Blogs

Owen Price will be joining the staff at Asyma’s Edmonton office, where he’ll be responsible for consulting and implementing effective management information systems for Edmonton businesses. He is uniquely qualified due to his 25+ years in the computer industry and his multiple Sage 300 certifications.

When we look at diagnosing business problems, we must be wary of not just treating the symptoms – that's like treating a broken leg with nothing but Ibuprofen! If we don't know that the leg is broken, our thought process is that the leg hurts, so pain is the problem to fix. If you dig deeper, though, you soon find that there are other – worse – symptoms, such as the inability to walk.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in September 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Poor money management can spell the end for any business. Good money management includes saving records, managing payroll, protecting your information, and budgeting for your expenses as well as a “rainy day.” The best way to practice good money management is with a good software accounting system. Accounting software is a safe, reliable way to manage your business's finances and achieve financial stability.

Whether it is company growth or the annoying accumulation of system inefficiencies that serves as a catalyst, you're at the point where you realize it's time for a change. And there's great news: with the tools and resources currently available, upgrading your system is less intimidating and less expensive than you think.

Congressman Donald Rumsfeld said, “There are also unknown unknowns … the ones we don’t know we don’t know … it is the latter category that tend to be the difficult ones.”

Rumsfeld is right. You don’t know what you don’t know, and it's impossible to know everything. Being mindful and prepared for potential unknowns, however, will help you avoid making poor business decisions down the road. This strategy is about being aware of and managing unknown factors as well as implementing plans to reduce potential risks – versus fearing the unknown.

You might be asking, “Why should I pay for a business process review? Aren’t they just trying to sell me something?”

Unfortunately, the answer is “maybe.” If the business consultant doesn’t share everything they learn and offer advice based on the business process review then yes, they were just selling it to you. If, however, the consultant uses the business process review as a springboard to learning about your business and go through the learning process with you, you should expect to pay for the knowledge and results gained.

Every organization operates differently, and not all systems provide the same features and benefits. However, you don't need to recreate the wheel. Taking a moment to understand current business requirements and future goals will allow you to prioritize your “wish list” and create a detailed roadmap that leads to implementation success.

How would you define your organization's processes and procedures? Do they allow you to do your job efficiently and effectively? Or do you find yourself creating “workarounds” to complete daily tasks?

Often, an issue is a symptom of a larger underlying problem. Taking the time to understand business processes and requirements will allow you to create and implement the appropriate solution, saving you time and money in the long run. At Asyma Solutions, we work with customers and complete a rigorous process review that involves examining current system processes and procedures to create positive change, rectifying issues facing today's businesses. 

Business consultants are expensive. Many firms will charge you time and materials – an hourly rate anywhere from $125 to $250 per hour, plus travel, plus lodging, plus, plus, plus. So, what should you hire a business consultant?

Studies have repeatedly shown that businesses that create an engaged workforce are more profitable, resilient, and able to cultivate growth. It is, therefore, surprising that so many organizations fail to provide the conditions necessary to promote growth through employee engagement. If your company is not exceeding your expectations, here's how employee engagement drives new business leads.