Checklist: Do You Need a Project Management Solution?
Project management (PM) software plays a critical role in the successful implementation of a new solution or task resolution. In fact, a study by Hive found that 77 percent of high-performing projects use project management software. So, if projects are more successful using PM software, why aren’t more companies using it?
The answers are as unique as each company, with one of the top responses being that there is a general misunderstanding of how project management impacts your services. But, how do you know if a project management software solution is truly right for your business?
Start with the questions below, checking off any you can say YES to:
Do you have visibility on each step of a product or process deployment?
Do you have a way to tell who is responsible for each task?
Can you organize your tasks into projects to eliminate chaos and confusion?
Can you easily track time spent on a project for accurate billing?
Can your team see which deadlines are approaching and prioritize their workload?
Can your team collaborate and share information in a single location?
Do your team members know their timeline before they begin a project?
Can you or your team quickly identify gaps in your deliverables?
Can you identify projects holds and quickly determine why they occur?
Do you have a way to generate reports based on the completed projects?
How many did you check off? The answer will determine how immediate your need is for a project management solution.
0-3: You need a project management software solution ASAP. You’re likely losing valuable time, money and resources on projects that you don’t quite have a handle on. You’re missing deadlines and struggling to get the entire team on board with process changes. By adopting a PM solution, you’ll gain visibility and control over your projects and deployments – helping you keep on schedule and budget.
4-7: You have a handle on some things, but you’re likely losing valuable visibility when it comes to where projects are being held up or how your team’s time is being spent. Don’t let a deployment come to a screeching halt because your teams don’t communicate about when a task has been completed and when another task should begin. A PM solution will help your team stay on the same page and work towards a common goal – total project euphoria.
8-10: You have a handle on most things, but do you have a comprehensive solution that lets you assign tasks, track time, create project reports and manage timelines all in one place? A PM solution makes it easier to monitor and manage your team and work together across different departments. Cut out the costs of adopting multiple software programs when a single solution can help you streamline and optimize your business.
To learn more about project management software, which solution is right for your business and how we can help, contact LSInextGen today.
Identifying the Right SAP Solutions Partner
Streamlining productivity and improving processes is an extensive journey and – without the right partner at your side – can be full of distractions. You need someone who not only helps you overcome obstacles but acts as your guide to business growth.
SAP offers top-of-the-line technology solutions designed to make your journey easier, but knowing which solutions you need and having the right resource to deploy them can make all the difference for the success of your implementation. That’s why identifying the right SAP solutions partner for the job should be one of your first steps.
Here are some questions you should ask yourself before signing any contracts:
What’s your budget?
Simply by partnering with the right business, you can experience significant savings on the solutions you need to propel your business forward. Monthly payments are flexible, but annual payments save you more money on average. That’s because most companies bundle multiple services when you purchase an annual plan – giving you more for less.
SAP provides two different tiers of partnerships – Silver and Gold. By affiliating with an SAP Silver or Gold Partner, you can receive SAP solutions for a lower price because these businesses leverage long-standing business relationships to win you deals and help you avoid solutions that won’t actually resolve your roadblocks.
How involved do you need your partner to be?
You’re an expert when it comes to your business, but how well can you navigate uncharted waters? A reliable SAP solutions partner leads you through every step of the implementation process – from the first consultation meeting to post-project deployment.
That’s because a reliable partner knows your success is directly related to how closely your process is monitored. They sit down and listen to your goals and needs, then create a strategy that leverages the latest technology to help you meet and exceed your objectives. But their involvement doesn’t end there. They meet with you quarterly and annually to establish the next steps for your business.
Is diversity important when choosing a partner?
Sometimes you can become so focused on a problem that you overlook the different ways to overcome it. By adding diversity to your partnerships, you’ll gain opportunities for new and improved ways of resolving your toughest challenges.
With a minority business enterprise value-added reseller, you can rest assure you’re not only getting the best-of-the-best professionals, but you’ll leverage a variety of ideas positioned to boost your business success. A diverse group of professionals bring different backgrounds and expertise to your growth strategy and use that experience to drive fresh ideas for your business challenges.
As an SAP Gold Partner, LSInextGen can help you leverage real-time data to enhance your analytics and streamline your processes. We’ve helped hundreds of businesses in all industries enhance their infrastructure through the power of SAP. Plus, we’re the only minority business enterprise value-added reseller in North America. For more information on how LSInextGen can boost your business, contact us today.
Is It Time for a Rebrand?
Competition is everywhere, and you need more than a great service offering to break through all the noise. You need a strong reputation and a corporate identity – this is your brand. If you’re not being heard in a crowded field of competitors, revamping your identity through strategic branding can help you thrive. But how do you know it’s the right time for a rebrand?
Rebranding typically takes place when there is a significant change within an organization. It can be driven by something as obvious as a name change prompted by a merger, or it could be the result of a change in an organization’s business model, mix of products or target audience. With almost every company, a rebrand is bound to happen eventually, yet a successful rebrand depends on timing. Here are five major signs it might be time for a rebrand:
- You’re Failing to Differentiate Yourself
Branding is all about competitive differentiation. Creating an identity within a niche doesn’t require a revolutionary idea. It simply needs to have one special thing that separates it from the competition. What’s your unique product, service, or selling point? Once you take the time to figure out what that is, you can center your brand around it to gain recognition over time.
- Your Brand is Overly Complicated
What information and feelings does your branding give at first sight? If people are confused about what you’re trying to portray, they won’t stick around to figure it out. The only thing more confusing than not having a unified brand is a brand that sends multiple messages. When it comes to branding, increased complexity means decreased cohesiveness – and for the prospect, that’s confusing. The best way to fix this problem is with a rebrand. Make sure your new message is clear, cohesive and consistent.
- Your Business Strategy Has Changed
When you started your business, you probably established a set of values that served as the foundation for your strategic objectives. However, as your business grew, your values also evolved. Whether it’s unforeseen market opportunities or changes in technology, business models change – and that’s a good thing. The key is making sure your brand keeps up. Whether your company moved away from the original vision or merely expanded on it, your brand needs to reflect these changes. Adapt everything, including your HR policy, customers, products, and identity to be in line with your new philosophy and strategy.
- Your Company Merges with Another
Mergers and acquisitions are always new opportunities for a rebranding. Yet 70 to 90 percent of mergers fail due to poor brand alignment, which ultimately creates confusion. The key to a successful rebrand is uncovering the shared DNA of the two companies. Think about the “why” and “how” two separately successful companies can bring value to your clients and prospects as a single entity. A successful rebrand focuses your company’s vision and portrays who you are now as a unit.
- You’re Struggling to Raise Your Prices
Your brand ultimately boils down to customer perception. An effective brand can influence the market price of its goods or services because of the reputation it has developed in the minds of customers. Why do we pay double for Starbucks coffee when we could get it much cheaper elsewhere? The ingredients may be slightly different, but fundamentally, their reputation and supporting brand are responsible for the premium we’re willing to pay. By rebranding, you can reshape the way your customers perceive you and raise the asking price of your services accordingly.
Building a brand is tough, and repositioning your brand can be even more challenging. However, if you take the time to think about why you need to rebrand, the process will be practically seamless. Remember, your brand is a story that’s always being told. You have the power to not only drive that story but to change it if your message isn’t quite right – the pen is in your hands.
Tips on Successfully Motivating Millennials in the Workplace
In popular media, the word Millennial is thrown around as a synonym for young people in general. But in reality, the term Millennial specifically speaks to people who are born between 1982 and 2000 (ages 19-36).
They’re defined by historic, technological and cultural events including:
- Having an Internet connection in their home as a child
- Growing up in the post 9/11 era and the Great Recession
- Feeling impacted by the rise of Google, social media, online dating and e-commerce
- Growing up in after-school sports, arts or educational programs instead of being latchkey kids
- Being raised in a more egalitarian household than previous generations
This is a generation with high expectations of their employers – but they also set high standards for themselves, and by 2020, millennials will account for nearly half of the workforce. Baby Boomer, Flower Children and Gen Xer business owners need to have strategies in place to help develop the leaders of tomorrow.
Take a look at these tips for guiding the next generation and how to adapt the modern workplace to set Millennials up for success:
Allow for Self-Directed Growth Opportunities
Millennials enjoy a workplace that demonstrates a commitment to employee growth. A tip for companies is to create a compensation or organizational structure that allows Millennials to set business-based and personal goals. Creating a personal development plan for growth within the company will keep employees engaged and focused with the ability to seek a long-lasting future within the business.
Have a Positive, Proactive Company Mission and Vision
According to a 2016 survey by Deloitte, Millennials feel that 75 percent of businesses are focused solely on their own agendas rather than helping to improve society. To prove them wrong, companies need to be charitable and show a vested interest in social activism. This includes encouraging the charitability of employees by regularly donating, adding a social responsibility focus to their mission, or going on team outings to focus on giving back to the causes and communities they care about.
Adopt a Flexible Working Environment
Millennials often seek a flexible work-life balance in terms of the hours they work and the location they work from. In fact, this is so important to them that they would rather be rewarded in this way than by monetary compensation. Flexible working hours give people a better relationship with work and allow them to focus on the quality of the results they achieve, rather than how many hours they spend in the office. It also gives them the time and headspace to think more creatively and to focus on a task without the constant distractions that offices often cultivate.
Break Down Traditional Hierarchies
Millennials love to disrupt the work game by embracing transparency, openness and authenticity. They need to be given free rein to get their creative juices flowing, leverage fresh ideas and overperform. It is important to provide them with that open environment and trust that they won’t misuse the freedom. It is up to you and your management team to decide to what extent freedom is acceptable, and in what form.
Like every generation before them, Millennials face big challenges as they continue to enter the workforce. But more importantly, employers need to take a step back and realize that by helping their employees succeed, they find success too. A more positive work environment helps superstar Millennial talent flourish because they feel supported by their leaders and teammates – that’s a workforce that will drive everyone forward.
Put Your Intellectual Property Value Ahead Of IT Innovation
Innovation comes in countless shapes and forms.
Whether considered from a technology products and solutions standpoint or in terms of developing and advancing a company’s business, services, and culture, the role of solutions providers should be front and center.
In its 2018 IT Channels and Alliances Predictions study, research firm IDC states:
“By 2020, intellectual property will define the business models, the relations between partners and the value of the distribution channel. And manufacturers will be ‘judged’ by their capacity to integrate and extend the IPs of their partners.”
That’s great news, of course, provided the channel is prepared to effectively assume the responsibilities and deliver on corresponding expectations. As trusted advisors of our customers, we’ll take the brunt of the blame, perhaps deservedly, in the wake of a crisis. It’s our brands on the line, more so than ever today, given we’re putting increasingly complex solutions together.
That’s why it’s incumbent upon us to vet partners in much deeper ways to literally know what they offer and will do for us or on our behalf — under all types of circumstances that may arise. We must have no doubt the vendors we choose to support truly have our backs.
You may say this always has been important or critical, and you’re right.
Quenching The Thirst
What’s different is the backdrop. The unprecedented thirst for innovation and the opportunity to quench it for years to come. With transformation on the tongues of decision makers in every industry and vertical market, you cannot possibly be thinking otherwise. Here are three points to keep in mind as you weigh your options and overall strategic direction:
- Instead of trying to address each and every pain point a customer may experience, sharpen the focus in areas that are particularly well suited for your own emerging business model.
- Start with you, your value add today, and what you conclude it should become. You can’t completely ignore the fixations of current customers and what they want to do, but it could be a colossal misstep if that’s your starting point.
- Align with vendor partners you can trust from both IT and intellectual property value perspectives, where the advantages skew your way instead of the other way around.
Reinvent Or Restore?
If you’re not yet reinventing your core value, at some juncture you’ll likely face an uphill climb toward restoring solvency. Our own company’s resurgence and rebranding may yield some useful insights.
We see our firm as unique for a variety of reasons that include our status as a certified MBE (minority business enterprise) VAR. We always have placed strong emphasis on embracing diversity in thought, approach, as well as solutions because it’s the right thing to do. We’re also playing a lead role in helping our customers apply the same types of principles and advantages through the intellectual property we combine with any leading software platform and applications.
This type of partnership means we can get to market faster with turnkey offerings that meet the heightened need for — and often untapped value of — diversity across all enterprises and industries. In short, we’re striving to fill a void that is calling out loud and clear, as this Forbes article attests, from all directions: hiring, developing, and leading.
Diversity, in our eyes, is what makes our company stronger and we know it will be among the most vital elements in the long-term success of our customers — all of them seeking transformation in one form or another. If they don’t put people first in the equation, that will undoubtedly bite back harder than almost any technological breakdown.
Prove It, Then Deliver
We also know most companies aren’t looking to make giant leaps of faith into unchartered waters, regardless of how enticing any innovation may appear. They want — and deserve — empirical evidence of what our IP can do for them. They also want to focus their energy on growing and managing their business, not their IT.
The challenges and demands the channel faces are, at least in one sense, not dissimilar to what other types of companies face amidst the tectonic shifts that are forever redefining social and workforce trends as well as consumer and B2B markets. That’s why no solutions provider can afford to continue warming the seats of complacency. After all, we’re not just chartered with revolutionizing our own business models and services; we must do the same for our customers.
In the end, it’s a combination of proven intellectual property, solid platforms, and dependable partnerships that will not only endure but thrive in this new test of time. Your IP will be the biggest difference maker, packaged as a service. Beware all the waves of disruption that can easily distract from such an urgent call to action, yet enterprises are primed for this approach. They crave intelligence and analytics to make better all-around decisions. Show them the way.
In the end, it’s not about IP, IT, R&D, or any other type of innovation. It’s about doing the most important things best and practically everything else better.
Capitalize by staying above the fray and by bringing proven as well as practical (and possibly everlasting) new intellectual property value to the forefront.
Logistic Solutions Inc., at WWFH 2018
Logistic Solutions Inc., (LSI)’s President Al Limaye with Giovanni Caforio – CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Elizabeth Elizabete Miranda – President & CEO of CQ Fluency.
Additionally, Al Limaye with Rondu Vincent – Director of Supplier Diversity at BMS and Chris Baggett – Director of Federal Government Affairs and Political Strategy at BMS.
LSI President Al Limaye with Joaquin Duato, Vice Chairman of Executive Committees at Johnson & Johnson, and Ken Frazier, CEO of Merck, at the 2018 We Work for Health Summit in Washington, DC
The final image shows those who received awards at the 2018 We Work for Health Summit in Washington, DC.
Logistic Solutions Inc., (LSI) attended the WWFH Summit again this year and Bristol-Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio and team were instrumental in LSI’s attendance at this prestigious event. This year’s discussion included importation of medications and changes to parts B & D of Medicare. As a preferred minority supplier in the pharmaceutical field, it was extremely important for LSI to weigh in on these relevant topics. Logistic Solutions Inc., would like to extend a thank you to Bristol-Myers Squibb and their team for providing us with the opportunity to be one of a select few to represent New Jersey. We will continue to help impact the community in a positive way.
For the second consecutive year, LSI has been a part of the WWFH Summit, a meeting with conversations with congressmen and women from 14 different states. The two day long discussions raise concern about legislation in the pharmaceutical field. LSI is a preferred minority supplier in the pharmaceutical field, and was one of a handful representing New Jersey in talks that discussed importation of medication and changes to medicare.
The conversation leaves an impression one our most important resource, people. Local businesses, officials, and families all gave input as to what they believed would have the best impact on the community. Halting changes that would make life more difficult for individuals that need certain medication is a pressing issue, and events like these continue to give the people input in the political world. Moving forward, LSI will continue to support and help voice the opinions of our employees, neighbors, and community
Top Strategic Priorities for CIOS with SAP HANA in 2018
As we enter a new year, we have already begun to see the technological landscape shift dramatically. Driven largely by digitization, new technologies, and rapidly increasing data sets, the modern CIO must deliver business value. They must drive innovation. CIOs and IT leaders have the opportunity to deliver more value than ever before. The most successful CIOs are those that recognize and adapt to these evolving challenges and opportunities.
Data Security :
More organizations are experiencing cyberattacks within their networks as devices become connected and more public information is stored in the cloud. IT leaders must place a strategic focus and budget money to address protecting their company information. Data protection will be at the forefront of cybersecurity strategies in 2018. Security in SAP HANA means protecting important data from unauthorized access and ensures that the standards and compliance meet as security standard adopted by the company. To manage secure data access and protect corporate information, SAP HANA provides a comprehensive security framework and tooling for authentication and single sign-on, authorization and role management, user and identity management, audit logging, secure configuration and encryption.
Stay tuned for our next blog…
SAS Consulting Services in usa, sap mbe reseller, top software service providers in North America, it software solutions in north america, mbe var services, mbe var, minority business enterprise services, sap gold partnerssap csr, sap csr services, sap corporate social responsibility services, supply diversity services, sap supplier diversity management services, sap supplier diversity management solutions, big data and business analytic services, big data and analytic solutions, sap business intelligence solutions, sap business intelligence services
Merck’s Economic Inclusion Supplier of the Year Award
We are also the proud recipient of “Merck’s Economic Inclusion Supplier of the Year Award ”. A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step and LSI is happy and proud to have gotten to the place where we currently are. It has been a wonderful experience working with Merck and its leaders who have been pivotal to our growth. Merck, noticed our relentless efforts in succeeding every opportunity we grab and came forward to help us grow. We got our strings attached with Merck in 2014 as a Software Reseller and by being flexible and client centric in our approach, we have created further stronger bonds within Merck on its potential business opportunities and helped Merck overcome or solve its business problems by applying right technology solutions.
Software Reseller Service & Installs-Configurations:
The LSI group is satisfied software reseller service provider which stands as the top software service providers in North America to report their accomplishment of being granted the SAP Gold Partner status with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) supplier in software services. As the main counselling association committed to furnishing mid-showcase clients with best in class SAP value added reseller services, SAP and SAS implementation services, SAP and SAS installation and configuration services to convey best practices in business activities, this respect speaks to our exceptionally talented group’s tireless drive to accomplish higher guidelines. Notwithstanding being perceived as a standout amongst the best SAP and SAS implementation services in north America accomplices for mid-advertise SAP clients, LSI is additionally yearly granted the refinement of being viewed as one of the best MBE value added resellers (VARs) in the country. Not exclusively do these accomplishments speak to our sense of duty regarding SAP, they are likewise an impression of the esteem we give to customers. For a long time, LSI has been respected for its solid corporate culture concentrated on giving streamlined and mechanized ERP frameworks, related programming, data innovation (IT) arrangements and support, to undertakings inside the assembling, discount conveyance, and online retail ventures.
Being a Software reseller services provider in north America it takes its privilege in considering the projects with and as MBE Oracle partner, MBE Microsoft partner, BMC software vendors, EMC software vendors, ZIMWARE software vendors, dassault systems resellers and fulfils all the IT software solutions in north America. It takes into consideration the services regarding the MBE software reseller services and provides Oracle reseller services in North America. We are expertized in solving the Microsoft and Dassualt installation and configuration services.
To expand its range of services it also includes Big data and analytics solutions. Out of the leading Big data and analytics consulting companies LSI contribute the professional big data and business analytics services and stands top amongst the big data and analytics services in North America.
bmc software vendors, emc software vendors, zimware vendors, SAS and SAP implementation services, sas implementation services, SAP implementation services, sap installation and configuration service, sas installation and configuration service, sas implementation services in north America, sap crm service providers, sap customer relationship management service in NA, sap strategic consulting services, sas strategic consulting services, sap implementation services in north America, dassault installation and configuration services
Sapphire Call to Lead Purpose: Great for the World and Good for Business
AL Limaye with Ex-President, US – Barack Obama at Call2Lead event, SapphireNow 2018 hosted by President, SAP – Jen Morgan.
There are issues near and dear to everyone’s heart. And many people find that having a purpose – committing their time and energy to a higher cause – gives their lives greater meaning.
Since businesses are composed of people, it’s natural that companies are taking a similar stance.
More and more organizations today are supporting noble societal causes and prioritizing policies that make the world a better place.
Why?
It’s the right thing to do. But there’s also an often-overlooked by-product: It creates real business value.
AL Limaye with Condoleezza Rice at Call2Lead event, SapphireNow 2018
Dedicating your company to the greater good
People are proud to work for companies that putpurpose-driven activities at the forefront of their operations.
I know I am.
For more than 25 years, the enterprise I found and run– Logistic Solutions Inc., has taken keen interest in meaningful issues, such as protecting the environment, reducing homelessness, and helping people with disabilities.
In 2001, we launched Adopt-A-Company, a voluntary, probono program aimed at connecting large enterprises with small organizations recovering from losses due to the tragic events of 9/11.
The large companies “adopt” the small businesses by supporting them with foot traffic, client referrals, monetary/in-kind donations, or other free services. More than 400 establishments have benefited from our Adopt-A-Company initiative to date.
We also emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Our dedication to building an unbiased environment that provides equal opportunitiesregardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation is unwavering.
Currently, 75% of our workforce is composed of either female or Asian-American employees. And we have plans to engage differently abled individuals, military veterans, and senior citizens to join our staff in the future.
Our sustainability efforts involve reducing the use of natural resources, minimizing our environmental impact with energy-efficient technology, and developing solutions that create customer value and protect our planet.
We’re fulfilling our environmental responsibilities by participating in an internal Energy Saving Program and subscribing to the 3-R philosophy (reduce, reuse, and recycle).
Many organizations around the globe are dedicating their companies to the greater good. And with a growing commitment to sustainability, diversity, and other important issues, we’re all playing a critical role in shaping our future.
Doing the right thing opens doors and reaps rewards
Supporting purpose-driven activitiesis the right thing to do. But committing to these efforts can also provide your organization with plenty of valuable business outcomes and opportunities.
Our company, for instance, has benefited from creating a diverse, inclusive workforce. Not only have we expanded our knowledge base with contributions from people of different genders, races, and sexual orientations, but our standing as a Certified Diverse Supplier has continually put us in a position to grow our business.
Specifically, it has allowed us to participate in minority councils and meet with stakeholders from large companies,leading to potential business connections.
And we surely aren’t the only organization that has reaped the rewards of having a diverse, inclusive workforce.
A 2017 McKinsey report found that companies whose executive teams rank in the top 25% for racial and ethnic diversity are 33% more likely to financially outperform their industry peers.
Harvard Business Review says that organizations with more diverse leadership out-innovate competitors.
And a new Cloverpop study reveals that inclusive teams make better business decisions 87% of the time.
Prioritizing purpose drives business success
Succeeding as a business is secondary to doing right in the world. Though, of course, every organization should aim to do both.
Customers don’t only want to do business with enterprises that are capable, they want to be involved with companies that share their values on diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and other societal causes.
They want to know that your organization stands for something truly important – just like they do.
I have always ensure that the company Ifound will and should have a commitment for noble cause and not just look at the ROI; that eventually drives me and my business to success
Remember: Putting purpose at the core of your company is both great for the world and good for business.
microsoft installation and configuration services, big data and analytics services in north america, big data analytics consulting for Hadoop, big data analytics consulting companies, big data and business analytic services, big data and analytic solutions, sap business intelligence solutions, sap business intelligence services, big data & analytics services in NA, supply diversity services, sap supplier diversity management services, sap supplier diversity management solutions, supplier diversity services in north america, corporate social responsibility services in NA, sap csr, sap csr services, sap corporate social responsibility services, sap csr services in north america, SAP consulting Services in usa, sas value added reseller
Corporate Social Responsibility & Supplier Diversity Services
The philosophy for the SAP gold partners in North America positioning incorporates surveying the SAP Consulting Services in USA, assessing Supplier diversity services and corporate social responsibility services. Subsequent to leading inside and out research and a multi-step examination, LSI outperformed their industry companions and SAP named them a Gold Partner. To be perceived by SAP for being the main affiliate of SAP business intelligence solutions and in addition for our responsibility regarding the Minority Business Enterprise services, is a great respect. We will keep on providing developing little and moderate-sized organizations with SAP’s supplier diversity management services,SAP customer relationship management service, SAP and SAS strategic consulting services, SAP corporate social responsibility services to meet their particular needs. We’re anticipating keeping up the Gold Partner level, adding to our group of much esteemed customers, surpassing the desires of existing customers and meeting the necessities of future clients.
For over many years, the staff of LSI has delighted in working with the pioneers of SAP business intelligence services. Foundation has helped to become a MBE service provider in North America. We would not have accomplished the Gold Partner status without our brilliant SAP strategic consulting and services. We didn’t end up known as the Microsoft gold partners in north America too little and fair sized assembling, without our customers alluding business to us. Adding quality to communitarian endeavours with our customers, SAP’s Partner Program encourages the creation and support of long-haul associations with our SAP Business clients.