One System Can Do It All
Think back to when you first started your business… What application were you using to track your day-to-day operations? Like many startup businesses, you probably relied on separate applications for finance (such as accounting software like QuickBooks), communication (such as email like Outlook), and daily tasks (which ranged from Excel spreadsheets to proprietary solutions). As the team uses all these applications, IT is the most important link that ties it all together. Now, we celebrate the opening of a new equipment dealership!
Now, imagine you have expanded your team, opened a second location, and added new machinery to your fleet—all while still using the same applications you had on day one: accounting software, spreadsheets, emails, and perhaps a few niche systems. Without an IT department, none of these systems communicate effectively.
The legacy approach to this growth has been to add a new application for each business requirement and then have IT link them together or for staff to try to piece the data together at the end of the day, week, or month.
While there are obvious benefits to this expansion style—such as lower upfront costs, full departmental control of each technical stack, and the ability to select the best applications for specific functions—the downsides include spending significantly more time creating and maintaining a complex architecture with higher potential for roadblocks down the line.
The Approach Today
Today’s software approach matches these growth desires but considers the organization holistically.
Earlier this year, we covered our predictions for 2024’s most pressing topics. As we embrace Q4, let us reflect on how your business has performed in these areas. Can you quickly draw conclusions that allow for efficient decision-making?
Some trends that have been on the horizon and will continue to be top of mind for equipment dealerships include:
- Digitalization
- Core + Specific Functionality: We are familiar with marketplaces that add functionality to current applications. Think of our smartphones; they come pre-loaded with certain apps, and you can go to the App Store to get additional desired features. Business software is no different—all businesses run core operations that should be extended with specific functionalities suited to their needs. For instance, RPM’s specific functionality for equipment dealerships can be downloaded from Microsoft AppSource and installed directly into Business Central.
- Automation & Prediction: As we have discovered, automation can enhance operational efficiency with simple processes. We are learning more complex and predictive ways to leverage digitalization for better decision-making. For example, a system could alert staff when equipment needs service under a contract, allowing them to offer an alternative or a service plan that covers equipment needing maintenance during a service contract.
- Ease of Use: To win your team with a new system, it needs to be easy to learn. Additionally, when adding functionality, the system should be quick to adapt.
- Cybersecurity The more we digitalize, the more we need to consider stricter online security practices—not only from a data perspective but also because staff will be the first line of defense against threats. Hosting your software in Microsoft’s Azure cloud provides a layer of backend protection. Adding security training, implementing simulated attacks, and following other best practices will keep you compliant and ahead of potential breaches.
Can your current business systems provide operational opportunities as equipment dealership trends change, or do they fail to meet emerging challenges?
Let’s talk about it!
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