Happy 2011!  I would like to wish the best of 2011 to our thousands of friends and customers.

Just like the New Years’ resolutions we personally make at this time of year, business owners and managers often resolve to review their business operations, too.  This year, there are indications that this task is more important than ever; with signs that the economic recovery is taking hold, we should be certain that we are ready for the challenge ahead.  We ought to gain greater understanding about both the opportunities that await us and the limiting factors that might preclude us from achieving our business goals.

On that point, E&A believes that the strategic implementation of technology offers the most cost-effective and efficient means to significantly improve business processes, profitability and growth. What do we mean? Strategic use of the software means that after the initial software implementation and stabilization processes have been completed, the software is optimized in such a way that your business gains competitive advantage.

Through our work with hundreds of companies of all sizes, E&A has learned that companies that get the most from technology are committed to continuous improvement processes that are customized to their unique business needs. That’s the reason why companies that never move beyond the initial implementation stage rarely ever capture the full value of their software investments.

Think about it. Can you name a business competing in today’s fast-paced environment that does not change some processes, personnel, or strategies over a twelve month period?  Yet, far too many businesses forget to critically re-evaluate their software systems and procedures, much less optimize their operations around those changes.

E&A encourages its customers to perform thorough reviews of their software processes, whether or not they might have recently implemented or upgraded their ERP systems.  Because this is done better with E&A participation, it is recommended that you contact your E&A technical manager to schedule a review as soon as possible. Several customers have already completed this step. The results have been significant, with sales improvements, labor and materials cost reductions, and other benefits reported.

As we do every year, the 2011 E&A User Group Series will be starting soon. We plan to share how your peers have been successfully implementing technology strategies and preparing their businesses for the future. We hope you take advantage of the opportunity and look forward to seeing you soon.