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Lithyem Insights

Business Software Doesn’t Have to be Painful

business_operating_platformsYou work at an enterprise corporation. On a daily basis, you use at least seven different programs, likely to perform just one or two tasks. You use an HR portal, an inventory tracker, a content management system, and the company intranet. You run reports in one program only to have to input the same numbers into another program to get the reports that you actually need for your weekly huddle.  You have nightmares about not hitting the save button before you move to the next thing, and you’d rather just do everything in Excel because at least you know how to use it. Sound familiar?

It doesn’t have to be like that. What if you had a piece of software that turned a five minute task into a two and a half minute task? Software that’s reminiscent of your favorite apps where you can swipe, reorganize, and produce results. Software that solves problems and facilitates the primary goals of your job function. Too good to be true? No way. Enter UX design for enterprise, where good design equals good work. We understand that employees are also consumers, downloading daily the newest, fastest, and leanest apps on their phones and tablets. They’ve become accustomed to immediate gratification, one click functionality, and simple layouts. Why should the software we use at work be different? Continue Reading

Welcome to the age of operating platforms

ljlw_4In the past, the typical business assembled its IT systems piece by piece.

Core enterprises systems such as enterprise resource planning, financial management and human resources would be installed. As the company grew, additional applications would be added. Security solutions and backup systems would also come into play, typically retrofitted into the existing collection of IT resources. The company might also add a dashboard to enhance executive decision making.

All of those systems would almost always reside on-premises. The business would take on the responsibility for assembling and maintaining the necessary hardware, software and networking components of the IT infrastructure.

The emergence of the operating platform, however, promises to shake up the business-as-usual take on IT. Instead of a piecemeal approach to business process automation, the operating platform provides application software, process workflows, security and backup, and business analytics in a single, integrated offering. Continue Reading

3 Tips for Bringing Operations Data Up to the Boardroom

amo_cs_3Boardroom and C-level executives are keen to keep tabs on a company’s fundamentals at all times.

One way to keep the top-tier appraised of an enterprise’s performance is to make sure they are receiving the latest operations data. That particular tactic may seem fairly obvious. Unfortunately, the exact ways in which an organization can best meet the informational needs of company decision makers may not be as self evident. A large corporate entity generates massive amounts of data. Which data sets will prove relevant for demanding executives? And once the data sets are determined, how will the organization deliver the information to the boardroom? What technologies will be involved?

Those are just some of the questions to be settled when pushing operations data to the front office. Here are a few tips on how to get the job done.

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Three Reasons Understanding Operational Intelligence Will Increase Growth

equipment_managementWhen you come to grips with the main benefits of operational intelligence, new avenues for expansion should come into focus almost immediately.

Operational intelligence, a branch of of the broader field of analytics, focuses on the here-and- now of business. Solutions generally consist of a monitoring component that feeds key performance indicators into a dashboard that lets executives visualize business trends and patterns. The operational intelligence dashboards, in turn, facilitate the management of an enterprise’s business processes. Such dashboards provide insights that improve the organizational decision-making process. Another type of dashboard, namely an analytical dashboard, focuses on predictive analytics and emerging business opportunities. They are chiefly concerned with the future.

Operational intelligence, in contrast, is all about the present — and unlocking a business entity’s potential today. Here are three reasons understanding the essence of operational intelligence will propel your company’s growth:

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5 Business Process Questions to Ask Yourself

business processOrganizations that automate business processes without first considering their efficiency may accomplish little more than making mistakes faster.

The correct approach is to evaluate the business processes before investing heavily in the IT systems that automate those processes. This task originated in the 1990s as business process reengineering, but is also known as functional process improvement, business process redesign and business process analysis.

Whatever the label, the philosophy is basically the same: the organization that deploys systems on a solid business process foundation is more likely to (1) solve the business problem it intended to address, and (2) obtain the greatest return on its technology investment.

Getting started with business process analysis means asking yourself some pointed questions. Whether you pursue this analysis on your own or working with a consultant, here are five important questions you should consider.

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The Profit-Killing List of Business Processes Ignored by Businesses

resultsEnterprises can’t afford inefficiency.

Complex and outdated business processes increase effort, slow down the tempo of operations and shrink margins. Mature businesses need to keep an eye out for potential profit thieves, but young companies on the rise must also be wary. As an organization grows, profits will only follow if it gains efficiencies as it expands. A critical task for companies of all sizes: identify cumbersome modes of doing business and convert the wasted effort back into income.

Here is a short list of business processes that may be causing you problems. These problem processes should not be overlooked:

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6 Critical IT Areas to Apply Cost Reduction Strategies

amo_cs_2IT managers typically try to build a business case for their investments, often arguing that the dollars spent today will reduce cost over the long haul.

Indeed, IT systems can speed up cycle time and boost productivity, saving labor expenses along the way. But, ironically, an organization’s IT infrastructure can emerge as a large and rapidly expanding cost contributor. The issue can sneak up on companies as they accumulate new systems to accommodate business growth.

Most enterprises won’t have to look very hard to find opportunities to trim their IT outlays. The following six IT areas may be good places to start for your cost reduction strategies.

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