5 tips to improve your team’s performance with dashboards

Dashboards are increasingly important tools in the business world. A dashboard allows for a quick and efficient analysis of the state of the business, allowing a great saving of time and greater assertiveness in decision making. However, it is not always easy to create effective dashboards because the data is so numerous that it becomes difficult to turn it into information. In today’s article, we’ve given you 5 tips to improve your team’s performance with dashboards!

Select only relevant information

In this field, care must be taken not to have too “complete” a dashboard, that is, information that is not relevant to your decision making. This will only create visual noise and complicate your analysis. You should create an easy-to-read dashboard with only the data that really matters to you. If you can create a dashboard with current and useful information, it will be much easier to know what decisions to make.

Create an analytic dashboard

This dashboard provides detailed information and is used to set trends against corporate goals. This panel allows you to perceive the results of internal actions as well as external public reactions to campaigns. A good example of this type of dashboard is Google Analytics.

Attention to day-to-day dashboard

This panel is used by the work teams and focuses on the processes that each team needs to perform its functions. The data contained in this panel are intended to identify critical points of the operation, helping to correct them. They also facilitate communication between all members of the same team. It is a dashboard that varies depending on the department of the company and the activities to be carried out each day.

Setting up business alerts

Managers are not always able to identify deviations from work routines in a timely manner, which compromises business productivity. The dashboard will aggregate the history of the company’s operations and can set defaults to detect deviations and anomalies in real time. By using Multipeers, the system is able to perceive that something is wrong and to alert you immediately so that you can act before it becomes a serious problem.

The analysis of data is very important

Analytical dashboard provides detailed information and is used to set trends against corporate goals. This panel allows you to perceive the results of internal actions as well as external public reactions to campaigns. A good example of this type of dashboard is Google Analytics.

What kind of information should my dashboard show?

Dashboards are increasingly important in the business world as they present the most important information in a simple and intuitive visual form. Softwares such as Multipeers allow the information to be presented in a practical way and it is updated to the second one, because only with current data will the decisions taken be beneficial to the future of the company. Dashboards let you understand what the company is heading for and whether business objectives are being met. However, if a dashboard is not customized correctly it can become a confusing tool, which complicates the manager’s life rather than helping him. In today’s article, we’ve covered the kind of information your dashboard should show!

Executive Information

An executive dashboard serves to simplify the general understanding of information. It is a very useful dashboard to analyze the KPIs and processes of a company at a global level. This executive tool is usually based on management methodologies such as the Balance Scorecard. The objective of this panel is to provide all executives with access to important data for the correct evaluation of new opportunities and improvement points. A top manager needs to know at every minute what is going on in the company, because only then will he be able to make important and beneficial decisions for all areas of the organization.

Project Management Information

Project management dashboards allow you to follow all project management, from planned activities, schedules, and other aspects. It is a very important tool because it decreases the probability of error and increases the effectiveness of communication.

Marketing information

The marketing area is very important in all companies and only with an effective follow-up of what is happening in this sector can the company improve. A marketing dashboard with real-time information about a company’s social media activity allows you to identify opportunities at the very moment they appear, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A fluctuation in the demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, increasing sales and improving company results.

Information about results analysis

This dashboard provides detailed information and is used to set trends against corporate goals. This panel allows you to perceive the results of internal actions as well as external public reactions to campaigns. A good example of this type of dashboard is Google Analytics, which lets you know the exact behavior of your website visitors.

Information on day-to-day operations

This panel is used by the work teams and focuses on the processes that each team needs to perform its functions. The data contained in this panel are intended to identify critical points of the operation, helping to correct them. They also facilitate communication between all members of the same team. It is a dashboard that varies depending on the department of the company and the activities to be carried out each day.

 

[Guest Post] How to choose between local and cloud ERP system

The adoption of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system presents numerous benefits for a company, integrating the sectors and optimizing its management. Knowing all these benefits, you are eager to invest in an ERP system, but don’t you know which one is best? Choosing the right kind of ERP software for your company is rather a challenging task. At this time, it is very important to consider your needs and make the right choice. Among the many options available, one feature that may raise questions is the decision between a cloud or local cloud computing solution. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each system to help you with this choice.

What is local or cloud ERP?

The basic difference between the local ERP system and an ERP in the cloud is very simple. A local ERP is installed on the company’s own servers and computers. In this case, the company is responsible for its management and maintenance. In the case of cloud ERP, the system is accessed over the Internet and paid on a subscription basis. The software itself is neither owned nor licensed by the end user, but is provided as a service. Cloud technology is a watershed in the ERP industry because it offers enterprise-class software at an affordable monthly price and greater flexibility. The type of ERP solution you choose will have a significant impact on your business. In the end, the functionality of the system is what determines which system you choose. Here are some considerations when choosing between a local or cloud-based ERP solution:

Costs

A local ERP typically involves larger investments to purchase and manage software and hardware, servers, and related facilities. This type of system also requires IT resources to keep the system running. The initial costs of the cloud system are usually much lower because there is no technical installation required. The cloud ERP provider hosts and supports, giving you all the IT assistance you need. Generally, these systems work for a prepaid subscription model.

Updates

Software updates for local solutions are not always straightforward. When it’s time to update your software, your IT staff may have to restore your custom settings and install a newer version of the database. This causes some companies to avoid updating their ERP software, rendering the technology obsolete. Cloud ERP solutions are automatically updated by the provider, so you’re always using the latest version. In the cloud, regular updates do not affect your customizations and integrations.

Safety

The security of the data in a local ERP depends on the procedures and equipment of the own organization, being it adopting protection tools in relation to virtual attacks and frauds in the system. You will also need storage for backups. In the case of cloud ERP, the system provider is responsible for security. These systems typically integrate recovery and backup services.

Accessibility

As mentioned earlier, cloud ERPs have an advantage over accessibility because they can be accessed at any time, on any device, as long as there is an internet connection. Although more laborious, you can configure remote access on local systems. This will require the installation of virtual private network (VPN) software on each device, seeking access to the ERP. If you have multiple offices or branch offices that require access to the on-premises ERP system, you may need to configure a secure WAN infrastructure.

Customization

The customization feature is easily available on a cloud system. You can choose the one that offers the best facilities and meets your needs and business requirements. You can also customize and integrate the local system, but this includes an additional cost, and requires rework in software development.

In conclusion, every business is unique and has its needs as well. Therefore, when choosing an ERP system, it is important to choose the right software, which offers less limitations, more security and at a lower cost. So it is good to look at all the above factors and make a smart decision when choosing the best ERP system for your company.


The Importance of Mobility for the Business World

The idea of ​​an office between 4 walls from 9am to 6pm is increasingly outdated. Today, companies prefer that their employees have mobility, that is, that they are able to work from anywhere. The widespread use of the Internet and the constant evolution of technology allowed mobility to become a reality that is increasingly present in companies around the world. Enterprise mobility allows for greater agility and efficiency for companies, as well as driving cost savings. In today’s article, we address the importance of mobility for the business world!

Increased security

Companies are often afraid that mobility will be synonymous with a greater likelihood of loss of network access credentials, which in most cases results in leaks of information abroad. Fortunately, more and more technology is moving towards making systems and networks more secure and practically inviolable. Nowadays, it is possible to control the access of those who are connected to the network, define restrictions, among other things that contribute to the access to the company network by other devices is not seen as a problem. Knowing that employees are going to connect to the network from anywhere in the World means that companies have a greater security concern, which translates into a huge advantage for the whole business.

Real-time information about the business

With access to company information from anywhere in the World, employees are able to give an instant response to their interlocutor, passing an image of professionalism and excellence. Products such as Multipeers allow the collaborator to know where the business is at any given moment through a smartphone or a tablet. Mobility requires the adoption of this kind of solutions, which bring innumerable advantages to organizations, thus entering a spiral of positive events that will translate into an increase in profit.

Better communication among all stakeholders

Through a mobile phone, it’s possible to respond to an email from a customer from anywhere in the World without having to wait to get to the office. This facilitates communication in that it greatly reduces the response time. Nowadays, it is also possible to create and edit documents on mobile devices, which makes work more efficient and with faster results. You can also participate in geographically distant meetings by accessing Skype on a mobile device, for example. Customers today are much more demanding than in the past, so it is crucial that you can respond quickly and effectively.

Greater freedom and greater motivation

With mobility, it’s possible for workers to work from anywhere and at any time, so that they are not limited and forced to work from the office. This makes the creativity and motivation are greater and consequently you will feel an increase in productivity. Employees feel that there is less pressure and that there is more freedom, thus increasing their motivation and involvement with the company.

 

How can a dashboard help make business decisions?

Dashboards are of increasing importance in companies. In busy day-to-day business, managers need to consult various sources of information in order to get all the data they need for informed decision-making. This is a time-consuming process, and often the information is disorganized, which greatly undermines rapid and effective decision-making. So, a dashboard is a key business tool today, and in today’s article let’s see how dashboard can help you make business decisions!

What is a dashboard?

A dashboard is a dashboard that visually presents the most important information about the business. In case of using a tool like Multipeers, the information is updated permanently and automatically, so that you have at your disposal the most current information about everything that happens in the company.

Constant knowledge about business goals

By using a dashboard, you can easily see if your business goals are being met. Linking KPIs with day-to-day activities is essential if individual and global goals are to be achieved more simply. Only with an effective knowledge of what is happening in the company and the evolution of the areas will you be able to make the right decisions for the good continuation of your business.

Permanent Business Assessment

One of the main advantages of using dashboards is that you can constantly analyze the present and past of your business. With a dashboard, it’s easy to analyze company history and find patterns of past behavior that will help you make present-day decisions that do not compromise the future!

Identifying problems in a timely way

Managers are not always able to identify deviations from work routines in a timely manner, which compromises business productivity. The dashboard will aggregate the history of the company’s operations and can set defaults to detect deviations and anomalies in real time. So the system is able to realize that something is not right and to alert you right away so that you can act before it becomes a serious problem.

Condensing all company information in one place

In this field, care must be taken not to have a dashboard that is too full, that is, information that is not relevant to your decision making. This will only create visual noise and complicate your analysis. You should create an easy-to-read dashboard with only the data that really matters to you.

 

The advantages of automating logistics management

The logistics sector is one of the most strategic in a company and it is an area that requires more attention and care during the day-to-day. When this sector does not work properly, the entire productive process of a company can be called into question. Automation in this industry boosts results and brings several benefits to companies. In today’s article, we present the main advantages of automating the logistics management of your company!

Total process control

To automate the management of information in the logistics sector is to ensure that there is a large organization at all levels. Through real-time monitoring systems such as Multipeers, the company is able to know at every moment what is happening along the logistics chain, and can take immediate decisions that benefit the business. Employee routines become simpler because they can perform faster analyzes and do not need to search for information from a variety of data sources.

Reducing Costs

Reducing costs is a constant concern in companies. Greater control over processes allows for more conscious actions that will automatically lead to better and more advantageous decisions for company accounts. In addition, the replacement of manual processes with automated solutions, with the consequent reduction of errors and early identification of failures, contribute positively to the control of costs.

Integrated Information

An automated management system allows all company information to be concentrated in one place and this makes access to data easier for all employees. This rapid access to logistical information allows faster and more conscious decisions to be made, avoiding delays in the execution of tasks. The integrated information allows you to create reports in real time, allowing the immediate detection of any problems that compromise the workflow.

Higher efficiency

The correct partnership between man and the machine allows a higher yield in the day-to-day. It also allows for the elimination of excess labor costs, since it is easy to optimize the work of the employees. Automation in the logistics industry has this advantage, because tasks that previously required human intervention can now be performed automatically and much faster.

Quick identification of business opportunities

With the use of automated tools you can identify opportunities right when they arise, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A change in demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, which will increase sales and improve overall results.

 

 

 

6 Tips for Creating Business Reports

Good management requires accurate and current information that can serve as a basis for efficient decision-making. In busy day-to-day business it is not advisable to waste time analyzing data in isolation. A report is the consolidation of information that passes the message directly on matters important to the company. In today’s article, we’ve provided 6 tips for creating business reports!

Be objective

The information in the report should be objective. The language used should be simple and easy to understand by all those to whom the report is intended. If your report is too long, it is advisable to create an index that will allow the reader to easily find the information you need.

Make notes every day

Creating a report with quality requires in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. Therefore, it is advisable to always walk with a notebook so that you do not miss any details discussed at the meetings regarding the project dealt with in the report.

Make a general analysis of the topic covered

The best way to start the report is to do a general analysis of the subject that will be addressed. In this part, you should include analysis of the project in no great detail, giving a glimpse of what will be dealt with later. In this way, the reader can quickly decide if that report is going to be important for the pursuit of their work.

Use visual information

It is much easier to understand the information if it is accompanied by graphs and figures that allow you to better understand what you want to talk about. Text that presents statistics, for example, can become annoying, so it is essential to create graphs that allow for faster reading and understanding.

Use up-to-date information

Reports that have information a few days late will trigger reactive rather than proactive action, which can be a fatal mistake in today’s business world. It is fundamental that companies adopt business monitoring solutions such as Multipeers, which allow us to analyze at each moment what is actually happening in the business. The information used should be as current as possible, since only then will you be able to make decisions beneficial to the future of the business.

Use a system that integrates information

Real-time business monitoring software, such as Multipeers, interacts directly with all your data sources such as databases, web services, MDX, Microsoft Excel, RSS feeds, multimedia content, and -mail, applications, among others. You can even build your own connectors using the provided API so that no information from your organization is lost. So, in a single dashboard you will find complete and up-to-date information on everything that goes on in the company!

The complete guide about KPI’s

Having defined KPIs is essential to the good performance of a company. KPIs are the key performance indicators that tell us what state the business is in and how far (or near) we are from meeting the stated goals. Based on the indicators and the company’s performance, managers can make more informed and informed decisions. BAM tools such as Multipeers allow you to track KPIs continuously and in real time. Analyzing performance on a constant basis ensures that more attention is paid to meeting the objectives, effectively increasing the degree of achievement. Continuous performance monitoring plays a key role in planning and monitoring as it provides information on processes developed by the organization. The effectiveness of any control strategy depends to a large extent on the correct suitability of developed performance metrics and KPIs. In this article, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about KPIs!

How to define KPIs?

Be specific

The more specific a goal is, the easier it is to find actions to achieve them in a short amount of time. Business goals should be simple, so it is much easier to manage them. An example of this goal is “updating the website quarterly”, which is easy to understand which means updating the website in January, April, July and October. A business goal that says “increase the number of proposals sent” is very vague and gives us no clue as to what we should do to reach it. Thus, it is preferable to use a goal that says “get 3 new customers per month”. It is a much simpler goal and it tells us the time interval. Business goals should be simple, so that the entire team is able to understand them. If you get too complicated, you risk not being able to extract any useful information from your analysis. And if the employees do not understand the indicator can be unmotivated, which harms the whole performance of the company.

Be realistic and objective

We all want to be the greatest entrepreneurs in the world, but there are obstacles that go with that and we have to have that awareness. When you set business goals too high, the risk of falling is much greater. And as the goals are harder to reach, you will be frustrated to realize that you cannot achieve them. You must set realistic goals that are appropriate to the reality of your business. If you do not have a great investment capacity at the moment, you will not be able to define as a business goal to increase the team by 10 employees. Business goals must be established according to the reality of the company at the moment, since only then will it be able to achieve them.

Set rigid deadlines

When there is no deadline for accomplishing a particular task or goal, it is more likely that it will drag on in time and eventually be forgotten. It is essential that you set a deadline to achieve a particular business goal, because only then will you be able to define a timeline and assign necessary actions over time. The stated deadline should be like the business objective: specific and realistic. It should not set too short or too long a deadline, as both cases may cause demotivation on the part of those responsible for achieving the objective.

Do a regular review of business goals

Business goals should be reviewed regularly and should be adapted as the changes are verified in the company. Long-term business goals should be monitored so that you can verify that all the actions required to comply are being carried out. Business goals are not static and it is not mandatory that they remain unchanged. Whenever necessary, you should change and update them, and in more extreme cases, you can even eliminate them if you find that they no longer fit the way the company works. A goal that yesterday was quite important, today may have lost some of its importance. Companies are living and dynamic organisms and as such changes must be monitored in all areas of the company. Evaluate at least every three months whether the indicators that have “assets” are the most appropriate given the period the company is going through. However, care must be taken not to make the mistake of changing or eliminating business goals just because it is difficult to achieve them.

What can KPIs do for a company?

Clear knowledge about business strategy

It is essential that each employee of the company or organization knows their KPIs and that they are updated with some frequency. “If we don’t know where we are going, any way is good”: the same goes for companies. If we are not aware of the results we should achieve with our work, we can do anything, and this may not be in line with the organization’s overall objectives. Defining the indicators of each employee and connecting to the monitoring system is essential for obtaining a global and integrated view of the state of the company and the performance of each one. It is also important to mention that each employee should have access only to the indicators that are important for the continuation of their work, so as to have a more focused and organized day-to-day.

Allow to evaluate the company quantitatively

KPIs allow measurable results to be achieved. And this is very important in a company, because the numbers do not lie! It is not enough to have a subjective knowledge about the results of the company. It is necessary to know objectively the true values ​​of the organization. Through the analysis of KPIs it is possible to redefine strategies and change what is not giving positive results. It is essential that KPIs are evaluated on a frequent basis, since only in this way can they have a significant impact on the life of the company.

Increase the performance of the sales department

When well defined and implemented, KPIs help drive sales. When there are defined goals and rewards associated with their implementation, the tendency is for employees to work even harder to achieve the stated goals. This creates healthy competition between the different vendors and in the end the company comes out to win with the increase in sales!

Make decision making more efficient

KPIs provide a lot of information about the company and in that way make decision making more efficient and easier. Managers often complain about the lack of information about the company in order to be able to decide consciously and these performance indicators gain a prominent role in making decisions about the future of the company. Managers can only make assertive and sound decisions if they have a full understanding of business reality. And nothing better than KPI’s to provide all that knowledge.

Improve achievement of objectives

Analyzing the performance of a company on a constant basis ensures that more attention is paid to meeting the objectives. An efficient process must be planned and controlled. Continuous performance monitoring plays a key role in planning and subsequent control because it provides information on processes developed by the organization. The effectiveness of any control strategy depends to a large extent on the correct suitability of developed performance metrics and KPIs.

Everything you need to know about document management

In most companies there are cabinets full of documents that are rarely consulted, but that whenever you need to consult some information you waste a lot of time. Recent research reveals that 90% of the documents we use daily are mixed with documents that are of no use. It has also been revealed that 80% of manually written documents are never consulted and that the time spent in managing this type of documentation represents one of the 10 activities that “steals” time to the employees. Given this scenario, it becomes clear that document management is really necessary in contemporary companies. In today’s article we cover everything you need to know about document management!

What is document management?

Document management is the process of managing and controlling all existing documents in the organization in digital format. These documents may be physical, digital, or versioned in the Cloud, serve as a record and query for business procedures, and remain in the organization for a period of one or two years. Document management involves all documents, from contracts, licenses and emails that are important for creating a customer relationship history. From the moment the document arrives at the company that follows some steps:

  • Dematerialization: the document is received and is soon digitized
  • Classification: being already dematerialized, the document goes through the classification, at which point its importance degree is defined and where it is defined which is the place where it will be stored
  • Life cycle: after classification, the document passes through the defined life cycle of all documents. It goes through publication, approval, forwarding, re-routing with corrections and destruction. With all these steps completed, it becomes easier for the employee to find the file through a search engine.

Advantages of Document Management

Largest organization

The documents are organized by categories and it becomes much easier to find them. The lack of a document management system leads to waste of time in document searching, which breaks down productivity.

Optimization of workspace

This method makes it not necessary to have cabinets full of documents, because the whole file is converted into electronic format. In this way, the workspace becomes more organized and much more pleasant and reduces the risk of loss of documents due to natural disasters.

Greater agility

Simultaneous consultation and presentation of meeting documents is easier, for example when they are digitized. Electronic search methods are also easier when the files are in digital format.

More safety

Document management is essential to ensure that regulations are being met by the organization and this is one of the main reasons why document management should be seen as a priority for the company. It is thus possible to ensure the integrity of the information and its documentation.

Standardized processes

This type of solution allows for a standardization of access to information, managing access rights, changes and submissions. All employees have access to the documents they need and from anywhere. Internal communication is thus facilitated by reducing the flow of printed information.

Simplifying workflow

The flow of creating a document for approval varies by company, but it is often too complicated in almost all of them. One of the reasons is the need to obtain the approval of several people and if there is no good documentary management this process becomes very time consuming and bureaucratic. A simple model solves this question. In document management, most services are implemented with workflows, which makes it easier to process agility, distributing the document created in the system to the person responsible to be able to archive the file. With this simplification of processes, the time to perform a task is reduced, increasing the efficiency of the company!

7 immediate advantages of real-time data analysis

Real-time information is an ever-present need in today’s business life. Managers can no longer leave their decisions for later and it is not advisable to use reports with a few days as the data source to decide. Business life happens now, at every moment, so it is indispensable that the managers have a current and reliable knowledge of all the situations of the company. Softwares like Multipeers will be more and more a constant presence in companies. In today’s article, we’ll introduce you to 7 immediate advantages of real-time data analysis for your business!

More Conscious Decisions

When the manager knows exactly what is going on in the business, it is much easier to make the right decision and this is undoubtedly the most immediate and most important advantage of using a real-time information system. Analyzing the business in real time allows you to have all the necessary inputs so that you can consciously decide on the best route to take, since the information you are analyzing is up to date and reliable.

Setting up business alerts

Business monitoring software such as Multipeers allows you to set up business alerts so that you are warned whenever a situation goes beyond its standard. Wherever you are, you will be notified by SMS or email about any changes to your previously set standards and you can act immediately, even before there is damage to the organization. This proves to be a huge competitive advantage because it enables immediate action and prevents negative consequences for the business.

Consult information on any device

Almost all real-time information management programs offer the possibility of being used on mobile devices, which is a huge advantage as the business market is increasingly mobile. With this tool, you can be in a meeting or a trip and have real and updated information about the true state of your business.

Early detection of possible problems

A failure in the production process can mean serious problems with customers, suppliers and partners if it is not detected and corrected in time, destroying complete production lines and damaging the relationship with stakeholders. Monitoring the production process in real time allows identifying faults and their timely correction. In this way, any deviations will be corrected as soon as possible.

Using multiple data sources simultaneously

With the use of a real-time analysis system, it is possible to aggregate all the company information in a single system. In this way, the access to information becomes much easier and intuitive, reducing the time previously spent by the manager to condense information from various data sources.

Decreased likelihood of error

The use of real-time data analysis systems reduces communication failures and speeds data consolidation, thereby reducing the likelihood of making business-critical errors. All company information will be condensed only in one place, which makes analytical processes more agile and efficient.

Fast identification of business opportunities

With the use of a real-time analytics tool you can identify opportunities at the very moment they arise, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A change in demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, which will increase sales and improve overall results.

 

Analyzing data in real time is increasingly a reality in companies around the world. Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business. Download our e-book and learn how a BAM tool can help your management!