Whether you are a small or a large enterprise, fixed asset accounting is an unusually complex task, always seeming to take more time and dedication than you actually feel it deserves. Inaccuracies and misinterpretations of rules can cause errors that can compound over time, affecting both financial reporting and tax planning. A good comprehensive asset software will lighten the work load and accommodate the unique situations arising in individual companies.
Topics: fixed assets, john shepperson, oates co, asset valuation, easy to use, fixed assets tracking, comprehensive software, ease of use
Software developers are one of a technology company's greatest assets, but it's easy to waste their potential. Mistakes in project management, complicated revenue tracking, and problem clients can waste developers' time and resources. Here are three tips on how to get the most out of your developers' time and effort:
Topics: technology, john shepperson, oates co, software developers, project tracking, deadlines, feature creep, man hours, deliverables, time tracking
Have you heard great things about Sage’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system known as Sage ERP X3? Are you in the market for a new ERP system? At Oates & Company, we strongly suggest using Sage ERP X3 for its superior capabilities and its potential to make your processes more efficient, make your employees’ jobs easier, and improve your bottom line.
How? By serving repetitive make-to-stock, make-to-order, and process modes of manufacturing. It offers tools like dashboards, alerts, and workflows – all of which can be personalized, customized, and automated. And because Sage ERP X3 stores all of your data in one central database, it offers a clear view of business transactions for every department as well as real-time data updating.
Topics: ERP, Sage, sage erp x3, enterprise resource planning, X3, john shepperson, oates co, reviews
Social media is the new way to build a following in the community. The beauty of social media – and the internet, of course – is that now your “community” can be worldwide. No longer are you relegated to local customers attracted with yellow pages ads, billboards, magazine spreads, and TV commercials. The number of social media platforms available is large: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are the most well-known, but there is also Instagram, Pinterest, Yelp, and many others. If you aren’t using at least one of these forms of social media, you’re missing out on valuable business opportunities.
Before you start blogging, tweeting, and post to Facebook, however, make sure you’ve done the basic foundational work that is necessary to ensure your social media success.
Topics: Blog Posting, customers, john shepperson, oates co, twitter, facebook, pinterest, instagram, social media, prospects, community
Small businesses face big odds, but despite the risk, many determined entrepreneurs take the plunge to go into business for themselves. If you are considering starting your own business, you are going to want to avoid common pitfalls and make sure you are as prepared as you can be to succeed in this tough environment.
Topics: Sage, customer relationship management, billing, enterprise resource planning, inventory, john shepperson, oates co, human resources management, payments, tools, new business
Even though the goal of your business is expansion, big upsurge in your growth can land you in some situations that you’re not quite prepared to deal with right away, especially if the influx of growth catches you off guard.
The good news is these growing pains can be managed with enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that will make your small business thrive – and be prepared to deal with more and more growth and you become more and more successful.
Topics: oates, automation, billing, software, inventory management, inventory, Sage 100, Sage 100 ERP, john shepperson, oates co, manufacturing, payments
As we like to say, our current economy certainly doesn’t make it easy for small businesses to survive out there. Despite the fact that you’re well aware of this, however, there might still be mistakes that you’re making in your business model that could eventually end up costing you “big time” down the road.
Are you making these mistakes?
Topics: oates, marketing, john shepperson, oates co, consumer, marketing campaign, economy, mistakes, mass merchandiser, customer loyalty
As the economy gets back on its feet, many states have seen their unemployment rates decline; across the country, the rate is down approximately a full percentage point from this time two years ago, and down nearly half of what it was in 2010. The declining of unemployment rates is very important, as it shows that the economy is beginning to recover from its downturn. This, however, makes the job arena an employee’s market versus an employer’s market.
What does that mean? Well, unemployment rates can only go down if people are getting jobs. This is good for the economy because one, there are fewer people looking for work, two, fewer people must rely on government assistance, and three, when people start to work, they have more money to spend and put back into the economy, strengthening it further. Businesses looking for new employees, however, are slightly less lucky in this situation.
Topics: john shepperson, oates co, recession, economy, human resources, unemployment, job market, employment
Keeping up with keyword research, search engine optimization, handling orders from both a physical store and an internet “store,” and constantly keeping an eye on marketing in general is a challenge.
Well, get ready for another one. Your customers now expect to have a smooth interaction with your online presence – on mobile devices. Unfortunately, having an internet website that works with both a personal computer and a mobile device isn’t always easy. Whether you like it or not, the age of mobile computing is fully upon us, and if your customers can’t navigate your website on a mobile device, you’ll lose sales.
Topics: john shepperson, oates co, tablets, smart phones, apps, mobile website, search engine optimization, mobile friendly, keyword research
Some small businesses have been reluctant to adopt cloud computing, but they shouldn’t be – there is much to be gained from it if you learn to harness its full power.
To briefly define cloud computing, we’re going to quote an article written by SalesForce – a leader in cloud services based in the UK – that states:
Topics: cloud computing, Salesforce, flexibility, john shepperson, oates co, CRN, reduced costs, easy to use, information technology, expandable
