December 2022 - Striven

Month: December 2022

Striven Named To Several ‘Best Business Management Software’ & ‘Best ERP’ Lists To Close Out 2022

Posted on by Scott Hammer

Lumberton, NJ (December 28th, 2022)-  Striven has earned a handful of software recognitions from numerous review sites in a variety of categories to wrap up an already eventful 2022. Some sites that recognized Striven include G2, Capterra, SoftwareAdvice, GetApp, and SoftwareWorld.

According to customer-sourced data at these review sites, Striven was named to the following lists:

G2

    • #3 Momentum Leader (Q4 2022)
    • #7 Small Business ERP Leader (Q4 2022)
    • #21 High Performer ERP, Midmarket (Q4 2022)
    • #27 High Performer ERP, Overall (Q4 2022)
    • #2 Easiest To Do Business With (Q4 2022)

    Capterra

    • Best Value (2022)

    GetApp

    • Best Functionality and Features (2022)

    SoftwareAdvice

    • Best Customer Support (2022)
    • Most Recomended (2022)

    SoftwareWorld

    • #13 Best Business Management Software (2022)

    Striven’s placement among other business management and ERP software options continues to not only underscore Striven’s growth in 2022, but the growing impact that business management software continues to make on businesses big and small.

    Software itself is only one piece of the puzzle—Striven’s recognitions for ‘best customer support’ and ‘best value’ showcase how important it is to go the extra mile in helping businesses accomplish more. We take immense pride in consistently being recognized in these categories, and our customers wouldn’t have it any other way. Their kind and honest feedback about Striven attests to this.

    An all in one business management software like Striven allows businesses to connect their financial data directly into other silos of their company including project management, CRM, inventory management, and more.

    Mike, a small business executive who uses Striven to run his business, shared his thoughts:

    “We highly recommend Striven! Not only is the platform very easy to forming to the needs of our business, but the support we receive is phenomenal! He answers our questions quickly and with custom private videos! Who does that?! We highly recommend Striven to any business looking for a new software solution.“

    To learn more about Striven and read about customer experiences using the platform, visit the company’s ratings and review page.

    About Striven
    Striven is an ERP software for small and growing businesses that want to expand, simplify, and reduce costs. Striven combines all of the features for accounting, projects, sales, inventory, management, reporting, and more into a single streamlined system.

    Manufacturing Software for Small Businesses: A New Kind Of Solution

    Posted on by Joshua Holbrook

    When it comes to manufacturing, efficiency and speed are the top requirements to meet demands. The best way to increase the speed and efficiency of your operations is a cloud based manufacturing software that has individualized solutions based on the size of the business. A common misconception when it comes to an ERP for manufacturing is that it’s only useful and suitable for big businesses. On the contrary, due to the rise in business manufacturing software platforms in the recent decade, it is easy to find one suitable for any business size. The main caveat is to find a small business manufacturing software that is adjustable and flexible to accommodate the size of your business.

    Benefits of a Small Business Manufacturing Software

    According to Netsuite, “Manufacturing companies are the most likely adopters of ERP,” and the number one out of any other user. Additionally, “Manufacturers represented the largest portion at 47% of companies looking to purchase ERP software.” There’s no doubt that manufacturing companies benefit from the use of business manufacturing software. The tools used to achieve  success and efficiency are compiled in a single cloud-based system that all employees have easy access to, including through multiple devices at once.. This reduces human error, organizes important information that could otherwise be easily misplaced or lost, and creates an easier way to connect with clients. Here are more ways business management software for manufacturers can benefit your small business:

    Better Organization

    One easily recognizable benefit of using a small business manufacturing software is better organization of documents, data, and other information. Previously, it was manageable for smaller businesses to withstand information being placed in several different places. Now, by effectively usingERP software, businesses don’t have to ‘get by’ with disjointed data organization. On top of this new trend, it is difficult to grow your small manufacturing business by only using things such as a paper-based system, Excel, or having too many folders to keep track of. Employees are more likely to learn fast and be more efficient when the technological environment they’re surrounded in is up to date.

    Imagine this: a new employee starts their first day of training only to be bombarded with information they need to memorize on the placement of important documents that are located in several places. One is in an overstocked file cabinet on the bottom drawer, one is in a folder on the computer amongst dozens of others, and the other is sent through multiple emails. Additionally, it is more difficult to communicate with clients through email that might be sent to spam, lost in the inbox, or on the phone when they assume your call is one of the spam calls we’re all too familiar with. . With a small business manufacturing software, it is easier to keep track of information and stay more organized.

    Save Time

    By using a small business manufacturing software, you are eliminating extra time spent training employees who are less likely to retain too much information in a short period of time. This extra training costs money (both directly and indirectly) over time, so it’s difficult to handle the long term strain that puts on a small business’s budget. Instead, training employees through a single, unified manufacturing software enables better retention as a result of the easy-to-follow structure and the nature of everything always being in one place.

    Efficient Communication

    People underestimate the necessity of what a seamless, integrated manufacturing system can do for communication. For both clients and employees, it is an integral part of growing a business to scale. When many manufacturers produce similar products for a similar target audience, it becomes difficult to differentiate yourself in the free market. By using a small business manufacturing software, it becomes easier for your business to stand out when you have a better system of communication with clients. Additionally, a seamless system and ease of usability can increase productivity and create more positive experiences across the board.

    Accuracy

    When too much trust is placed in human ability, it is easy to lose information or ignore tools necessary for growth. Without the right tools, a business can stagnate, or worse, deteriorate. Inaccuracy when counting inventory, managing logistics, or just the general flow of information can occur when the right systems are not in place. To avoid debilitating errors, tools such as inventory control, operations dashboards, integrated accounting tools, and document storage interfaces are all tools found within a small business manufacturing software that will help with accuracy and placement of information. 

    The Takeaway

    The best small business manufacturing software will be customizable to meet your business needs and size. Important features that include aiding in inventory management, reporting, logistics, and distribution to grow your small business. 

    5 Important Management Software Features You Need To Start an Online Business

    Posted on by Irene Luong

    Setting up an online business doesn’t have many barriers, but maintaining the business requires substantial effort, especially if you want to scale up. To deal with the complexities of business management, you can embrace technology that streamlines workflows and improve your operational efficiency. Investing in good software will help you save time on repetitive tasks and push your business to go faster. Let’s explore the benefits and the 5 most important management software features that help online business owners achieve their goals.

    Why Do You Need A Management Software?

    Business management software can support you in various aspects of both internal and customer-facing work. It can be a system for retail store management, inventory management, content and social media management, employee scheduling, analytics, and accounting.

    Controlling the full spectrum of the business on 1 platform provides you with data centralization and consistency. Here’re the benefits of management system: 

    • Ensure alignment for different teams: Since all data and documents are synced in 1 place, your employees can get access to the latest data and avoid discrepancies.
    • Standardized processes: Software is the digital solution to control business. It simplifies processes, makes sure people know their jobs and can access the resources they need.
    • Automate tasks to save time and money: Automation is the best way to scale up with minimized human resources. It eliminates human errors and saves time on manual tasks, thus freeing up your employees for more important tasks that improve the products and customer experience. 

    5 Features To Expect In A Business Management Software

    As an online business owner, you need to control your remote teams and offer outstanding services to customers. To do that, here are the 5 management system features you need:

    1. A simple and secure payment process

    When customers place an online order, simplicity and security are their foremost requirements. To attract more online shoppers, you must provide a seamless payment process for your site. People want a safe and simple way to make purchases. Here’re some ideas you can implement:

    • Accepting multiple payment methods to give convenience for customers, such as debit card, credit card, mobile payment, buy-now-pay-later, etc. 
    • Attach a checkout button that is easily accessible to take customers straight to their cart with order details, delivery information, and point of sale. 
    • Show the real-time availability of each product during customer browsing.
    • Display a confirmation page when customers have placed the order successfully.

    You can easily set up and manage these options with a point-of-sale feature inside the management software. It helps you process payments smoothly and control other actions, such as order returns or exchanges.

    2. Customer relationship management (CRM)

    Managing customer data is essential to understand their behaviors and preferences, improve your products and services, and retain existing customers. To record and analyze customer data, you need a CRM feature in your management software package. An effective CRM allows you to find insights about customers, such as your main targets, their pain points, what they like and dislike, etc. From there, you can design suitable products and marketing programs that boost sales and foster customer trust and loyalty. 

    CRM helps you stay connected with customers via many functions like audience segmentation, scheduled messaging, and customer service channels (ticketing systems or live chats). In this way, you can maintain your customer contacts, plan regular messaging to customers, and keep them engaged.

    3. Project Management

    For startups and small businesses, the project management feature is essential to organize and control a multitasking team. This system allows you to set up detailed objectives, assign tasks suitable for each employee’s workload, and track their progress in real time. It makes the workflows more dynamic, creates an agile working approach, and prevents bottlenecks in teamwork. This is especially useful if you have multiple projects at the same time, or if you have different teams overlap in their tasks.

    For instance, the marketing has to secure qualified leads for the sales team to proceed with their work. A project management system can offer tools to assign, re-assign, add resources, and close projects without confusion.

    4. Inventory Management

    If you’re an online merchant, inventory management is your business backbone. With the right software to control stock, you can solve many problems and open up sales opportunities as well. Here are some aspects that a good system is capable of: 

    • SKUs management: You should be able to add, edit, and sync product information with sales and vendor data. Although being a startup, think about if the system can scale with you if you expand. Ideally, it should allow you to easily add unlimited SKUs and control them.
    • Real-time stock tracking: The system can give you visibility on your inventory level and any stock allocations or movements. It means sales orders are synced with stock data, and goods purchased from suppliers are added once they’re scanned in the warehouse. Any stock returns and exchanges must reflect in the inventory position as well.
    • Low stock alerts and reorder points: The system should let you set automatic alerts when your stock reaches a specific level, and assist you to quickly generate a PO for that alert.
    • Procurement and supplier management: Controlling your purchasing is an important aspect of stock management. This feature digitizes various procurement activities, such as:
      • Create and autofill your purchase orders, and add any quantity discounts
      • Centralize all supplier details and track their performance based on product quality, price, delivery speed, and customer support.
      • View your purchase history with each vendor

    5. Performance Metric Monitor

    When you open your online store, tracking key performance metrics from the start is critical. The management software should make it easy for you to measure your results, such as site traffic, conversion rate, average order value, inventory turnover rate, and many more. 

    These metrics help you understand how you are performing and give you insights into different aspects that need improvement. Therefore, you should look for software that has a built-in analytics dashboard that allows you to create customized reports to investigate deeper. Filter by criteria to help you identify the data you need and address any trends or issues. Analyzing data is the key to understanding your business and customers to make the right decisions for your startup growth.

    In Conclusion

    Business management software is essential for online businesses to organize teams, save time, reduce costs, and boost morale. Adopting the modern technology solution can help you operate your store smoothly, and quickly determine any threats or opportunities for improvement across all aspects: customer experience, inventory management, employee retention, and vendor relationships. 

    Why Planning and Forecasting Are More Important During Supply Chain Disruptions

    Posted on by David L. Buss

    Though the COVID-19 pandemic has come and gone, it’s left widespread and ongoing disruptions to the supply chain. All industries have been affected, forcing businesses to either adapt or shut down.

    Compounded by pre-pandemic challenges, global supply chains have taken a heavy hit – especially with ocean shipping. The container shipping industry has been up against significant challenges to begin with, such as low rates and overcapacity, which have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

    For businesses to overcome these obstacles, it’s more important than ever to have a defined planning and forecasting strategy in place.

    The State of Global Container Shipping

    There’s a lot of complexity in the modern economic landscape, especially with the container shipping industry. Shortages, delays, and backlogs have had a devastating impact that’s rippled through the industry, leading to low warehouse storage capacity, limited labor pools, and other disruptions in logistics.

    In some ways, the industry has been rebounding since the conditions at the start of the pandemic, but there’s a long way to go. The current obstacles include:

    • Rising container costs
    • Volatile freight rates
    • Decreases in global trade
    • Extended lead times and unexpected delays

    As a result, container shipping has become more and more unreliable. Businesses are forced to deal with long transit times, canceled shipments, and other disruptions, causing increased costs and decreased profits.

    Some businesses are weathering the storm, but there’s no clear end in sight for all the backup that occurred at the height of the pandemic in 2020. The current conditions are expected to continue for at least a few years, and affected industries are looking for opportunities to adapt and overcome.

    Planning and Forecasting Solutions

    If the current conditions continue, businesses that rely on ocean shipping – and shipping in general – have to adapt accordingly. One of the best ways to stay agile in the face of a volatile industry is with a strategy for planning and forecasting.

    Forecasting provides an opportunity to anticipate future trends and challenges to make adjustments to operations. With the future of global shipping unpredictable, this is key to staying ahead of the curve.

    Here are some of the benefits of forecasting:

    More Lead Time With Less Concern

    Crises and devastating changes can happen in a flash. Every business needs to be adaptable, but with the many moving parts of the supply chain, even a small disruption can be catastrophic in its ripple effect.

    Forecasting future trends gives businesses plenty of lead time to react and make changes as conditions change. The extra time involved can mean the difference between a business running smoothly and a business that has to stall operations – maybe indefinitely. Forecasting also maximizes internal resources without a lot of excess spend and waste.

    As expected, a proactive approach is ideal to prevent problems or mitigate their impact. In addition, knowing what’s on the horizon can reduce stress for a team trying to scramble to handle challenges.

    Better Customer Satisfaction

    Customer trends play a big role in the supply chain with demand. When you anticipate what customer trends are upcoming, you can adjust accordingly. For example, if you expect a high demand for a product, you can overstock it to prepare for high-volume orders. Taking this approach reduces revenue losses by avoiding stockouts and delays while building stronger relationships with business partners.

    At the end of the day, customers are the lifeblood of your business and they have to be satisfied. Investing in forecasting reduces the risks of delays and errors that ruin the customer experience and diminish customer satisfaction – and by extension, harm your business.

    Improved Cost Efficiency

    Balancing inventory with demand and resources can always be a challenge. Forecasting ensures you have the optimal inventory to maximize your resources, streamline your ordering process, consolidate shipments, and optimize your shipping routes. You have a more efficient shipping process with cost-saving measures that can make a huge difference in your bottom-line performance.

    How to Improve Your Forecasting for Ocean Shipping

    Stocking products from global suppliers increases uncertainty when the disruptions not only affect getting your goods to the customer but getting the goods from the supplier to your warehouse. Demand planning helps you navigate these lead times and reduce the risk of disruptions to your business.

    Build In More Lead Time

    When your product procurement is from global suppliers, you must understand all the risks and challenges that could have a widespread impact on your supply chain, potential delays, and customer satisfaction. Consider all aspects of the process, including supplier reliability, natural disasters, and geopolitical risks.

    Once you have a clear understanding of the risks involved, you can plan for the best-case and worst-case scenarios. What’s the maximum amount of time you’ll need for product procurement and is it feasible? If not, you may need to plan extra lead time to ensure your deliveries go out on time.

    No matter the state of the supply chain, it’s always smart to have a generous margin for your typical lead time – especially if there are significant materials or supply shortages that apply to your industry.

    Be Aware of Peak Periods

    Global shipping demands tend to rise at specific times of the year, such as major holidays like Christmas and Chinese New Year. Keep in mind that shipping can be disrupted according to the major holidays in other countries as well, such as the long holiday period that takes place in December and January for South American countries.

    If you’re planning on shipping goods during these periods, you have to be aware of the risks and plan for them. You may need to place orders earlier or work with a freight forwarder that has demonstrated strong performance during peak shipping periods.

    Leverage Data and Technology

    There are numerous data and technology tools that can enhance forecasting, such as intelligence platforms and intermodal solutions with real-time shipment tracking.

    Using these solutions can help you visualize the conditions of the global shipping market to see the “big picture” and make more informed decisions about the supply chain. Many of these tools have additional features that help you automate the forecasting process to maximize time and resources.

    Keep an eye on major disruptions in the market as well. An array of issues can impact the supply chain, including a natural disaster that affects major shipping routines or a labor strike that causes a shortage of workers. When you’re aware of these disruptions, you can build a plan into your forecasting to minimize the impact.

    Leverage Forecasting and Planning to Stay Agile

    Planning and forecasting are essential for businesses that rely on global shipping solutions to deliver goods to customers. Having a strategy in place to address shortages, peak shipping periods, and other unexpected challenges can keep your supply chain running more smoothly. 

    Striven Named #2 Small Business Manufacturing Software of 2022 – SoftwareAdvice

    Posted on by Scott Hammer

    Lumberton, NJ (December 6th, 2022)-  SoftwareAdvice, a leading provider of business software reviews, has named Striven as the 2nd best small business manufacturing software of 2022.

    Striven’s placement above the majority of manufacturing software options showcases the increased emphasis that manufacturers place on incorporating business management technology into their daily operations. For small manufacturers, the need for modern, powerful technological solutions is especially relevant.

    While many manufacturers have traditionally relied on outdated, disconnected, and occasionally analog software systems, the need for updated technology in the manufacturing sector has become increasingly prevalent. And for small businesses that have previously had to work with bloated, expensive ERP systems, Striven provides an easy-to-use, affordable alternative that includes everything small manufacturers need to grow and thrive.

    An all in one business management software like Striven allows businesses to connect their financial data directly into other silos of their company including project management, CRM, inventory management, and more.

    Striven ranks #2 in the ‘Small Business Manufacturing Software’ category ahead of other notable software solutions including Acumatica, MRPEasy, Katana, Netsuite, and Fishbowl.

    Orion H, a small business decision maker who uses Striven to manage his company’s daily operations, added this about his experience with the system:

    “This software has everything a business would need all in one place. Too many times do companies find themselves needing a handful of different software programs to organize their different departments.

    Striven takes all those major departments and stores it in one place, which makes it significantly easier to track, organize, and provide the information needed.”

    To learn more about Striven and read about customer experiences using the platform, visit the company’s ratings and review page.

    About Striven
    Striven is an ERP software for small and growing businesses that want to expand, simplify, and reduce costs. Striven combines all of the features for accounting, projects, sales, inventory, management, reporting, and more into a single streamlined system.

    7 Benefits of Using a Transport Management System

    Posted on by Alex Chapman

    Like most business owners, you’re always looking for ways to make your operations more efficient. One way to do that is using a transport management system (TMS). This software can help you streamline your transportation processes. This makes it easier and faster to get goods from your facilities to their destination. To help you understand the importance of a TMS, we’ve joined forces with TransVirtual to discuss the seven benefits of integrating a transport management system into your business.

    Below are the seven benefits of using a transport management system.

    Automate Routing

    One of the significant advantages of having a transport management system is the ability to automate routing. This can save your drivers and dispatchers a lot of time when it comes to planning their trips, as it will automatically generate routes for them. You must input the relevant information into the system, such as the starting point, destination, and any stops along the way. The TMS will then use this information to calculate the most efficient route for your driver to take. This can be a huge timesaver, particularly if you have a large fleet or if your drivers are constantly on the move.

    Improve Tracking

    A transport management system can help you keep track of your vehicles and drivers in real-time. It allows you to monitor their whereabouts and get detailed insights into their routes. This can be useful for a number of reasons. These include ensuring that vehicles are being used efficiently, investigating any delays or accidents, and tracking driver performance. In addition, by using this system, you can improve the efficiency of your operation and ensure that you are meeting all of your legal obligations.

    Enhance Communication

    This system can help to facilitate communication between you and your drivers. This can be particularly useful if you have a large fleet and need to keep track of their whereabouts. With this, you can send out messages to keep them updated on their routes and provide them with text alerts when they’ve reached specific locations. This can help to ensure that your drivers are always aware of changes in the schedule and can plan accordingly. In addition, a TMS can also help to reduce the chances of miscommunication between you and your drivers.

    Optimize Scheduling

    Automating your routine processes is essential for keeping your business running smoothly. But what about scheduling? This system can also help you optimize scheduling, ensuring that your deliveries and pickups are always on time. With this system, you can schedule deliveries and pickups in advance, so you never have to worry about being late. In addition, the system can help you keep track of your fleet’s whereabouts so you always know where your assets are. As a result, a transport management system can save you both time and money.

    Reduce Costs

    Any business owner knows that reducing costs is essential to remaining profitable. There are a variety of ways to cut costs, but one often overlooked method is through optimised transport management. Businesses can use this system to minimise fuel expenses, labour costs, and other operational costs. The transport management system creates efficient routes and schedules that make the best use of resources. As a result, businesses can save money and improve their bottom line.

    Improve Customer Service

    Regarding customer service, one of the most essential factors is timely delivery. If you can’t get your product to your customers when they need it, they’ll likely go elsewhere. That’s where a transport management system comes in. By having a system in place to track and manage your deliveries, you can be sure that your products will reach their destinations on time and in the condition they were sent. This not only benefits your customers but also helps to build trust and loyalty. In today’s competitive marketplace, that’s more important than ever.

    Enhance Security

    As your business grows, so does the need for security. It can help to enhance safety by providing features such as remote access control systems and GPS tracking. With these tools, you can keep an eye on your business from anywhere in the world. You can also track your employees’ comings and goings, ensuring everyone is where they’re supposed to be. In addition, a TMS can help to deter crime by making it more difficult for thieves to break into your business. Finally, it can help give you peace of mind and protect your business by enhancing security.

    Conclusion

    A transport management system is a powerful tool that can improve your business in various ways. It can help to reduce costs, enhance communication between you and your drivers, optimize scheduling, improve customer service, and enhance security. By investing in the right TMS, you’ll be able to maximize efficiency while meeting all of your business needs. In addition, with a transport management system in place, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your business is running smoothly and securely.