2012 is here. It's time for manufacturers to gain some business intelligence. This Q&A with Erik Kaas, Vice President of Product Management for Mid-market ERP products, Sage North America, discusses some ways companies can approach gaining greater business intelligence -- at a reasonable price.
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Erik Kaas, Sage North America |
Q: What is the most important technology-related New Year’s resolution a small business should consider in 2012?
Kaas: Get some intelligence – Business Intelligence. Something every small business should be doing in 2012 is to look at the data stored in their software. By taking the data and turning it into actionable information, business can save costs and increase profits. That’s what Business Intelligence (BI) does. But don’t be afraid that it’s too complicated – many software solutions now provide BI tools that are easy to use.
Q: What tools are available to small businesses foraccessing this information?
Kaas: One of the most popular ways is to take the data stored in your ERP and CRM systems, pull it into Microsoft Excel, and then let business managers that already know how to use Excel analyze the data. Embracing Business Intelligence in 2012 will set business up for growth and higher profits.Q: What advice can you give to a small business exploring the possibility of moving to the cloud without making the capital expenditure to move everything at once?
Kaas: Go hybrid. There’s a lot of hype about SaaS, cloud and other web solutions. However, most SMBs have existing software in place and cannot afford to move their entire company “to the cloud”. But to be successful in 2012, SMBs should start embracing a hybrid solution - where on premise software is connected to cloud based services. This will allow SMBs to reap the benefits of the cloud, without too much disruption.
Q: If a small business wanted to utilize a hybrid solution, what areas of their business should they consider moving to the cloud?
Kaas: Some key areas to look at include web-based sales tax calculation services that ensure that small business are always charging the correct amount of sales tax; services that allow SMBs to electronically file taxes; and web services that allow small business to create cost effective marketing campaigns that cost effective and provide customers with a personalized experience. Embracing connected web services in 2012 are a trend to embrace in 2012.