Combining a strong, on-premises foundation with cloud solutions delivers a variety of benefits. Whether that’s an improved product fit, the familiarity that comes from an upgrade within the family of products you already know, or the comfort that comes from keeping your most critical business data in house, companies who seek a cloud-ified business management system get it all.
Aligning Product Fit and Business Culture
In our recent blogs discussing the many routes to and the benefits of a hybrid cloud journey, the risks of an overzealous and rushed cloud decision, and the basic things to look for in an ERP solution, we talked a lot about how product fit is one of the most important things you need to focus on.
But as we discussed in an article discussing the false cloud vs. on-premise dichotomy and how a two-tier approach can help you get the best of both worlds, hybrid ERP can make life easier for decision makers and end users.
Innovation without Giving up Control
Not only does the decision to focus on a hybrid, two-tier approach provide you with the benefits of real-time information, streamlined business management, and innovation, it also does so without making tradeoffs. You still get the in-depth customization afforded to you by an on-premises system and the control over upgrades. You still get to keep your sensitive data in house.
But you also get to see the whole picture. For example, a cloud-based inventory management system will let you connect every warehouse and see how things are moving in real time. A mobile-enabled add-on will help you to access this information with ease, and this can all be connected and delivered in a way that makes life easier.
Combining the strong foundation provided by a well-known ERP solution like Sage 100cloud with cloud apps designed to accomplish the needs of today’s business can help you find the low-risk, high reward sweet spot that companies want when they approach an ERP decision.
The Right Fit for Your Company Culture
There are a variety of reasons that companies opt for a two-tier approach, but one of the most common drivers behind this is the cultural fit. Though many companies have benefitted from going all-in on the cloud, there are many instances in which the pace of change doesn’t align with their values.
Often, a company will get pushed heavily into a cloud product, only to find that things don’t seem to be as bright and shiny as promised.
For some, this could have been the result of bad internet infrastructure at a facility, resulting in a lack of access. For others, it’s a control thing. You may be okay with housing some information in a server farm on the other side of the country, but you don’t want to put your mission-critical data out there. Others still might not feel 100 percent confident in the business model or long-term viability of vendors founded in the past decade.
Understandably, those who are hesitant have the right to be. You are in control of your business decisions, and pragmaticism matters.
Cloud-Ify Your ERP: Business Processes Being Moved to the Cloud
As a company who works with both a born in the cloud product in Acumatica and a long-standing hybrid solution like Sage 100cloud, we are willing to help you get both what you want and what you need. Your decision is your own and we’re here to help you in any way you see fit.
That said, for those looking to stick with the familiarity and consistency of the Sage 100 product but want the freedom and connectivity of the cloud, a hybrid journey begins with Sage 100cloud. By going hybrid, you’re going to be able to connect more inputs to your ERP ranging from the Internet of Things to inventory and allow the product to become increasingly powerful as it manages more data.
Here are just some of the areas that distribution and manufacturing leaders are looking to move to the cloud.
Inventory Management: Up-to-Date, Automated, and Intelligent
One of the most important parts of a product-based business, cloud-ifying inventory management is likely one of the most reasonable propositions. A process that requires information provided in real time, keeping track of inventory across one facility is hard, but across multiple facilities? Near impossible if you’re relying on outdated or manually tallied information.
Customers have higher expectations than ever, speed is critical, and money is tight, but a connected solution can make this easier. Not only will you be able to communicate more effectively with customers, you will also have a deeper understanding of where your products are. The cloud delivers in the form of Sage Inventory Advisor, which allows you visibility across facilities, intelligent recommendations to help you free up working capital, and so much more.
Learn more in our article titled Challenges and Opportunities in an Increasingly Competitive Distribution Landscape.
Sales Tax: Let the Cloud Do the Heavy Lifting
Whether you’re selling your products through an ecommerce platform, a customer portal, or through good old fashioned salesmanship, the process of calculating sales tax is an ever present challenge. Much like the process of managing inventory, trying to figure out what you owe is a challenge only made harder when you look at the scope of measurements you need to consider.
A process made more complicated in the wake of Wayfair, understanding which state you need to pay and how much you need to pay in sales tax presents businesses with a variety of issues—and that doesn’t even include the local jurisdictions. Another area where it’s beneficial to stay ahead of change, a cloud-based sales tax platform is going to take you a lot further than leaving the process disconnected.
Avalara sales tax integration for Sage empowers Sage 100cloud users to calculate rates, prepare returns, manage exemption certificates, and more, right from your own ERP. Avalara’s end-to-end solutions seamlessly integrate with hundreds of ERP, accounting, ecommerce, and retail POS systems, providing accurate sales and use tax calculation, painless exemption certificate management, and effortless filing and remittance.
Ecommerce: Connecting an Online Storefront with an In-House ERP
One of the most fiercely competitive landscapes out there, running an ecommerce venture is a process that involves a lot of moving parts. Do you have the inventory available to fulfill an order? Is the order going to flow efficiently? Can you process sales from both your own website and a third-party marketplace?
In an environment where speed and accuracy relies on real-time information, companies need to connect storefront and back office with minimal user intervention. There are many ways to accomplish this, and many have turned to integration products like EDI Advantage and Web-Stor to connect ecommerce with ERP.
Built to provide an affordable integration between internet-based products and in-house ERP, these solutions can keep workflows effective and users happy.
Your Partner for the ERP Journey: Kissinger Associates
Over the past few months, we’ve spent a lot of time focused on how you can improve your company with the right technology. That said, the right technology for you needs to be built in a way that matches your needs and culture.
Many organizations have turned to the hybrid approach to get the benefits of the cloud delivered to them—even if they choose to keep sensitive information in house. At Kissinger Associates, we’ve spent decades delivering solutions for growing and midmarket businesses. Whether you’re looking for an all-in journey to the cloud with Acumatica or looking to take a hybrid approach with Sage 100cloud we have the knowledge and expertise to help you connect your business and empower your people.
With our unique approach to ERP, we get to know how you work and can help you determine what will make the most sense for your business. To learn more, contact us for a product demo and free consultation.
