MES – one sexy buzzword. Do you know what it means?

Maximum efficiency with as much profitability as possible are the main reasons why organizations decide to automate business processes and digital software solutions that easily solve complex problems. The fact is – the optimization of resources (materials, time, people) is needed on all levels and in all activities. The same is in production! That is why numerous employers reach for the MES – manufacturing execution system.

# MES – manufacturing execution system

If you are losing profit because of incorrect information on the supply, delays, irregular timing, or lengthy record keeping, then MES is just what you need. MES – manufacturing execution system is a software system that manages and oversees production processes, i.e., turning raw materials into final products. MES tracks all production phases in real-time, from order to delivery. That way, companies have maximum efficiency, while tracking all activities and delivering data.

Although it exists for more than 30 years, many still can’t agree on the term MES. In 1997, MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Association International) defined 11 core MES functions, some of which are not directly linked to production. They are:

• Distribution and the status of resources
• Document control
• Tracking products and their development
• Collecting data
• Performance analyses
• Coordination of production units
• Time management
• Process management
• Maintenance management
• Workforce management
• Quality management

# Integration with the ERP system

Levels of technology in an organization can be shown with the help of an automation pyramid. The level of management is at the top of that pyramid. Then underneath it comes the planning level, then the monitoring level, then the control level and then the biggest level we call production. In that biggest level, i.e., area there are machines, technology, sensors, and everything else they use in production. The control level is the one that drives the technology.

MES falls in the 4th level, looking from the bottom of the pyramid, i.e., the level of operative planning. That’s why it follows the whole process ‘under’ itself, and at the same time enables management to see what is exactly going on. ERP is at the top of the automatization pyramid. It enables connecting various business systems into a whole and thereby significantly simplifies and makes the business easier.

When you integrate ES with the ERP system, you get a string symbiosis that enables visibility, control, monitoring and production optimization at the level which none of these systems could provide. In simpler terms, while the ERP tells you what you should produce, the MES guides you how.

For example…

One of the examples of integrating an MES system with an ERP system is ForTEM, a 100% integrated MES – manufacturing execution system specially designed for the production model Microsoft Dynamics NAV, that through a simple user interface enables data exchange in real-time, and a simpler and more efficient production. Forget about incorrect data on supply or tardiness of production records! With ForTEM, optimal production is at your fingertips.

# Conclusion

Besides simplifying the production cycle tracking, MES decreases costs and integrated with the ERP system, optimizes the business processes of the organization. Contact us and let us help you in your development and achieving all your business goals.

Do you need employer branding?

If you have a profile on LinkedIn, surely you have recently noticed more often posts like: „Meet Ivan! Ivan is an IT guy with many years of experience, a little dog, and a strong desire to run a marathon. It is our pleasure to welcome him to our team! “. The process of such posts is double-sided. That way, employees which are satisfied with the new employer, often post about it. If you want to be a company where everyone wants to work at, that receives hundreds of job applications and that attracts the most sought-after candidates, it is important to build good employer branding.

Employer branding – your link to success

In simpler terms, employer branding is the company’s reputation as a desirable place to work. It is based on the company’s values, corporative culture, and the way the employees are being treated. An interesting fact is that organizations have employer branding whether they are actively working on it or not. Employees talk about work at various places, and their perspectives and the way they are talking about the organization affect its perception as an employer.

In the job ads section “What do we offer?” there is never information on selling the products or services that a company has. New employees aren’t concerned about the reputation of your product or service, but your reputation as an employer. It is imperative to stay competitive, especially in the digital world where any candidate can research your company before sending in the application. Even 95% of people that look for a job say that the brand’s reputation affects their decision to apply. And 40% of people will change careers for the same salary if the other company has better employer branding.

How to build an employer brand?

Pictures of the workspace and team building, stories about the new employees, highlighting benefits like physical exams, and actively contacting candidates when applying for a job are just some of the tactics you can use in your employer branding strategy. However, not even the best post on LinkedIn or strategy on social media can help you in the long run if you are a bad employer and you don’t take care of your employees. A satisfied employee is the most important and the biggest ambassador of any brand.

Corporative culture as the cornerstone

Corporative culture is the heart of an organization and you can often recognize it very quickly. The way you were welcomed at a job interview, style of communication (more formal or friendly), the look of the office where the employees are, are their partitions between them, do they laugh and talk to each other, is there an authority figure among them, is there music or only silence… in the mere definition of the term, corporative culture is a collection of views, values and behaviors of all members of an organization, and you can feel it relatively quickly inside an organization.

It is important for both the company and the employees to find a ‘perfect fit, i.e., a person that will fit into the corporative culture of the organization, regardless of the type of the organization. If the culture suits the employee, he/she will be more satisfied and thus more productive. Employer branding helps with all that.

From a ‘yes man’ to ‘you’re a friend’

Today, many would call the former corporative culture strict, although it still exists in some organizations. Sometimes, the communication between the ‘top’ and the employees was poor, and employees had much less freedom in the workspace. With technological changes and the appearance of automation, the corporative culture changed. Today, millennials appreciate comfort in the workspace far more, transparency, clear and bidirectional communication between all members. Also teamwork and creating a connected community, social responsibility of the company, the possibility of additional education, migrations within the company and promotions.

The influence of the corona virus

The pandemic that happened recently has also contributed to changes in the motivation in many workers. Although business trips have made a big comeback, many have replaced office work with working from home. The pandemic has changed the market. Working from home has become a very popular option when finding a job.

Besides, the perspective of work has also changed in many people and some other values have surfaced. In October 2021, out of 3500 employees from around the world, even 65% of them had stated that they have questioned the meaning of work in their lives, and 56% of them have expressed the desire to contribute to society more. This information tells us that people today don’t value only the salary. They want to feel appreciated and contribute to something bigger than themselves.

Employee comes first

With the new generation coming to the labor market, the situation is going to change even more. Employer branding and human resources (HR) in companies are more important than ever. For the employees to grow and develop, and consequently be satisfied, they need to be provided with all the necessary conditions for working in the office and at home. You need to simplify the business processes, ensure easy document management and make it possible for them to handle all the data. They need to be able to analyze as quickly and as efficiently as they can.

The conclusion would be that organizations today, must, more than ever before, value their employees, invest in them, and maintain positive long-term relationships. You don’t want them to leave, but rather to spread a positive image of the brand with positive online reviews or by word of mouth!

The most important steps of creating the optimal procurement strategy

It is said that good planning is half the work done and numerous examples from the business world can verify that. As one of the most important business activities, planning includes thinking ahead and setting goals – where do want to go and what do we want to accomplish. To realize all those goals, you need a good strategy. In the case of acquisition in an enterprise, it is called the procurement strategy.

What signifies an procurement strategy?

Procurement can be defined as a business function that takes care of the supply chain, i.e., supplying the enterprise with materials, services, information, and other resources needed for the business to operate. Procurement strategy is a defined plan on how to organize the acquisition process optimally, i.e., how to realize set goals of the enterprise quickly and with as less cost as possible. Considering it affects the results of the enterprise and the eventual success, creating the acquisition strategy should be taken seriously and thoughtfully.

2) Set clear and measurable goals

In defining any kind of strategy, it is important to know what the main goals are. Goals must be clearly set and measurable. If you have measurable goals and clear results, you can control the process and analyze its success.

Regular tracking of the acquisition process is necessary for realizing optimal results. If at any moment there is a situation where you assess that there is no room for improving and bettering the process, do the initial analysis again, starting from the very beginning. Acquisition strategy will be successful as much as the process of evaluating goals and results is successful.

3) Define supplier communication patterns

Good relations with suppliers are key for the acquisition process, as is for getting results. Creating a relationship based on trust is one of the main tasks for all those involved in acquisition management. Acquisition strategy must have defined patterns of communication with the suppliers, which means that inside the enterprise, you must have a person responsible for it. The ones responsible should be aware of what is expected of them and what tactics will be used.

Relationships and communication should be regularly maintained, goals should be precisely expressed, and results should be tracked and shared with suppliers. Collective analysis can lead to new ideas and even better relationships, aimed at mutual satisfaction.

4) Choose the appropriate technology

When the procurement strategy is well designed and followed by all the employees in procurement, the whole process of acquisition should be easier. However, if you don’t have the right technology, all the effort put into planning won’t be enough for great results. Acquisition employees must have a good tool that will enable them to manage the whole process of acquisition from one place, from goods requirements, proceedings, and services to contract applications. Procurement management solution enables employees to order the necessary products and services, having control over who orders what. The whole process is then easier and quicker, it lowers the possibility for error and optimizes resource management.

5) Focus on the end user

As we’ve stated before, the acquisition planning and the strategy-creating processes are based on realizing goals. Logically, before you direct your attention to supplies, the supply chain, interpersonal communication, and the acquisition process, think about the end-user of your products or services. And finally, client satisfaction and customer experience have never been more important.

Acquisition exists for the sake of fulfilling users’ wishes and needs, so its advisable to devote enough time to analysing behaviors, demographic features and clients’ buying habits.

Plans are nothing, planning is everything. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Planning is a process, and procurement strategy is just a part of it. Although it is important to have defined steps and tactics, by no means should you limit yourself. Flexibility and adaptability to new situations is very important for staying competitive in the market. Always follow what is happening, always be informed and always surround yourself with partners you can trust and who can help you in the business process if there is a hiccup along the way. Good luck!

5 foundations for creating a successful small enterprise

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises make up for even 99% of all enterprises in Europe, and they secure 2/3 of workplaces in the private sector. Small and medium sized enterprises made up 60.3% of the total income and about ¾ of employed people, in Croatia in 2019. In the challenging and pandemic year of 2020, the number of small enterprises has grown even more. All of this tells us that SME make up for a significant part in the whole market. That is exactly why it is important to know the foundations that a small successful enterprise is based on.

What is a small enterprise?

Definitions of criteria for companies are created based on the number of employees and yearly business. A small enterprise has „less than 50 employees and yearly business, i.e., balance under 10 million EUR “. In comparison, a micro enterprise has less than 10 employees and a yearly balance under 2 million euros. And a medium sized enterprise has less than 250 employees and a balance under 50 million or under 43 million euros.

Why are small enterprises being created?

The most common advantage of small enterprises is market adaptability to the demand and the conditions, i.e., the flexibility of the offer. Motivation is mostly found in security and independence. The person who is the enterprise’s founder is most commonly completely responsible for success. That means that there is a higher chance of earning more yourself in your independent enterprise than you would if you were an employee somewhere else. Everything is possible. That’s why entrepreneurs are more likely to take on risks and challenges. And are usually people that have leadership skills and are constantly motivated by the drive to succeed.

Foundations for a small successful enterprise

# Human resources

Big organizations have their own individual HR (human resource) departments that deal with choosing employees and their satisfaction. In small enterprises, that role is usually assigned to the entrepreneur him/herself. In the entrepreneurial sphere, choosing the right people for your business is of key importance. Although employees can’t usually be enticed by a big salary, a small enterprise has the advantage in the form of community and collectiveness. The business culture that is created through interpersonal relationships is a foundation for the success of a small enterprise and one of the most important links for further growth. Employees are your most crucial resource. So be sure to have that in mind when choosing your team.

# Project management

The coordination of activities in an enterprise is the foundation for progress and achieving goals, and it’s easier to realize that in a small, rather than a bigger enterprise. More control, easier flow of information and communication, but also fewer surprising situations are what make a solid organization possible. The results of project management depend on the person assigned to it, so it’s important to know what key characteristics of a successful project manager are.

# Marketing, services, sales

Regardless of the sector, your small enterprise is in, it always includes either selling or providing services. To get things rolling, it is necessary to start with quality marketing at the very beginning. Considering that your goal is to optimize cost and increase income, give yourself enough time to develop a good marketing strategy.

Developing a good customer experience, in the beginning, is also very important for the success of a small enterprise. Buyers’ experience is more important today than ever before and one positive reaction can launch you towards success, and a bad one can destroy you completely. Personalized marketing and 24/7 service are only small steps you need to take to amaze your users at every step.

# Accounting and book-keeping

Realization of income means that you are on the right path, but in small enterprises, more earnings come with more responsibilities. That is why it is important to set up a good foundation in the enterprise’s accounting and book-keeping, to give yourself a helping hand as much as possible.

If you are a beginner in the entrepreneurial waters, there are two ways to alleviate stress. By hiring an outside service or by hiring an experienced person. Unfortunately, both options are too expensive in the beginning, so you can make things easier with simple software and digital solutions. There are various business solutions that you can implement into your enterprise for an affordable budget and simplify your start in business. Electronic invoice approval, contracts management, supply approval, easier payroll calculation when your enterprise starts to grow, tracking stock or tracking the supply plan and the budget are just some of them.

# Developmental methods

Business development is based on business intelligence (BI). Business intelligence or BI comprises of methods, technologies, and strategies that different companies use to analyze, collect and distribute data and information “. Business intelligence enables a clear display of complex business metrics and data, decreasing cost and invested time. One of the most well-known tools is the Microsoft Power BI which is integrated with a well-known ERP system and enables an increase in success and efficiency. We advise you to ask around and consider using it.

A wind at your back

Small enterprises, together with micro and medium-sized enterprises make the pillar of Europe’s economy. The development of entrepreneurship, progress, innovations, competitiveness and hiring is important to the whole economy; thus, the success of MSP is extremely important. Believe in yourself and don’t waver in the face of initial challenges. It takes years, a good plan, and learning from experience to build a successful small enterprise. Good luck!

Which company function will be the most important in 2022?

As one of the main functions of many businesses, procurement has become an important factor of the success and achieving goals. In the global market where the competition is getting fiercer, where buyers are questioning every price and want to know the price/quality ratio, where it’s possible to get information at the moment, and where a product can be found in hundreds of places, acquisition needs to be carefully monitored and every step of the process planning.

Procurement from A to Z

Procurement was mentioned for the first time in Charles Babbage’s book „On the Economy of Machinery and Manufactures” from 1832. Even back then, the computer pioneer, as being referred to, suggested that every business needs “a man for materials” in each sector separately or somebody who will “choose, buy and deliver all the necessary articles”.

Procurement today is considered a business function and a special activity that takes care of supplying the materials, equipment, services, energy, and information necessary for proper functioning and realizing the company’s goals. In effect, services of procurement include observing and researching the market which involves planning – what must be acquired, in what amounts, and at what cost. Sending inquiries, assessing the suppliers’ bids, and negotiating the price is what follows. Relationships with suppliers are very important and they affect the development in the long run, so both sides always put effort into being affirmative and remaining positive.

Following the negotiations, comes choosing the best offer, ordering, and tracking the deadlines. After that- coordinating – which is the hardest part in affect because it depends on many outside factors. Coordinating is usually done via mail, messages, and calls, so many employees in acquisition get lost in a sea of information. After an agreement is achieved, comes the packages admission, control of invoices and the stock, and eventual claims. Obviously, the whole process, the stock, and finances must be monitored and recorded.

Procurement is not included in your goals for this year? You should reconsider.

At the beginning of each year, sometimes quarterly, in many companies plans are being made and goals are written down – conditions we want to achieve, maintain or prevent. The goals of procurement can be summarized as supplying the companies with the right materials, in the right amounts, in the right place at the right time, from the most affordable source, with minimum risk and the lowest cost. This is crucial for optimal functioning. Especially in today’s world when everyone is in a hurry with transportation and supply.

The purpose of the procurement is the realization of set goals. How to achieve it? The most important pillars of acquisition are efficacy, i.e., effectiveness and frugality. Successfully running procurement means that the company has optimal condition of supply at any moment. And all the necessary means with as less as a possible investment, i.e., cost.

Lower or higher in the hierarchy?

To optimize the process, it is important that the procurement is treated as a significant part of the company’s organizational structure. As being hierarchically equal, procurement cooperates with other functional units such as production, sales, marketing, finances, etc. Procurement employees should be qualified and motivated, be familiar with the technology they are working with but also with their own internal processes inside the company. Furthermore, procurement must be integrated into the decision-making process and plans inside the company for it to be effective. Think of a situation where the company’s management plans to open new subsidiaries, and the procurement hasn’t been informed until the very end? The results would be devastating.

Instant speed: from waiting for five days to getting instant information

Many things have become much quicker with the presence of the Internet and so has procurement. Procurement used to last for five days minimum. Because of the time, it took for the documents to travel from the buyer to the supplier. Today, there is no shipping cost and sending documents via e-mail is almost instantaneous, and the process is automated. Still, mistakes occur.

Electronic procurement has more levels. The first one is looking for and exchanging information with supply. The advantage here is for those that have fast, responsive internet sites with clear information. Seeing as time is money and people don’t want to wait for answers for too long, sometimes having good customer support is an important factor.

The second step is implementing procurement activities via an e-catalog, direct ordering, e-acquisition, or an online auction through e-mails. This step is where most mistakes are made. Information, calculations, tables, and plans often change which sometimes leads to bigger problems and unplanned costs, especially when a lot of people are included in the process. Verbal answers or deals made through e-mails are not a good solution for companies that have a well-developed acquisition process.

Luckily, there are systems that provide easier procurement management and enable you to have internal control at any moment over who, what and when is something being ordered. Tracking the approval status can decrease human error and with that, wrong supplies with unplanned costs.

The third step of e-acquisition is cooperation between the company’s units to optimize the process, decrease cost, and for the sake of the success of the company, which is the end goal.

Better market and business position

Procurement greatly affects a company’s business position in the market, its reputation, and the complete branding by maintaining competitiveness, linking companies with outside partners, choosing a good quality product, and leveling prices. That ultimately leads to higher income and better success for the company through the satisfaction of the end-user. That is exactly why it is important that procurement management be perceived as an important and significant task. Also, that planning, strategies, and procurement policies are something that every company should be working on.

How to recognize burnout and prevent it in time?

In a fast-paced world where ‘“I must do this“ is constantly on our minds, it is no wonder that the word “stress“ follows. It occurs almost as a saying, a shadow that follows us, the cause and consequence of everything that’s happening to us. We prescribe our mental and physical state to that one thing – stress. And what are the consequences when stress at work grows to levels when we can’t handle it anymore? That’s when burnout happens.

Burnout – a modern day disease

The term burnout was explained in the 70s by an American psychologist Herbert Freudenberg, as a way of describing the consequences that occur because of being overly exhausted physically and mentally. In Croatia, it is also referred to as the burnout syndrome, described in layman terms as ‘bursting at the seams’. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a “syndrome that appears because of chronic stress in the workplace, that hasn’t been dealt with”.

If you are wondering how to know and how to recognize burnout, there are three main symptoms according to the WHO:

1. A feeling of exhaustion or lack of energy
2. Mentally disassociating from work and having negative feelings regarding your own career
3. Decreased professional productivity

Research conducted on American workers last year has shown that around 2/3 of employees had burnout, triggered by sudden changes in the work environment, by being pressured by deadlines and tasks, and the uncertainty regarding the pandemic and the political climate. In the UK, the situation is even worse, where about half of the employees experience burnouts, and the research also shows that the chances for burnout occurring are the highest at the age of 32.

Types of burnouts

According to Dr. Maslach, there are three types of burnout syndromes: individual (high personal goals, professionalism, the inability to say ‘no’, unrealistic expectations, insecurities), interpersonal (negative relationships at work and at home, bullying, the feeling of not being accepted and appreciated at work) and an organizational burnout (too much workload, unreal deadlines, poor organization).

Burnout doesn’t just appear out of thin air, it is a consequence of being exposed to very intense pressure for a long time. And the duration of that exposure is the biggest difference between stress and burnout, the latter being the most critical one. If sometimes you feel nervous because of a work task or mentally drained at the end of a week, then it’s stress. However, if you have reached a level where you don’t want to, you can’t or you don’t care about going to work because you “simply don’t care about anything”, then it’s burnout.

Posted workers and calculating payroll – part 2

We recently wrote about posted workers and about the process that you as an employer must go through if you send employees to work in another country. To make the story complete, we bring instructions on what to look out for when it comes to calculating payroll.

Posted workers

In short, a posted workers are people that work for their company and offer services in another country for a certain period, but during that work remains in the statutory insurance system of the home country (in this case the Croatia).

Posting a worker is always temporary and during that time, the worker is employed by his/her domestic company.

To get A1 Certificates from HZMO posting mustn’t be longer than two years. And the person mustn’t be posted as a substitution for another worker. Furthermore, the legislation of the home country (in this case Croatia) has to be applied for the person at least one month before posting. Secondly, the employer must regularly perform activities in the foreign country where the worker is being posted.  Finally, both the worker and employer are in direct contact during the posting period.

According to Labour Law, (NN 93/14, 127/17, 98/19, the employee must give the worker a written employment contract or a written confirmation where the duration of posting, working hours, free days, currency in which the worker will be paid and other benefits that the worker is entitled to while being posted, and the conditions of the worker’s return are stated.

Posted workers – what do you need to know as an employer – part 1

New busines challenges, but also opportunities have appeared with globalisation, connecting and market expanding. Posted workers, i.e., employees that are sent to work in other countries are becoming one of the growing popular challenges that companies face. What that is exactly and what do you need to know as an employer, find out in this blog.

Who are posted workers?

You can find the definition for a ‘posted worker’ in the provisions of the Contributions Act ((NN no. 84/08 to 106/18) in article 7, paragraph 13 that states:

„13.1. person insured based on employment that has been posted to work abroad by the employer, in accordance with regulations on statutory insurances, the EU social security coordination regulation and trans-national social security contracts during their stay abroad remains in the statutory insurance system of Croatia… .

13.2. person insured based on employment that has been posted to work abroad by the employer with the purpose of performing duties in a diplomatic mission or a consular office of Croatia .

13.3. person that has been posted by a foreign employer to work in a domestic company, in accordance with the EU social security coordination regulation and trans-national social security contracts, has an arranged status in the insurance of the employer’s country. “

That means...

Simply put, posted workers are people that work for their company and offer services in another country for a certain period. But they are still being inside the social security system of their home country. Posting a worker is always temporary and during that time, the worker is employed by his/her domestic company.

You can post workers in the case of having services contracts that the company enters with a company from some other country that is a member of the EU. Moreover, it is possible to post workers inside a group of companies, but at a department in another country. And finally – posting workers through a temporary employment firm where the firm assigns workers to a company that acts in another country form the EU. In all these instances the Directive 96/71/EZ on posting workers is applied.

Calculating payrolls for posted workers

Any income from work are elements determined as mandatory according to the national law or a contract and is applicable. They are applied in accordance with article 3 paragraph 8 of the Directive.

Calculating payrolls is a complex process, especially in the case of posted workers. Luckily, there are digital solutions that can make this process easier and decrease the need for tables, charts, calculations, and constant following of complex legal processes. HR.PAYROLL.APP   is designed for the Croatian market and it enables the visibility of all data, while being adjustable and appropriate for all companies, regardless of the size.

What to do after posting?

If you abided to all the rules and obligations prescribed by the Directive, you shouldn’t worry. Still, there are certain situations you must be ready for. After the posting period has ended, the country where the worker had been posted can ask of you (employer) certain documentation. These can be an employment contract, payslips, working hours records and proof of work incomes payment So you should have all those safely stored.

In case of problems or questions, there is the European Labour Authority (ELA) that is responsible for issues regarding posting workers. You can also get concise answers and information in the Practical guide on posting on the official sites of the European Union .

What is the business intelligence and how can it help your business?

Although the term BI exists for more than a century, only recent changes in business in the last year have grouped it with the most important strategic tools of various companies in 2020. Business intelligence is focused on following and predicting the movement of business trends with fast changes of the market and as such, is an extremely important factor of business success.

What is business intelligence?

“BI is a collection of methods, technologies, and strategies that various companies use to analyze, collect and distribute business data or information“

Business intelligence or BI is a collection of methods, technologies, and strategies that various companies use to analyze, collect and distribute business data or information. As a grouping of software tools and solutions, BI includes storing data (data Warehouse), using indicators of key performances (Key performance indicators, KPIs), benchmark (comparing with a competing company), data mining (Data Mining, DM), business analytics, etc. Considering that success today is not based only on management and material resources of organizations, but also on information and strategic planning, the goal of business intelligence is to increase success and business growth.

How does business intelligence work?

“BI gives a complete display of numerous collected data, but also a possibility for strategic planning and defining future business steps.“

How does business intelligence help in business?

A clear display of complex data can be a practical and efficient method of achieving business goals. Some of the benefits of using business intelligence in business are:

# It turns ‘nothing’ into ‘something’

What is a business meeting without graphs and statistics? In the business world, they always represent thinking and planning, and they have a reputation of being the main component for discussion in all business circles. Still, although data has a big role in all activities, there are moments when many people are not using their full potential. What use is a lot of data on your company’s activities if you don’t know how to interpret them? Business intelligence creates a visually clear collection of data from which everyone will be able to read exactly what is important, without wasting time and with fewer costs.

# Planned business decision making

The main function of business intelligence is to enable managers, leaders, and directors of companies to have structured data from one centralized source. Data analyses ensure a better insight into the ‘gangrenes’ and the main trump cards of business, and by doing so it allows better strategic and planned decision making. Tracking purchases of individual, existing buyers gives insight into selling trends, and knowing trends and habits enables making new strategies for creating potential selling opportunities and increasing profit. You should make plans based on facts, not guessing. The key to success lies in fully utilizing advantages, optimizing processes, and correcting shortcomings.

# Efficient management of finances and business processes

Business intelligence provides a clearer look into profit, loss and generally the flow of money in a company. Through tables, graphs, and detailed reports, you no longer must worry about manually writing reports. All the data is available at any moment, in real time. Besides, using business intelligence enables you to compare the current state of business with previous business processes more easily. The BI tool will warn you if a sudden anomaly in business occurs, and you will be able to share data between departments and with employees you want to share it with, without any risk.

# Improving the user service

Knowing your buyers is important for growth and development, and business intelligence provides exactly that. By collecting data and following trends of your permanent clients, a base of information that you can use when creating your marketing strategy is created. Adjust and optimize your business through developing relationships with clients based on known facts. If you consider that 73% of users love a certain brand because of having a good experience with the user service and that 85% of users is ready to pay more because of good user support, it is obvious why planning is useful.

#Increasing ROI

ROI or ‘return of investment’ is a ratio between profits and the total investment and is considered one of the most important measures of success of a business. Considering the ROI, a company gets a complete picture of profitability, but also guidelines for continuing or stopping some business activities. CRM systems that come with business intelligence give a clear picture of success in sales, client satisfaction and conversions themselves. Besides being fast and time-efficient, BI tools aim to increase ROI and decrease costs and provide analyses of collected data with a low chance of making wrong conclusions.

The question is – Yes or no?

One of the most known business intelligence tools is the Microsoft Power BI that can be integrated with a well-known modular Microsoft Dynamics NAV ERP system. Make business analyses easy for yourself through a simple display of metrics and speed up business while increasing efficiency. Contact us for implementing solutions that will align with the goals of your organization. We are here for you!