6 Keys to CRM Success
Whether you’re considering Salesforce, Hubspot, or another CRM system, it’s important to understand that with great rewards in efficiency and optimization comes great risk. An investment in your organization’s digital functionality is only as successful as how well those within your organization adapt to the change. As you begin the transformation journey, consider these 6 […]
Before You Select or Implement a New CRM, Ask Yourself These Questions
The recent pandemic has resulted in significant changes across both B2B and B2C commerce and has driven many businesses to consider either introducing or replacing their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions. In some industries, such as the retail sectors, appropriate use of CRM can mean life or death for a business. But before jumping on […]
5 Keys to a Successful Business Software Deployment
There are a lot of pitfalls to consider when embarking on a business software deployment. While the need for and benefits of new technology may be obvious for your organization, the path to achieving that future state is not as clear. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about business software deployments is that they […]
What is Business Intelligence?
Over the years, organizations have invested billions of dollars in new ERP systems and other enterprise technologies. However, most fail to extract better information, decision-making, and overall business value from these investments. We recently wrote about a common dynamic along these lines: most organizations fail to achieve the last mile of digital transformation. They focus […]
Independent Review of Odoo
Formerly known as Open ERP, Odoo is one of the leading ERP systems and the only open-source ERP to make our Top 10 ERP Systems for Small Business list. Below is a product review of the Odoo ERP suite, including positives and considerations to support your software selection process. (NOTE: Third Stage Consulting Group is […]
Is the Grass Really Greener? Assessing the Need for a New ERP System
Getting a brand spanking-new ERP sounds awesome, right? Automated everything, the latest and greatest functionality. Like a new car… until you realize the new monthly cost, plus satellite radio, plus the new insurance premium. All of a sudden, your 2013 Camry, and your legacy ERP aren’t looking all that bad. So how do you really […]
Top 10 CRM Systems for Digital Transformations
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a powerful set of tools used by sales organizations throughout the world. These systems have the ability to automate sales processes, better manage sales teams, and grow top-line revenue growth. They can be an integral part of an organization’s long-term digital transformation strategy and roadmap. Unlike the top ERP […]
Is It Time to Thank Your ERP Vendor?
We certainly like to bash them. It’s fun, easy to do, and they usually deserve it. But every now and then software vendors actually do go out of their way to make your business better. And when that happens, they deserve credit. I know, the first thought going through your mind is “isn’t that what […]
Five Common (and Inaccurate) Myths of ERP Systems
ERP implementations and digital transformations are plagued with failure points perpetuated by ERP software industry hoaxes. Some of these are self-serving, while others are based on In this blog we’ll talk about five myths, and it’s my hope that’s there’s a couple that will be covered you haven’t thought of. At Third Stage Consulting we’re […]
What Is the Most Common Cause of Digital Transformation and ERP Failure?
Digital transformation and ERP failures are caused by a number of things. Poor project management, lack of internal alignment, and poor organizational change management are just a handful of reasons by transformations so commonly fail. Behind these and other common symptoms lurks a deeper root cause: lack of independence and objectivity. Simply put, ERP vendors […]
The Most Important Roles on ERP Implementations and Digital Transformations
When planning for an ERP implementation or digital transformation, most people seem to intuitively understand the importance of a good project manager. They typically also understand how important the CIO or IT Director’s role is. These are two examples of roles that are very important to the success of any digital transformation. Surprisingly for many, […]
The Convergence of ERP Configuration and Customization
The words configuration and customization can be equally challenging to understand. As related to ERP software – the challenge comes from the fact that every software company builds and defines their software a little differently. Configuration typically refers to the ability of a software to natively perform a certain function. A general way to think […]