The Economic Gears Behind Supply Management
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on March 4, 2010
Today, many companies blame their supply management problems on the economy. But, what would happen if research proved that supply chain challenges – such as price, logistics, etc. – improved in 2009? It’s not the Great Recession’s fault all the time. According to a CAPS Research report called “Supply Strategy Implementation: Current State and Future Opportunities 2009,” not all is bad. But not all is good either.
Of course, every company maintaining a supply chain process is worried about costs. It’s a natural, knee-jerk response to every supply plan for manufacturing and production. However, the whole supply management equation isn’t as simple as cost reduction and delivery performance.
The CAPS Research report states that “supply performance, on average, showed improvement for key performance areas. Purchase prices were reduced by 4 percent on average; transportation and logistics costs were reduced by 5.1 percent and total cost of ownership reduced by 4.3 percent. Compared to 2007, price improvements were similar but transportation and logistics and total cost of ownership improved somewhat. Supplier flexibility and responsiveness was also somewhat improved in 2009.”
Ultimately, this merits that firms take advantage of the improvements and allow their supply chain to further mature in 2010. The CAPS Research report compiles responses from 130 supply organizations across 26 different industries. The analysis proves that there are changes occurring within the supply process – even beyond the simplicities of price reductions and performance improvements.
The question should be “what now?” All signs point to economic recovery, but it should be a slow process. It won’t happen overnight. It’s time to be optimistically cautious and continue to drive growth during recessionary times.
Here’s the CAPS Research point of view on how firms should pursue their future:
“First, there is need to ensure high implementation and effectiveness for core strategies such as category and supplier strategy development (with risk management); structuring the supply base; total cost of ownership; supplier selection; strategic cost management, and people acquisition and development. These strategies need to deliver supply performance today.
“Second, leading supply organization and business unit leaders need to further invest in the long-term success of their firms by accelerating transformation of e-systems; supplier integration into both new product development and customer order fulfillment; standardization of specification and purchasers to reduce complexity; achieving supplier innovation through effective collaboration, and establishing environmentally sustainable supply chains. These strategies are necessary to deliver future performance improvements.”
For companies using JD Edwards, managing a supply chain is challenging. There are hidden pitfalls and total transaction visibility can be difficult. Why conduct business blindly? It’s time to take off the blindfold and let InsightSoftware.com’s JD Edwards Supply Management solution help guide your business. It’s an end-user solution that integrates inventory, sales, purchasing, AP, master data and GL information to deliver real-time reporting and process optimization.
Stop wasting money and time on an unproductive supply chain process. Follow a new path today: http://mini.insightsoftware.com/ra/supplier.
Mark Kolanach in Da House!
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on February 22, 2010
As you may already know, InsightSoftware.com hired Mark Kolanach as the U.S. regional manager for the Southeast.
Based in Raleigh, N.C., Mark has an extensive background in business intelligence. This includes roles in pre-sales and sales at Oracle and QlikTech.
Here are Mark’s top goals (and some random thoughts) for his new role:
- “I plan to evangelize our solution in the Southeast. In this region of the U.S., many companies deserve the opportunity to discover the Insight difference.”
- “I’ll also focus on mid-market companies. Without millions to spend on data analysis tools, they need a way to improve their margins and efficiencies. We can enable companies to identify ways to do this in days or weeks versus months – at a price point they can afford.”
- “Insight’s short ‘time-to-benefit’ is key for companies needing better access to real-time data. We simply solve problems NOW, instead of selling them on a vision of what they can possibly have in six months.”
- “We help organizations simplify how they measure themselves against their annual strategic objectives. How many hoops are they jumping through to gather accurate metrics now?”
So, what excites Mark about the Insight product?
“The most exciting thing for me about our product is the time-to-benefit. You can literally make the decision to work with us in addressing your data analysis needs today, and then use the tool tomorrow. Since we just plug into the ERP system, Insight is completely preconfigured to work immediately.
“Our pre-packaged solutions are functionally designed to address the areas of greatest benefit: Procure to pay, order to ship, month end close and many others. The return on investment is very short for many of our customers. That is the reason I joined InsightSoftware.com. There isn’t a lot of satisfaction in identifying areas of great need in an organization and then telling them how they can address them in a month, or even six months from now. Six months to benefit just doesn’t cut it in this economy.”
The “Software Tax” – Will it Cripple Colorado’s Economy?
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on February 11, 2010
I’m of the mind that taxes pretty much stink. I’m sure many agree. In cartoons and movies alike, the “Tax Collector” is always portrayed as a seedy individual who only cares for himself, his job and the state. But the other side of the coin is quite simple: Taxes pay for much needed services within a society.
Now that the United States is witnessing its worst recession since the Great Depression, budget shortfalls are numbering into the billions of dollars (ugh…and trillions). Each state – with the exception of only a few – is in the red. For example, Colorado’s education system has been greatly affected and can no longer receive cuts to its budgets. To make up for this and other state budget shortfalls, more changes are needed to fill the gap. Over 2010, the state will see massive tax hikes and the elimination of tax credits – for businesses and citizens alike.
But, when does the tax legislation begin to infringe on a society’s progress? When do those taxes begin to alter the competitive landscape for business? The Colorado government’s latest tax scheme – HB 1192 or “Software Tax” – is an example of a tax that just plain stinks; it’s bad legislation, plain and simple.
The way HB 1192 is setup is not in the best interests of Colorado’s citizens, purely because it directly affects business. It’s also being fast-tracked through legislation – already passing the first major hurdles and on its way to full-blown approval. If it does pass, it will take effect March 1.
(Maybe it has already passed and nobody has been notified. Uh-oh.)
So, what’s all the fuss about?
How this will affect companies in Colorado is still uncertain. However, one can ascertain that the use of software by businesses will be a primary target – imposing additional expense to the cost of doing business in the state.
Think of how much software a business uses on a daily, weekly and annual basis. Of course, large businesses use hundreds of different software applications. Small businesses are certainly not out of the picture either. The use of technology in Colorado and the proliferation of technology will be negatively impacted. It isn’t just a simple tax: It’s a slow bleeding of the state’s intellectual resources.
According to Su Hawk of the Colorado Technology Association (CTA), the software tax “is the most dangerous bill our organization has seen in its 16-year history because it is extraordinarily confusing, complex and costly for technology companies and technology users throughout all companies in our state.”
Interestingly enough, this new software tax will have a ripple effect – stretching from businesses to citizens, and state visitors as well. First, the legislation is very confusing and massive at the same time. This mixture usually creates more confusion and apathy among the state’s elected officials who have the power to deny passage of the changes. Their understanding of HB 1192’s power isn’t entirely understood. Why? HB 1192 isn’t the only turd being passed through the doors of the state government. There’s only so much state officials can review and fully understand. They’re only shown the dollars signs and the bottom line, which only affects the short-term situation. The long-term implications are an entirely different story (probably more depressing than I care to trudge through at this point).
None of this bodes well for those who are against the “Software Tax.” Here’s how the CTA views the problem and what it will do:
- All software that was designed for one user but then resold to a second user would become taxable
- If a company develops software and then sells its business to a third party, they then would be selling “taxable software” when the business is sold
- Taxable software includes all prewritten updates/upgrades. If these charges are not separately stated from a maintenance fee, the full charge for maintenance and update becomes taxable.
- Charges to customize “base software” could be taxable if not separately stated from the overall purchase of the software. (Thus, businesses will need to be very careful about how they invoice customers, otherwise labor will become taxable.)
- In general, all services not separately stated from the license of software could become taxable (installation, customization, maintenance . . . )
- Where software is located or how the software is transferred to a user does not change the taxability of software. As a result, the sales tax would then apply to all ASP and SaaS models or any other form of “cloud computing.”
- The language could apply to many transactions, which include a software component. For example, online banking software provided to bank customers as part of their overall fees for banking services may become taxable. Any other fees for services where a customer has access to utilize some form of software may become taxable if the charge for services and software are not carefully segregated.
- Many more…
Further down the rabbit’s hole…
Would these taxes and tax credit eliminations be necessary if the government would restrain its wasteful spending and implementing of unnecessary programs? Of course, we’re talking about the state of Colorado, but this affects the likelihood of tax programs for the nation. Taxes are necessary. When do they become unnecessary? Simple. Taxes become a problem when they enforce a burden on economic growth and forward progress. That’s counterproductive to our current state of affairs, not ideal.
Some helpful links:
Your thoughts?
NAUG Earlybird Registration Deadline Extended!
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on February 1, 2010
InsightSoftware.com extended the deadline for its North American User Group earlybird registration – now Feb. 28.
Scheduled for March 21-23, the meeting will take place at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. All users of Insight’s software are invited to attend.
Taking the meeting spotlight, NAUG attendees will receive a sneak peek of Insight Version 10. The new version features an updated (and very slick) user interface, integrated reporting enhancements, and a new community portal that incorporates social media. Attendees also receive a comprehensive update of their Insight solution and networking opportunities with other Insight users.
Register today: http://www.insightsoftware.com/naug/registration.html.
Important Industry Webinars to Attend and/or View
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 29, 2010
It’s definitely the season for free Webinars. If you enjoy learning more about the goings-on in the Oracle world and beyond, it’s a good idea to keep reading.
On Wednesday, Feb. 3 (10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET), plan to attend the following Webinar: “JD Edwards & Oracle: The Strategic Platform for Business Growth.” Lyle Ekdahl, group vice president for JD Edwards will provide a 10-minute update on the “future of JD Edwards.”
In addition, Bill Black, chief financial officer for Arcturus Realty Corp. will join Lyle for a discussion on the ease of upgrading to 9.0 and Tools 8.98. Of course, we’re especially excited about this Webinar because Arcturus is a loyal InsightSoftware.com customer.
You will also have the opportunity to talk directly with Lyle and Bill during the Webinar’s Q&A session. Don’t miss it! To register, visit http://bit.ly/badWvo.
Recently, Oracle announced its plans to combine with Sun Microsystems. If you managed to miss all this important industry news, it’s never too late to catch up on the happenings. Oracle is offering an on-demand Webinar series called the “Oracle + Sun Product Strategy.” Learn more about the merger and what it means for you: http://bit.ly/cMaX07.
If you’re in the finance and accounting industries, you’ve probably heard a little bit about International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which are standards, interpretations and the framework adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
The United States has been slow to adopt IFRS. However, countries like Canada, India and many others are planning to adopt the standards or already have. As the pressure grows for the U.S. to use IFRS, many companies are scrambling to find out how to prepare.
The American Management Association (AMA) hosted a Webinar called “From GAAP to IFRS: How to Survive the Accounting Revolution.” The prerecorded Webinar highlights how IFRS will affect the format of financial statements and increased requirements for systems support and data tracking.
To view the Webinar, it’s required to register for a free membership with the AMA: http://bit.ly/cSvPPy.
InsightSoftware.com also has a few Webinars for your viewing pleasure – specifically the most recent Webinar, “Hierarchies – new and improved functionality in Version 9.0.3.” Check it out: http://bit.ly/aZceS6 (scroll to the bottom of the page for the most recent editions).
Having a Tough Day? Call InsightSoftware.com’s Customer Service!
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 21, 2010
By Stefanie Uhl
Due to a recent change in my InsightSoftware.com responsibilities, I now sit very close to our customer service team. At first I thought it would be difficult to be close to them since they do talk a great deal, but it has actually turned out to be a delight.
I think some of InsightSoftware.com’s customers call our customer support team when they are having a rough day. Not only do they solve their Insight issue quickly, they keep our customers engaged and entertained along the way. If the issue needs to be reported to development they rapidly get that done. One day I thought about calling customer support for a little cheer in the middle of a long afternoon.
Here’s the best part: They are real people working during their own time zone and speaking their native languages. Oh what I wouldn’t give for that level of support when I need to call my Internet, software or printer provider for support.
Insight customers, please add your comments and experiences with customer service (InsightSoftware and otherwise). And then go visit: http://www.insightsoftware.com/jde.
Want to go shopping?
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 15, 2010
By Lynda Huebsch
You could be a lucky winner and receive $100 in Best Buy gift cards. We invite you to submit your list of “Top 10 Reasons to Attend the InsightSoftware.com North American User Group (NAUG).”
We will sort through the entries and announce the winner during our opening session in Scottsdale on March 22.
Below is a top 10 list I created. I know our customers can do better. Go ahead and take the plunge – be creative and original. Good luck!
Top 10 Reasons to Attend NAUG 2010
- Be the first to hear about Insight Version 10 features and functionality
- Make your colleagues jealous: Get a sunburn in March
- Relax on a gondola while being serenaded by a gondolier
- Mix and mingle with partners under the palms
- Share success stories with other customers
- Make a co-worker happy: Bring materials back for their business function
- Earn your CPE credits while honing your Insight skills
- Impress your boss with increased efficiencies learned from “tips and tricks”
- Be an insider; InsightSoftware.com plans to share their company and product roadmap
- Take the early flight. Sunday’s welcome reception includes an open bar.
Submit “Top 10″ entries to marketing@insightsoftware.com. For more information about our NAUG, visit www.insightsoftware.com/naug.
Does Your JD Edwards Data Require Top-Notch Maid Service?
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 14, 2010
By Stefanie Uhl
Just like a house or office that has many wonderful features and supplies that are difficult to find or are broken (rendering them useless), your JDE data is much less valuable to you if it’s not 100 percent accurate and integral. JD Edwards’ database is a true gem packed with endless useful information, but it is only highly valuable if the data is “squeaky clean.” The JDE integrity programs are not 100 percent complete and often take a long time to run – making it frustrating to run them frequently.
Did you know that there is a solution available that provides high level, easy-to-use “maid service” for your JD Edwards data? Of course, the solution is called Insight and is available from InsightSoftware.com for both World and E1.
Insight can quickly and easily check the following, just to name a few areas:
- Are all companies in balance
- Are all required category codes filled in
- Are there accounts with the same code but different descriptions
- Does the Accounts Receivable account balance to the A/R system
- Does the Received but not Vouchered account balance reconcile to the PO system
- Does your PPV (purchase price variance ) tie to your GL
- Does your cycle count tie to your inventory
- Are you certain that your purchasing department is only using preferred vendors and thereby gaining significant savings
Here’s how I see it: Insight can help identify areas that require attention, but it can often also help resolve the issues easily. Years ago when I was a JD Edwards application consultant, I can distinctly recall spending several days trying to help a German JDE customer determine why their GL was out of balance by .01 “Pfennig.” Insight could have helped me resolve this issue in hours, if not minutes, and would have saved the customer a significant amount of time and money.
In another engagement a customer was extremely frustrated by a report where the numbers did not seem to accurately be reporting regional revenues and expenses. It took them days to finally determine that the category codes were not accurately complete on all business units. With Insight’s drill down feature, this would have been identified and resolved quickly. Insight also has a hierarchy feature where it is easy to be certain that all business units and accounts are included.
An InsightSoftware.com customer (Courtney Robinson, 4Front Assistant Controller) recently said, “I’ve used Insight to find missing tax codes and category codes, and I plan to do even more integrity checking with the solution.”
Let the story unfold: http://www.insightsoftware.com/jde.
In the year 2010…
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 7, 2010
It’s time, once again, to look into the future. That’s right. Let’s look to the future…all the way to the year 2010.
Are you ready? Here are some predictions:
In an effort to further bolster its enormity, Oracle will receive EU approval to purchase Sun Microsystems. Later, Oracle will become self-aware and then try to purchase itself.
Time Warner will slip into a brutal bout with depression after realizing it really misses having AOL around. Of course, AOL will move on to become more Internet-savvy and start its own blog.
Warren Buffett will “go rogue” and purchase significant shares in several penny stocks. To further his torrent of unfamiliar behavior, Buffett will demand that the A shares of Berkshire Hathaway be split multiple times – allowing it to be more affordable to average, everyday investors.
Oracle user groups from around the nation will meet to create networking opportunities and provide training seminars. User group members who attend the events will receive some great insider info that’s crucial to their daily business activities.
First up…
The NorCal OAUG will host its eighth annual training day event, on Jan. 19, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. The full-day conference aims to provide more than 90 presentations. And, as networking becomes the way to do real business nowadays, attendees can meet with Northern California Oracle users, consultants, vendors and Oracle employees.
For more information on NorCal OAUG, visit http://www.norcaloaug.com.
Next on the calendar…
InsightSoftware.com will host its North American User Group Meeting, March 21-23, at the Hyatt Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz. Although this is a user group for InsightSoftware.com customers, it’s certainly open to all who are interested in attending.
The meeting has been expanded to two full days, with a mixture of general sessions and four “break out tracks” tailored to each customer’s experience with Insight, area of expertise and ERP system. Here’s a look at the meeting agenda: http://bit.ly/6jCFe1.
To register (and to take advantage of early-bird rates), go to http://bit.ly/67g7EQ.
Don’t forget to collaborate…
The Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG), the Oracle Applications Users Group (OAUG) and Quest International Users Group (Quest) will host COLLABORATE 10 – the technology and applications forum for the Oracle community. As an educational conference, COLLABORATE 10 helps users of the full family of Oracle business applications and database software gain greater value from their Oracle investments. Visit http://www.collaborate10.org.
Stay open for OpenWorld…
Save the date now for Oracle OpenWorld 2010, Sept. 19 – 23, in San Francisco. With thousands of sessions and hundreds of exhibits and demos, there’s no better place to learn how to optimize your existing systems, get an inside line on upcoming technology breakthroughs, and meet with the strategists and developers responsible for the products and services that help you get better results for your company. Visit http://www.oracle.com/us/openworld.
In the year 2010…
Managing properties? Need some help?
Posted by ryan.alford in Uncategorized on January 5, 2010
Today, InsightSoftware.com made it official: The organization launched its Property Management Module for JD Edwards.
Here’s the press release:
InsightSoftware.com, a global software provider of Business Optimization Software (BOS), releases a new Property Management module for JD Edwards (JDE). The Property Management module is part of Insight’s Real Estate solution offering increased visibility to key lease, tenant and billing information.
Insight provides pre-packaged property management templates designed for the end user. Gone are the days of relying on inadequate standard reports or time-consuming, expensive reports designed by an IT department. Property managers and accountants determine all the key information needed on reports to answer daily business questions and identify trends affecting lease profitability.
To ensure data integrity, users can create exception reports or use highlighting and stop-lighting features to proactively spot issues: “Clients can create inquiries to flag items like incomplete or inconsistent lease information,” said Tracey Lewis, account manager for InsightSoftware.com.
In addition, a user can compare and contrast their most profitable properties with Insight’s charting and graphing capabilities. Using direct links to online transaction details allows for monitoring of billing status and analyzing of payment history – organized by tenant, property or lease manager.
“Our clients purchase Insight to gain better access to their JDE property management information to improve decision making,” explains Lewis. “However, it is the ad hoc ability to research information ‘on-the-fly’ that exponentially increases their day-to-day effectiveness.”
To learn more about Insight’s Property Management module, visit: http://www.InsightSoftware.com/jde/pm.
Here’s the PitchEngine release: http://pitch.pe/39981.
Are you in the property management business? Is your company using JD Edwards? What are some ways you’re working to organize leases and tenant payments?