Month: November 2023

While the pandemic set the digital transformation of business in motion, the rapid transition toward digitization and automation isn’t ending anytime soon. In fact, Statista found that 74% of companies considered digital transformation a top priority in 2022, up from 54% in 2020. Plus, artificial intelligence is also accelerating the need for adopting digital-first tools.

It’s no longer feasible for a company to continue working from disconnected spreadsheets. Switching to intelligent platforms is rapidly becoming necessary to save valuable time, improve organizational workflows, and keep pace with your competition.

While the changes are critical, it doesn’t make the switching process any less daunting. First, you have to find the right tech fit and then plan the change for the most optimal time.

Typically, that means opting for a technology swap at the start of a new year as the tax cycle resets, but no single date is perfect for every business. A lot of issues can pop up during system swaps, so we turned to Brad White of VARC, who shared his strategies on how to overcome change management challenges.

Why should you switch your systems?

Before we dive deeper into how to manage change initiatives in your business, let’s consider what you’ll get from transforming your systems. It all comes back to the three core concepts of the change management process — people, processes, and technology.

Employee satisfaction (people)

It’s a heavy ask to expect employees to balance their normal job scope with extra daily data entry tasks for items like inventory audits, vendor management, and product return processing. The extra detailed work and constant interruptions of their normal duties lead to a frustrated team. Rather than being happy about a growing business, your employees are likely more worried about burnout and stress due to unnecessarily time-consuming tasks.

But if you fix the system and address their concerns, you’re going to win them over. According to Brad, you’ll have “happy people who know that the company is prioritizing their needs.”

Enhanced efficiency (processes)

Reducing operational inefficiencies has remained the second most sought-after goal of digital transformation strategies since 2020, just behind improved customer experience.

By implementing organizational change based on digitization, you can take out many manual roadblocks. For example, instead of a person overseeing inventory management and preparing manual orders, you can configure an automated process that handles all those tasks.

Cin7’s software lets you send automatic reports to relevant stakeholders and cut down the time your team spends compiling those reports.

Improved integrations (technology)

By switching to tools that better fit your business needs, you can improve workflows and eliminate bottlenecks. For instance, if an employee was previously re-entering new information from a third-party source to your internal tech stack, a new system that integrates with your other software allows automated data transfers.

Utilizing these integrations reduces human error, creates more flexible and scalable workflows, and gives your employees more time to focus on other tasks that maximize your business’s revenue.

Why is change management important?

While switching systems to new technology appears to be a straightforward choice, the complicated change implementation and migration process can make decision-making difficult. Managing the changes with a strong change management plan is vital for a good outcome.

Effective change management ensures:

• Better communication
• Better decision-making
• Lower stress
• Improved productivity
• More satisfied employees

Brad explains that while making a switch would take time and energy, he’s going to have a happier team at the end. He’ll have people who know they’re not wasting their time.

How to overcome change management challenges

To ensure a successful switch, you need to take your time and research, earn buy-in from all stakeholders, and opt for technology with the least employee resistance for project success. Part of that is having a plan and sticking to it.

Pick the appropriate time to switch

Timing is one of the most important factors in deciding the success of a change effort. Just like an e-commerce website schedules its maintenance in slow periods, part of successful change management is picking a period with the least impact on internal operations and employees.

Status quo changes make taxes complicated for employees and the company without careful planning. For example, you’ll have to import all the previous payroll information into the new solution, and Brad shares that “you need the prior paycheck information to know whether you have hit the limits for things like Social Security.” Missing that information could mean failing to stay compliant with tax regulations. Plus, swapping your payroll system in the middle of the income tax year in the U.S. could cause employees to get two W-2s.

To ensure the new system rollout happens without major disruptions, Brad recommends picking one of the following two times to make the switch and planning for at least two months in advance of the switch date.

End of the financial year

The end of the financial year is the perfect clean slate you can use to start fresh as the new period begins. As accounting and financial cycles close and tax periods roll over, you can switch to a newer system without worrying about data split across multiple systems.

In other words, if you start with a new tech stack at the start of a new financial year, there’s a limited need for manual data migration, which makes the change much less complicated.

End of a quarter

While the end of a financial year is a great opportunity for switching business systems, you can’t always wait that long. Sometimes, you might lose too much money in the inefficiencies during the wait. In that case, Brad suggests the end of the quarter is a good alternative “since you file sales tax return monthly or quarterly in most cases.”

Research and plan ahead

Once you’ve chosen a switch date, you need to plan backward to give time for research. A recommended change management strategy is to allow at least two months of research and preparation before the switch date.

Brad says that if you plan on a Jan. 1 change, “You should be entertaining solutions in the October-November timeframe. That way, you have enough time to vet the solutions and decide on one to implement before the year ends.”

For e-commerce businesses, this planning and researching period can be difficult with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday sales season. Online sales are expected to reach $221.8 billion in 2023, and every retailer works hard to capture a piece of those sales. However, Brad recommends that businesses find a way to prioritize planning in spite of the busy season, as the result will position them better in the long run.

Gather feedback

As a change leader handling project management, you need a lot of data to make decisions. Take the initiative and start by gathering feedback from your team members, including senior management. Get feedback on what is needed to meet company goals, what problems are causing delays in work completion, and what tasks are frustrating.

Look for partners with relevant experience

A system change isn’t just a copy-and-paste solution. It often involves creating custom solutions to ensure data can be migrated to new systems and that new tech stacks work with your unique processes.

You’ll need a partner with experience in complex migration processes and who specializes in software that meets your needs. A partner should be able to guide you through the process, whether it is fully automated or requires some manual data migration and software customization.

Once you’ve narrowed down the choices, ask clarifying questions from the short-listed partners to ensure they understand your problems and have the solutions for them.

For instance, if you want to migrate from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks online, check out VARC Solutions.

Take small steps

It’s likely you have more than one system that needs replacement. For example, you may want to improve your inventory, sales, payroll, and accounting systems.

Switching all of these systems at once generally isn’t a good idea. Instead, take small steps and identify the necessary upgrades, whether that means one program at a time or two interconnected systems at once.

When you upgrade your connected inventory performance (CIP) to the next level via Cin7, you’ll need to switch to QuickBooks Online if you’re using Quickbooks Desktop because the desktop version lacks a modern API and is being discontinued by QuickBooks.

However, you won’t necessarily need to overhaul your payroll system during the process. You can look at tackling that change the following year.

In other words, if required, you can tackle more than one system simultaneously. Just be advised that attempting multiple changes increases project complexity. We recommend focusing on no more than two at a time.

Final thoughts: Overcoming change management challenges during a switch

Changing your business systems is rarely a smooth ride, but if you practice good change management strategies like doing research and preparing your employees ahead of time to avoid culture shock, you can minimize disruptions.

The end result of a well-planned system switch makes your future organizational changes easier. For instance, opting for Cin7’s inventory management system opens your organization to easier integrations with systems like Shopify, Xero, Amazon, and QuickBooks.

So, if you’re looking for a modern inventory solution that simplifies and multiplies your business, start your free trial today.

Want to connect tax compliance software to your inventory management workflow? Learn how Cin7 Core integrates with Avalara to facilitate sales tax compliance. 

In today’s dynamic digital landscape, businesses are perpetually searching for software solutions that streamline their processes. As a distinguished Cin7 premium partner in Australia, Software4Business has observed dramatic transformation on our clients who transitioned to Cin7 Core.

These clients grappled with an array of challenges posed by conventional ERP systems, ranging from prohibitive server maintenance costs and exorbitant consulting fees to antiquated desktop technology, unreliable stock data, and complex pricing structures. Cin7 Core is a paragon of efficiency and integration that manifests itself in Connected Inventory Performance. These factors propel clients of Software4Business, and other small businesses, towards unparalleled growth.

Features & Benefits: The Cin7 Core Distinction

1. Linking to Xero and QuickBooks: Conventional accounting systems often fall short when it comes to inventory management and tracking. Cin7 Core’s seamless integration with Xero and QuickBooks fills these voids, delivering a holistic solution.
2. E-commerce Integration: Cin7 Core exhibits unmatched agility in e-commerce management, whether it’s a single platform or a myriad of websites. Integrations include WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, eBay, Etsy, and Amazon, ensuring real-time, accurate inventory data.
3. Precise Inventory Management: The platform’s intuitive stock adjustment and stocktake modules empowers businesses to update inventory numbers instantaneously, maintaining accurate stock levels and eradicating discrepancies.
4. B2B Website Portal: The Cin7 Core B2B portal transforms wholesale interactions.with dynamic and tiered pricing structures that reflect purchase volumes and a strong partner network. This adaptability enables businesses to craft bespoke pricing strategies, solidifying enduring relationships, and encouraging growth among new partners. This is B2B commerce, redefined.
5. Adaptive Custom Pricing: Cin7 Core stands out with its versatile pricing module. The discount, deal, custom pricing and price tier modules are adept at managing intricate promotional strategies and unique client-specific rates. The platform facilitates effortless management, accessible through both product and customer interfaces, ensuring precision and adaptability in every pricing scenario.
6. Barcode App for Efficient Inventory Management: The barcode app from Cin7 Core transforms inventory management. Using the app helps you to streamline processes from product intake to delivery, minimizing errors, and expediting routine stock procedures.
7. Integrated Payment Portal: Timely payments are vital, and Cin7 Core’s integration with popular payment modules like PayPal and Stripe simplifies transactions, hastening revenue collection and smoothing out reconciliations.
8. POS System for Rapid Sales: Cin7 Core’s POS system is designed for quick sales and managing multiple branches. It offers robust stock control and facilitates seamless inter-branch transfers.

Real-Life Transformations with Cin7 Core

What Software4Business is seeing with our clients.

• Food distributors are optimizing their operations using the Cin7 Core barcode app.
• Spare part manufacturers are effortlessly syncing multiple platforms including WooCommerce, Shopify, and eBay.
• Medical companies are refining their ordering processes through Cin7 Core’s native B2B platforms.
• Industries ranging from cosmetics to apparel are utilizing contract manufacturing and landed cost functionalities for enhanced margin control.

Cin7 Core Vs. The Competition

While there are other systems with seemingly comparable features, none rival Cin7 Core in terms of integration capabilities, user-friendliness, and overall efficiency. Cin7 Core’s strength and compatibility becomes evident when you compare it to other offerings. Most of our clients continue to use Cin7 Core as they expand to additional ventures,, showcasing their trust in both the software and the support provided by Software4Business.

Unmatched User Experience with Cin7 Core

The initial transition to Cin7 Core may necessitate a brief adjustment period; however, the platform’s intuitive design ensures a swift and smooth learning curve. Clients consistently laud the software for its focus on user experience, with features like a vibrant and intuitive icon-based sales tracking system that makes business monitoring both efficient and visually engaging.

The Future with Cin7 Core and Software4Business

As the team at Cin7 Core continues to enhance the product with more advanced modules like manufacturing and CRM, new data grid improvements, and expanded integrations with shipping aggregators, Software4Business’s clients are poised for even greater growth. The ongoing enhancements to this remarkable software’s integrations and functionalities mean that the future for businesses utilizing it is exceptionally bright.

Conclusion: Cin7 Core – Transforming Business for the Better

The transition from traditional ERP systems to Cin7 Core has marked a new era of efficiency and growth for Software4Business’s clients. Bottlenecks are eliminated, operations are streamlined, and growth transitions from a distant dream to a tangible reality. Cin7 Core is not just a software; it is a growth partner, proving that Connected Inventory Performance can, indeed, redefine the trajectory of business success.

Take the leap, and remember: for professional assistance in transitioning to Cin7 Core, reach out to Hanno and the team at Software4Business. Your journey towards business growth and connected inventory starts here.

At Cin7, we make selling products easier by enabling connected inventory performance (CIP). Our Partner Program is a hallmark part of our business – offering joint offerings with key partners to maximize the value we deliver for our customers. We work together with our partners to create a seamless experience for clients so they can scale their businesses efficiently.

Each year at the Cin7 Partner Summit, we appoint a board of partners to serve as advisors on our products, the customer experience, and in-market offerings. Members of the Partner Advisory Board serve for one year and serve on the Partner Advisory and Product Councils are part of their tenure in the program.

Last year, the Partner Advisory Board made a tangible customer impact by driving innovation and customer-centric changes in key areas. We’re grateful for each board member’s expertise and are excited to work with this year’s board to continue the impactful work we began in 2022.

Michelle Calkins, Global VP of Partnerships, says, “This year’s Board makes up our highest performing partners and industry leaders. We have representation from across the ecommerce, accounting, inventory, and services space and look forward to the collaboration with our Board.”

We’re proud to announce the following partners as members of our 2023 Partner Advisory Board.

2023 Cin7 Partner Advisory Board Members

Inventory Technology Partners

BDO Information Systems Limited

Symphony Development Group

Beyond Expectations

SMB Consultants

Integration Kings

Easy Insight

Hawk Consulting

Accountfully

LedgerGurus

Bluehub

Become a Cin7 Partner

At Cin7, we believe that growth is better together. According to CEO David Leach, “Partners are bringing forward the best of our company values. The innovation and collaboration we experience in the Partner Advisory Board exemplifies the best of our ecosystem.”

Our joint solutions empower you to add value to your customer relationships, increase retention, and take advantage of more opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.

The Partner Program provides exposure that helps you expand your customer base, whether you want to target your existing market or branch out into new geographies. Our customers are located around the world, and 75% of them are actively seeking partner services.

Ready to add your listing to our directory and start growing together? Join the Partner Program today.