As we approach the end of 2014 and jump into 2015, CEOs and company management of small manufacturing enterprises must think farther out than the next year. Preparing for and anticipating growth of your company is perhaps the most important responsibility. Achieving growth and sustaining profitability requires insight to make sound business decisions. Assessing your technology and processes is a first step in ensuring you have the means to make those decisions with confidence and an avenue to implement them effectively.
So what should company management consider when looking at a technology and processes? Small businesses typically run a much leaner operation than larger corporations so avoiding a long, costly implementation process is the key. No two businesses run exactly alike, so consider all aspects of any technology upgrade. Some important things to consider in assessing how technology will enable your growth include:
- Was it developed specifically for small to mid-sized manufacturers?
- How well does the production and accounting systems integrate?
- Will it help you automate processes? Will it free up time for your team to better service your customers while adding additional capacity to handle more?
- Will it provide you with enough detailed information to put you in a position to make the best decisions for your company?
- Will non-technical users be able to customize the software to fit their roles?
- Is it Cloud-based, or will you be looking at significant implementation time and cost?
Consider these questions. You’ll be much better equipped to assess where you are now, where you want to be, and how technology can help grow your business in harmony with your overall long-term strategic plan.
Planning may not prevent negative results, but it can help you more proactively address them as you work through this process. Taking a proactive approach with your organization will position you and your organization for the best chance of success during the implementation phase and get team buy-in from the beginning.
Not enough time in the day? Resources already stretched? Let us know how we can help you get on track, accomplish long or short-term initiatives, and supplement your internal capacity.
The post Assess Whether or Not Your Technology is Aligned With Your Growth Plans appeared first on Anders CPAs.