Technology in Practice

As a business leader, you know that moving to a new accounting system is a big undertaking. If your organization is considering an upgrade to a new accounting /ERP system now or in the future, it’s important that you know the answers to these questions. 1. Can I store, process, or transmit protected health information (PHI) in the system? You may wonder what health information would be stored in an accounting system, but many healthcare organizations include patient names in financial records which may subject their accounting system to HIPAA requirements. Make sure you ask all vendors if their system offers specific functionality and assurances that your PHI data will be protected. 2. Will you sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)? A Business Associate Agreement, or BAA, is the contract you need your vendor to sign that spells out specifically what the vendor (the “business associate”) has been engaged to do with the PHI and the standards of protection for that PHI. Be wary of any vendor that won’t agree to sign a BAA. 3. What options do I have if I need HIPAA-compliant cloud financials? If you are a healthcare organization whose financial system must comply with HIPAA, you need to have confidence that PHI data in your system is kept private and secure and access to PHI is tracked as required by HIPAA. If you need HIPAA- compliant financial systems today, it’s imperative that you understand how compliance is established by your vendor. Even if your organization doesn’t require a HIPAA-compliant financial system today, you may need one in the future.  For Healthcare organizations we recommend supporting your practice with a Digital Operations Platform (DOP) built on Sage Intacct, a next generation cloud ERP built for the Healthcare industry , which not only has the tools in place to meet HIPAA requirements to audit PHI data access but is also Sword & Shield certified for HIPAA compliance.

Dynamics CRM provides organizations the ability to streamline and connect data throughout the system using features and functionality like custom relationships and data field mappings across multiple entities. In turn, allowing organizations to utilize Microsoft’s document management tools such as word templates to easily pull data from related entities and fields to automatically insert data to a word template with a professional customer facing feel. In this post we will discuss how connecting data in Dynamics CRM tie together and allow you to organize and display your customer data across multiple entities and generate word documents such as Invoices, Quotes and Service Agreement templates with a simple click of a button. Data Mapping: Efficiently and Effectively Manage Data In Dynamics CRM, field mapping is the process of automating data entry from one entity to another by taking the data from the source field and populating in the destination field of the related entity. Fields that contain data mappings will appear as “Read Only” and ensuring data accuracy. Note: In order for the “Destination” field to populate the “Source” field must contain data. Mapping fields  will eliminate the need for users to enter the same information multiple times, and ensure that the customer’s information is consistent across all of their orders. Below are a few examples of potential relationships and field mappings. Account to Contact: When creating a new Contact record from the Account entity you can setup mappings to populate fields such as Account Name, Company Location & Business Information directly to the new Contact record upon create, ensuing the account information is consistent across all related contact records. Lead to Contact: Map the Lead’s first name, last name & email address fields to the contact’s corresponding fields in Dynamics CRM. Avoid duplicate records and make certain that the contact information is current and accurate. Product to Opportunity: Use the Product’s unit group, price & quantity fields to populate the opportunity’s related fields in the Opportunity Entity. Quick Find forms: Access Critical Data Quickly & Easily Dynamics CRM Quick View forms are a feature that allows users to view a snapshot of important data from related records all in a single location. Quick Find forms can be configured & implemented across all related entities and dashboard inside Dynamics CRM.  This will help improve organizational efficiency by reducing errors, ensuring accurate data, and improving end user experience by eliminating time spent on data entry & switching back and forth between multiple records. Account Quick Find View: Display multiple fields of data from one record to another by simply populating a “Primary Contact” Lookup field and saving the record. On the Account record, identify the “Primary Contact” lookup and the Quick Find form will display the “Contacts” Job Title, Email and Business Phone. This form can also include related records such as open opportunities or cases, allowing users to quickly access relevant data without navigating away from the main account record. Customer Communication with Microsoft Word Templates: Now that you have your Field Mappings, Relationships and Quick Find forms setup, another feature related to connecting your data in Dynamics CRM is the ability to create customer facing documents using Microsoft Word Templates. Dynamics CRM Word Templates are custom built word documents that will capture key data and information to fit your customers specific needs. Include data from multiple entities across Dynamics CRM, creating templates that will increase consistency and professionalism while providing a standard look and feel across all customer-facing documents and communications. Utilizing templates can provide benefits to organizations looking to streamline operations while reducing time spent on manual data entry, risks of error, additional marketing costs allocated to create these types of documents, all while building customer relationships and improving the brand image of your organization. Data Mapping and Word templates are great tools that can help you automate and streamline your business processes in Dynamics CRM. Field mapping allows you to map data between different entities and fields, which can save time and reduce errors when entering data. Word templates, on the other hand, allow you to create professional-looking documents quickly and easily, and to incorporate logos and images to further enhance the document’s appearance. By using field mapping, Quick Find forms and Word templates together, you are able to seamless and efficiently connect data across your organization. Contact Net at Work today to learn how we can assist with connecting your data and build the prefect word templates to meet your current business needs .

The award-winning curb extrusion equipment manufacturer, Power Curbers Companies, has been helping contractors construct barrier walls, sidewalks, curbs and other projects with excellence for 70 years. The Power Curbers Companies’ complex, configure-to-order machine manufacturing and global onsite assembly operations require concrete business management solutions to sustain its ongoing focus on lean manufacturing, waste reduction, and an unmatched customer experience. For years, Power Curbers Companies had relied on Sage 500 as its accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. But mounting struggles to integrate its CRM application, support its field service teams properly and maintain an application written in Visual Basic left the heavy equipment manufacturer with too many manual, disconnected, and time-consuming processes. A COMMITMENT TO SUCCESS Power Curbers first engaged with Net at Work at a conference, ultimately partnering with the top technology advisor to overcome the manufacturer’s technology struggles. “When we decided to partner with Net at Work, we used the move as an opportunity to upgrade our ERP and CRM to run our operations the way we needed,” explains Mark Hofer, CFO of Power Curbers.   Forrester Research identifies three key characteristics of DOP as the Next Generation evolution from traditional ERP systems, like Sage 500: (1) they’re adaptive for fast-changing business needs; (2) they’re AI-based for efficiency and innovation; and (3) they’re accessible for interactions beyond the browser. The manufacturer underwent a software evaluation process with Net at Work, considering Epicor and Acumatica before deciding on Sage X3, as hosted by Cloud at Work. “We found that Sage X3 had the proven combination of core manufacturing and configuration to structure the system well for our business,” says Hofer. “And with Net at Work, we feel we have the in-depth solution expertise and industry knowledge to assist us with cloud hosting, programming, accounting, manufacturing, and whatever else crops up over time.”   Forrester Research identifies three key characteristics of DOP as the Next Generation evolution from traditional ERP systems, like Sage 500: (1) they’re adaptive for fast-changing business needs; (2) they’re AI-based for efficiency and innovation; and (3) they’re accessible for interactions beyond the browser. Net at Work also recommended Power Curbers transition from SalesLogix CRM to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Customer Service, integrated with Sage X3, to bring new visibility and efficiency throughout the organization. Combined, these Next Generation ERP solutions form the core of the industrial manufacturer’s Digital Operations Platform (DOP) that extends the ERP ecosystem to include customers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders. “I’d recommend Net at Work to other manufacturers with complex operations because of the breadth and depth of their expertise. It would be very difficult to find another partner like Net at Work”  –  Mark Hofer, CFO of Power Curbers CURBING WASTE As a result of their investment in their Net at Work relationship and Next Generation applications, Hofer says, “We were successfully invoicing within a week of going live with Sage X3.” Power Curbers credits the platform and Net at Work’s consulting team with enabling Power Curbers to further hone its lean manufacturing techniques and Kanban methodologies, allowing it to respond more quickly to the supply chain challenges facing so many companies. “We successfully relied on just-in-time for years, but that doesn’t work anymore,” explains Crystal Tollenaer, Parts and Production Control Manager for Power Curbers. “Now we need to know where parts are in the system, if there are substitute parts or alternate suppliers, and what our order backlog looks like. Net at Work has helped us configure Sage X3 to give us those answers so we can remain agile and productive.” By eliminating disconnected processes and bottlenecks, the company can focus on optimizing its manufacturing processes, improving quality and efficiency at every step. Armed with its DOP foundation, Power Curbers has been able to effectively double in size, gaining newfound efficiencies and insights into operations. The results include shaving 25 minutes from the order entry process using the Sage X3 Configurator, and gaining new visibility into inventory levels which allows it to lower holding costs while meeting demand. “I’d recommend Net at Work to other manufacturers with complex operations because of the breadth and depth of their expertise. It would be very difficult to find another partner like Net at Work,” says Hofer. Download the full Net at Work success story to learn more about Power Curber Companies’ approach to implementing an industrial manufacturing DOP solution.

You’ve decided you want to sell the business but want to move to the next phase, continue to work, and make a meaningful contribution. One of the most important decisions you will make in the process of selling your business is whether you want to continue to work, and work for the acquiring company. In this session I will share key learnings and the “do’s” and “dont’s” about that decision. Do # 1: The first objective would be to find a buyer who has an organizational scale and a demonstrated record of sustained and profitable growth. Sustained success in these areas is a direct result of knowledgeable and stable leadership. These companies have an insatiable need for experienced resources and are constantly looking to add qualified resources to their teams. Do #2: Once you find a qualified buyer, it is important that you spend time thinking about, and defining, what role and function would be the best utilization of your skills, competencies, and experiences. This reflection must also consider the role that would bring you the greatest personal satisfaction, including whether you would like to be an individual contributor or in a position of management and leadership. Do this before any discussions with the buyer about a role. Do #3: Once that is done, you are prepared to engage the acquiring entity in that discussion. Ensure that you spend the requisite time identifying and discussing potential roles with the buyer. In some past transactions, the role that the seller ended up with did not exist at the time and was created during this process. That is why it is so critical for Do #2 to be completed before this step. Do #4: Finally, assess cultural fit. Ask to meet with current employees in the functional area of interest, along with conversations with other key leaders, to determine what the culture of the company is and what success may look like for the role. This is an important task in determining your level of understanding of the role, your excitement for it, and your ability to succeed. Experience has shown that finding a role at another company that is a good fit for selling principals can be challenging – very simply, you will no longer be the founder and/or principal owner. That makes following a structured approach (above) critical and reduces the risk of accepting a role that is not positive for either party. It is important that the role is challenging and fulfilling while you make the visible and meaningful contribution you seek. My next blog post will discuss the “do’s” and “dont’s” of conducting an effective Due Diligence process for the seller. If you have any immediate needs or want to schedule a meeting to discuss your specific business, please don’t hesitate to email me today.

Running a business takes a lot of moving pieces and parts. Getting all these elements to work in tandem is what helps – or hinders – your objectives. Whether you want to improve your operational efficiency, jumpstart productivity, or break down communication silos, focusing on your business alignment is a strategic way to get all the right pieces in place. Business – IT Alignment: Defined Some leaders consider business and technology objectives interchangeable, allowing one to inform the other. Those that align their information technology systems with their overall business strategy have the best chances of achieving their short- and long-term objectives. As Indeed explains the process, “In business-IT alignment, IT departments can coordinate with business leadership teams to align their strategies. This type of alignment is valuable because an IT department can use its technological expertise to efficiently and effectively help your business meet its objectives by updating computer systems and providing prompt solutions to technical issues when they arise.” If you’re ready to recalibrate, here are five key elements to keep in mind: 1. Never lose sight of your internal stakeholders. Approaching your internal users as customers can help to unify your business and IT objectives. Once you have a good gauge of the needs your team faces, the more impactful the goals you set and the technologies you implement will be. “I don’t believe there’s IT and the business,” James Anderson, a vice president and analyst at Gartner, tells CIO Magazine. “The business includes IT. And your product is not IT, it’s the services enabled by IT that are used for business outcomes.” 2. Enhance and refine your communication. Miscommunications equal misalignments – plain and simple. To ensure everyone stays on the same page, create a culture where it’s safe to share. Then, invest in becoming good communicators within the organization and replicate that model of success with your clients. For example, you may create a standardized way of sharing news and information internally as well as with the public. 3.Foster transparency between business leaders and IT teams. Does everyone in your organization understand the goals and objectives of the other departments? If not, time for a little interdepartmental cross-training. Start by ensuring business leaders and IT teams specifically are speaking the same language. This will help IT get a better handle on complexities that everyone experiences. When the needs of each side are better understood, more effective technology solutions can be implemented with less resistance. 4. Invite input from all sides. Achieving business-IT alignment is always more fluid when leaders consider multiple perspectives from across the organization. Take it from Tech Target: “Some CIOs still have a command-and-control approach, while some organizations still have a culture that views technology as only the realm of IT, [Darren Topham, a senior research director at Gartner] explained, adding that both mentalities need to change to achieve alignment.” 5. Create incentives that encourage collaboration. Change can be difficult, even for the best organizations. It’s one reason why acknowledging and rewarding employees throughout the process is so important. The positive reinforcement is a great way to recognize collaboration efforts that actively dissolve barriers between IT and other internal stakeholders. Since the ultimate shared goal is unification, be sure to go “beyond buy-in” and strive for “joint accountability.” When in doubt, remember that deep listening and candid conversations can really move the needle when coming up with solutions that facilitate your business-IT alignment.

In this video our Microsoft Dynamics CRM expert will walk you through how to create and share views using the new modern advanced find, replacing the legacy advanced find. Contact Us if you have any questions or would like more information about Microsoft CRM features and enhancements. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

I have been very fortunate to work with incredibly talented and thoughtful individuals on both sides of the transaction and continue to learn how to improve the process. The next two posts will share some of those experiences and perspectives on the do’s and dont’s that may be helpful as you seek to maximize your outcome. Do #1: Make sure you find a qualified buyer who shares your fundamental life values. This is very important as it has an impact on everyone associated with your business. Your customers need to be treated with respect and dignity as do your employees, vendors, advisors, and, of course, yourself. This alignment creates an atmosphere of trust and respect that is critical to operating a successful business and for negotiating a fair and equitable purchase agreement. Do #2: Ensure the prospective buyer has the financial wherewithal to execute the transaction. This is critical because the ability to maximize your payout over time is dependent on the buyer’s ability to scale their business and deliver on increasing the average revenue from the acquired customers. Do #3: Find a qualified buyer who has a broad and deep technology portfolio and has a proven track record of delivering added value through extended products and services. Look for a buyer who has a structured and experienced sales organization that is focused on exceptional customer care reflecting the culture of the company. This reduces potential customer churn and extends the lifetime value of the acquired customers. Do #4: Find a qualified buyer who has demonstrated positive relationships with the software publishers and vendors that represent your customers’ solutions. This has a long-term effect on the customer service and satisfaction levels for your acquired customers. In summary, these “do’s” have a direct impact on the business drivers that determine customer satisfaction which is tied directly to increasing the average annual revenue per customer which, in turn, impacts the seller’s total earnings. Make sure all these things are in place before you say, “I do.” My next blog will focus on important “do’s” and “dont’s” as it relates to “You and/or Staff Continuing to Work for the Buyer” and suggestions for completing effective “Due Diligence.” If you have any immediate needs or want to schedule a meeting to discuss your specific business, please don’t hesitate to email me today.

UniWell Laboratories, a contract manufacturing and packaging facility in Texas, is a leader in the development of nutraceuticals, OTC pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements. The company was eager to capitalize on growth in these markets, which is projected to reach more than $441.7 billion by 2026, and needed to optimize their manufacturing, supply chain management (SCM) and financial reporting operations. To help them meet their goals and move towards adopting Next Generation ERP capabilities, UniWell worked with another reseller as a partner to implement Sage X3, a complete business management system that can provide specialized functionality for process manufacturers. But the implementation did not take advantage of Sage X3’s considerable capabilities—and it did not address UniWell’s growth, nor the many challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. So the project stalled until two years ago, when Bryan Polozola, UniWell’s former CFO, returned to the company and brought in the Fractional CIO & Advisory Services team from Net at Work. From Stalled Software Implementation to 14% Growth SMB technology advisor Net at Work provides extensive services to support the ongoing initiatives of organizations throughout North America. As part of its Advisory Services, the support from a Net at Work Fractional CIO dedicates a senior leader to define a technology strategy in tandem with overall strategic plans, develop tactical execution plans and carry out a comprehensive roadmap. “We brought in Net at Work to re-implement the software,” says Polozola. “And we hired them as our Fractional CIO. We wanted to do things right, which meant bringing in the pros who could manage the project from every angle.” As the first part of its engagement with Net at Work, UniWell worked with the technology consultant’s Sage X3 practice and Fractional CIO & Advisory Services to develop a detailed assessment of the nutraceutical manufacturer’s current operations, followed by specific recommendations for optimization. “The software is capable of so much, but those capabilities are hidden without experts highlighting it and putting it to work. That’s what Net at Work does.” The Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) function of UniWell’s Next Generation ERP, for one, had been taking eight hours to run, restricting the company’s ability to make informed purchasing decisions. Polozola recounts, “We used to overbuy raw materials because we couldn’t determine supply and demand accurately. Overstocking is expensive, and it’s also potentially wasteful since our products have a shelf life.” The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these issues. After its re-implementation and MRP improvements, Polozola reports, “We know what we need and when we’ll need it. As a result, we were able to lock in pricing with a vendor through a master purchase order, taking delivery when we need it and saving a significant amount of money.” The contract manufacturer has refined its resupply intervals and optimized its inventory holdings. And the length of time needed to run MRP? “It’s nearly instant,” says Polozola. Armed with industry best-practices, configurable workflows and deep operational insights, UniWell now projects 14% year-over-year growth. “The software is capable of so much, but those capabilities are hidden without experts highlighting it and putting it to work. That’s what Net at Work does,” says Polozola. “Through their understanding of our business, Sage X3, manufacturing in general, and technology as a whole — our Fractional CIO is definitely delivering a return on our investment.” Read the full Net at Work success story case study on UniWell’s re-implementation of Sage X3 to learn more about their evolution to more strategic operations.

2022 was a record-setting year for Nectari & Sage Enterprise Intelligence sales around the globe. Thanks is part to Net at Work who was recognized as Nectari’s top North America sales partner for 2022. INTIUTIVE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH SAGE X3 Nectari’s seamless integration with Sage Solutions and rich feature set make Sage Enterprise Intelligence (aka Nectari) the business intelligence solution of choice for thousands of Sage customers worldwide. Sage Enterprise Intelligence is an intuitive business intelligence solution fully integrated with Sage X3 to help users reduce time spent on analysis and reporting and make faster, better-informed decisions. Intuitive, easy-to-use BI solution empowers users to analyze and report on information in a self-service manner Quick access to information enables faster and better-informed decision-making and reduces time spent on analysis and reporting Tight and secure integration with Sage X3 ensures the reliability of critical business information, supports coherent decision-making and fosters continuous cross functional improvement To learn more about Net at Work’s partnership with Nectari or how Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI) can help your business, please contact us.