asyma e3 2014 the 5 biggest business challenges and some tools to help you solve them

The 5 Biggest Business Challenges & Some Tools To Help You Solve Them

Run Your Business Better

What Do You Spend The Most Time On?

1) Statutory Accounting Reports

2) Budgets & Forecasts

3) Conducting Timely Analysis

Tools to Simplify These Tasks

1) Report Runner & Process Scheduler

2) Information Manager Extended Budget

3) Info Explorer

Making Reporting, Budgeting and Analysis Simple

Presented by Robert Lavery, Robert Lavery and Associates

Business Intelligence represents the tools and systems that play a key role in the strategic planning process of an organization. Tool(s) must adapt to existing and future organization structure and processes. Must be integrated to source(s) of data but not restricted by database schema.

What is Business Intelligence?


Report Runner & Process Scheduler

• Each user has their own Report Groups and can define parameters on how they run these reports.

• Allows you to run the same FR/Crystal Report multiple times with different parameters.

• In Process Scheduler you set up a schedule to “Run Crystal IM Report” OR “Run FR Group”

• The parameters indicate which user’s reports to run and which reports to schedule.

1) Timely Delivery of Reports – Crystal & FR Stmt Generation and Distribution



• If you don’t schedule the reports you can “Run” reports at the click of a single button.

• Financial Report Runner can

• 1) execute all sheets in a workbook.

• 2) generate a new file name or use the original workbook name and overwrite the previous report.

• 3) Email the reports to one or many people.




• Note: You don’t need Sage 300 ERP open. You run the reports on the server – usually after hours.

• Report Runner (Crystal Reports) can

• 1) add Sage 300 ERP Finders to custom reports.

• 2) pre-define & hide parameters in Crystal Reports.

• 3) Create “Saved” runs to re-run reports.

• 4) Email the reports to one or many people.



Demo of Report Runner & Process Scheduler…

Orchid Information Manager •Extend Sage 300 ERP to include your own “virtual tables” or Information Sets •KPI reporting, budgeting, forecasting and On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) •Secure, multi-user and controlled access to critical custom data held within Sage 300 ERP •Use Microsoft Excel® for budget collection, reporting and write back •Data Views from within Sage 300 ERP simplifying reporting (including Optional Fields!)

2) Integration of Data From Multiple Sources – Sage 300 ERP & Non-Sage


Orchid Information Manager •Record Sales Forecasts and Report against Actual at the Customer and Item Level •Record Budgets at the G/L Transactional Optional Field Level and Report against Actual •Record unlimited contacts against customers •Maintain Employee Data •Headcounts against departments for KPI Reports •Link Pricelists at Customer/Item Category Level •All Sage 300 ERP ’s Optional Fields automatically appear as columns for reporting! Much easier …

2) Integration of Data From Multiple Sources – Accpac & Non-Accpac


Demo Supplementary Data – Streamlined Budget Process…

• Privacy – “use/disclosure” of data

• Security – “protection” of data

• Consistency – “processing” of data

• Reliability – “trust” in data

3) Flexibility & Control over Data – Important Data Concepts


• User-defined formatting & filtering helps you focus on what is most important to measure.

• Summarize, drill down, drill into and “slice and dice” your Sage 300 ERP data in real time.

• Avoid creating multiple custom report templates

3) Flexibility & Control over Data – Important Data Concepts


The Problem with Custom Crystal Reports:

• Hard/costly to implement

• Hard to modify (static)

• Not scalable

• No process for upgrading

• Out of an accountant’s comfort zone

• Managers have to ask for them

3) Flexibility & Control over Data


• Intuitive, multi-dimensional data cubes & graphical reporting combined in customizable Dashboards.

• Cater for your individual reporting needs by saving your own “views” on the desktop.

• Clear insight into business operations to help you make the right decision, every time.

4) Analysis For Understanding – Make It Visual


Increasing Value of Data for Decisions

4) Analysis For Understanding – Make It Visual


Data Information

(Formatted)

Knowledge

(Trends)

Wisdom

(Relevant)

• Creates a process for consistent, high quality

delivery of value-added data.

• Effectively communicates an understanding of

trends / value in your organization.

• Decision Makers love it!!

5) Consistent Reporting for Comparison – KPI’s & Trends Key Benefits of Utilizing Orchid’s Info Explorer


Info Explorer Addresses Pain Points Like:

• Lack of accurate and timely reporting resulting in guesswork and poor decision making

• Key operational data not available for reporting

• Time consuming & inefficient report preparation

• Over reliance on spreadsheets for reporting

• Business and productivity monitored using intuition and not operational metrics

5) Consistent Reporting for Comparison – KPI’s & Trends


Info Explorer

• Users define data format & report layouts

= Improved Customer Service

• Eliminate multiple Crystal Reports with 1 Data Cube = Reduced Costs

• Schedule & Distribute multiple Data Cubes = Increased Productivity

Info Explorer Can Address All 5 Business Challenges: Timely, Integrated, Flexible, Visual and Consistent Reporting & Analysis


Let’s Take A Look!

Info Explorer Demonstration

FREE tool can be downloaded and installed in less than 15 minutes. Runs for 30 Days. Sample Cubes can be connected to your live Sage 300 ERP database for analysis purposes. After 30 Days, request an Activation Code to run the software indefinitely at no charge.

Limitations of Info Explorer Lite: 1) Can’t create new cubes or modify existing cubes 2) Can’t export to Excel

Info Explorer Lite – Get Started


Learn to leverage technology - effective BI Tools

Create Value in your business Takes Time, Effort, Focus, Patience & Discipline

Conclusion – How To Handle Challenges


Questions Comments Discussion….?