From everyday tactical choices to long-term strategy, timely, well-informed decisions make the difference between costly missteps and confident growth. This paper examines how you can gain access to accurate information and visibility across your company from efficient integrated IT systems – and use that information to make faster, smarter decisions. In turn, the right decisions lead to better operations and a stronger competitive position.
SAP Solutions for Small Businesses and Midsize Companies
CLEARING THE WAY FOR
FASTER, SMARTER DECISIONS
INSTANT, ACCURATE INFORMATION
DRIVES COMPETITIVE EDGEBUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT DECISIONS
Every business leader is well aware of how crucial it can To make timely, well-informed decisions, you need just that: time and information. be to make the right decision at the right moment. In today's This means having fast access to hypercompetitive markets, small businesses and midsize accurate information from every depart-ment in your company, and time away companies face daily, even hourly, challenges to make the from fighting fires to focus on priorities, right call fast: If we fulfill this rush order, will we jeopardize problem solving, and market opportunities.that other contract? If we put more workers on this job, This paper will examine how you can will we still make our slim margin? Long-term strategic deci- gain reliable, accessible information from efficient, integrated IT systems - sions can be even harder: Which products and services and use that information to make faster, will take us forward? Which customers and markets are smarter decisions. In turn, the right decisions will lead to better operations truly profitable? Where do we go from here? and a stronger competitive position.DECISION BY ROADBLOCKS TO FAST,
GUESSTIMATION? INFORMED DECISIONS
In current business environments, Let's face it. Many businesses today there's little margin for error. Companies still rely heavily on manual and paper-simply can't afford to bet their future based processes. When information on guesstimation or gut feel in the fast- you need is locked in someone's file moving marketplace. Enterprises that cabinet or even in people's heads, it make smart and timely decisions based can be hard to make the right decision.on solid insights and accurate informa-tion can distinguish themselves from Then there is information clutter - data the competitive pack. that's plentiful but hard to access. Chances are your company relies on a Consider these everyday quandaries jumble of accounting software, spread-and how the right or wrong choices can sheets, or one-off reports, or on a set affect the bottom line: of nonintegrated databases that don't . It's the holiday season and you are share even basic data like customer taking another big order. Are you contacts or product codes. Valuable "The majority of best-sure that you have the capacity to nuggets such as sales, orders, sched- in-class manufacturers . . . handle it, or are you simply ules, and invoices are hidden among guesstimating? these disconnected, inconsistent sys- are utilizing technology to . You're bidding on a project from a tems. Without the ability to quickly and both automate the collec-new prospect. Do you have the facts easily pull relevant, reliable, and consis-about costs and assets to ensure tent data from disparate sources, by tion of plant floor data and that you bid competitively, but not so the time you can finally make a decision then subsequently display low that you end up losing money? the business opportunity is long gone. . You're considering a substantial relevant data to the appro-capital investment in new machinery Plus, there is the matter of time. Just priate decision makers in to support a business expansion. when you finally find a minute to plan What information about past and your business's next big step, an urgent a timely manner."projected performance will help you phone call ends the precious planning Matt Littlefield, Research Analyst, decide whether to make the invest- session once again. In fact, a recent Manufacturing, The Business Value ment - and can you access that SAP® study finds that small business of Plant Floor Visibility, Aberdeen information? owners cite their number one challenge Group Inc., February 2007as: "Don't have enough time to make In each of these cases, an ad hoc gut important decisions."judgment could lead to an unprofitable bid, a dissatisfied customer, a lost opport unity, or another misstep. The right call, however, could improve the company's competitive position. Clearly, you need to base decisions on facts and analysis, but obstacles common to many small and midsize companies can block the way.THE PATH TO DECISIVE ACTION
Decisive action is fueled by information clarity and visibility throughout opera-tions. Many smal... [download for more]
