Small- and medium-sized businesses constantly struggle with different areas of business, whether it’s accounting, inventory, or strategic planning. This is because SMBs often lack the tools to manage these systems efficiently. However, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can come in handy. If you’re looking to improve business performance, read on.

What is ERP?
Simply put, ERP software integrates various aspects of your business -- from accounting and human resources to production and sales -- into one system where you can easily manage tasks and process data.

The key feature of any ERP system is a central database that gives users a complete summary of financials, sales figures, and other important metrics. In practice, this means employees in different departments can rely on the same information without your having to reenter that information into a different database.

But simplicity is only one of many benefits.

Enhanced reporting
With business information consolidated in one location, you can generate comprehensive reports and analytics at any time.

One of the most popular uses for this feature is financial reporting. General ledgers, revenue recognition, and tax reporting functionality are built into most ERP software solutions, allowing you to balance the books in seconds.

In addition to this, ERP systems come equipped with business intelligence features that provide intuitive analysis into your operations and forecast the growth of your company. This helps you and other executives find fresh business opportunities and make better-informed decisions.

Better customer service
Access to up-to-date business information also makes it easy to provide high-quality customer service. Suppose a customer inquired whether or not an item was still in stock. Rather than wasting five minutes asking your supply manager, who then checks his or her own records, representatives can access the ERP database to provide the customer with information in half the time.

Simplified compliance
Until recently, most organizations were forced to rely on impractical spreadsheets and manual processes to meet compliance requirements; but with ERP, you can easily and consistently achieve this.

ERP software generally comes with audit functionality, giving you full visibility into your processes. What’s more, it provides templates and guidance to help you meet regulations within your industry, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the International Financial Reporting Standards.

Streamlined workflow
Another key feature is automation. Repetitive tasks that eat a huge chunk of your time can be eliminated by programming automated workflows. For example, you can set your ERP to instantly reorder materials when stock levels have reached a certain threshold. This ensures that your shop never experiences out-of-stock or overstocked incidents.

You can even assign workflows that route invoices and reimbursements to the right accountant to make sure tasks are handled quickly and efficiently.

Rich integrations
The beauty of ERP software is that you can integrate it with other services to extend its capabilities. If you need to track customer information and sales figures, you can combine it with customer relationship management software or pair it with e-commerce services to streamline web-based purchases.

ERP systems can adapt to your ever-changing needs, which is incredibly valuable for your rapidly growing business. If you need more ideas or solutions that can add value to your business other than ERP, call us today!

The post How can ERP improve your business? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Small- and medium-sized businesses constantly struggle with different areas of business, whether it’s accounting, inventory, or strategic planning. This is because SMBs often lack the tools to manage these systems efficiently. However, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can come in handy. If you’re looking to improve business performance, read on.

What is ERP?
Simply put, ERP software integrates various aspects of your business -- from accounting and human resources to production and sales -- into one system where you can easily manage tasks and process data.

The key feature of any ERP system is a central database that gives users a complete summary of financials, sales figures, and other important metrics. In practice, this means employees in different departments can rely on the same information without your having to reenter that information into a different database.

But simplicity is only one of many benefits.

Enhanced reporting
With business information consolidated in one location, you can generate comprehensive reports and analytics at any time.

One of the most popular uses for this feature is financial reporting. General ledgers, revenue recognition, and tax reporting functionality are built into most ERP software solutions, allowing you to balance the books in seconds.

In addition to this, ERP systems come equipped with business intelligence features that provide intuitive analysis into your operations and forecast the growth of your company. This helps you and other executives find fresh business opportunities and make better-informed decisions.

Better customer service
Access to up-to-date business information also makes it easy to provide high-quality customer service. Suppose a customer inquired whether or not an item was still in stock. Rather than wasting five minutes asking your supply manager, who then checks his or her own records, representatives can access the ERP database to provide the customer with information in half the time.

Simplified compliance
Until recently, most organizations were forced to rely on impractical spreadsheets and manual processes to meet compliance requirements; but with ERP, you can easily and consistently achieve this.

ERP software generally comes with audit functionality, giving you full visibility into your processes. What’s more, it provides templates and guidance to help you meet regulations within your industry, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the International Financial Reporting Standards.

Streamlined workflow
Another key feature is automation. Repetitive tasks that eat a huge chunk of your time can be eliminated by programming automated workflows. For example, you can set your ERP to instantly reorder materials when stock levels have reached a certain threshold. This ensures that your shop never experiences out-of-stock or overstocked incidents.

You can even assign workflows that route invoices and reimbursements to the right accountant to make sure tasks are handled quickly and efficiently.

Rich integrations
The beauty of ERP software is that you can integrate it with other services to extend its capabilities. If you need to track customer information and sales figures, you can combine it with customer relationship management software or pair it with e-commerce services to streamline web-based purchases.

ERP systems can adapt to your ever-changing needs, which is incredibly valuable for your rapidly growing business. If you need more ideas or solutions that can add value to your business other than ERP, call us today!

The post How can ERP improve your business? appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Google Drive app has come a long way since its inception. It’s easy-to-use interface and productivity tools are favored by many companies, which is why we were shocked by the announcement that Google Drive app is officially shutting down. So what now?

Google made an official announcement on its blog that support for Google Drive app will end come December 11th, 2017, and the app will shut down completely on March 12th, 2018. In fact, you’ll start seeing notifications from the app’s user interface come October.

But you don’t need to search for an alternative solution just yet; the Google Drive service isn’t going anywhere. Despite the desktop app’s departure, you can still access Google Drive’s applications from your web browser and your mobile devices. Even better, Google has rolled out two more ways to access Drive applications and files on your desktop and keep them in sync on all your devices.

Backup and Sync

This consumer app replaces the standalone Google Drive and Google Photos Uploader apps. The way it works and the functionality it offers is pretty much the same as Drive, except all your Drive content will be stored on your computer hard drive rather than in the cloud.

You’ll be able to access files in My Drive, sync selected folders in My Drive, use native applications like MS Word and Photoshop, and sync other folders such as Documents or Desktop.

You won’t, however, be able to access files in Team Drives, stream files on demand, or sync individual files in My Drive. For those, you’ll have to go with the second option called Drive File Stream.

Computer operating systems requirements for Backup and Sync:

• Windows 7 and up

• Mac Lion 10.7 and up
• Linux via drive.google.com

Drive File Stream

Drive File Stream is designed to save businesses and enterprises space on their local drive by providing on demand, cloud access to all Google Drive files from their computer. Features include access to files in My Drive and Team Drives, folders sync in My Drive, individual file sync in My Drive, and use of native applications like MS Word and Photoshop.

You can also make files available for offline access, and since cached files are synced back to the cloud when you’re online, you’ll always have the latest file versions on all your devices.

Computer operating systems requirements for Drive File Stream:

• Windows 7 and up, no support for Windows Server editions

• Mac El Capitan 10.11 and up

Drive File Stream allows you to do more with Google Drive, but if you’re sure you’re not going to be using all of its listed features, Backup and Sync is a simpler solution. Stay tuned for more news and updates about Google and its solutions. If you have any questions, just give us a call.

The post Goodbye Google Drive app appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

By now, most people know what ransomware is: malicious software that threatens to publish or erase its victims' data unless they pay a ransom. But with the surge in mobile device computing, it was inevitable that ransomware would adapt to find new victims. Let’s discuss how it works and what you can do to prevent it.

How does ransomware make it onto your Android device?

Like its desktop equivalent, mobile ransomware needs to be installed on your device before it can do damage. For Android devices, this means mobile apps that hide their true intent. There are two ways to install programs on your mobile device: downloading them from app stores like Google Play and Amazon Appstore, or downloading them directly from websites and email links.

Surprisingly, both come with risks. Unverified sources often advertise free apps that hide malware, and the best of these can occasionally avoid detection and be allowed into monitored app stores.

What does mobile ransomware look like?

Similar to ransomware on personal computers, mobile ransomware holds data stored on your device hostage and demands ransom. For example, in the case of a ransomware that came with the "OK" app, a popular Russian social network platform that was infected earlier this year, a user is prompted to change device settings. There is no option to close the prompt and tapping Accept locks everything down and leaves you with nothing but a ransom note.

How to protect yourself from mobile ransomware

First and foremost, avoid downloading apps directly from websites or third-party app stores. Additionally, make sure you turn on Google’s security system -- Verify Apps -- which scans all the apps about to be installed on your device for potential threats. You can do so by opening your Android's settings, choosing Security, tapping on Verify Apps, and activating ‘Scan device for security threats’.

Second, install antivirus software on your device and keep it up to date.

Third, back up important files from your device to either a USB disk, a computer, or any cloud-based services. This way, you won’t lose your valuable data if you are forced to factory-reset your device.

Last, if ransomware made its way into your device, don’t pay. According to IT security company ESET, mobile ransomware very rarely includes programming to reverse the damage it has done.

Losing any type of data is an enormous inconvenience, but businesses need to be especially careful about careless employees. Data loss could result in lawsuits or regulatory fines, so it’s important that you know how to safeguard your Android against ransomware.

For more in-depth advice on how to protect yourself and your business from this threat, get in touch with our experts today.

The post Ransomware targets Android devices appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..