Latest Business Process Management Articles

Honeywell and DSI help Herzog implement an industry-leading asset management system, resulting in $20,000/month cost savings.

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:11:46 -0700

Herzog Contracting Corp has various projects, crews and sites nationwide. As most crews report directly to the construction site each morning, and not a centralized location, there was traditionally little to no tracking of the different tools and small equipment used by each crew.

Herzog recognized that the “honor system” was resulting in a major loss in profitability due to the costs associated with replacing tools and equipment that went missing. When Herzog won a new contract for the construction of Denver’s West Corridor Light Rail Project in 2009, company leaders recognized the opportunity to implement an asset management solution and enlisted Dynamic Systems Inc., a software developer specializing in bar code data collection applications, to help. Herzog and Dynamic Systems selected Honeywell’s Dolphin® 7850 mobile computer and Focus® 1690 hand-held area-imaging scanner, paired with CheckMate Toolroom software and pre-printed 1D and 2D bar codes to label, track and monitor the tools and equipment used for the light rail project. Since implementation in May of 2009, tool and equipment replacement has lessened to the point that the company is saving an estimated $20,000 per month.

www.abarcode.com

800-342-3999

Dynamic Systems Releases Law Enforcement Barcode Equipment and Inventory Manager Software.

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:59:06 -0700

July 14, 2010/Redmond, Washington/ Dynamic Systems, Inc., a Redmond, Washington software developer specializing in data collection applications has announced a low cost equipment and inventory manager for law enforcement agencies based on bar code technology.

About Dynamic Systems (DSI)
In business since 1981, DSI provides bar code systems that track equipment, inventory, documents, time sheets, capital assets and equipment due for maintenance or service. Bar code data collection has been proven to be the most accurate and efficient method of tracking or counting items.

Release of Equipment Manager Software
DSI has announced the immediate release of Equipment Manager, targeted for Law Enforcement Agencies who want to reduce the loss of gear and save time tracking down which piece of equipment is checked out to which officer. The program reports when an inspection is due on items such as laptops, weapons, tasers and vests, and keeps track of the expiration date of consumables such as OC Spray. It is easy to check in and out shotguns and long rifles for every shift. The system can report the overall value of the agency’s inventory which will allow annual budgets for equipment to be set. The inventory module will keep track of class B items such as batons, masks, gloves, and handcuffs. “I’m impressed with the simplicity and adaptability of your equipment management system. It’s affordable for almost all agencies, even those with just a few employees,” stated Bill Allen, Process Control Consultant.

Cost Justification

If it requires one minute checking a n item in and out, and if the agency’s staff spends even 20 minutes a day searching for items or servicing equipment, the overhead savings is dramatic. “Loss of equipment and malfunctioning gear can be a major overhead cost for agencies. Our customers see a typical payback for the Equipment Manager within 3-4 months,” states Alison Falco, President of Dynamic Systems.

Contact: Rob Freeman, V.P. Business Development

800-342-3999; robf@dsisales.com

www.abarcode.com

Sales Enablement Tools - Implement them and Earn the Best Results

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:18:22 -0700

With technology improving every day and newer tools emerging into the market, you need to understand that you have to grow accordingly. There is no point in sticking to the older sales techniques as these are antique and people are just not interested.

The ability of a potential buyer has also increased as he realizes all the tools that he can make use of to ensure that he has proper knowledge of the product. What with the rating systems and the online revolution the potential buyer knows what he wants and you need to match your product with this standard if you want to be successful.

If you want your sales team to produce the best results, sales force evaluation is very important. The information that your team collects can be reduced with all the tools that are provided. All that you have to do is incorporate these tools into your business and you will understand how much more it is required to know about the atmosphere of work.

There are certain basic principles that you need to inculcate into your team as part of sales performance management . When you talk with your client remember to meet him in the eye. This way you build trust and the buyer knows that you are honest and are willing to do good sales.

Being grateful, by mentioning your tanks or sending thank you notes are considered a lot. You can do this by e-mail as well and this way you will be able to build trust with your customer. It is important that you have the right information when you speak with your client. Being punctual and on-time will always help and will ensure that you produce the best results for you.

It is important that you also have the right attitude when you talk to the client. This way you will understand that you have the best buyers and the best sales ever. There are several tools that can help you in this regard and many of these are found with several companies. Incorporating these tools into how you work needs to be done with care and consideration.

Plenty of involvement needs to be presented from your side as the sales management team and this is what will help your team perform better and produce excellent results. The technology that is put forward needs to be embraced with care even if it is going to cost you some money because it is the quality of your work that will decide the output that you achieve.

The Best Ways Of Sales Management - Improve the Way You Sell

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:31:24 -0700

The most important part of leading a sales team is to continuously motivate them. The idea of a TEAM is well defined by this acronym, 'Together Everyone Achieves More'. This is what you need to concentrate on if you want to achieve the best results from your team.

When you want to sell your product to your client it is mandatory that you make them comfortable and see how you can provide to meet their needs. The identification of their needs is most prominent and the client will do the rest. The same is with your sales team as well. If you want Sales Enablement , you team needs to understand the goals and needs that you have set forth. This way, they will have this before them always and they will be able to provide a hundred percent of their interest into what they are doing.

The most important part of managing your team is to perform a sales force evaluation at frequent intervals. Most importantly, the evaluation that is done should not be like an appraisal as many people consider it. There needs to be a clear distinction. This will ensure that you have the right aims in your mind and you are serious about achieving it.

The following are certain points that you need to incorporate into your sales performance management schemes:
"    Remember to focus on your strengths. If you have to build a really huge building, one way you can do it is make it taller than all that is around you or make sure that you have the others scrapped to the ground before you start of. This you can do only if you concentrate on building upon your strength.
"    Planning is very important. This involves setting goals and objectives that are realistic and something that can be achieved.
"    It is important that you use the potential in your hand. There is no point in involving your emotions with your team members. Treat every one with equality and expect all of them to give their best.
"    As a manager you need to ensure that you have your team capable of achieving the goal you have put forward. If not you need to ensure that they have the best atmosphere and support, they will not be able to give you their best.

Ultimately growing sales revenue needs to be what you need to concentrate on and this can be achieved only if you will do your best and work equally hard with your team as they are working on the objectives you have set forth for them. Taking consideration of all these factors will give the best deals that you have ever seen in your life.

Business Planning With Electronic Document Management Software

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:53:35 -0700

Today’s business success depends on applying the right technology and software. Companies are now depending on electronic document management system (EDMS) to store their information. EDMS is the software that designed to store and track electronic documents and other media.

An EDMS provides efficiency to the business. Nowadays market place efficiency is the watchword for any business. An EDMS helps a business to improve their business efficiency in four ways:-

Storing and handling paper documents is the most stressful work for any business. An EDMS reduces the labor involved to this.
For storing the paper documents huge space is necessary. But an EDMS reduces the space involved to it.
EDMS increase the ability to comply with appropriate regulations.
By allowing the employees to collaborate and work remotely, an EDMS decreases the amount of office space.

Features of EDMS

EDMS is considered as the best option to manage documents because it is a standalone system that performs all the necessary tasks to manage the electronic documents.

Capturing Data

To build an electronic document management system, the challenge is to transform all the paper documents into an electronic format. But to enter data into an EDMS is not a difficult task. It can be done by simply scanning images on them. Documents that are already in an electronic format can also be stored in the system.

Retrieval of Documents

After saving a document, it is important to retrieve it when someone needs it. EDMS save the documents in different folders with different names. When anyone needs a file he can easily find it in the respected folders. So it is easy to find the documents from the bulk of documents with in few seconds. It saves a lot of working hours.

Incorporation between Other Documents

In a large office it is important to transfer data to other persons and offices in different formats. EDMS standardize access to other applications. By using EDMS, it is easy to transfer data between the EDMS and other applications such as word-processors and e-mail.

Workflow

Every enterprise has to rout their documents to the persons who work with the documents. But to do the work manually is risky and kills a lot of time. But an EDMS application makes the routing of documents automatic. It forwards a document to the appropriate users within a specified time. The system ensures the smart and smooth flow of documents through the enterprise.

Control Multiple Versions of A Document

EDMS software is able control multiple versions of a document. With the development of digital data, now it is possible to keep a data in various formats. So it is important to manage different versions of a data correctly and retrieve it in the requested format for the user.

EDMS control different versions in two ways- Concurrent Access and Concurrent Versions Systems.

When two uses work on the same document simultaneously, it creates a versions control problem. So avoid this problem EDMS locks data to ensure that only one user can access and work on a document at any one time. This is known as concurrent access.

Some times in a company it is necessary to work several users simultaneously in the same document. Then the software enables the concurrent use. In this case multiple users have to regularly use the "update" command to incorporate the recent changes that they make.

Security of the Document

Provide security to the documents is a challenge and an EDMS can do that strictly. It only enables those to access into who have the correct access permission.

These are the features of a good EDMS. Before buying an EDMS, an organization has to take care of these features.

Personal Injury Lawyers by Kozloff Stoudt

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:24:46 -0700

At Kozloff Stoudt, our personal injury lawyers treat personal injury cases in a time-sensitive manner. It is important the claim for a personal injury case is taken within a specific time frame only. You can hire from our judicious and experienced team of attorneys at Kozloff Stoudt in case of an accident or a similar incident. No delay should be made in hiring a personal injury lawyer. Personal Injury Lawyers at Kozloff Stoudt are capable to assist citizens in a number of cases such as personal injury cases, which include wrongful death. Our personal injury lawyers also help when someone gets physical injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries during an accident or negligence of someone leading to sustained injuries. For a personal injury lawyer at Kozloff Stoudt, no case is too extreme and no assistance too far. Suppose someone has suffered from a personal injury or death because of someone’s negligence then the injured person has the right to recover the damages. It is a legal right of an individual to be compensated for its personal losses. Many people are not aware of their legal rights and never visit a court when they are harmed by negligence but to make the American citizens aware of their rights Kozloff Stoudt has taken the initiative to spread awareness among people. The company has a long experience in providing legal advice and in personal injury matter it is an expert. Kozloff Stoudt also deals in auto accident cases, truck accident cases and motorcycle accidents cases. It has an expert panel of personal injury lawyers who can handle cases of medial malpractices as well as property defects, product failure and other defects. Our personal injury lawyers also give assistance for nursing home cases as well as elder care injuries which is caused by negligence of other people. The lawyers should have the required experience to handle insurance companies operations as well as be familiar with the court system. Our personal injury lawyers know how to attain the maximum value for the claim. Kozloff Stoudt has been providing its clients with a prompt resolution and has been handling cases as no other firm is able to handle. This firm has been providing justices to clients within the timeframe, which saves not only time of the client but also time of the courts.

Commercial Cleaning Companies - How to Select the Best Cleaning Company

Thu, 13 May 2010 04:59:03 -0700

Finding the right air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning companies can be a highly challenging task. There are hundreds of air duct cleaning companies competing with each other in any given locality. Finding the best duct cleaning, air duct cleaning; dryer vent cleaning can be a challenging task for the consumers. However, if we find the right duct cleaning company, we can save a lot of money. Good air duct cleaning companies will make our lives by give new and fresh indoor air. Some of the dryer vent cleaning companies also provides air duct cleaning services.

One of the best places for all your requirements is a search in the internet, air duct replacement, air duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and carpet cleaning. There are so many cleaning companies are providing the above wonderful services to their valuable clients. They enjoy a high level of customer satisfaction and very good reputation in offering air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning services. They handle both commercials as well as residential calls.

They need to take into consideration a number of factors before hiring an air duct cleaning company. Their duct cleaning company should be highly experienced. Only experienced service providers will be able to handle different types of requirements without any glitches. Secondly, they should also have all the necessary equipment needed to do the job. Without having all the necessary air duct cleaning equipment they will not be able to offer satisfactory service.

Thirdly, they should be certified to take up the cleaning assignments, besides having the necessary qualifications and certifications, cleaning companies should also be insured. Finally, there are some well established and experienced cleaning companies are offering dryer vent cleaning, air duct cleaning, duct cleaning and carpet cleaning to their valuable customers. For more information and details, please do not hesitate to visit their informative website.

Five Benefits of Electronic Cigarettes

Mon, 03 May 2010 19:50:54 -0700

When it comes to choosing E-cigarettes, there are a variety of benefits that can be seen from making the switch from traditional cigarettes. As well as traditional benefits to your health, you are able to see benefits that can be demonstrated through the environment and even through your lifestyle, including your budget.

Here are some of the benefits that can be seen from consumers making the switch to electronic cigarettes:

Making the switch to electronic can reduce your carbon footprint, while increasing your health. There is a large portion of the litter and trash through the globe that can be attributed to cigarette butts. This litter can be easily reduced with the use of e-cigarettes, as the waste is lowered and there are no butts that are disposed of, there is simply the canister that holds the vapor from the e-cigarette.

Making the switch to electronic cartridge and cigarette devices is better for the health. The inhalation techniques that are used through the electronic cigarettes is different than traditional cigarettes, rather than a smoke that is inhaled through the action of smoking, there is an inhalation of a vapor that is activated through the cartridge in the device that mimics the appearance of a cigarette.

Electronic devices that are used instead of cigarettes are less costly than traditional cigarettes. Since there is only one cartridge system that is required and there are refills that are available with the vapor systems enclosed the system can be less expensive than buying a traditional pack of cigarettes a day.

Electronic cigarettes are safer for you, as well as being safer for all of the people that are around you, as there is less smoke that is being absorbed into the air and therefore it is safer as people are not exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke. Second-hand and third-hand smoke has been proven dangerous for children and adults and can lead to increased chances of develop asthma and other conditions.

Electronic based cigarettes can be used where traditional cigarettes can not. You are able to use the cigarettes in shopping malls, on airplanes and even in other public areas, like restaurants. Through this added bonus, you no longer have to sneak outside to enjoy a quick cigarette, as you are able to smoke without affecting those around you. For smokers that commute or travel, it can be hard to go hours on end without having access to a cigarette but you no longer have to worry about this with regular use of e-cigs!

As one of the best alternatives to traditional smoking, e-cigarettes are a great way to reduce the risks that are associated with smoking by cutting down and reducing the amount of cigarette smoke that can reduce the chances of developing certain conditions that have been exacerbated by exposure to cigarette smoke.

Learning about the benefits of using electronic cigarettes can be an effective way to help you make the choice between electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.

Protection from Identity Fraud: Your Business, Your Life

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:54:16 -0700

Have you ever had a huge credit card bill without even purchasing the things listed in the credit card statement?

Have you ever been arrested for outstanding parking tickets even if you know that you didn’t even commit any traffic violations?

Then you might be a victim of identity theft crime.

This kind of crime can be very damaging and frustrating for its victims. Not only that it the person committing this crime can steal your money, but the criminal can also ruin your reputation. Financial fraud, such as credit card fraud, bank account fraud and computer fraud are examples of identity theft. Another type of identity theft involves criminal activities committed in your name. Imagine yourself being investigated for a crime that you didn’t commit. This can be frustrating or upsetting for anyone who becomes a victim of identity theft or identity fraud.

Crimes like these can be very devastating for the victims and also for the victim’s family. It can result on you being convicted for tax evasion or even fraud. There are many forms that identity theft can occur, it can simply be as simple as a lost or forgotten credit card or submitting your personal information in emails to people you don’t know.

This is why you should know how to protect yourself from identity theft. It is important that you should be cautious on whom you give your personal information to and also you should be aware with all your credit cards and other things that can provide personal and financial information about you.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from identity theft:

• If someone calls you and tells you that they are from the credit card company or other financial institutions, and would be asking you about your personal information, do not give it to them. Hang up the phone and call the credit card company or financial institution the caller said he or she is from.

• If you need to give out your personal information to a company, be sure that the company you’re dealing with will protect the information you give them. Ask on how secure their files are.

• It is wise that you should keep track of all the credit card purchases you made and withdrawals you made in your bank and check the billing statement and withdrawal statement carefully and thoroughly. Criminals who commit identity fraud are usually careful, purchasing only one item at a time in the duration of the credit card billing mails. If you find something irregular in your credit card billing statement, report it immediately to concerned authorities.

• Criminals who commit identity theft protection usually go dumpster diving. This means that they go look in garbage to obtain any discarded documents containing personal and financial information. You should be careful when you dispose of your documents containing personal and financial information. If it is possible, burn them or shred them to the point that it cannot be put back together.

• Do not carry any unnecessary documents or cards in your wallet or purse containing your personal information. A simple crime like stealing your wallet or purse can immediately turn to identity crime. This is one of the most common ways a thief uses to obtain personal information.

• It is wise to make photo copies of your credit cards, passports and other sensitive documents to easily cancel it if ever it was stolen.

• Your deposit slips is one of the easiest ways a thief can acquire your personal information. Be careful with it. Keep it in a safe place in your home and also try to be aware of it in public areas. Deposit slips can provide the thief to access your bank account.

• Your account in emails and other websites also provide personal and financial information. Be sure that you have a very secure password. Do not use easy to guess passwords such as, your birthday, or your mothers maiden name.

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, you should contact the concerned authorities, such as the police and fraud offices the moment you suspect it. Close your bank accounts immediately and get your credit card reissued with a different account number. Tell your bank about your suspicion by calling and stating it in writing.

Manufacturers Use Technology to Help Weather the Economic Downturn

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:16:44 -0700

Too often the manufacturers will implement technology for financial reporting purposes but overlook efficiencies that can generate cash flow and reduce costs on the manufacturing floor. Accurate information that provides a business owner or manager the ability to make immediate decisions about his/her operation resulting in a boost to profitability is crucial during an economic downturn. If revenue is down and the market mood does not permit price increases, then profitability can only be realized by reducing costs. So you must ask yourself “What prevents me from 100% efficiency?”

Focus on “Faster and Better”. Every asset, machine, tool and person you have must be accountable and cycle more quickly. An airline cannot survive when planes are not in the air producing revenue. Your business cannot survive unless you know where your assets are and how they can be used efficiently. Imagine being able to view where your tools and equipment are at any moment so that you can plan to transfer them to the next job. How important it is to locate a unique asset when it is required on another active job, avoiding any down time? What if you knew exactly how many hours were spent on each step in the assembly process and where the bottlenecks were? These situations and others cause accelerated costs and reduced productivity.

Take a Proactive Approach. Under normal circumstances a business owner/manager will review financial (accounting) information, overhead and direct operating margin at the end of a month or quarter. But these aren’t “normal” circumstances. “Companies must plan their destiny and not look in the rearview mirror!” stated Bill Allen of W.A. Allen Consulting. “Instead of flying blind (until a workorder is completed) it’s time to operate from a plan. Understand what prevents you from 100% efficiency.”

Buy-in Happens from the Top-Down. Start by developing a culture that compels events to conform to your plan. Anything that deviates from the plan is an opportunity for cost-savings and efficiencies. Do you have too much time loss in non-direct labor areas (idle or down time)? By evaluating what interrupts the workflow on a daily basis, you will uncover areas that with improvement will provide an increased bottom line. It is up to the company to make a conscious decision to manage from a

plan rather than react to circumstances, and to hold all employees accountable for following the plan. This transition will be easier if the

technology tools available today are adopted.

What technology can provide you the most reward? Evaluate your operations to determine where your technology dollars are best spent.

Reduced Down Time. Can you reduce or minimize the time spent looking for machines, tools and other assets or plan maintenance and calibration to avoid machine down time? A tracking system using barcode will show where your assets are at the time they are needed – who took them last or which job they were checked out to. An integrated maintenance scheduler will flag required maintenance as it is due and assure OSHA compliance.

Do you make shrinkage unacceptable? Proper control of tools and inventory prevents costs that result from hoarding, irresponsibility or downright theft. It is up to the company management to declare that shrinkage is unacceptable and to hold employees accountable for losses that are under their control. This policy is given “teeth” when you can effectively track your assets and inventories using technology.

Can you identify bottlenecks in the production process – something that slows down productivity? Although you may not be aware of the bottlenecks in production, this is probably the single most important variable. What are your capacities for output and what is the optimal load of people, machines and tools to meet 100% capacity? How do you

route the work to prevent idle or down time? A computerized system that tracks labor hours to a specific function within the assembly process

and on the fly will help prevent these costly issues by identifying those points where workflow gets interrupted.

Does your staff spend unproductive minutes (or hours) manually recording transactions? Manpower that goes into manual recording and recordkeeping does nothing to increase revenue or control costs. Technology can provide the integrated systems control over asset use, capacity, maintenance, location – and do it 24 x 7.

You don’t have to be one of the “big guys” to afford technology. Today, systems are available for a reasonable price that can help avoid many of the costs consumed by inefficiencies in operations and can be purchased as stand-alone systems focused on one aspect of the business. The decision where to start depends on what areas you find are losing the most money.

Time and Attendance: A Time and Attendance software package will tell you who is working when on what job for how long, and produce reports for payroll. It can be set up to automatically account for start and end times, breaks, lunch, etc. to reduce the time your employees spend recording their time, and barcode scanning makes the input fast and easy.

Job Costing: The Job Costing software adds the ability to track inventory costs plus the labor hours consumed against the specific job while the job is in progress.

Work in Process (WIP): WIP software is a subset of Job Costing, and tracks a specific work order through the production process. It will tell your scheduler and production manager the stage of each work order in the production process at any moment.

Inventory Control: An Inventory Control software package will account for your stock parts and tell you when you need to reorder. It can issue parts to a work order or job and confirm that the correct items have been

pulled. It will keep track of finished goods inventories and report replenishment requirements. Barcoded inventory makes it quick and easy to take an inventory count.

Barcode: Barcode technology has been actively used for over 20 years in manufacturing, distribution and retail to track inventory and jobs. The barcode terminals are similar to PDA’s, and provide immediate and accurate information. There are barcode labels designed for harsh environments that are durable enough to withstand the dirt, grease and rough use that many environments experience and labels that can be printed on a laser printer. Barcodes can easily be added to work orders in the form of a laser “font”, allowing parts, jobs, etc. to be barcoded on the work order.

Making the job of your employees easier by assuring that they have what they need to perform at their best reduces stress. Showing them that you are taking steps to increase the profitability will provide them more confidence in the company.

Submitted Alison Falco

President

Dynamic Systems Inc.

15331 NE 90th Street

Redmond, WA 98052

800-342-3999 www.abarcode.com

Cable Display Kits improve your image and increase Sales

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:13:05 -0800

Cable Display Kits provides an image of efficiency and professionalism - whether you use them in your shop window or in the store itself they help improve the customer experience and therefore contribute to increasing sales.

What are cable display kits?

Cable display kits allow you to easily suspend information you wish to show, allowing you to change posters/flyers/leaflets quickly whilst ensuring they are displayed in an eye-catching way.

A better store atmosphere...

...will results in happier customers! Cable display kits come in all shapes and sizes, including:

Cable Window Displays
Estate Agents Displays
Cable Poster Holders
It doesn't matter what size store you own, the use of a well-placed cable window display will go a long way in the fight to persuade a customer to shop with you. One of the most popular destinations for such a piece of equipment is an Estate Agents - Estate Agents displays are their number one selling tool. With thousands of potential customers walking past the shop on a daily basis, Estate Agents need a cable display kit that will jump out at the passerby and entice them into the shop.

Creative

Be creative. Cable display kits or cable poster holders are not just for estate agents and travel companies. Yes, Estate Agents Displays are extremely popular - but they also work for other companies. Do you have a new offer that you would like your customers to see in a more visually appealing way? Perhaps you would like a new way to offer flyers, discount cards etc? Professional cable poster holders or cable display kits can provide the perfect way into your store-visitors wallet!

Cost-Effective

Cable display kits are a cost-effective way to help increase your sales. When you're looking for a stylish and innovative way to display your company or product information, a correctly placed cable poster holder is the answer.