ERP Contributing to SMB Success

A recent Aberdeen report shows that small organisations are reaping the benefits from ERP software.

The myth that ERP software is only for large businesses is now being challenged and laid to rest.

According to the report those that postpone, delay or decide against implementing ERP software underperform even the worst of performers of those with ERP in terms of process, organisational and knowledge management capabilities.
1,100 SMBs were involved in the report which gathered data based on Q4 2009 and Q1 2010. Early 2010 showed marked optimism amongst SMBs and plans for growth were a key focus.

Growth expectations have always been a key business driver for those seeking to implement ERP software, along with customer service and the need to reduce costs, all of which are still the most distinguished triggers.

Almost half of those SMBs that haven’t invested in ERP software attribute this to
the fact they have been able to function effectively without one in the past, though almost half of them doubt they will be able to continue to do so into the future.

When asked what would trigger them to take the plunge the availability of low cost options and both explosive and growth beyond a predefined threshold were the most common.

Based on the fact that SMBs are becoming more optimistic, concentrated and motivated by growth a surge in the uptake of ERP software by them is anticipated.

As businesses grow, without the implementation of an effective ERP solution efficiency and growth suffers.

With SAP B1 having been designed specifically to meet the needs of SMBs, any reservations with regard to whether your business may be too small for an ERP system, may not benefit or may not be able to afford one have been conquered. Those not yet convinced should watch this video!

Think SAP is too big for you? Think Again!
http://www.youtube.com/user/IntelligentB1

Leadership vs. Management, Do we need both?

What is the difference between leadership and management and does it really matter?

The answer is yes it does!

In today’s dynamic business environments it’s important for businesses to be able to differentiate between the two and to ensure that responsibility for each of the roles is assigned.

"There is a profound difference between management and leadership, and both are important. To manage means to bring about, to accomplish, to have charge of or responsibility for, to conduct. Leading is influencing, guiding in a direction, course, action, opinion. The distinction is crucial" – Warren Bennis

Put plainly:

Management controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established.
Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow.

In today’s dynamic business environments it is essential that organisations are driven by a leader in order to remain continually innovative and to sustain competitive advantages in their market place.

Two look at the distinction between the two in more depth I like the way Warren Bennis outlines his view of the differences in his book “On Becoming A Leader”. The manager administers; the leader innovates.

•The manager is a copy; the leader is an original.

•The manager maintains; the leader develops.

•The manager focuses on systems and structure; the leader focuses on people.

•The manager relies on control; the leader inspires trust.

•The manager accepts reality; the leader investigates it.

•The manager has a short-range view; the leader has a long-range perspective.

•The manager asks how and when; the leader asks what and why.

•The manager has his or her eye always on the bottom line; the leader has his or her eye on the horizon.

•The manager imitates; the leader originates.

•The manager accepts the status quo; the leader challenges it.

•The manager is the classic good soldier; the leader is his or her own person.

•The manager does things right; the leader does the right thing.

Another strongly influential thinker on the topic of leadership and management is John Kotter who describes them as two distinctive actions, each one being necessary and complementing the other.

It’s undoubtedly something which warrants the attention of business owners and managers.

Here are some basic skills that a good leader should possess…

Be a Good Listener
Lead By Example
Endeavour to Inspire
Facilitate Creativity
Continually Learn
Seek to Motivate
Articulate your Ideas and Share your Experiences
Learn from your own Mistakes
Get to Know your People
See the your Business as a Whole
Encourage Teamwork!

Do not assume you automatically have the necessary leadership skills. They are skills which you need to gradually develop as your business grows and develops.

SAP Ranked Leaders in the Business Intelligence Tools Market

IDC has reported SAP as the market leader in the business intelligence (BI) tools market based on software license and maintenance revenue. IDC also reported that SAP has grown faster than the market for financial performance and strategy management (FPSM) applications for the fourth consecutive year.

“Today's competitive business environment demands real-time visibility into performance, and SAP delivers that by providing our customers with the most comprehensive set of integrated BI and EPM solutions," said Sanjay Poonen, executive vice president and general manager, Business User and Line-of-Business Sales, SAP.

"We continue to lead the combined BI and FPSM market because SAP enables customers to give their employees - from the boardroom to the shop floor - instant insight across all lines of the business so they can contribute to their bottom line. Customers continue to turn to SAP solutions over competitors because we provide a unique vision and approach to analytics, and we deliver those solutions on a modern platform that works with their existing IT environments. This makes it easy for all business users to get up running quickly, so they can focus on running their business more effectively."

SAP is clearly in tune with the diverse needs of businesses relative to their sector and the dynamic nature of the environments in which they reside.
Testament to this is the continued growth which SAP have achieved despite the negative growth overall in the IT market. They are a trusted and extremely well established business software provider and their commitment to innovation is central to their continued success.

Social Media: A Massive Opportunity for SMB B2Bs

Social Media: A Massive Opportunity for SMB B2Bs

SAP growth a tribute to smart business investment

SAP has reported 16% growth in software and software related service revenues for the Second Quarter as it reaches the 100,000 customer milestone.

ERP investment hasn’t diminished in spite of the recession, their evidently has been an upsurge.

A Forrester Research survey carried out in the fourth quarter of 2008 that just 1% of Enterprise Software Decision Makers were planning to decrease their ERP investment.
This was during the heat of the recession when businesses were really feeling the pinch. Evidently there was and continues to be an increased awareness of the benefits of ERP Software in all circumstances but particularly when companies want to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

SMBs are now getting back into the ERP software market in light of the recovering economy. They are looking for software to automate their operations and scale for growth.

SAP were perceptive and as a result have benefited from the upsurge in SME ERP investment having focused a substantial amount of investment in their SME solutions which they continue to remain committed to.

“Our focus on customer-driven innovation is positively impacting our growth. Reaching more than 100,000 customers is a testament to the inroads we have made in expanding our volume business and our success in the small and midsized enterprise (SME) segment,” said Jim Hagemann Snabe, Co-CEO of SAP.

“Our success in the SME segment creates a strong foundation for the new version of our on-demand platform SAP Business ByDesign. The new version will be available on time on July 31st and is ready for volume deployment in six countries.”

Though the conventional response during a recession may be to curb ERP investment, businesses are evidently becoming aware that investing now will put them in a better position in the future!

To view the Top 10 benefits and results of implementing ERP in the current economic environment:
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/erp-roi/ten-reasons-to-implement-erp-during-the-economic-downturn-29577

SAP Business One Success Story

Discover SAP in the World of Social Media

SAP are leading the way for partners and those who utilise SAP software in terms of the development of their presence in the world of Social Media and the exemplary way they are utilising its functions.
As a leading SAP Gold Partner in the UK and Ireland at IIS we have found their presence on the various Social Media sites to be not only inspiring but have also found the information and updates supplied and resources made available to be extremely useful and insightful.
SAP customers, partners or anyone with an interest in SAP would be foolish not to discover them on the various social media platforms. To make your life easier I have supplied some of the main links!

Facebook

SAP Community Network
http://www.facebook.com/#!/sapcommunitynetwork?ref=sgm

SAP Eco Hub
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/SAP-EcoHub/136104103748

SAP Software
http://www.facebook.com/SAPSoftware?ref=ts

SAP Tech Ed
http://www.facebook.com/SAPSoftware?ref=ts#!/pages/SAP-TechEd/74338051990?ref=ts

SAP Partner Edge SME
http://www.facebook.com/SAPSoftware?ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=154776037065&ref=ts

SAP Business One – Richard Duffy
http://www.facebook.com/SAPSoftware?ref=ts#!/pages/SAP-Business-One/7481621789?ref=ts

Twitter

SAP News
http://twitter.com/sapnews

SAP Community Network
http://twitter.com/SAPCommNet

SAP TV
http://twitter.com/saptv

SAP Channel Partner
http://twitter.com/SAPChanlPartner
S
AP 4 SME
http://twitter.com/SAP4SME

SAP B1
http://twitter.com/SAP_B1

SAP Info
http://twitter.com/sapinfo

SAP B1 UK and Ireland
http://twitter.com/SAP_B1_UKI

LinkedIn

SAP Company Profile
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/1115

LinkedIn Groups

SAP Business One
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=114094

SAP Community
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=36867

SAP Network Global
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=38891&about=

European SAP Professionals
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1876038&about=

Of course once you link it with one of the pages on the various sites additional ones will be readily accessible.

Also don’t forget the SAP Community Blogs and also be sure to visit the SAP You Tube Channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/saptv

Where to Start with Social Media Marketing?

What is Social Media Marketing? Where should we start? Are we sick of hearing about it but actually none the wiser?

I have been enlightened by a webinar from Richard Duffy from Duct tape Marketing; “Leveraging Social Media to generate business”. My own perception of what it is and how we should use it has been cemented.

John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing put it very succinctly when he described marketing itself as… “Getting People to Know, Like and Trust”.

I found his definition of marketing refreshing having come across many definitions of marketing throughout my University studies. It’s clear, simple, to the point and most importantly it makes immediate sense and can be more readily put in to practice than some of the more theory dense and frankly somewhat confusing descriptions.

He builds upon this definition and describes Social Media Marketing as a tool to support the accomplishment of these goals through the use of technology.

Social Media Marketing is ultimately about building your companies web presence, driving traffic to the company website which is seen to be the central hub of all your Social Media activity and supporting the your overall company message, building your brand, image and reputation.

The challenge for all of us is not to get overwhelmed. One step at a time is the advice being given. Get your website right and from there maybe start a blog, or open a twitter account. The key is not to do it all at once.

To fully utilise the world of Social Media as a marketing tool we need to research the market place, see what our competitors and customers are doing and how they are using it and try to get a better picture of what might be expected of us and how our presence might be of use to our target audience.

Objectives need to be set. What are we hoping to gain from Social Media Marketing? We all have different intentions and we to ensure that these underpin our Social Media activity.

We need to listen, interact and learn. We will then be more greatly informed and can feel more confident in the content we supply through the various channels.

Content was a key focus of the webinar, and the most crucial points where highlighted as being the following:

It Should be Useful
Address a Painpoint in your Target Market (A specific problem)
Speak your Target Markets Language
And it Should be Approachable; Accessible and Friendly!

I find it useful to draw a parallel with word of mouth communications, the value of which is potentially underestimated by all. Social Media Marketing is a way of harnessing word of mouth; a tool to utilise social interactions and influence the way your organisation is ultimately perceived.

Although some people may be sick of hearing about Social Media Marketing I think it is only the beginning of the phenomenon and that we are only touching the tip of the iceberg; we have so much more to learn and explore to fully utilise it as a marketing tool.

Tidy Up Your Social Media Identity

Those of us who have entered or are planning to enter the world of social media are unlikely to consider creating an identity on one single platform. Utilising multiple platforms and integrating them is now customary.

As with all marketing communications we need to ensure and remain focused on the identity of the company or brand and insure that messages support and remain consistent rather than conflicting each other.

Integrated marketing communications, IMC, is now a cornerstone concept in the world of marketing and one which companies strive to adhere to, some more successfully than others. The concept is one which should underpin and direct the way in which we manage our presence within and use of social media.

Here are a concise few tips that I came across on the Mashable website: www.mashable.com

Be Consistent

Your profile pages should remain as consistent as possible in design. Utilise the design and branding tools available.
Updates should also remain consistent, not necessarily verbatim but they should have a degree of uniformity about them with regard to the message content and tone.

Be Sure of Your Brand

Whether you are going to create a new brand online or further extend and promote your established brand/company identity the message needs to be strong, clear and consistent.

Optimise SEO with Social Media

Use inbound links from the various platforms to connect your profiles and content. Make sure that what you’re posting is what you want to be known for and will support the way you wish to be perceived. Again consistency will help you optimise SEO.

Use the Management Tools available

Hootsuite, Tweetdeck and Ping.fm are useful platforms that will reduce the time you spend managing your social media presence when you have established one across multiple sites.

Humanise

Social Media is about humanising your company and delivering direct messages from you to your target audience. Ensure that what you’re saying and delivering is honest and true to you.

Adapted from Zachary Sniederman, How to Clean Up Your Social Media Identity, www.mashable.com

Tips for SME Website Content

1. Pick one idea for an article and stick to it. Don’t meander onto other topics, save that content for additional articles.

2. Simplify as much as possible. Try to boil down content into its most simple form.

3. Avoid using jargon or theoretical terms. Remember that if people are bored then they will stop reading.

4. Provide ways for the reader to interact, either by replying directly or contributing to a public discussion.

5. Set a timetable for providing content and stick to it. Visitors to your website will then know what to expect from you.

Content from: The small Business Blog, Stefan Töpfer
www.sme-blog.com

Other tips for writing website content...
Use...

Shorter sentences, words and paragraphs

One idea per paragraph

Concise text - half the word count (or less) than writing for print
the inverted pyramid style, putting the most important point or the conclusion first

Simple words

Objective language to build credibility, rather than exaggerated claims or overly promotional words like "great", "tremendous" etc.

Bulleted lists

Highlighted text (bold or color, also hyperlinked text) for scannability

Meaningful headlines and subheads, avoiding cute or clever lines

To find out more visit:
http://www.entheosweb.com/content_writing/tips.asp

Digital Marketing isn’t just for the Big Players

Digital marketing offers huge potential for SMEs looking to increase their range and communicate with the audience who matters most to them. With the consumers now beginning to look beyond the recession, it is an ideal time for SME business owner to consider the options available to them.

There is such a great variety of online tools available that SMEs can choose the one suited to their needs to increase their impact on and within their chosen market.

It doesn’t have to be costly, which is a common misconception, but more about selecting the right campaign and tool, identifying clear objectives and deciphering how you can measure and acquire a true ROI.

Digital marketing is more accountable and measurable than its traditional counterpart and as a result, the return is more easily recognised. It is ideally used to complement existing marketing activities, supporting the strength of campaigns and fortifying a stance, position or message.

The key is to ensure that all activity is tailored to the company’s exact requirements: whether it’s a campaign based around key search terms on Google, an affiliate campaign promoting the business on relevant websites, or a campaign around a social network like Facebook.

Audiences can be more readily targeted with the use of digital marketing which is ideal for SMEs. They can reach out directly to interested consumers, in the long term reducing cost and improving efficiency of their marketing activities.

Digital marketing is also an ideal way for SMEs to create two way communications and interactions with their target market and existing customers. The humanisation of businesses has never been easier or of borne as much significance to the sales cycle and CRM.

The challenge for most SMEs looking to enter the world of digital marketing and utilise the available tools is where to start.

I would suggest with your website and from there it is up to the individual.
Google Adwords could be explored in order drive the optimum amount of traffic to your website.
The world of Social Media is continuously growing and SMEs would be hasty not to at least explore the many well established sites that now exist.

Digital media is rapidly becoming a vital element of the marketing communications mix.

With so much advice and support available SMEs should take advantage of what has been tried and tested by the bigger players in the market, delve into, test and find their place within the digital marketing revolution.

The Value Of Super Fast Fibre Broadband for SMEs

Fibre broadband is not just about speed though it is the selling point which has been fundamentally highlighted.
It offers considerable benefits in terms of reliability, scalability and longevity. Fibre is inherently less susceptible to damp or interference, making it more reliable with less risk of business downtime.

Any company that wants to make the most of the new technological services that are available such as cloud computing, HD videoconferencing, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology, realtime backup or just sending and receiving large files, will want the fastest connection possible to make sure their business runs smoothly.
If not, its existing infrastructure could be in danger of slowing down and struggling to cope.

Enthusiasm for these services is widespread. Research carried out by Easynet Connect showed that over half of UK SMEs plan to switch their core applications to cloud computing systems in the next year, compared with the 22 per cent that had planned to in 2008. As the dedication to these bandwidth-hungry applications grows, so too will the need to think seriously about investing in fibre.

The beauty of fibre is that it can also be upgraded at a later stage. Even though today people may think of 100Mbps as fast, future requirements may well demand even faster connections which could be provided over the same fibre connection. One day we could even be talking about connections in gigabits as standard, rather than megabits.

Fibre not only meets business needs today, but can provide a truly future-proof service which can easily match the increasing need for business bandwidth.

According to research carried out by US consultants Booz & Co., European countries are lagging behind on fibre based broadband networks. They pronounce that next generation broadband networks promise much faster transfer of information, services, and benefits throughout a national economy, promoting overall growth, productivity, and prosperity. Without investment in fibre broadband networks businesses will only be able to reap meagre benefits from the advances being made in today’s information society.

According to OECD estimates, by 2011 broadband communication will generate one-third of the productivity gains made by highly developed nations.
Not only do we need to consider our own investment in fibre broadband but we need to encourage and support investment by the providers within the UK and Ireland and any government support that may be employed as it evidently bears influence on the prosperity of our economy in the long term.

Who knew sitting down could be so demanding on our bodies!

Tips and exercises to help you avoid the desk bound injuries…

More and more of us who work in offices or even from home are remaining slouched over our desks for almost a solid 8 hours, some even neglecting to get up and move around during their lunch break. There just aren’t enough hours in the working day is a common complaint, excuse and explanation for why we are choosing to work through our lunch breaks.

Neglecting to move and consider our posture during the day could seemingly be causing untold damage our bodies and minds.

It is the responsibility of business owners, managers and H.R departments if they exist to ensure that the health and safety of employees is considered at all times. This goes beyond the immediate day to day potential health and safety hazards and should also bear in mind the mental well being of employees.

Employers who invest in appropriate ergonomic office furniture can go a long way towards safeguarding their employees' health and wellbeing.
When employees are given the right tools to work with, physically and mentally, they will be happier, less stressed and will do a faster, better job.

Frequent short breaks away from your desk and computer will re-stimulate brain and body, keeping you healthy and fitter for work.
Employers should be proactive in encouraging such practices within the work place as evidently there are benefits to be reaped by all.

Louisa Garnier – Yoga Instructor to London professionals including City workers who spend long hours chained to their desks suggests the following exercises.

Rock forwards and back along the sole of your feet. Then circle around the edge of each foot trying to make clear contact with the floor.

Allow your torso to lie over your thighs for a few breaths, then on an exhalation draw in the lower belly and gently roll up to sit. Repeat 5 times

Sit tall allowing the head to float upwards, take a deep inhalation and grow even taller, then as you exhale keeps tall as you spiral round to one side. You can use the arms to support you but try to make the twist happen from the abdomen upwards whilst keeping the shoulders and head relaxed. Each exhalation can allow you to go deeper without force. Hold for at least 5 breaths. Repeat on the other side

Extend the arms over the back of the chair and hold onto the sides. On an inhalation extend the side ribs upwards and lift the chest towards the ceiling, as you exhale squeeze the elbows towards each other behind you and continue to lift the sides of the body up. Hold for 5 breaths.

Regularly squeeze your hands into fists and then release to extend out as much as possible, followed by rotating your wrists in each direction.

Inhale as you lift arms over head, keep shoulders relaxed as you extend side ribs up. Interlace the fingers and straighten arms. Keep reaching for the ceiling as you inhale deeply, and then bend to the right as you exhale. Inhale to centre and repeat to the other side. Repeat 3 times to each side.

Top tips for movement in the workplace:

•Why not have a meeting standing up or walking round the park/block instead of sitting still?

•If you get up to get a glass of water or a cup of tea use the opportunity to take 5 minutes to stretch your legs and rest your eyes by looking out the window

•Always take the stairs and run up them - not the lift if you are only going a few floors!

•Do small exercises like twirling your ankles to keep the blood flowing whilst you are sitting down

•Take a stretching break every couple of hours (see yoga tips above)

•If you need to go to a kitchen and there's one on another floor - use the furthest one away to get some extra time in on your pins .