If you don’t configure the BOMs right, your costing, scheduling, inventory, supply chain, eCommerce experience, and profit margins will be all over the place.…
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Jul 27, 2022
WBSP356: Grow Your Business by Understanding Spryker’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
eCommerce is easy when you are managing a couple of stores and selling in 6-figures. But it becomes increasingly difficult when you have to manage millions and billions of transactions. While also managing the transactional depth of a complex business with thousands of channel partners. When you grow at that level, you will need different search engines for different areas of your eCommerce business. You will also need to manage a centralized CI and CD pipeline to manage the promotion of your changes in a controlled manner. You might also plan to launch your own marketplace where you might allow your distributors to sell through your platform. This would require you to complete control of the data, pricing, and product to avoid channel conflict issues. So what would be your options if you have such complexity in your business? Well, Spryker is one such option. They are leading the headless and marketplace movement for the enterprise space.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cro…
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Jul 26, 2022
WBSP355: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor M3's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Infor M3 is a unique product that can meet specific requirements of certain industries. But do these specific requirements really matter? Can't you just customize a vanilla ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or SAP S/4 HANA? Well, it gets really tricky for certain industries such as Fashion and Apparel, Food and Beverage, and equipment rental. It's because you need to have a richer data model tailored for these industries. The rich data model could include native support for matrix inventory, in-process test workflows, technicians' availability, and integration of rental agreements at the work order level. So does Infor M3 have native support for these needs?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Infor M3's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in fashion, food and beverage, rental, and chemical industries. Finally, we discussed their full-suite…
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Jul 25, 2022
WBSP354: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of Enterprise Risk Management and Governance w/ Hart Brown
Most companies feel that the insurance companies would be able to cover most financial risks for them. But without understanding your risk profile, it’s hard to predict if they will be covered. Understanding and identification of risks require a thorough analysis of your processes and supply chain and evaluating them on an ongoing basis. You might also need to monitor macroeconomic factors and how they might affect your risk profile to have complete control over your financial risks.
In today's episode, our guest, Hart Brown, shares his insights into enterprise risk management and governance processes. He also discusses the drivers that result in financial and legal risks for the companies such as disgruntled employees, macroeconomics factors, and supply chain issues. Finally, he discusses what companies and operations managers might be able to do to navigate current risks because of supply chain disruptions, war, and inflation.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs us…
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Jul 21, 2022
WBSP353: Grow Your Business by Learning the Best Practices of Consolidated Invoicing, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Consolidated invoicing and billing are typically the outliers and don't get as much attention until they become painful issues in the organization. So what are the different variables that drive the consolidated processes? How many different types of consolidated invoicing processes exist? Does it vary by industry? Does it vary by product type? Are consolidated invoicing relevant for subscription-based products? If so, what are the data points that are relevant to capture to ensure that the consolidated invoicing is going to work? And what are the best practices you need to keep in mind while selecting your ERP system? Finally, what are the best practices that drive operational efficiency due to the consolidated invoicing processes? These are the questions you will have if your customers have asked you to incorporate consolidated invoicing with your processes?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant exp…
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Jul 20, 2022
WBSP352: Grow Your Business by Understanding commercetools’ Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
commercetools is the hottest darling of the eCommerce space. This is especially true for the people who are big on microservices architecture and are part of the MACH alliance. But headless architecture is a lot of work for brands and requires tons of capital. The only reason why companies such as Shopify and BigCommerce are so successful is that they made it turnkey for entrepreneurs to start eCommerce businesses easily without worrying about hiring expensive developers. But the world of headless seems to be taking exactly the opposite perspective. While we all know that the fluidity and experience of eCommerce are important, the cost of building it may be a dealbreaker for SMBs. Would there be ROI for companies who are investing in composable commerce? These are the questions you are going to have if you are planning to beef up your eCommerce capabilities and drive revenue from digital channels.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview…
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Jul 19, 2022
WBSP351: Grow Your Business by Understanding Pronto ERP's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Pronto is not a household name among the ERP options available in the market unless you are from Australia or New Zeeland. Also, Australia is a different beast when it comes to meeting the statutory requirements of that country. Australia's economy is heavily influenced by specific industries such as mining. Naturally, the software from Australia will have deep capabilities for those industries. But how capable is Pronto for other industries? How do they approach the market? Where are they going to be the best fit? And where would they struggle? These are the questions you will have if you are evaluating Pronto as the potential option for your next ERP project.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Pronto ERP's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in mining and retail industries along with their exclusive focus on the Australian market. Finally, we discussed their mini…
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Jul 18, 2022
WBSP350: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of Lease Accounting w/ Greg Kautz
Lease accounting has a lot of moving pieces. And they are always changing due to the ever-evolving regulations around lease accounting. If you don’t keep up with your lease valuations and amortization schedules, you might be exposing yourself to financial risks. Also, these changes drive the admin costs that are required to maintain the leases. And ERP systems don’t make it any easier as they might be difficult for lease admins to use them effectively.
In today's episode, our guest, Greg Kautz, shares his insights into the nuances of lease accounting and why they are harder to handle with ERP systems. He also discusses how leases vary across industries and which ones have the most burden of lease administration. Finally, he discusses why alignment of master data is important between your ERP and lease administration software if you plan to use one for your lease management.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our communit…
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Jul 13, 2022
WBSP349: Grow Your Business by Understanding 3DCart’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Choosing an eCommerce platform is hard. You have plenty of options to choose from in the market. But they all have specific capabilities and are designed for a specific purpose. Some of the nuanced options, such as gift wrap or style, could be harder to build if they are not supported natively by the platform. While the look and feel are typically the easiest to change, even that could be harder if the platform limits theme customizations. So, where does 3DCart stand compared to the other platforms such as Shopify or BigCommerce? Would it be cheaper than the other platforms? Would there be any limitations?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss 3DCart’s capabilities. We discussed their strength with the B2B and B2C functionality along with their ability to integrate with any website without requiring to use their platform. Finally, we discussed their weaknesses with the lack of c…
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Jul 12, 2022
WBSP348: Grow Your Business by Understanding Epicor Prophet 21's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Epicor Prophet 21 has always been extremely popular among industrial distributors. But is Epicor P21 fit for all businesses? Can it work for manufacturing as well as distribution? How about businesses that might manufacture as well as distribute? How is it different from other Epicor products such as Kinetic and Eclipse? Has it been upgraded to the cloud version? How cloud-native would it be? Would there be any limitations, such as the inability to open multiple windows or enterprise search? These are the questions you are going to have if you are thinking of evaluating Epicor Prophet 21 for your business.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Epicor P21's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in retail and distribution industries along with their deep supply chain planning and procurement capabilities. Finally, we discussed their retail-centric capabilities such as fin…
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Jul 11, 2022
WBSP347: Grow Your Business by Learning the eCommerce Nuances for Furniture Manufacturers w/ Robert Giovannini
The furniture industry is extremely unique as while its distribution processes might be similar to other distribution industries, each product is custom-made. And this makes implementing eCommerce for furniture manufacturers extremely challenging. The manufacturers also need to make sure that there is no channel conflict. And their retailers are comfortable with their intention of going DTC and eCommerce. If communicated properly, the eCommerce efforts not only help in getting more business, it might increase the loyalty of their channels as they will be getting more business through OEMs’ eCommerce efforts.
In today's episode, our guest, Robert Giovannini, shares his insights into the eCommerce nuances for furniture manufacturers. He also discusses the cyclical nature of eCommerce processes for furniture manufacturers where the OEMs might generate the lead for retailers, but once they book the order, the transaction might need to come back to the manufacturer for fulfillment. Final…
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Jul 7, 2022
WBSP346: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of Partial Order Processing and Early Shipping Business Processes, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
The rising consumer expectations and growing trend of marketplaces are driving the order processing complexity for businesses. Sales order processing is increasingly complex. You have challenges such as partial delivery. In some industries, the entire order-to-cash cycle needs to be closed for a line before the other line can be processed. There might also be other trends, such as shipping early in the hope of getting higher margins from the order. So, what architectural considerations do you need to have in place to accommodate such business scenarios? What do you need to look for in selecting your ERP? Which ERP systems might fire back if they don't natively support these business scenarios?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the pros and cons of partial order processing and early shipping. We covered many grounds, including the concepts such as shipping complete, planning ar…
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Jul 6, 2022
WBSP345: Grow Your Business by Understanding A2X’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
A2X is not the name you might recognize unless you are in the Xero or Shopify ecosystem. But they have created a new category of software, which seems exciting for eCommerce merchants, especially due to the amount of additional overhead you add with each marketplace you sell on. Each marketplace and big-box retailer are trying to come up with its own business models. And sometimes, that could require as much admin effort as you would get in managing a physical store. The admin effort could include keeping the right levels of inventory in each warehouse and country where you plan to serve your customers. And then reconciling that on a weekly basis. The only difference between the physical store and a marketplace is that you won't get penalized as often with stores. Marketplaces, on the other hand, are likely to have land mines at each step. And tracking that might cost you more than your margins. So how can A2X help in selling on different marketplaces?
In today's episode, we invited a…
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Jul 5, 2022
WBSP340: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP Business One's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
While you might feel that SAP does not care for the SMB market, SAP Business One is one of the most successful products. SAP Business One incorporates all the great features such as financial control and relationship map, along with the speed of the HANA database. SAP Business One also has a similar data model and architecture as their other product, which provides the SAP experience at a fraction of the costs. But SAP Business One Cloud is not as advanced as its on-prem variant. So is SAP Business One still a potential option for you? Or should you be looking at some other cloud- and web-enabled products?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of SAP Business One's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their cloud journey and their strength with their on-prem solution, such as the transactional traceability features similar to their bigger products such as SAP S/4 HANA and SAP Business B…
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Jul 5, 2022
WBSP344: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor LN's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Infor LN has been the household name for many Automotive and Aerospace companies. If they can't relate with Infor LN, they will definitely recognize BaaN. At one point, when BaaN won Boeing as their account, there was a prediction that BaaN may be a clear threat to SAP. But unfortunately, running an ERP company requires more than just the technical prowess to handle the workload at the SAP levels. BaaN would have been a tragic story. But, good for the product that it found its place in the financially capable hands of Infor. Infor LN has come a long way in its evolution, and the cloud version offers several Infor products integrated with Infor. But where does it stand today in comparison to other similar products?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Infor LN's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their strength in manufacturing complex products such as automotive and aerospace alon…
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Jul 4, 2022
WBSP343: Grow Your Business by Learning the Importance of Centralizing ERP Shared Services w/ Brian G Shannon
The large companies that are present in more than 10 countries and have more than 50K employees need operational efficiencies at a different scale. The efficiencies at the plant or at the entity level are no longer enough. You need to figure out the shared services model where the lower-cost services can be provided by the countries where the costs are likely to be lower. But managing this process requires changes in the systems and processes. You need to share data across the entities and have a shared vision for the entire organization. But executing it is far more difficult than you would think. So how to implement shared services in larger organizations?
In today's episode, our guest, Brian G Shannon, shares his insights into the importance of centralizing shared services for large global rollouts. He also talks about several KPIs such as cycle time and how to measure them to ensure the data quality you expect from your financial processes. Finally, he provides insights into prior…
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Jun 30, 2022
WBSP342: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of Kitting Business Processes, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
If you're an e-commerce brand, kitting would not be new to you. Kitting could be a great tool to increase the average order value and differentiate yourself from the competition without necessarily launching a new product line. But kitting requires your inventory to be aligned across channels to deliver the intended results. Without the inventory alignment, it may result in missed opportunities, customer experience issues due to not getting their orders as per their timeline, and worse yet, customer churn. Kitting also requires the SKUs to be aligned to forecast the dependent inventory items accurately. Finally, kitting requires your pricing to be consistent across channels. So what are the best practices to implement kitting for your business?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the pros and cons of kitting business processes and best practices. We covered many grounds, includi…
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Jun 29, 2022
WBSP341: Grow Your Business by Understanding ShipBob’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
If you are an eCommerce brand and starting on the eCommerce journey, 3PL may appear to be an attractive option. You might feel that the only thing matters for eCommerce is sales and marketing. But as you advance in your journey, you will quickly realize how critical your operations are for your customer experience. If your customers can't receive the right products at the right time, they will not stick with you for very long, regardless of how compelling could be your messaging and customer services interactions. But the biggest frustration would be to be penalized for none of your faults. How would it feel if your 3PL shipped your competitor's product to your customer? But that's what happens when you lose control of your supply chain. While the new 3PLs make it look very attractive due to their tech capabilities, the age-old problems with 3PLs are still the same. And ShipBob is no exception to that.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live inter…
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Jun 27, 2022
WBSP339: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of B2B Digital Commerce Processes w/ Jay Schneider
Digital commerce initiatives require your product, channel, and customer data in order. Or they might not pay off as you might never get the desired results from them as you expect. While both B2B and B2C eCommerce efforts have their share of challenges, the B2B space experiences complex relationships and hierarchies that drive the process intricacies. These relationships could be because of how the relationships are set up, how contracts are structured, and how each of them are paid in the relationship.
In today's episode, our guest, Jay Schneider, shares his insights into how B2B digital commerce processes differ from B2C. He compares and contrast B2B sales and marketing trends such as buying groups, marketplaces, and group purchasing organizations that have been on the rise. Finally, he provides insights into the product data and why it is important for B2B distributors to keep their house in order to be successful with the eCommerce initiatives.
For more information on growth str…
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Jun 23, 2022
WBSP338: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of Blanket Orders Business Processes, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
When it comes to blanket orders, the business community has mixed feelings about whether they add real value to the business. But their implementation could be all over the place as well. The legacy systems that didn't support the blanket order functionality natively had to come up with creative ways of handling them. These creative ways might include canceling the lines and adding new ones as the quantity gets released. Or they could be as dramatic as creating a completely new order. Irrespective of whether you like it or not. You will end up dealing with blanket orders as they might be driven by factors such as commodity pricing or securing critical components needed for your supply chain. So, where do blanket orders make the most sense?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the pros and cons of blanket orders business processes best practices. We covered many grounds, including…
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Jun 22, 2022
WBSP337: Grow Your Business by Understanding ShipHype’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When you look at the eCommerce fulfillment space, there are many options out there. And most of these options could appear very similar. In fact, sometimes it's very hard to spot the difference between a 3PL and an eCommerce fulfillment software, as both software might appear similar. Just because your Shopify can integrate with their 3PL software, it's not meant to be a replacement for your order management platform. It should not even be compared in the software category. It's just another channel similar to EDI or integration with a traditional 3PL. The newer breed of 3PL offers deeper software capabilities than your traditional 3PLs. So, where does ShipHype fit in the food chain?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss ShipHype’s capabilities. We discussed their strength and weaknesses and why they should not be confused with an eCommerce platform. Finally, we discussed their…
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Jun 21, 2022
WBSP336: Grow Your Business by Understanding Epicor Kinetic's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When it comes to ERP software designed for manufacturing, you will find dozen of options. But none of them come close to meeting the needs of complex manufacturers. Even the software that will claim to be designed for hybrid manufacturing and raved by their customers are really lean on manufacturing capabilities. One of the critical differentiators for most manufacturing software is their BOM and data model. Lose correlation of BOM data elements could have significant implications on your production data. This is especially true for complex manufacturing products. One such product is Epicor Kinetic, which is often one of the closest competitors of other manufacturing software such as Infor CloudSuite Industrial and Acumatica. But how deep is Epicor Kinetic with its manufacturing capabilities? Can it support any manufacturing business model?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Epicor Kinetic's…
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Jun 20, 2022
WBSP335: Grow Your Business by Learning the Digital Process Complexity of the Water Industry w/ Noemi Kis
One T-shirt takes around 700 gallons of water to manufacture. This is how important the water industry is that not many people understand. The water industry also has a complex sales cycle with several handshakes in the process. And yet it has one of the most legacy processes for the aftermarket industry, with the majority of the sales processes not being digital. But is that changing? Would existing solutions in the market be sufficient for the water industry? If not, then what do we need? How different would be the digital commerce solution for the water industry? And how this industry can prepare for digital transformation?
In today's episode, our guest, Noemi Kis, shares her insights into how the water industry works and how its sales cycle differs from other industries. She also provides some facts about the water industry and how many stakeholders will be involved in it. Finally, she provides her insights into buying groups, payment flows, roles and responsibilities of different…
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Jun 16, 2022
WBSP334: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of Dropshipping Business Processes, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most eCommerce companies can't survive without dropshipping. They might not have the funds to carry the inventory or build fulfillment centers to support customers in every location. But dropshipping is not as easy as building the website, finding the vendors, and start collecting cash. Incorporating dropshipping processes as part of your operational and financial workflow is even more challenging. And if your ERP system doesn't have dropshipping processes built as part of the system, it might feel unnatural. And you might build ad-hoc processes to support them. Also, dropshipping could mean different things to different parties. If you are a dropshipping vendor fulfilling the dropshipping orders, your processes could differ from a manufacturer sending the order to their dropshipping vendor for specific SKUs. So what are the best practices for incorporating dropshipping business processes into your business model and selecting an ERP system designed to support these processes?
In toda…
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Jun 15, 2022
WBSP333: Grow Your Business by Understanding Ordoro's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When it comes to the options available for eCommerce merchants in the QuickBooks ecosystem, there is no shortage. In fact, we have so many options that sometimes it might be a project in itself to find the right tools and use them for the purpose it was originally designed for. There are inventory tools that might also play the role of a PIM. There are other inventory tools that might also have multichannel capabilities. Then there are inventory tools that might also function like a WMS system. This almost seems like a startup where most people play multiple roles. But there comes the point when you no longer can afford to be a startup and need clarity with your organizational structure. Systems work the same way. Ordoro is one such tool designed for inventory control for QuickBooks-sized customers. So is Ordoro wearing multiple hats as well, just like their competitors?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings sign…
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Jun 14, 2022
WBSP332: Grow Your Business by Understanding Infor CloudSuite Industrial's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There have been several attempts to segment manufacturing processes such as make-to-order, make-to-stock, engineer-to-order, and project-based manufacturing. Some segment it based on discreet vs. process manufacturing. But the reality is that the manufacturing industry is so broad that each micro-vertical could be unique with its processes. For example, one of the biggest differentiators from the ERP process perspective is the lead time and complexity of the manufacturing processes. A product that might take two months to build is different from the in-and-out products, such as with a lead time of fewer than two days. These two categories follow very different operational and supply chain processes and have different needs for an ERP system. When it comes to meeting the complex needs of an OEM with a large number of SKUs for each product, they need an ERP system that is designed to do the heavy lifting at this scale. So, where does Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline) fit when it com…
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Jun 13, 2022
WBSP331: Grow Your Business by Learning the System and Process Complexity of the Packaging Industry w/ Megan Gamble
While the products get the most attention in a manufacturing company, the packaging is equally important when it comes to the CPG world. Also, the systems and operational needs are completely different when we compare different players in the packaging industry, starting from packaging suppliers, packaging R&D organizations, and consulting companies. They all might require multiple systems in the architecture to ensure that the ERP systems are not being overengineered and the specialized systems can talk seamlessly.
In today's episode, our guest, Megan Gamble, shares her insights into building the systems for the packaging industry. She discusses various players and stakeholders involved in the packaging industry and their roles as it relates to process collaboration in the packaging industry. Finally, she provides her insights into the process differences of R&D vs. manufacturing and different systems that might be part of the enterprise architecture for a packaging company.
For mor…
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Jun 9, 2022
WBSP330: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of Centralized vs. Decentralized Order Processing, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Not many businesses understand how to capitalize on the synergies of truly globally integrated organizations. They struggle to bring all the departments together from one plant. Bringing together all the entities and sites in one system is a much harder lift than you would think. Sometimes you may be lucky to be forced into it as your customers might be requesting centralized order processing or consolidated invoicing. And then, you might be distributing them from locations most financially feasible for your supply chain. Centralized order entry requires you to share your master data across entities with deep intercompany and intersite functionality. And if you also have challenges such as omnichannel or complex eCommerce architecture, it could be even more complex. So what are the differences between centralized and decentralized order processing?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to di…
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Jun 8, 2022
WBSP329: Grow Your Business by Understanding Flowtrac's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There are many different apps out there in the eCommerce space. Some go by eCommerce operations platform. Some call them multi-channel management platforms. Some can do warehouse management and proof of delivery. Some even claim that how they are going to change the industry by replacing the bigger daddies of the enterprise software world, such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Infor, and Epicor. But most of these apps are present in the QuickBooks or Xero ecosystem just because these businesses can't afford the full-blown ERP implementation. Or don't have experience in running a larger organization or standardizing processes to grow past the QuickBooks inflection point. So, where does Flowtrac fit in the architecture, and which size of the businesses would be the right fit for this app? And how would they play along with the other apps in the QuickBooks and Shopify ecosystems?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings sign…
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Jun 7, 2022
WBSP328: Grow Your Business by Understanding Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
There is a very thin line between mainstream and project-based manufacturing. Is software development manufacturing? How about constructing a house? The manufacturing systems that are designed for mainstream manufacturing, such as make-to-stock, made-to-order, configure-to-order, and engineer-to-order, are very different. While they might claim to do project-based manufacturing, they hardly have a costing wrapper to track different jobs for that project. It's almost like once in a while if the bicycle company needs to also manufacture the bike store, the system should be able to handle it. But that doesn't make this system suitable for companies that are only building bike stores, and maybe once in a while, they might assemble a bicycle to send a gift to their customers. These two are different scenarios and business models. So, where does Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central fit?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduc…
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Jun 6, 2022
WBSP327: Grow Your Business by Learning About the Procurement Maturity Model and Governance Framework w/ Anna McGovern
While Sales and operations planning is the shared responsibility of both sales and operations. Sales typically have far more clout while procurement with very little to no say in it. And as a result, most SMB organizations end up stocking the inventory far more than they need. And this overstocking results in the locking of cash and profitability issues. This is especially common with SMBs that are smaller and don't have PE or VC investment with them.
In today's episode, our guest, Anna McGovern, shares her insights into the procurement maturity model and governance framework. She also discusses the role KPIs play in setting the governance framework. Finally, she describes the ownership of various cross-functional responsibilities and how to ensure the accountability of supply chain KPIs.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast…
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Jun 2, 2022
WBSP326: Grow Your Business by Learning the Pros and Cons of iPaaS vs. Point-to-Point Integration, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
When most people think of integration, they just feel that as long as you have APIs, you should be good. Well, the integration projects could be harder than building software from the ground up. When you build or implement software, you speak one language. On the other hand, when you integrate two software, you speak two, if not more. One option to integrate two software would be to have them talk without a translator. While this might be OK in some scenarios, the problems become bigger as the system complexity and order volume increase. You will also have constraints such as different maintenance schedules for different software or 24X7 transaction processing. So how to decide which integration pattern is the right fit in which scenario?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss the pros and cons of iPaaS vs. point-to-point integration. We covered many grounds, including different in…
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Jun 1, 2022
WBSP325: Grow Your Business by Understanding Webgility's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Did you know that only 10% of the sellers on Amazon generate over $100,00 a year? And while 90% of these sellers have the same complexity as their peers at $100 million, they don't have the same deep pockets to spend the money on integration and IT. While the options may not be perfect, they need a quick way of synching data from across the channels and system. Also, at this scale, the strategy to somehow manage with a fragmented set of apps and web hooks-based integration is probably OK, as your order volume is not as high. But how long can you survive on these apps? And when you might need to move to a slightly better system like ERP to have superior financial and inventory control.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Webgility Detailed Independent Review. We discussed their strength and weaknesses and where they might fit in the eCommerce architecture. Finally, we discussed t…
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May 31, 2022
WBSP324: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP Business ByDesign's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
If Infor is the largest ERP vendor that no one knows about, SAP Business ByDesign is the product from the largest ERP vendor that no one knows about. Some even doubt if there is any future for the product. The SAP resellers like to cannibalize products from their own portfolio in the hope of getting much higher license dollars from customers, even if it means that they might feel overwhelmed with the larger product. So does SAP even care for SMBs? If they do, have they done anything to change the image of SAP Business ByDesign? So what are the core reasons why SAP Business ByDesign never got any traction when SAP BusinessOne was a massively successful product?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of SAP Business ByDesign's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including its depth in finance, audit trail, configuration management, and project-centric businesses. Finally, we discussed the reasons w…
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May 30, 2022
WBSP323: Grow Your Business by Learning From the Story of Process Transformation of a Chemical Company w/ Paul Vragel
Inventory and on-time delivery are two major factors that show that your processes may require transformational change. These issues could lead to long production meetings chasing late orders or raw materials. They could also lead to ad-hoc arrangements and process inefficiencies that might be the implications of the band-aid solutions implemented to cure short-term operational problems. Having accurate inventory and a controlled supply chain requires a holistic understanding of the processes and data.
In today's episode, our guest, Paul Vragel, shares his insights into the operational challenges and quick fixes to deliver desired KPIs for a chemical company. He discusses the core challenges, such as releasing the order to the production floor without checking the critical components and starting the setup operation, and how inventory accuracy could impact the operations of a company. Finally, he shares his insights into why the ad-hoc arrangements, such as creating lost inventory, ma…
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May 26, 2022
WBSP322: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage X3's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Discrete manufacturing space is crowded with several solutions. But there are only a few that are really good at process manufacturing and agriculture verticals. The process manufacturing has unique nuances with requirements such as traceability, sub-lots, sub-batches, and formulation management. These verticals also have unique reporting and audit requirements. Managing them could be a challenge with a vanilla ERP. And it might turn out to be extremely expensive. So why is Sage X3 so good at food and agriculture verticals and what are the unique features that matter for this industry?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Sage X3's capabilities. We covered many grounds, including their depth in the process manufacturing, their focus on finance, and why they are one of the few ERP systems in the market that have logistics capabilities. Finally, we discussed several unique features in the X3 solu…
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May 25, 2022
WBSP321: Grow Your Business by Learning ERP Requirements Management, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Most people don't understand the importance of requirement management when it comes to ERP. ERP should be as easy as dumping your SKUs, customers, and vendors inside the ERP system. And that's it, right? Well, the ERP system could quickly become the black box, similar to the tribal knowledge sitting in people's heads. So what are the best practices for managing ERP requirements? And how to ensure that the critical decisions are well-documented?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss ERP requirements management. We covered many grounds, including the importance of requirements management during the sales process and the impact it might have on the implementation. Finally, we discussed several other topics, such as how to do an ROI analysis, how to logically segment the requirements, and how to manage the requirements using a tool.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs…
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May 24, 2022
WBSP320: Grow Your Business by Understanding Zentail's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
Selling on multiple channels is hard. They all have their rules and unique business models. Also, the channels and marketplaces are evolving on a daily basis. If you were to manage each of the channels manually, it could quickly become your day job to manage them. Also, even if you were able to do that, you might still run into scenarios of stockouts and struggle to maintain consistent pricing across channels. You not only need the centralized management of your product data. You also need the centralized management of all of your channels from one place. This is where your multichannel platforms are super handy to help manage your multichannel business.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to conduct an independent review of Zentail's capabilities. We discussed their strength and weaknesses and where they might fit in the eCommerce architecture. Finally, we discussed their PIM and multicha…
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May 23, 2022
WBSP319: Grow Your Business by Learning the Nuances of Canadian Cannabis Industry w/ Abu Asif
Cannabis is a unique industry. You have significant reporting requirements that are ever-changing. And the priorities may change overnight due to the investment risks associated. Also, you run the risk of losing your license if you cannot comply with the requirements. For these reasons, the unsettling nature of ever-changing requirements may make planning for ERP implementations increasingly difficult. But are there unique reporting and audit challenges in Canada? Or is Cannabis equally challenging everywhere?
In today's episode, our guest, Abubakr Asif, who shares his insights into the processes of Cannabis businesses in Canada. He also provides his insights into different business models in the Cannabis industry and how cannabis 2.0 differs from 1.0. Finally, he shares his insights into how the unique reporting requirements drive the ERP complexity for the cannabis industry and why the Canadian industry is different from the US.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs us…
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May 19, 2022
WBSP318: Grow Your Business by Understanding Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations' Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
When it comes to the needs of large enterprises with more than $1B in revenue, there are only a few solutions that can meet their needs. These solutions have extremely deep capabilities with their localization and globalization. But they are equally deep in their supply chain planning, transportation management, warehouse management, and project accounting. While most people think of Oracle or SAP as the only potential solution for large companies, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations is one solution that's equally deep and capable. But how does Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O differs from SAP S/4 HANA and Oracle Cloud ERP?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to discuss major stories in the ERP and digital transformation space and an objective and independent review of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations capabilities. We covered several grounds, including the depth of SCM and TMS functionality, their deep localizat…
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May 18, 2022
WBSP317: Grow Your Business by Learning ERP Test Plan Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
Building a test plan is hard. Executing is even harder. And if you are building a test plan for ERP implementation, you have added challenges. The testing challenges are unique with ERP implementation because the users don't have as much experience with the software development life cycle. They struggle with thinking like a tester where you need to plan for the edge and boundary cases. And ensure that you are not going to find any surprises post your go-live. But how to build a successful test plan for an ERP implementation without issues?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss ERP test plan best practices. We covered many grounds, including the importance of testing and how testing planning and execution are different for ERP projects. Finally, we discussed how to document, automate, and scope testing efforts.
For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digit…
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May 17, 2022
WBSP316: Grow Your Business by Understanding Skubana's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion
eCommerce business models have grown in complexity exponentially. The channels such as Amazon and Walmart are always modifying their rules and business models. And it's hard for eCommerce brands to keep up with these regulations and have KPIs aligned with the changed regulations. If they are not aligned and measured, the brands may experience significant financial consequences. But most of these eCommerce platforms are targeted at a specific audience that might be on QuickBooks and may have under $5 mil in revenue. So what challenges can you expect once you grow past $5 mi in revenue?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss Skubana Detailed Independent Review. We discussed their strength and weaknesses and where they might fit in the eCommerce architecture. Finally, we discussed their exit strategy and market positioning, where they are the best fit, and where they might struggle.…
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May 16, 2022
WBSP315: Grow Your Business by Learning the Business Model Nuances of Oil and Gas Suppliers w/ David Dozer
While you might feel that most distribution businesses might be alike, it's not the case. It is especially tricky in industries such as oil and gas due to their compliance requirements and unique quality processes. These companies also go through specific ISO processes that are different from other industries and require you to have unique process arrangements in place to be able to meet them. Finally, each large Oil and Gas OEM may have its standards for the certificate of conformance.
In today's episode, our guest, David Dozer, who shares his insights into the business process nuances for oil and gas suppliers. He also provides his insights into their compliance needs and why it is necessary to ERPize the business processes before implementing an ERP. Finally, he discussed issues such as why it is important to select the right-size ERP and how issues such as lot number traceability and 3PL may require aligning your physical and digital processes.
For more information on growth stra…
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May 12, 2022
WBSP314: Grow Your Business by Understanding Sage Intacct's Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion and Weekly Digital Transformation News Stories
If you ask anyone their opinion about an ERP system, they will tell you that it's a system designed from the perspective of a CFO. Well, this might be partially true. But most CFOs would disagree with it. As they would not relate with these systems just like you. But there are a few systems that take that CFO perspective to the next level. Their perspective includes the ability to dissect data across multiple dimensions, easy financial report writing, and consolidation and elimination across entities. One such system is Sage Intacct, which is really designed from the perspective of a CFO that takes the financial experience to the next level. But would it have the same experience in other areas as the ERP is supposed to be serving all functions equally well?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to discuss major stories in the ERP and digital transformation space and an objective and independent review of Sage Intacct's capabilitie…
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May 11, 2022
WBSP313: Grow Your Business by Learning Financial Consolidation Business Processes Best Practices, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
If you have multiple subsidiaries, consolidating them could be a very involved process if you don't have an ERP system that natively supports multi-entity functionality. Your process might start with recording intercompany loans and interest earned through your subsidiaries. Then you might need to allocate the corporate overheads and account payables to various subsidiaries. Then you need to complete adjusting entries, followed by closing subsidiary books and then finally closing books for the parent entity.
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss financial consolidation business processes best practices. We covered many grounds, including the rationale for financial consolidation and the appropriate architecture for the multi-entity organization. Finally, we covered the difference between financial and operational integration of different organizations along with the best practices…
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May 10, 2022
WBSP312: Grow Your Business by Learning Through a Shopify Implementation Case Study of a DTC Brand, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts
How would you feel if you walked into a store and the product you wanted wasn't available? What could you do as a customer service rep if you had this customer at your store? The sales rep in you might be tempted to swipe the credit card. But if you can't deliver on your promises, this transaction may fire back in ways you wouldn't expect. This is where the newer eCommerce architecture allows you to explore scenarios such as buy-online-pick-up-at-store or buy-in-store-ship-to-customer. But these architectural patterns are easier said than done. They require deeply capable platforms such as Shopify. But most importantly, it requires an architecture that can support the demanding needs of such transactions. So what are innovative brands doing to implement this architecture?
In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss a Shopify case study. We discussed their challenges and drivers for choo…