Find the Perfect Match: 6 Steps to Choosing ERP Software

Find the Perfect Match: 6 Steps to Choosing ERP Software

July 26, 2017Posted inArticles, Articles and White Papers

ERP solutions usually touch all aspects of your business: financials, distribution, human resources, product life cycle management, customer relationship management (CRM), purchasing, manufacturing, warehouse management, and decision-support. This very integration is the value they add. So making the best choice is critical.

Alison Diana over at ERPsearch.com offers some valuable advice on choosing an ERP solution that meets your company's needs. These guidelines can help you identify what you really need in an ERP so that you end up with infrastructure that ensures your company will thrive.

Get it in writing

Gather the vital information into an RFP. Who are the executives that will champion this cause? What are the criteria that reflect your company's needs? What are the high-priority issues? Where will the rubber hit the road? Think business processes, software requirements, features and functionality, business automation and intelligence factors.

Make things better

Don't try to merely support what's happening right now in your business. Instead, ask some questions to your managers and employees to find the trouble-spots that a good ERP match will help resolve. Integrations can help address exactly what your company needs.

Look to the future

You have a business plan that sketches out your growth. Map out the ERP capabilities to that plan. This helps you find an enterprise resource planning package that supports what you will be doing in 5, 10, 20 years.

Location, location, location

According to your culture, budget, and objectives, you can select the best option for setting up shop. It may be better to run the ERP software at your own location, have someone else host the package, or subscribe to a service.

Solicit other opinions

After using product demos to pick your short-list, check with people who are current customers of the finalists. Ask for the companies that most closely match your own, contact those businesses, and have a frank discussion about lessons they've learned while working with their ERP solution.

One step at a time

Getting the best ERP fit for your company is less like a race and more like a climb. Insist on careful attention at the planning phase, design phase, and implementation phase. And with a high-quality vendor, even the implementation can be extended in a phased approach.

Ready to select an ERP solution? Contact us today for a free demo to learn what aACE can offer you.

"I would challenge someone to find a software that functions as well as aACE does and incorporates the features needed across all departments."
- Mark Fleckenstein, Vice President Operations, Vacutherm Inc.
5 Places to Look Before Launching Your eCommerce Store

5 Places to Look Before Launching Your eCommerce Store

July 24, 2017Posted inArticles, Articles and White Papers

Whether you have an established business that you want to branch out with online sales or you're starting a business from scratch, getting experienced advice on ecommerce planning can help you. Brian Roberts, featured on Entrepreneur.com, has five excellent tips to help you start selling online.

What you need to focus on is making sure you have a clear picture of where your product line fits into the ecommerce landscape. If you're just throwing things out onto the World Wide Web and hoping that they make money, you might be wasting time. Instead, find out who is already earning a profit selling in your market area, analyze what they're doing well and where you can improve beyond them, and what your potential customers are looking for.

Brian gives concrete steps on how to gather this essential information, bypassing the deluge of information that you don't need at the start. Here are five places to look — and what to look for:

1. Google.

This sounds like an easy one, but you might be surprised at what you're searching for. Focus on companies who are selling a product similar to yours. Once you've found the closest matches you can, start searching out who is using paid advertising in their marketing. This is a pivotal point because paid marketing implies paying customers. This identifies a profitable niche, and you can also use Google's keyword analysis features to gauge how much the clicks in your niche are worth.

2. eBay.

Switching to auctions, you can get more information about your envisioned product line. The basic idea is to find out if customers are buying the kinds of things you want to be selling. And with any luck you'll find that the market has some clear distinctions, including high-end merchandise, middle-range options, and a low tier as well. You can start in more easily and look forward to room for growth.

3. Amazon.

While this massive jungle of products is the de facto standard for online sales, what you're looking for with this search is customer reviews. What are people saying about the current leaders in your product line? Each 5-star review can help you understand what your future clients value, while every 1-star rant let you know what pain-points and wished-for aspects could set your line apart from the competition.

4. SpyFu.

While the first three sites are household words, this service is a little less well-known. SpyFu specializes in tracking top keywords and advertising channels. You can find out what successes and failures your competitors have already gone through. Then you can make the most of their lessons-learned.

5. AHREFS.

This is another focused web service, this time concentrating on which websites various competitors link to and have inbound links from. They boast the largest index of live backlinks, with an update every 15 minutes on the approximately 4 billion web pages that are the WWW top set.

With this market analysis in hand, Brian recommends going forward with micro-testing, as well as deploying your ecommerce site. At this point, you have another big question in front of you — which ecommerce platform should you use?

John Hawthorne has posted an excellent survey of 10 leading ecommerce tools that are a) free, and b) open-source. This means you can download, launch, and start connecting your client base to your awesome product — without the stress of going into the red on Day One.

  • Magento Community Edition - high functionality requires some technical aptitude
  • osCommerce - veteran platform with fewer bells/whistles, but more community support
  • OpenCart - simple, easy, quick on the server; not as many features
  • Spree Commerce - a newer system with a flexible, modular setup, but less plugins or support
  • PrestaShop - offers a wide variety of templates and modules, but the core system isn't customizable
  • Zen Cart - a great community to answer questions and good inventory options, but the default package requires some work for a professional look
  • WooCommerce - a WordPress-only ecommerce platform, but mobile-friendly, scalable
  • JigoShop - quick setup for WordPress sites, but you have to enter every item as a unique product
  • Drupal Commerce - robust product administration and third-party integrations, but limited to use with Drupal sites
  • VirtueMart - constrained to the Joomia platform, but with unlimited product listing, easy use for shoppers, and good SEO optimization

 

Whichever ecommerce platform seems best for your growing company, you'll want to look ahead to software that can support you as company operations get more profitable and more complex. The modular, flexible aspects of these top ecommerce services highlights how customizable software can be a great asset. This holds true even more for business operations software. Ideally your software solution will address accounting, CRM, ERP, and support mobile staff across PC and Mac systems. It's a lot to promise, but aACE 5 delivers on all counts. Look ahead to your future today.

"aACE has also worked well with 3rd party software we run on the web and integrated our online store with the aACE program. We are very happy with the product and service we've received from the aACE team!" ~ Sabrina Fabian, The John Birch Society
Enhance Your FileMaker Custom App Development with Free Webinars

Enhance Your FileMaker Custom App Development with Free Webinars

July 19, 2017Posted inFileMaker Platform

The most helpful support for a task is often seeing someone else demonstrate how to handle the situation. Whether it's changing a car headlight, optimizing smartphone settings, or mixing up the perfect chocolate mousse, seeing an example can help us feel more confident in our abilities and results.

With that value in mind, FileMaker has provided an expansive set of video demonstrations for free.

On the webinars page, you can find hour-long training segments on topics for beginners and pros, and for any stage of the development process. The videos are tagged to help you quickly locate a certain topic, or you can browse through the full listing. Titles include:

  • Meet FileMaker 16
  • Introduction to FileMaker Custom App Development
  • FileMaker Training Series Basics: Design Session
  • Idea to iPad - Project Tracker
  • Tips and tricks using the FileMaker 16 Platform
  • FileMaker and QuickBooks
  • Essential Interaction Design Principles
  • Taking My FileMaker Solution Mobile

In addition to the recorded webinars, you can take part in live training sessions, including the popular presentation: Create Your First FileMaker Custom App in Minutes (Not Weeks). While these live webinars are not on-demand like the others, it's easy to register for the most convenient session.

This route for training forms an important part of the robust FileMaker support system. When you put the webinars into context with the Knowledge Base, FileMaker Community, and Partner program, you can understand the level of interest the company has in your success. No matter what your project is — creating mobile inventory tracking, upgrading your ecommerce functionality, or bringing your unique business experience into the perfect app — FileMaker builds your company.

 

Of course, FileMaker functionality goes well beyond creating single-use applications. As an example of how much this platform can accomplish, you can look at aACE 5. This business management software solution is a comprehensive, integrated accounting, CRM, and ERP package, with robust customization possibilities and full support on Mac and PC devices. aACE is designed to accelerate your business velocity through streamlined processes, automated tasks, and maximized visibility on company activity. And because it's built on FileMaker, connecting your personal apps to the overall system is a snap.

Learn more about today about how aACE 5 can take your FileMaker solution to the next level.

"I can say that using aACE actually helped us learn how to do business more professionally." ~ Jim Parker, President and Owner, Vacutherm Inc.
Six City Blocks Managed on a Twelve-Inch Screen—by FileMaker Go for iPad

Six City Blocks Managed on a Twelve-Inch Screen—by FileMaker Go for iPad

July 17, 2017Posted inFileMaker Platform

What do SXSW, the Brick Fest LEGO Fan Experience, and the Austin Game Conference all have in common? The Austin Convention Center. Plus the FileMaker-based digital solution that helps the conference center staff ensure each event is a success.

Before implementing FileMaker Go for iPad, the convention relied on paper forms and diagrams. Their processes worked, but they weren't streamlined. And when Joe Gonzalez, the convention center IT Services Manager, coordinated with Jeff Moore, his DBA, they knew they could do better.

Since FileMaker was already in place for the billing system, it was an easy choice to leverage that technology. With a few adjustments, the new work order system was ready for use in a matter of days. Equipped with iPads, the event staff now save time, labor, and money compared to when they had to travel back and forth for paper-based processes.

How much are they saving each year with FileMaker in place? $22,000. And the implementation effort was paid back within four months.

For more details, view the video about the Austin Convention Center's winning decision to leverage FileMaker.

 

Your particular workflows might not include setting up thousands of display booths each year. But whether your SMB focuses on professional services, light manufacturing, or wholesale distribution, FileMaker can assist. Custom-developed apps can pinpoint your business needs and also codify the unique expertise you've earned through experience.

Taking a step back, FileMaker can do even more for your company. For example, a comprehensive, integrated accounting/CRM/ERP suite can accelerate your business velocity. With streamlined processes, automated tasks, and optimal awareness of company activities, you can quickly be positioned for significant growth. To raise the stakes higher, you can gain the advantage of ecommerce integrations, mobile functionality, and cross-platform support.

What FileMaker-based product delivers all this goodness? aACE 5.

"The implementation was flawless and respectful of our need to continue operating. It couldn’t have gone better. Even though we had many systems to integrate, importing our data was easy and the entire process was smooth and professional. I’ve never experienced as easy an implementation of anything like I experienced with the aACE team." ~ Jim Parker, President and Owner, Vacutherm Inc.
Get Apps, Mentoring, and Pro Support from FileMaker Business Alliance

Get Apps, Mentoring, and Pro Support from FileMaker Business Alliance

July 12, 2017Posted inFileMaker Platform

July is the month for DevCon, where you can meet with hundreds of talented FileMaker developers. But even if you aren't able to attend the conference, you can still get the benefit of experienced coders on your customized software solutions.

The FileMaker Business Alliance (FBA) is a collection of qualified partners, all interested in making sure your projects succeed. And whatever level of support you need, there are skilled, dedicated partners ready to help:

DIY... with Support

If you're interested in creating your own specialized app but you don't want to crash into the walls as you get up to speed, the Idea to iPad bundle may be just what you need. Along with the software, you get a customer success manager who will match you with the FileMaker partner that's right for you. That partner will be able to provide mentoring and instruction fitted to your goals.

Just the Apps, Ma'am

If you just want to drop a FileMaker-based tool into place and get on with business, the FBA has you covered. They have created apps for tracking projects, invoicing, budgeting, tracking contacts, scheduling, organizing events, managing sales, allocating resources, accounting, conducting surveys, tracking inventory, managing content, tracking time, and more. In addition, they offer plug-ins, integrations, tools for development, and training packages. The pricing options start at free-to-use.

Hired Guns

For more intricate projects, the best route may be to bring in a talented professional who can gather requirements and craft a solution to meet your company's needs. The FBA certifies developers who offer expertise and experience in implementing best practices. You can review the checklist that all partners must satisfy, and also search for consultants in all regions of the globe and any industry.

The Path Best Traveled

It might not be clear at first whether developing a tool or hiring a consultant will be the best route for your needs. To shed some light on this decision, FileMaker also provides a short quiz to help evaluate whether your project would be best served by going it alone or finding a partner. Questions to guide your choice include the level of complexity, the required time frame, your level of technical know-how, and the amount of time you have for ramping up your FileMaker skills. With a few moments of reflection, you can feel confident in your approach.

Future Options

FileMaker is a future-thinking organization. After you have seen some coding done and completed some projects yourself, you can capitalize on your growing skills. As an FBA partner, you might feel best about paying it forward as you contribute your own solutions to the app listing. Or you might have a bright future helping other teams solve their needs with custom developed systems. Partnering with FileMaker also brings you exclusive discounts and training opportunities, such as FBA-only sessions at DevCon.

A smart decision about your custom developed solutions involves balancing needs and resources. There is always a point of diminishing returns on your time. Coding will only be the highest-value activity for a few citizen developers on your team. And instead of recreating the wheel, their time will be better spent creating tools for your unique needs. The rest of the system can come out-of-the-box as a comprehensive, fully integrated suite for accounting, CRM, and ERP: aACE 5. Built on FileMaker, this cross-platform solution for SMB business software handles most operational needs and can be easily customized to take care of the rest. Learn more today.

"The biggest benefit I have personally noticed is our in-house ability to further integrate aACE with our own systems and add new functionality as needed. The system is designed in a very intuitive and easy-to-understand way that allows us to push and pull data to and from aACE, providing the foundation for an even greater ROI throughout our organization as time goes on." ~ Doug Jacobs, President, Restylers' Choice
aACE Automates Operations for KNOCK Inc.

aACE Automates Operations for KNOCK Inc.

July 10, 2017Posted inSuccess Stories
We would highly recommend working with aACE. They are approachable and easy to work with. Their knowledge is very expansive in regards to how their software can work within your business environment.” -Lili Hall, President of KNOCK and Erin McCloskey, Director of Creative Services

Branded design is the core of KNOCK’s expertise. Their strategic design solutions have garnered acclaim from their peers and results for their clients, resulting in explosive growth. In 2007 they found that they found that they had outgrown their business management software and began looking for a solution that could keep up with the pace of their business. They almost immediately identified aACE as the right fit. It offered the comprehensive integration necessary to streamline operations and, importantly, had attractive and simple interfaces pleasing to the creative staff who would be required to use the software in order for the implementation to be a success.

CHALLENGES & aACE SOLUTIONS

Scalability

As a growing company with world-class clients, KNOCK needed software that would work for them now and in the future. Having outgrown their previous solution, they were looking for something that would grow with them as they continued to expand. aACE is designed to support up to several hundred concurrent users, ensuring that it will grow along with your business.

Customization

KNOCK needed a solution that could be customized to their unique workflow. Because aACE is a “platform within a platform,” it can be easily adapted to meet the needs of almost any business.

All-in-One Solution

The team at KNOCK needed a comprehensive solution that would streamline their operations and encompass their entire work process, from time and expense management to purchasing, invoicing, accounting, sales processes, and beyond. aACE provides an all-in-one solution for CRM, ERP, order fulfillment, jobs, accounting, and much more.

Ease of Use

With staff at all levels of technological skill, KNOCK needed software that was as streamlined and clear as their designs. aACE is designed to be clean, concise, and highly user-friendly.

RESULTS

Increased Efficiency

aACE covers every step in KNOCK’s work process with custom solutions built to fit their business. It has a comprehensive Customer Relationship Management section that leads into prospective customers becoming real customers. From that point you can take an order from start to finish by capturing deadlines, resources and material costs spent on a project, as well as extensive accounting functions.

Enhanced Usability

Because aACE is so user-friendly, KNOCK’s whole staff was able to embrace it regardless of their technical skill level. As a design agency, they appreciate aACE’s smooth and concise interface, and that it doesn’t take much training to understand how aACE fits into KNOCK’s work environment.

Streamlined Operations

aACE allows KNOCK to conduct all of their processes in one simple software solution, allowing them to have a 360° view of their business at all times.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Here's what KNOCK’S President, Lili Hall, and Director of Creative Services, Erin McCloskey, have to say about the results of the aACE software implementation:

"aACE has helped us streamline many of our processes. We have a snapshot of each project with many of the important details being on one screen. We instantly see our profitability within our projects and have specific numbers or data regarding many aspects of our business. We would highly recommend working with aACE to anyone."

Click here to download the full case study.

Do you or someone you know need a change from one-size-fits-all ERP tools? Check out our videos to learn more about whether aACE business management software for Mac and PC can help accelerate your company.

FileMaker Provides the Platform and Guidance for Customized Apps

FileMaker Provides the Platform and Guidance for Customized Apps

July 5, 2017Posted inFileMaker Platform

We've talked before about how using FileMaker gets you more than just an outstanding resource for creating apps tailored to your unique situation. The community support from other developers around the globe is top-notch. The app showcase helps you think outside the box. And the upcoming DevCon conference gives you extensive opportunities for training, mentoring, and networking.

But wait.… There's more.

FileMaker has also created a trove of free materials to help you succeed. From reports to webinars and from ebooks to basic apps to customized solutions, the Custom App Resources page can give you a valuable head start.

The core of these offerings are the fundamental guides to planning, creating, and deploying a custom app. These three guides give you a hands-on approach for developing precise tools to streamline your work. The step-by-step approach helps you identify usage needs, document requirements, map data sources, create data relationships, design layouts, and share your apps securely.

Key reports are also freely available to expand your vision of what's possible or to articulate to others the value of custom apps. The 451 Report analyzes how SMBs can benefit from the Idea to iPad Bundle. The G2 Crowd Fall 2016 Report ranks FileMaker as the leader in rapid application development software. The 2017 State of the Custom App Report puts the idea of custom apps into the concrete circumstances of today’s business environment, showing how citizen developers add value to their company.

eBooks that you can download offer some useful alternatives to the basic business tools. If you use Intuit QuickBooks, you can discover ways a FileMaker app will prevent errors and reduce expenses, while also increasing productivity. Likewise, if Microsoft Access was the starting point for your company, you can learn how to upgrade to cross-platform options with strong mobility, sharing, and reporting. For concerns with inventory management, FileMaker also offers an ebook to address how you can solve these kinds of headaches.

Finally, for service businesses that prefer an all-in-one package, you can download the free toolkit. This combines an ebook, webinar, basic app, and more, all designed to make it easy for you to increase efficiencies. When your company is streamlined, productivity, customer satisfaction, and profits increase naturally.

Check out the fantastic resources that FileMaker has provided to start your journey with custom apps or to speed your progress along.

When you reach the point that one-off apps aren't bringing you the same level of benefits as before, it's time to start thinking about integrating your tools into a comprehensive solution. Built on FileMaker, aACE 5 makes it simple to link your customized tools into a single cross-platform system. Most accounting, CRM, and ERP needs are provided by aACE 5, straight out of the box. But the flexible customization options make it possible to codify your companies unique expertise and tools into a tailored solution. Learn more today.

"Our business evolves and changes. As we change, aACE is flexible enough to evolve with us and help us to improve the automation and efficiency of what we do, essentially releasing us to make more money from our business." ~ Peter Osbourne, President, Special EFX Ltd.
Brian Sanchez Selected as Technical Editor for Learn FileMaker Pro 16

Brian Sanchez Selected as Technical Editor for Learn FileMaker Pro 16

July 3, 2017Posted inArticles, Articles and White Papers, FileMaker Platform

A key member of aACE Software's R&D team, Brian Sanchez, has been selected as the technical editor for one of the top FileMaker instructional texts. Learn FileMaker Pro 16 supports beginners and advanced experts. The author, Mark Munro, has worked with FileMaker since 1988 and is passionate about helping people leverage software so they can concentrate on more valuable tasks. And Brian Sanchez's expertise aligns perfectly with this effort.

Brian is a FileMaker developer, a consultant with wide experience, and a founding member of aACE Software. For nearly 20 years, he has used FileMaker to create custom apps for inventory tracking, digital catalogs, asset management, and pricing. His clients range from catering businesses to TV casting agencies to European vacationing services. The development philosophy at the core of Brian's work is to build systems with deep integrity. He crafts code and architecture so that the client only needs to call back when they’re ready to upgrade.

FileMaker itself has been awarded as the top software for rapid application development for SMBs. You can leverage this platform to empower your staff as citizen developers, allowing them to easily create the perfect tools for their workflows.

Get the combined expertise of two FileMaker gurus to enhance your customized apps: preorder Learning FileMaker Pro 16 on Amazon now.

 

Likewise, you can maximize the effectiveness of your FM personal apps with a fully integrated accounting-CRM-ERP software solution provided by aACE 5.

Yahoo Finance Highlights Redd Remedies Switch from NetSuite to aACE

Yahoo Finance Highlights Redd Remedies Switch from NetSuite to aACE

June 28, 2017Posted inNews

Yahoo Finance last month directed attention to aACE Software's newest client, Redd Remedies. This national-level coverage is a welcome salute for aACE 5, a fully integrated, cross-platform, business management software for Mac and PC.

As described by Dan Chapman, the Founder and CEO of Redd Remedies, the interest in the transition stemmed from conversations with other nutrition company leaders. They had discussed frustrations with current software. Mr. Chapman's friend recommended aACE as a solution for all accounting, CRM, ERP needs.

Of course the team at Redd Remedies conducted due diligence. Before moving forward, they learned more about aACE's features and benefits from the company website, as well as by requesting a free, live demonstration of the solution.

When they saw what aACE could do for their company, the Redd Remedies team's next concern was how quickly they could implement it. This urgency was not only to gain the aACE advantage for their business, but also to avoid another hefty annual subscription fee from their previous software package. They needed the transition to happen within two months, and the aACE team made it happen.

Several of the Redd Remedies team have shared their enthusiasm for the new aACE system:

"aACE allows endless drill-down capabilities, exposing the entire chain of a single transaction. The biggest asset to our company has been the automated workflows, especially in our customer care and shipping departments. Also, the shipping integration has helped reduce picking errors and assist in a speedy pick-and-pack process." ~ Tiffany Barmann
"I love the search features in aACE. They’re pretty great!" ~ Jennifer Snow
"With aACE 5 I can pull up the appropriate rate card and change the pricing on all the products in one window. That’s a HUGE time saver! Overlapping promotions are simpler to manage. I also like that I can affect the same change on multiple accounts with one or two simple steps. The more I use this program, the more I love it!" ~ Joni Jarnagin

One of the aspects of aACE that was most valuable to Redd Remedies was the easy customization. Built on the FileMaker platform, aACE can be tailored to a company's specific workflows, allowing them to develop processes based on their own needs and expertise instead of how their software company thinks they should work. For Redd Remedies, aACE was able to accommodate most of their needs right out of the box. The remaining details consisted of unique expertise that the company had gathered and developed during their years in business experience. aACE's easy customization allowed them to codify those hard-won insights into a comprehensive tool that leverages their in-house expertise.

For more details about the Redd Remedies transition from NetSuite to aACE 5, read our success story. And to learn more about how you can increase your business velocity with aACE, browse our site for product details or study the 5-star reviews from our current clients.