Episode B1.006 Research Product & Service Platforms (ERP)

RESULTS RADIO..."Let's Grow Together"

Introduction
Today we're going to continue with week 2 of 3, exploring concepts central to researching and selecting the right platforms to support your customer life cycle and empower early-stage businesses to increase customer lifetime value.

With a name like Enterprise Resource Planning, you'd think the methodology and software covered in this topic would best be used by BIG Business, but smaller, more agile businesses should be all over using resource planning to build and flex critical muscles such as human resources, payroll, and the ever-vital flow of goods and services that is supply chain management.

As a matter of fact, industry leader Hubspot notes that businesses use ERP systems to

...unify their business functions and communications in order to reduce costs and increase revenue

​Are you going to leave all that lower-cost, high impact goodness on the table? 'Cuz I'm NOT!

Have a great business week.
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Show Objectives
​On today's show, the JOY is in the journey! As you research creating a more effective business by adding ERP functionality to your business system, be bold enough to think about your current needs and your future reality, and marry that with your budget and business goals. Popular quote – "What gets measured, gets managed — Peter Drucker" and solid ERP systems help smedium biz bosses mind the gaps. Our goal today is to empower you to make money-making buying decisions by discussing how these ERP functions can deliver SMARTER work to SMBs!

Key Issues - Owner Perspective:

1. You're going to need to come up with (a) software solution(s). Keeping affordability top of mind, what platforms provide sufficient information to manage the business now?
2. Is this a good system to grow with the business over time?
3. Is there reliable data interchange for inventory, fulfillment, & work-in-progress?
4. Does the system have, or can the system be integrated with your CRM?

 

What You Need to Know

• What ERP functions spell success for SMBs?
  • Integrated capabilities that meet HR, CRM, & POS needs
  • Communications and flexible information management and reporting across departmental roles
  • Streamlined process applications such as project management, logistics, & supply chain
• Several multi-product suites have been architected to house ERP, CRM, and marketing and sales deliverables under one roof. IS there one platform to rule them all, and
• Which is more affordable, an all-in-one suite, or a multi-product integrated system?

What You Need to Do​​

• Gain insight into the customer experience across communications channels
• Harness planning power with data-backed sales and service projections
• Reduce data inconsistency and redundancy across the entire business

Resources

• IBGR.Network – Episode B3.005:  One Platform

Can one platform cover your business needs from start to finish?

• Hubspot Blog – CRM vs. ERP: To Integrate Or Not To integrate
• Square Blog – Closing the Gap in Your ERP with a Point-of-Sale Integration

Shows

• Previous: EPISODE B1.005 Research Marketing & Sales Platforms (CRM) 
• Next: Episode B1.007 Research Business Intranets (BI)

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Written by: RJ Lewis

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