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Friday 19 September 2008, 5:25 PM
Here comes the Small Business blog
But it can also throw up a whole new handful of problems. For a start, there's working out what exactly would give you the boost you're looking for. Then there's identifying what software and devices fit those needs best. Vendors are eager to jump in and suggest -- of course they are -- but they're maybe more attuned to bigger enterprises and not as flexible as they could be in recognising the particular demands of small businesses.
Next week we're launching a group blog dedicated to IT for small business, called Small Business blog (it actually took us a while to come up with that name -- don't ask.) We hope that by sharing experiences and ideas, you'll be able to get a better picture of what you need and what you could be doing with tech.
So give us your war stories, share your problems and suggest solutions. Just make sure to check the box that says "Small business blog" when you make your post. It's hard for smaller companies to connect with each other, yet your peers are the best people to give you advice. This is where you can tap into all that knowledge.
PreviousComments on this post
Look forward to posting the startup tech kit bag you might need these days and how it's so hard to cut through all the stuff one can be offered
Utz
This comment has been deleted at the users request
This is superb news. I've just made the leap to self emlpoyment so I will be participating.
One of my favourite topics... a) because I work in a small business (70 employees) and b) spend most of my time talking to small businesses.. if I had a tenner for every time this topic comes up.....
Here are a few starters...
- At what stage does a small business genuinely need a person / role devoted to IT?
- Why do vendors continue to over promise on technology for small businesses? resulting in a cautious, veering to sceptical view of IT amongst business owners...
- How far should consultants and third party solution providers be entrusted with IT advice and buying for small businesses?
- How far are vendors guily of 'talking tech' rather than 'talking benefit' when they explain their latest whizz-bang development?
- Why have great ideas for managing IT like ASP, SaaS, Hosted Services, VoIP failed to live up to expectations?
- Finally - mobility is a very big issue - I suspect contributors to this blog maybe be preaching to the converted (no harm in that) - but what about all the small business owners who are yet to believe the benefits of mobile email, mobile broadband, remote working - what does the industry need to do to make sure every business who would benefit - can benefit.....
I look forward to some heated discussion!
Having been involved with small businesses in one form or another for 20+ years, I'm still consistently surprised by the mistakes small businesses make when assessing/buying business applications.
A few examples to get the debate going:
1) Why do so few small businesses scope out exactly what they need from a business application (Accounts, CRM, MRP, ERP etc) before they go shopping? A key decision is usually made on what they "feel" best about and they're perceived view of the market i.e. they start with the applications they know are out there, rather than a key list of requirements.
2) Why do so few of them scope out their complete business and it's requirements rather than buy piecemeal bits and pieces and then spend a fortune trying to make them all co-exist?
3) Why do so few of them insist on a fixed price/fixed scope implementation and then complain endlessly about how much it's costing them midway through with no end (to the cost) in sight?
4) Why do so few of them take ownership of their new business application (even though it's agreed upfront that they will assign someone to the project) and then complain at the end that they don't know the system and are being charged for someone to run it for them?
5) Why do so few consider the issue of scalability so they don't have to go through it all over again in a few years time?
All these issues and more up for discussion...
Ian
Well, it's great to see all the interest in taking part in the discussion! Just to let you all know, the Small Business blog is now live and open for anyone interested to put blog posts in. You'll see a checkbox at the bottom of the page where you write posts--just click on that, and your post will appear both in your own blog and in the group blog. (You can also go back and edit old posts to add them to the group blog, if appropriate.)
Anyway, I look forward to the discussion--it promises to be a good one!
Reply to Ian's Comment.
1) Pre-determine Requirements:
It involves the use of expensive auditors.
No manager would have the guts to have the whole company process to be based on what he thinks is best. Mainly because market evolution can lead to process updates.
Currently there is a tool which helps map, review and enhance your current ERP (Finance, Payroll, Fixed Assets, Project, Purchases, Sales, Inventory) and CRM processes in view of an ERP Implementation tools, and the beta version will be out on August 15th and online on September 1st 2009. Pop me an email if you would like to review it.
2) Scope of the implementation:
No one is aware of all the company's processes. In most cases Finance only cares about AP, AR, Bank Recon, FA, Payroll & Reconciliation & Consolidation tasks.
3) Fixed bids& Contractual deadlines:
I think that Suppliers refuse fixed bids because the customers often change their mind (or FD) during implementation. Contractually, fixed scope and bid (Predetermined timeframes, functions and budget) is the only way to do any implementation.
Someone please pass the message!
4) Ownership:
I sense that you have been implementing many a ERP system.
Only experienced consultants complain about this.
We have to understand that an implementation also consists of change, the psychological aspect of the implementation is often forgotten. Considering the workload is important. Sometimes consultants beleive that all must stop and adopt the 'All eyes on me' attitude. It's not the consultant's fault, he/she's onsite to provide value and make things move. On the other side, the Sales team might be in the busiest period (So often the case), the finance team has their month end to close and are requested to provide management reports, and finally anyone left is too busy running around doing what they imperatively HAVE to do.
Hence the importance of choosing WHEN to start an implementation and when to close it.
5) Scalability:
Meaning the possibility of the ERP system to adapt to new requirements or change in processes. Altering processes could be troublesome, since the system may have been setup and scripted to meet a pre-defined requirement. Adding integrated third party applications could cause a problem at times of upgrade. Things to consider: Integration vs built-in addon. I would vote for the second alternative.
All the best,
Wawa
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