Revolutionizing Sales Commission Management: A Case Study of CI Global’s Product Development
Commission management is crucial for incentivizing and rewarding performance. But there are several challenges organizations face in managing commissions. Some common challenges include
Multiple commission structures,
Technology limitations,
Data accuracy, and administrative burden
Delayed commission payouts.
One of the leading quick service chains based out of New York with over 23 retail locations was facing the challenge of tracking and managing sales commissions. They reached out to CI Global for a solution for automating their commission payout process. This case study demonstrates how we achieved this by evolving the solution into a software product.
Calculating and controlling sales commissions was a daunting task in front of the quick service chain.
As the requirement analysis was done, the key factors for commission calculation were identified. The following commission aspects presented issues for the business::
Sales Percentage
Monthly targets
Revenue
Bonuses
Integration to the Sage 300 ERP was critical for this customer as they wanted a solution that would service their commission management workflows end-to-end.
Intensive user testing and market research activities were carried out to pinpoint the problems and difficulties the sales team experienced. The solution was built upon software that was developed after several rounds of discussion with the customer. The focus was on building an automated solution with integrations to accounting software. What started as building a solution for solving the challenges for a single customer turned out to be a potential for the development of a full-fledged product.
CI Global created Commission Manager, a software product to expedite and simplify the commission management process after realizing the need for an all-encompassing solution in the market. Commission Manager improved the commission management workflow by automating multiple commission criteria calculations.Commission Manager needed to be adaptable and scalable while still having the capability to integrate with accounting software to provide an end-to-end commission management experience.
Manual errors were removed with automated data entry through Sage 300 ERP integration. The solution enabled a fair and transparent commission payout process for the sales staff. This increased the team satisfaction score within the organization and enabled the sales staff to perform much better.
Upon implementing Commission Manager, the quick-service chain’s complex and time-consuming commission calculations were more straightforward and accurate.
The quick-service chain’s sales commission management procedure underwent a dramatic shift following its adoption. The introduction of the Commission Manager changed the game by making complex and time-consuming commission calculations more straightforward and accurate.
Commission Manager improved the commission management workflow by:
Automating data entry,
Incorporating numerous commission criteria,
Automating the commission calculations,
Automating the posting of data to Sage 300 ERP,
Providing transparent commission calculations.
Manual errors were greatly minimized, and the solution made sure that the sales staff would get fair and transparent commission payments. The quick service chain’s problems were remedied by adopting a Commission Manager, allowing them to concentrate on their primary duties and stimulate sales growth.
The automation and user-configurable capabilities made the commission administration process simple and painless, freeing the sales staff to focus on driving sales. The customer acknowledged the following benefits:
Productivity improvement
Error-free commission calculations
Improvement in employee morale
CIG: Identifying problems, building solutions
As organizations grow, manual processes can become increasingly challenging to manage. Building a software product offers numerous advantages and opportunities for organizations. The case study highlights how software products can be built to address specific needs or provide a solution to a customer’s pain point. While building a software product involves investment in time, resources, and expertise, its benefits in terms of customization, competitive advantage, revenue generation, efficiency, and improved customer experience can make it a worthwhile endeavor for many organizations.
With 25+ years of experience in ERP, CI Global has been developing products in integration with ERP. Reach out to us today to get your product development started.
Demystifying Add-on Development: Why Building Add-ons Is Not As Challenging As It Seems
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, ERP’s are constantly being enhanced and expanded to meet the diverse needs of businesses and customers. One powerful way to extend the functionality of existing software solutions is by developing add-ons. While building add-ons may initially seem challenging, this blog aims to demystify the process and highlight its benefits. We will explore the journey of software addon development, the importance of understanding customer personas, and the specifics of add-on creation. By the end, you’ll discover that building add-ons is not as complicated as it seems.
With a good understanding of ERP and market needs, ability to add functionalities that simplifies customer processes, structured development process and a deep understanding of customer personas ISV’s can develop add-on/products opening up a new revenue stream in the ERP marketplace.
This knowledge is used to discover current software gaps and determine the scope of the ERP add-on. Understanding the complexities of ERP systems allows organizations to create add-ons that seamlessly connect and increase existing capabilities, resulting in a smooth and efficient user experience.
Understanding the customer persona: A business perspective
Businesses may ensure improved user happiness and higher adoption rates by designing add-ons to individual client requirements. This customer-centric strategy promotes the add-on as a beneficial solution, significantly increasing the value of the customer’s ERP system.
A modular design approach is essential when it comes to developing add-ons. Creating add-ons as standalone modules increases flexibility and simplifies maintenance for both software suppliers and end users. It enables organizations to constantly extend and improve their ERP systems by adding additional modules that interface smoothly with the core system. Furthermore, extensive testing of the add-on ensures its dependability, performance, and compatibility with the ERP system.
Adding functions, adding functionality: Making an add-on
This section focuses on creating an add-on, which includes detecting current software gaps, defining the scope of the add-on, and smoothly integrating it with the core ERP system. Effective communication and collaboration between software suppliers and add-on developers are critical for creating successful add-ons.
Module development is essential in the creation of add-ons. It includes several crucial components:
Module Development Process: Module development involves designing and building specific components or functionalities to enhance the core ERP system. This process follows the software development life cycle, including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, and deployment.
Modular Design: Modular design is crucial for developing flexible, scalable, and easily maintainable add-ons. Breaking down the add-on into smaller, self-contained modules enables efficient management and updates. It allows for customization and future enhancements as per evolving needs.
Scalability: Add-ons should be designed to accommodate potential growth and changing business requirements. Ensuring scalability allows the solution to adapt and evolve alongside the ERP system and the organization.
Thorough Testing: Rigorous testing ensures the add-on functions properly, integrates seamlessly with the core ERP system, and avoids compatibility or performance issues. Comprehensive testing guarantees a reliable and robust add-on that meets user expectations.
Before delving into the add-on development process, it is essential to acknowledge the critical role of ERP knowledge. This knowledge allows businesses to identify the existing gaps or limitations in the ERP system and develop add-ons that seamlessly integrate and extend its capabilities. ERP knowledge is the foundation for designing add-ons that address specific customer requirements and enhance the overall ERP experience.
By combining ERP knowledge with effective add-on development practices, businesses can leverage the power of modular design, scalability, and thorough testing to create valuable add-ons. These add-ons bridge the existing gaps in the ERP system and provide flexibility and easier maintenance for software providers and end-users. The result is a more efficient and adaptable ERP solution that aligns with evolving business needs.
CIG: Leading and solving your problems the software way
CI Global (CIG), a tech-first innovation company, specializes in add-on development for ERP ecosystem. With years of experience and a team of skilled professionals, CIG is well-equipped to solve complex business challenges through software solutions.
By leveraging CIG’s expertise, businesses can tap into their add-ons and experience significant improvements in efficiency, productivity, and overall performance. In conclusion, understanding the critical role of ERP knowledge and customer personas is key to successful add-on development. Embrace the power of add-ons and unlock new opportunities for your business today.
Is the transition for SMBs from an outdated system to the newest software seamless?
Staying ahead of the curve is crucial for businesses of all sizes in today’s fast-paced environment. Organizations must adapt by embracing the latest software solutions to be competitive as technology develops at a booming rate. Many small and medium-sized businesses are constrained by the limits of out-of-date legacy technologies. They impede their productivity and ability to function seamlessly. The hesitation to upgrade is frequently exacerbated by worries about future costs and how time-consuming upgrading will be.
This blog will highlight the various points you need to know about upgrading your software systems. We examine the crucial factors that firms must consider throughout this transition and deal with any typical difficulties they can have. We review how our knowledge and solutions help SMBs surpass challenges and promote a smooth relocation process. Businesses can gain various advantages by adopting the latest software solutions, including increased productivity, improved data security, simplified operations, and the capacity to utilize cutting-edge features and capabilities.
Regarding updating their systems, SMBs may need to be more confident and concerned. We are here to help them through this transformational process. Let’s discuss the critical factors and how we can assist firms in 2023 with a seamless switch to the newest software.
Essential Elements to Pay Close Attention to When Upgrading from Older Versions to the Newest Systems
It takes careful planning to transition from an outdated system to the recent updated software,. Migrating the customization your business has and requires, is one of the crucial factors to pay particular attention to during the migration process. The compatibility of any customization with the newest software must be assured. It would be best to consider additional screens that need to be built specifically for your purposes to address the gaps.
Transfer the customization that your business needs.
During the module development process, in your previous ERP there are specific modules built to address specific use cases. 4-5 core modules are explicitly designed for ERP-specific core modules across all product lines. During the modernization journey, your personalized features will be transported to the new system including those customizations. The leap of innovation from the previous version to the new systems can meet your business needs.
ERP Product Line: Linking Current Capabilities to Your Wishlist
The Sage product line provides a wide choice of solutions to match the particular demands of your organization, which is an excellent illustration of this. It’s important to keep data transfer and add-on incorporation in mind while migrating a product. Scalability of features, mobile and web-enabled choices, and enhancing your current ERP with more data analytics are additional critical factors that you can consider while transferring custom modules.
Integrating Multiple Departments Using One Solution
Customization is essential when expanding the capabilities of the software you’re migrating towards; it helps combine several corporate divisions during the migration process. Sage provides products for several departments but might not fully meet particular use cases. When creating a comprehensive solution and ensuring a smooth transition into it, customization becomes valuable. Custom-built products enable businesses to handle departmental difficulties by altering modules to suit their workflows and data requirements. They make integrating current systems and data sources feasible, providing a smooth information flow.
Additionally, customization ensures that the solution complies with industry-specific standards for reporting and compliance. Due to its ability to fulfill industry-specific standards, interact with current systems, and cater to the demands of various departments, a customized all-in-one solution is more effective in migrating. The all-roundedness of the solution makes the transition easier, increases output, and guarantees that the solution successfully supports business operations and procedures.
CIG: Creating Innovation and Value
Your company may benefit significantly from modernization especially when it comes to updating software. Businesses can benefit from better functionality, increased productivity, and streamlined workflows. As an IT company, CIG helps with the modernization process by integrating add-ons, ensuring data integrity across old and new systems, and migrating customizations your business needs.
In conclusion, updating your organization requires moving from a legacy system to the latest systems, which may seem difficult. Planning is crucial to the process, and it is essential to pay particular attention to essential elements like new panels, and data migration. Businesses can profit from modernization and advance their operations by bridging their existing capabilities with their wishlist, utilizing all-in-one solutions, and consulting experts.
Building products for supply chain: Mobile Inventory Suite
An effective inventory management system is crucial for a functional supply chain business. Businesses must analyze their processes to understand where to estimate delays, mistakes, and inefficiencies. To analyze and break down what’s happening, an innovative approach is not just a need but a crucial part of the puzzle. This approach should solve visibility, streamline the process, and decrease operational overload. The Mobile Inventory Suite was developed with such an approach in mind.
In this case study, we will understand the processes behind MIS as we dig deeper into the problem statements and create roadmaps for supply chain inventory management. In developing a tailored solution, the key is to transform the inventory management process by comprehending business needs and pain points. Going into the crux of cross-border functionality, for example, we explore how we had to work for a Canadian client who runs a warehouse in the US and needs a solution that addresses the problem with scalability at the core.
Breaking down the common issues
Businesses frequently need help with typical problem statements and supply chain management pain points like inventory management, transportation and logistics, lack of visibility and many more. The company we focus on here is a Canadian client with a warehouse in the United states of America looking for a solution that balances size and functionality. Every warehouse has four significant steps to base its processes on: stock receipt, transfer, count, and shipment. However, their efficiency, accuracy, and overall operating performance are improved by automating laborious procedures. Businesses can seize possibilities for streamlined processes, improved inventory management, and improved supply chain efficiency by addressing the above issues.
Hypothesizing the solution
A thorough approach and plan was designed to solve the identified supply chain inventory management issues and provide a customized solution to satisfy the client’s unique demands. The journey towards a solution started with creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that included the essential features to help in transactional inventory management. It addressed the current pain points and gaps in the ERP solution the business has integrated.
The client was subsequently shown the MVP, and based on their particular warehouse operations and requirements, they offered insightful input to build a better roadmap. The MVP was continuously improved through the iterative method. The client’s input was significant in determining the development’s course, guaranteeing that the finished solution would meet their expectations and successfully handle their operations.
As the solution was being built and more features were added to address the edge cases, it progressively became a product that could be tailored to meet the needs of different supply chains. The solution’s adaptability and versatility made smooth integration with the ERP solutions of various warehouse setups and procedures possible, giving it a flexible and adaptive answer to inventory management problems.
What are the issues with transactional inventory management?
Transactional inventory management has many difficulties and constraints, which can cause inefficiencies in supply chain operations. Various system interfaces and parts cause these problems.
Specific issues can occur during the stock receipt, transfer, count, and shipment, including manual data entry errors, delays in recording and updating inventory, and challenges tracking stock movement.
Additionally, logistical factors like order fulfillment, cooperation across departments, and warehouse organization, can affect how effectively the list is managed.
Process simplification, precise data capture, real-time visibility, seamless inventory management, and logistics system integration are all necessary to tackle these difficulties effectively.
How did we create a software solution for a warehouse problem?
Various processes were involved in developing a customized software solution for the warehouse issue.
Essential criteria for success and scalability were defined, ensuring the answer could fulfill the client’s needs and prepare for future development.
The solution was created with mobility in mind, simplifying the ERP process around the warehouse.
Utilizing a barcode mobile solution, this strategy attempts to save human effort, notably in stock counting.
The environment was greatly simplified by handheld devices, making it possible to record real-time inventory data, which was impossible with conventional inventory management systems.
Along with increasing productivity, this mobile-first design enabled better visibility and accuracy throughout inventory management.
Improving efficiency through boosting transparency
The Mobile Inventory Suite increases supply chain efficiency by increasing transparency and real-time visibility in the ERP solutions that a specific company has incorporated.
Businesses can access the most recent data on inventory levels, order standings, and stock movements.
Due to the ability to make timely modifications, reduce stockouts, and maximize inventory allocation, the openness promoted improved decision-making.
Firms can decrease surplus stock, enhance order accuracy, and expedite warehouse operations by having real-time visibility over their inventory.
These actions led to cost savings, higher client happiness, and increased productivity.
Empower your supply chain with barcode-based order entry.
The Mobile Inventory Suite offers substantial advantages to supply chain operations when barcodes are used to submit orders.
By lowering the rate of human mistakes during order entry, barcode technology improves accuracy.
It expedites order processing by enabling quick and effective scanning of goods and inventory items.
Staff in the supply chain are empowered with handheld devices and barcode scanners to manage and check inventory levels, which ensures prompt order fulfillment.
This simplified procedure eliminates human data entry, increases order correctness, and boosts supply chain operating effectiveness.
Mobile Inventory Suite: A Custom CIG Build
A comprehensive software program created to enhance inventory control inside the supply chain is called the Mobile Inventory Suite.
Barcode scanning enables precise and effective data collection, real-time inventory tracking, and stock level and movement visibility.
The scanning mechanism allows for an easy connection with other supply chain systems is some of its essential characteristics.
A customized fit was ensured by tailoring the solution to the specific needs of the client’s warehouse operations.
Success endorsements from businesses that have used the Mobile Inventory Suite to streamline processes and improve supply chain performance demonstrate how MIS has helped solve business pain points.
The CIG Edge: Identifying problems, building solutions
The case study emphasized how supply chain inventory management was essential in embracing cutting-edge software solutions. Significant advantages of the Mobile Inventory Suite include improved productivity, openness, and scalability. The system improves decision-making, streamlines operations, and boosts overall performance by utilizing barcode scanning, real-time tracking, and seamless integration. The study underlines the need to embrace technology to overcome inventory management obstacles and maintain competitiveness in the changing supply chain environment, where practical and transparent operations are crucial for success.
Demand Forecasting with ERP Data
Businesses across industries need the answer to two critical questions before they start building for the long run. “What does the market need?” and “How much does the market need?”. Using tools like Power BI and Tableau combined with Python/R, one can provide reasons why demand works the way it does.
Predicting how your business is heading is always a game of probabilities, but with time, our product, RubiCube, only gets better at giving the right direction. We provide 75-80% accurate predictions based on historical data and current scenarios. We visualize the order for you to make the pivots needed.
But how does it all tie up with understanding the demand for your offering? Read this case study to know more.
What is demand forecasting?
Demand forecasting is estimating the future demand for a product or service based on historical data, market trends, and other relevant factors. It is vital in supply chain management, production planning, inventory management, and sales forecasting.
Production planning: Adjust and plan your production schedules effectively by anticipating demand and planning accordingly.
Inventory management: Manage inventories more effectively by ensuring you have enough stock.
Supply chain management: Procure all the raw materials necessary to execute logistics operations by meeting customer demand.
ERP Data: What data does it gather, and how does it collect them?
An ERP system is one of the mainstream implementations that businesses have. It brings different data sets to bring information such as sales, inventory, production, and employee data to one platform.
Sales Data: Customer orders, sales invoices, and customer payments.
Inventory Data: Product stocks, locations, and stock movement.
Production Costs: Production process, labor cost, and production times.
Financial Data: Information about expenses, revenue, and profits.
Employee Data: Employee performance, attendance, and payroll.
Limitations of prescriptive analytics
Prescriptive analytics display a version of the future based on the past and doesn’t consider many factors. In this section, we uncover the limitations of prescriptive analytics and how it affects business.
Data quality: The accuracy and reliability of prescriptive analytics depend on the data quality used.
Limited Scope: It is designed to provide recommendations based on specific data and parameters.
Factor identification: It is limited by how the logic runs from past to future without the context of the present factors.
Implementing demand forecasting
Now that business leader knows why they need to step beyond the past and get analytics based on the current situation, let’s understand how accurately demand forecasting is implemented and its benefits.
Steps to implement demand forecasting
Define the need for forecasting- Select the right KPIs
Collect and analyze historical data
Provide the current variables that affect the metrics
Integrate the forecasting model into the ERP
Monitor and refine the forecasting model
Methods of demand forecasting
The tools and techniques you need for forecasting can vary on the methodology you choose and the way you want to proceed.
Time Series Analysis
Analyzes data like sales, revenue, and consumer behavior collected over time using moving averages, exponential smoothing, and trend analysis.
Regression Analysis
Analyzes the relationship between two or more variables, like demand vs. price, promotion, weather, and economic indicators.
Market Research
Gathers present market information about customers, competitors, and market trends.
Customer Feedback
Details and informs about product/service satisfaction and KRAs to anticipate future demand.
What role does AI play?
A statistical model can be trained to do what it needs to do, but when it’s given the capacity to learn what it’s doing, it can keep iterating to predict and get to the root of the cause accurately. AI algorithms can:
Identify patterns across large datasets.
Process data with the needed context.
Optimize various relevant metric levels.
Conglomerates like Amazon, Walmart, and Coca-Cola use AI-led algorithms to understand their consumers and find the ideal position within the market for boosting sales and RoI.
Real-life problems, tech-led solutions
Technology and consumer lives are invariably overlapping over the last few years. But what happens when the approach misses one crucial KPI that connects the statistics to the present?
In this section, we discuss how a different strategy for analysis would have served as a warning system for the complete power grid failure in Texas.
Due to an unforeseen winter storm in Texas on February 2021, the temperatures dropped to -39 degrees Celsius, causing a massive upsurge in power demand. It took about 12 days for the power grid to be fully functional again; this lack of power led to an infrastructure failure that directly/indirectly caused more than 200 deaths.
Could this have been predicted?
Using data available from the Department of Energy of the USA, we built a data lake. We simulated and built a model using R and Python with an advanced regression testing model on the data lake. We did econometric modeling to refine the statistical system. Econometric modeling solves situations where prescriptive demand forecasting fails, because
The linear model is built on accurate datasets based on the past record of experiences,
Regression analysis uses time series data to understand and predict trends.
Econometric model quantifies the relationship between KPIs and the factors that affect them.
What are the advantages of demand forecasting?
There is a wide range of reasons why you need ERP demand forecasting, and utilizing the power of AI is crucial when attempting to build functionality.
Revitalizes stock and workforce management depending on business needs.
Enhances customer satisfaction and provides personal insights.
Reduces resource wastage and gives a competitive advantage.
How can a software product company push forward with demand forecasting?
Predicting demand based on the likelihood of outcomes is always an iterative process. It uses a combination of data analysis, statistical algorithms, and demand forecasting with machine learning to pinpoint the most likely results from particular choices.
The following are the reasons why a software product company can help you:
Machine Learning – Connect historical data to current market trends.
Data visualization – Make data easy to read through charts and graphs.
Supply Chain Optimization – Tailor-made solutions to specific challenges in transit.
A predictive model can run on any organized data arrangement and does not always need to be on ERP Data alone. This means you can estimate and build the scope of your business depending on the market instead of going on personal intuition.
CI Global: Predicting business growth with RubiCube
With ERP expertise, we built RubiCube with problem statements we discovered across our 25 years of experience. Understanding the demand for what you offer is vital in any market and business, but more than a linear graph of what already exists is needed. RubiCube doesn’t just predict market behavior with your business projections but also represents them through visualizations that point to connecting the dots.
The tool has more than 25-pre built dashboards and analytically boosts operational efficiency by 30%. Want to know how your business can benefit from it? Reach out today.
Relation between KPIs, Actionable Insights, and ERPs
Any information essential to the business becomes valuable data. With over 120 zettabytes of data generated daily, the world has a data overload across channels. It’s critical to take a step further from data-based decisions to insight-guided decisions. For that, data needs to transform into ideas and actions for decision-makers to understand when using the correct method so that you can visualize the impact.
In this blog, we uncover what data is and follow it through its journey to becoming insights through well-established KPIs. These indicators are vital in keeping track of progress and help the decision-makers take the correct route to the solution.
Analyzing the numbers that matter
Predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms are helping businesses make reliable decisions by leveraging accurate predictions. They can repeatedly simulate scenarios based on existing data to forecast the business’s future direction and potential standstills. Business intelligence uses these algorithms to teach itself to predict through a KPI.
What turns data into insights?
Data can be processed using statistical and analytical methods to identify patterns and trends. This analysis can involve looking for correlations between variables, identifying outliers, and using machine learning algorithms to uncover hidden insights.
Statistics: Create patterns that show and identify clear actions and reactions.
Patterns: Show the reason for a drop or a spike and how to manage it.
Trends: Contribute and affect your businesses due to the market dynamics.
Data visualization can take many forms, such as charts, graphs, and ERP KPI dashboards, and can be used to share insights in an easily understandable and interactive way.
How to create ML projections?
Securing and creating the proper dataset is a task half complete; it has to follow a suitable ML model that can be trained and developed in the required direction. This can be done on a few statistical concepts like linear regression, decision trees, and neural networks.
A process to create an ML model follows:
Training an ML model is the first step in the process; expect the error to pop up frequently initially, but as you continue to train the model, you can see a substantial improvement.
As the model’s training continues, it can create projections by getting present in-market data and allowing it to make predictions based on the learned patterns. The projections’ accuracy can evaluate performance metrics such as mean squared error or accuracy.
Ultimately, the projections must be visualized and communicated to stakeholders using charts, graphs, and other visualization tools. This allows decision-makers to use the insights gained from the predictions to inform their actions and strategy.
Why are well-established KPIs important?
An indicator becomes a KPI when it gives a company the upper hand in three key areas when it affects cost, revenue or it gives strategic advantage. Through measuring specific KPIs, organizations can ensure that their activities achieve their goals and align with their overall growth plan.
KPIs are vital because they:
Measure performance and identify areas for improvement.
Ensure accountability and transparency within an organization.
Provide a common understanding for stakeholders within an organization.
How to measure a KPI?
From selecting the correct methodology to measure the KPI to the data source from the ERP and constant analysis techniques, there are many things to understand before getting to the root of KPI measurement.
After creating the KPI, you need to:
Understand your goals from the KPI and break down the statistical method.
Set the targets you want to hit when establishing a KPI to benchmark your process.
Represent data how your stakeholders need it and create an automated report.
How to accelerate business capacity?
An ERP system can integrate different departments and functions into a single data system to better utilize resources and make informed decisions based on real-time data. Analyzing data is at the heart of growing a business of any size, whether micro-enterprises, SMBs, or from the ground up. Identifying the difference between the to-do list and the wish list is the primary step in accelerating a business; let’s see how that happens.
How to make decisions based on what your company needs vs. wants?
When you can identify patterns, trends, and opportunities that might not be immediately apparent through intuition or experience alone, you make more informed and better decisions backed with insights rather than assumptions or opinions.
Sales data analysis determines whether there is an actual demand for a new product, the fit into their product line, and what potential impact on profitability. A detailed study can help you prioritize the right features to focus on.
Financial data analysis is critical to identify inefficiencies in their processes, pinpoint areas where they can cut costs, and optimize their spending. An internal cost report can give you a view of your cash quadrants.
Manufacturing data analysis is crucial for companies to understand their supply chain and metrics such as throughput, attainment, and utilization. With numbers on your side, you can understand which part of your supply chain needs an upgrade.
What is an actionable insight?
An actionable insight is a suggestion that you can implement in the present to directly impact your business in the future. Let’s take an example of a power grid; sorting and analyzing data in a dataset as vast as running a power grid requires understanding specific organizational metrics.
The power connection can be from a rural area, a remote area, or an urban area; while the consumption might look the same on a total level, the patterns can vastly differ.
Average power consumption and the number of homes per household are KPIs that can lead to insights into the distribution industry.
This can follow proper processing until you reach a point where you end up with a to-do list of things you can do today. Likewise, when the concept is applied to the wine and beverage industry, the meaning of an insight changes depending on the KPI.
These metrics are dependent on different depletions based on the sales and on-hand signals towards the store’s inventory.
The metrics can depend on RAD, Retail Account Data, which shows whether the store is a chain or a single store.
The IRR, Inventory Run Rate, can be useful as it checks the details of stock volume at each particular store.
Module development at CI Global: Visualizing data for you
At CI Global, we understand business data can be overwhelming when displaying all numbers without visualization. We build software modules that can extend your ERP’s functionality, create a vision for the future and automate the report with the idea to you as a notification wherever you are.
Now that you know why insights matter, don’t you want to know what we can do for you? Click here.
Extending ERP functionalities through Add-Ons
Building software is about understanding the manner and direction of designing a solution; some solutions have strengths in a few particular aspects, while some build all-around features applicable across industries. ERPs are feature-directed software; they ease operational overhead for businesses and enterprises. If one needs an accounting feature -that Sage Intacct is most optimized for- into their integrated Sage 300 system, they need to build the add-on that can support the currently installed system that addresses the gap that needs to be filled.
This blog explains why building purpose-driven add-ons that extend functionality is essential for business and how it solves specific use cases.
Why does software need an add-on?
Add-ons help businesses optimize the ERP by giving it specific accounting, manufacturing and distribution features. Depending on the needs, one can develop a purpose-driven add-on that gives functionality beyond the norm. While the off-the-shelf software is built for a macro-view of the business, one can use an add-on to make it specifically for the purpose.
Sage 300
It was previously known as Accpac and is the most well-rounded ERP in the market. It is the perfect business accounting system for small and medium-sized businesses(SME/SMB).
Sage 100
It is the mid-point between a comprehensive ERP like Sage 300 and an accounting-specific ERP software like Intacct. Its strengths lie in process management across accounting and manufacturing.
Sage Intacct
Sage Intacct is an ERP software specific for accounting but needs adjustments and utility extensions to suit the business needs and the problem at hand.
How does expertise matter in building purpose-driven software in the ERP ecosystem?
The process of building an add-on is like product development. Like every software product, you need clarity on simple points and follow a wireframe, for example:
The purpose of building it and the use case it solves.
The method and roadmap for making the solution.
The execution of the solution and testing the efficiency.
The removal of any data pitfalls within the system.
An add-on complements and enhances the ERP by implementing business processes not addressed in the ERP. For building one, the business needs a software development team that functions from a business perspective, can optimize ideas, and has software expertise that implements the promises.
Add-ons: The value proposition in extending utility
ERPs are a platform that can give a view of what’s happening in the organization. Let’s take the example from a logistics perspective; the add-on extends the business point of view from just the rudimentary numbers on sales or purchases to a complete control system on sales, purchases and inventory.
With the ERPs and add-ons, the idea is cohesion between operations and the needed results. Automate with the add-on and observe with the ERP through perfect implementation for cohesion. The following are a few examples of add-ons we’ve worked on for the logistics industry:
Digitizing operations with bar-code scanning- Add-on for Sage 300
View data and understand the sales better when delivering products to customers’ needs faster.
Get a complete view of daily, weekly and monthly stock transfers, along with the feature for stock shipment.
Order entry module in Sage Intacct- Automating invoices and receipts
When a salesperson generates an invoice for sale, the order entry helps develop an invoice specific to the deal they made.
In logistics, the commission is measured through different permutations and combinations of the same metric, depending on the demand and sale probability; a PO/OE/AR module helps in dispersing the money.
Multi-bin module for Sage 100- Strategizing the solution
The multi-bin gives a dynamic view of the inventory and the position of each product in the warehouse.
The view helps track, organize and establish control for date-tracking products that can be arranged according to dates.
CI Global: Finding problems, building solutions
From identifying the need, understanding the cause and breaking down the solutions, CI Global has led several projects with expertise that only grew with experience. With over 25 years of experience across industries as a software development team, we’ve worked on critical projects that later became features recognized by the ERP provider.
Want to know more about what we offer? Click here.
Predictive analytics in ERP ecosystem: A study into utility
With the latest trends suggesting that there’s a need for AI at every point that data flows through, it’s elementary to understand how AI can transform business and operability. Probability and predictability are all about the chances of success of actions meeting the most-likely results.
In this case study, we go over why predictive analytics is the future of business operations and how CI’s product RubiCube fits business needs.
Why do we need to go beyond off-the-shelf functionality?
CRMs and ERPs are a norm across scaling businesses, from micro to macro. From an integrated suite of software applications to a set of databases, ERPs give a view of what’s happening within operations and business departments.
The idea behind a primary software implementation is to get everything into computers that can show the numbers and provide decision-makers with a digital view of operations.
Empower the present with a predictive view of the future so that the business direction is not limited to descriptive statistics on where it stands but can map the future to where its headed.
AI constantly learns from data patterns within the company and can compare them to industry patterns from the market. The business data considers and displays what’s happening within the organization but when the scope is extended towards what the market wants, the decision-makers get closer to where they want the organization to be.
Draw insights into what is happening and why there’s a gap, and understand what changes can get the profits instead of taking decisions in retrospect.
In a hyper-competitive market, integrate a vital metric that considers the market’s direction to help make crucial decisions.
Using AI to make the descriptive data work
In the short to medium term, the company’s growth direction depends on the actions taken today. A tech-first solution like RubiCube can underline the future trajectory of the business. The following are the use cases for a predictive tool that allows taking actions that matter:
Predictive analytics for MSMEs
Building a business from scratch starts at the idea and the smallest action in starting operations, a micro-enterprise. At this stage, there’s a need to make decisions over just maintaining something there is. With the help of PA(predictive analytics), businesses can:
Analyze self-generated data in real-time dashboards.
Evaluate and organize frequent business evaluations.
Monitor risk and business association comprehensively.
Data analytics and business intelligence: Transform ERP powerhouses
When a functional ERP can generate data on what’s happening, it reports it in numbers. AI powers the journey from numbers and data to visualizations and dashboards. With the help of PA, statistical data can:
Assess performance to become business decisions.
Analyze data to turn it into actionable steps to execute.
Summarize, systemize and organize data for who uses them.
Streamlining financial management processes
Money matters matter the most. Empower the business strategy and financial planning with AI that does the heavy lifting. With the help of predictive analytics, the in-house finance team can:
Forecast the revenue and cash flow
Make better predictions on payments
Manage credit risks associated with specific deals.
How predictive analytics software helps decision-makers?
Viewing how businesses perform and the future direction can have different implications for decision-makers in different positions. Predictive analytics is not the magic pill that solves all the problems in business strategies but it can become a contributor to each decision in the following ways:
For the CEO: Understand the efficiency of several departments and the expected results for an upcoming duration—an in-depth analysis of the ceiling, sales and demand generated.
For the CTO: Keep up with the latest tech that makes a difference for the company. Update the tech stack to cutting-edge innovations that can provide value to operations and other departments.
For the CFO: Learn the financial aspects and health of a company and the way it contributes to its growth curve. Get an in-depth view of the cost quadrant and analyze areas of improvement.
Implementing RubiCube in a Sage solution
The supply chain industry works around multiple variables functioning simultaneously with seamless integration. But what happens when the business powers it with AI? While the science isn’t new, neither is the field, latest advancements have led large datasets to be analyzed and statistical models to be built on historical data to formulate future trends.
With the power of AI in the form of predictive analytics, businesses can:
Forecast future demand
The hardest metric to understand without AI is product-oriented demand. Improve predictability in forecasting rates with trained data systems. Analyze past and current trends with market intel and industry-level economic forecasts.
Manage supply inventory
Optimal inventory management comes from a supply chain that satisfies demand while minimizing stock. With a detailed view of demand across locations and usage, stock inventory optimally instead of losing out on potential demand or overstocking.
Plan and coordinate logistics
Transportation and shipment costs can significantly affect a product’s price. With a data-driven strategy, businesses can avoid downtime and account for optimal shipping frequency that saves money from spending in spaces without RoI.
Detect the outliers
When AI can predict the path the business should expect it can also immediately raise a flag when there’s a sale or a lack of it when it’s least likely to happen. This can help the organization identify fraud or check for sensor failures at the earliest.
CI Global: Empowering business leaders the AI way
RubiCube is the direct result of understanding the market gap and building a solution that solves it. With ERP expertise and the contextual knowledge of working across industries for over 25 years, we understood the value of providing a view into the future of business functionality.
RubiCube doesn’t just predict business stories but also supports them in a way that the decision-makers would understand. Through more than 25 pre-built dashboards that support more than 5 languages, we built RubiCube as a solution that can analytically boost operational efficiency by 30%. With RubiCube, we’ve automated reporting to where the decision makers are for transparency that matters instead of having them open the ERP and check for the status.
Want to know more about how we can transform your future? Reach out to us.
Product Integration: Whys and hows
Imagine a black pen with a blue refill and a red cap; it gets confusing a little too quickly. Having multiple products that do not have a seamless feel is like having a messy desk; at one point or another, you need to sort them from scratch again. Product integration in the software world is all about coordinating different products to make your life easier. For example, an e-learning app needs to integrate video-calling software into its interface and organize and support documents for each class conducted. Proper integration is critical for improving productivity and channelling your operations across industries.
In this blog, we discuss CI’s experience in the product integration journey of connecting 10+ ERPs using 15+ custom and standard connectors, connecting more than a thousand metadata. So how does integration work? What are the challenges in the industry?
How to integrate software products?
A complete understanding of your need lets you know what you can ask. Let’s break down the different points of product integration.
Defining your integration goals gives you a plan to work towards.
Choosing the proper method for products that have different kinds of syntaxes.
Implement and test ideas across APIs, database flows, and SDKs.
APIs, SDKs, and databases are integrated differently. The correct option is chosen based on the needs and integration platforms offered.
What are the best practices in product integration?
Breaking down a complex process into steps and methods makes a process as daunting as software product integration. The following are a few practices we ensure at CI:
Data compatibility: The ability of different software systems to exchange data and work together. When this is ensured, products can interpret and process data as intended.
Security and data privacy: After ensuring that the data is compatible, the next step is ensuring there are no privacy concerns and that sensitive data is handled carefully.
Monitor and optimize integration: Monitoring the integration is vital in identifying vulnerabilities and executing security audits to ensure there are no opportunities for data leaks and staying on the right side of avoiding data penalties and privacy breaches.
What are the challenges in product integration?
From interoperability to seeing how the product can be scaled across different sizes and environments, there are multiple challenges in product integration as a field. Let’s go over a few common problems that CI solves for :
Technical challenges: The technical knowledge and know-how of compatibility across different products are vital for optimal integration.
Interoperability: Exchange data within different products to communicate and create a flow of information that cannot be disrupted.
Data management: Different products use different interpretations of data, so it’s essential to ensure that data is compatible with the integration architecture.
Scalability: A perfect solution similarly solves the issues of 1, 10, and 100. Plan for growth within the product integration as demands always increase.
RubiCube: Bridging integration gaps the CIG way
RubiCube is a data analytics product that integrates data from multiple sources, including but not limited to Sage 100/Sage 300/Sage Intacct/CRM/ HRMS, with any of your in-house products. RubiCube’s data lake has been developed using proprietary frameworks and custom connectors for significant ERPs.
Integrating RubiCube brings predictive analytics to your ERP, CRM, and in-house systems. RubiCube is implemented for your use case to either increase revenue, reduce operational costs, or gain strategic advantage. Never go back to an off-the-shelf solution to fit into your processes. Instead, integrate RubiCube as the solution that seamlessly integrates into your system and gives you the room to find the exact fit to move forward in your business. Want to know more about the use and utility? Click here.
How do custom connectors help product integration?
A functioning system will have multiple software working collaboratively to solve a use case. Custom connectors connect different software applications when there is no built-in integration. These connectors connect two or more applications and ease data transfer. Companies can develop these connectors in-house or outsource the task to a team like CI Global. CI has been working with more than 15+ ERPs on their product- Rubicube- working with thousands of metadata to get to the customized level that makes a difference.
Product integration integrates a company’s product with another system or platform. This can range from adding a simple plugin to an existing platform to integrating the company’s product directly into another software system. Seamless integration assists companies in creating comprehensive and efficient software systems by utilizing various applications and platforms.
Product integration aids in improving internal workflows and streamlining processes by automating tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention. While they can co-exist without one another, why are they important to each other? Why does having a custom connector help you streamline your business capabilities better? Read this case study to learn more.
What are the challenges in software product integration?
Understanding the worlds of data and KPIs is the first challenge in integrating different products. When integrating different systems, understanding the implementation of each product is a challenge to overcome. This arises because each product or system is implemented using different technologies, architectures, and design patterns, making it difficult to understand how they work and how they can be integrated with other systems.
When integrating a legacy system with a modern cloud-based system, the legacy system may have been implemented using an outdated technology stack and architecture, while the modern system may be using the latest technologies and cloud-based architecture.
Dealing with different data formats is another challenge in understanding the implementation of a product. Each system may use a unique data format and communication protocol, which can be incompatible with other systems. This can require extensive data transformation and translation to ensure data is correctly passed between systems.
Missing out on data factors that can significantly impact the data set and the insights you derive from them. When critical data factors are missing, the resulting integration may not be comprehensive or incomplete, resulting in errors.
The missing data causes the performance of the integrated software product to drop and risks data breaches, leading to slower performance, reduced efficiency, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Data redundancy when integrating different software products can create inconsistencies or conflicts in the data. This can lead to incorrect or incomplete information being presented to users, severely impacting decision-making and productivity.
Security concerns impact data integrity in software product integration. Data not properly secured during the integration process can be vulnerable to unauthorized access, modification, or deletion.
It is essential to clearly understand the data requirements for the integration process and identify any potential gaps or missing data factors. This involves thoroughly analyzing the data structures and formats used by the software products involved in the integration process and developing strategies to fill in any missing data factors. This may involve using data mapping and conversion tools or developing custom integrations to bridge data gaps or inconsistencies.
How do custom connectors help in solving your problem?
Custom connectors are key in making customization work for businesses looking to stay competitive. Standard connectors give you insights and smooth flow for standard business ERP, but a custom connector needs to be built to get the complete advantages of a custom ERP. Customization is the name of the game in today’s world; custom connectors ensure that your custom ERPs work in the way intended without any functionality flaws. The following are how custom connectors help:
Improved efficiency: By connecting different software systems and automating workflows, custom connectors help businesses save time and reduce manual labour. This can lead to increased efficiency and productivity and reduced errors and delays.
Enable the enhanced functionality: Custom connectors ensure that the new features and capabilities in customized software systems function as intended allowing for better utilization of tools. This can help improve user experiences and make products more competitive in the marketplace.
Increased data accuracy: When data transfer between different systems is done manually, there is a higher risk of errors and discrepancies. Custom connectors ensure that data is transferred accurately, securely, and consistently, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving the data quality.
Streamlined workflows: They can automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows, reducing the need for manual intervention and making it easier for businesses to manage their operations.
Improved scalability: Custom connectors can help businesses scale their operations more easily by allowing them to connect new systems and applications as needed.
Why do you need a custom connector?
Defining the customisation before building the integration and the connector helps avoid reworks. Often the environment in the solution is theorized is not the same as the deployment phase environment; that’s one reason why there are challenges in the implementation of the connector. With custom connectors, you can foresee the upcoming changes and build for the future your team sees ahead.
Customization begins after breaking down the requirements into phases and approaching them with an open mind.
A custom connector would help your ERP customization work better by building data channels that provide deeper insights into business functions.
Customizations indicate the organization understands its operations and is taking the initiative to find opportunities to optimize.
A custom connector solves a critical problem that the organization faces. Custom-built features often become the most used features within the organization.
RubiCube- Easing through integration with custom connectors
Reaching a seamless integration point takes effort, understanding, and expertise. At CI, we build for zero data loss and construct our solution from the roots of your problem statement. Through custom integration, you can choose what you want to integrate through connectors that make the best happen. VIP BDN is an industry-standard tool used to create and report insights into your business; it follows a format, whereas your final reports might need a separate format. The way to take data from VIP BDN and automate the standard numbers to fall into the custom report that your business needs is done by custom connectors. CIG has performed product integration with such tools. It puts business-critical information in your hands, but even the most customisable tools need robust integration to work optimally.
RubiCube from our product lineup is a predictive data analytics solution tool. Beyond the standard implementation, customized tools need custom connectors built to integrate your systems in the best way possible.
RubiCube has more than 50 default and 10 custom connectors to work with over 1000 metadata connectors to synthesize metrics and visualize the direction in which your company is growing. CI Global ensures you get the right use out of the custom software through precise implementations.
For example: In the wine and beverage industry, regulation is often a mix of the two. The data from ERP systems, like Sage 100, VIP BDN formats, promotions, and commissions, need to be integrated to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Standard connectors exist for a few formats but lack the seamlessness across the system for which your businesses will require custom connectors. CI Global will build the custom connectors that are required to ensure integration is smooth and you get to see the whole picture from multiple sources of data.
With an implementation time of a week, RubiCube boosts your business by focusing on metrics that matter. Automating the reporting methodology improved operational efficiency by more than 30%.
Unload the worries of a faulty integration with the help of custom connectors that ease your data flow. Modernize your systems with technology that moves the needle for your business; contact us today!