Key Performance Indicators Drawing conclusions from symptoms without discovering the real reason the symptoms are occurring (i.e. by looking at the whole picture), may result in a misdiagnosis (not creating good metrics to track ‘real’ improvement) and subsequent disaster. Key Performance Indicators: Identifying the Right Questions One way you can identify the right questions to better understand and solve your business challenges is to use the methodology of asking 5 Why’s. E.g. your boss wants you to send him a report on whether the customer service department has been successfully handling client complaints. Start with what defines … [Read more...]
Sales tax risks facing manufacturers along the supply chain – Part 1
Manufacturers face sales tax risks at many points along the supply chain. Whether selling to retailers, directly to consumers, or supplying wholesalers and distributors, the unseen costs of errors in sales tax management can decimate the bottom line. In Part 1, we’ll look at one example along the supply chain that pose sales tax risk, and what manufacturers can do to address it. In Part 2, we’ll discuss selling directly to customers. Selling to retailers Problem: For manufacturers selling directly to retailers, the main challenge is effective management of exemption certificates. After all, errors managing exemption certificates … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Businesses Evaluating ERP Software | Inspired by the White and Gold Dress debate (or is it Blue and Black?)
You've probably heard of the question posed recently on the social networking site Tumblr: What color is this dress? Even though the dress is truly black and blue, over 1.1 million people voted (72%) that the dress was white and gold. Only 28% said it was black and blue. With such an overwhelming response, we thought it was worthwhile to dig a little deeper and see if there were business lessons we can take away from this conversation. 1) Your perception creates your reality – Even though the dress is really black and blue, 72% of the people that voted on the dress said it was white and gold. When you are researching different business ERP … [Read more...]
Today’s thinking will give you an advantage for tomorrow
Change Your Thoughts and You Will Change Your World – Norman Vincent Peale This month we are focusing on another daily practice, ‘Developing Good Thinking’ as we continue our book review on Today Matters by John Maxwell. He challenges his readers to consider the value they put on good thinking. He suggests that to increase your value in your organization you need to focus on good thinking. He highlights that in the business world, capital and experience are not as important as great ideas. Ideas are what allow us to move beyond our limits in business and life. Ideas are what great businesses are built on. Action Item: What can you do … [Read more...]
5 Overlooked Activities that Give Online Sellers a Sales Tax Obligation
Reposted by: Avalara.com For many companies selling online, figuring out where to collect and remit sales tax requires the expertise and bandwidth of the Amazon legal department. Given that most companies don’t have access to those kinds of resources, this quick list will help determine whether you’re overlooking sales tax obligations. Drop Shipping In some states, use of an in-state third-party shipper by an out of state retailer can trigger a sales tax obligation. In California, New York, Texas, and Florida for example, if a drop shipper delivers goods on your behalf, you could be obligated to collect tax. In-state … [Read more...]
Front Line Systems Now Offers Sage Enterprise Intelligence for Sage 300 ERP
Sage Enterprise Intelligence Front Line Systems is excited to announce the addition of Sage Enterprise Intelligence to our business intelligence software offerings. An integrated, easy to use Business Intelligence software solution, Sage Enterprise Intelligence provides a real time view of customer’s data, allowing you to make better decisions in a timely manner. It can be used in multiple interfaces (web, mobile and Excel). Sage Enterprise Intelligence Benefits: It connects to Sage 300 ERP and provides you with actionable business information. It allows you to: Review key performance indicators to simplify business … [Read more...]
Today matters for tomorrow’s success. What’s your attitude today?
There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day. ~Alexander Woollcott I realized the importance of a positive attitude when I decided to do a sprint triathlon, a year and a half ago. Competitive sports didn't come naturally to me. I preferred watching them, to competing in them. With a big birthday coming up, I wanted to do something memorable. I asked myself, what was something that was completely out of my comfort zone? You guessed it, a sprint triathlon! I did not know how to swim before I decided to sign up for the triathlon.! I couldn't even make it a whole lap in the pool without having to stop a few times (often due … [Read more...]
States Look to the Cloud For More Revenue in 2015
Reposted from Avalara.com With over 12,000 jurisdictions in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of rule changes annually, sales tax is a moving target in the best of times. Managing sales tax accurately requires a level of expertise many companies simply don’t possess. And 2015 is shaping up to be an even thornier year for sales tax compliance. In addition to the usual suspects—constantly shifting nexus rules, product and service taxability changes, etc.—states are working even harder to capture untapped sales tax revenue in 2015. One place they’re looking is the cloud. As computer technology has expanded from hardware to software to … [Read more...]
Sage 300 Online Training | Sage 300 ERP Year End Lunch and Learn Session
Sage 300 ERP Online Training Session Are you ready for the Year-End and the creation of a new year in your Sage 300 ERP system? View the Front Line Systems video recording of our Sage 300 ERP Year-End lunch and learn online training session presented by Steve Erickson. When you view this Lunch & Learn session, you will discover: Whether to consolidate or not? Requirements for year-end in Sage 300 ERP Should I or shouldn't I? For more information on Year-End processes in Sage 300 ERP contact Front Line Systems at 866-435-0243. … [Read more...]
5 Growth Strategies that Create Audit Risk
Building a business happens a lot of ways whether that means buying competitors, taking on new products, selling internationally, or going through a new distribution channel. Unfortunately, all of these critical activities also come with some pretty complex tax obligations and audit risks. Before you take expansion too far, understand how it affects your tax obligations and what you can do to keep risk in check. Here are five ways your success can be your downfall when it comes to tax compliance: Expanding your operations. Adding new locations or products to your business can help increase sales volume. It can also increase your tax … [Read more...]
