WBSRocks: Business Growth with Enterprise Software and Digital Transformation

Send us a textWhile Anaplan may have coined the term "Connected Planning," many businesses still grapple with identifying the appropriate interconnected elements. Supply Chain suites opt for a unique strategy, integrating planning with network and retail-focused execution components like WMS, TMS, and OMS. ERP suites, conversely, take a different route, encompassing FP&A alongside S&OP capabilities. Despite dedicated planning platforms addressing specific planning functions, they often lack comprehensive coverage of essential aspects, leading to data silos that hinder end-to-end planning traceability unless all planning data resides in a single system. Thus, the question arises: Where do Anaplan's capabilities stand, and how do they measure up against other planning suites?In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Anaplan’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including where Anaplan might be a fit in the enterprise architecture and where it might be overused. Finally, they analyze many data points to help understand Anaplan's core strengths and weaknesses.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textIn contrast to service-oriented industries, product-focused sectors prioritize inventory management over human resources and employee satisfaction. This difference calls for specialized ERP systems tailored to their needs. Manufacturers, distributors, and all players in the production cycle prioritize their products as the key distinguishing factor. Service-oriented firms that offer consultancy to these product-centric entities represent the minority in this scenario.In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 ERP systems for product-centric industries in 2024. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of product-centric ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each product-centric ERP systems.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textSupply Chain has become as much a buzzword as supply chain systems. What are supply chain systems? Are these systems designed to process transactions or enable collaboration? Should they cater to sourcing, product management, or logistics? Should they host processes such as ESG, trade promotions management, or upstream vs downstream processes?In today's episode, our guest, Eric Linxwiler, discusses supply chain transformation stories and concepts. He distinguishes how the product management and sourcing side of the supply chain could be different from the other functions in the supply chain. Finally, Sam and Eric debate about best practices related to several concepts, such as ESG, trade promotion, and the organizational alignment needed for supply chain transformation initiatives.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us a textWithin the domain of real-time transportation visibility platforms, there are noticeable resemblances as each emphasizes comparable capabilities. However, distinctions become evident; certain platforms specialize in specific transportation modes, while others boast multi-modal proficiency. Geographic coverage also varies, with some predominantly serving North America and others exclusively focusing on Europe. While some operate independently as standalone applications, their primary purpose is to empower supply chain control tower applications—comprehensive solutions aiming to refine the supply chain equation through carrier-centric data.In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 real-time transportation visibility platforms in 2024. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of real-time transportation visibility platforms. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each real-time transportation visibility platform.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textSimilar to how a business model can't be purchased off-the-shelf, enterprise architecture is not something you can acquire ready-made, either. Numerous factors come into play when defining architecture and determining suitable locations for inventory, allocation, and collaboration. Considerations for architecture may vary depending on factors such as speed requirements or financial control specifications per transaction. In the context of S&OP systems, a significant consideration revolves around whether execution models should be linked to planning or cross-functional planning workflows. The more interconnected these systems become, the greater the traceability achieved with transactions. However, this interconnectedness also brings challenges, making the system more complex to learn and utilize, as it necessitates a depth of cross-functional knowledge. So where does O9 Solutions fit in its capabilities, and how does it compare with other supply chain suites?In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of O9 Solutions’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including where O9 Solutions might be a fit in the enterprise architecture and where it might be overused. Finally, they analyze many data points to help understand the core strengths and weaknesses of O9 Solutions.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textCritical roles within architecture are contingent on cross-functional integration. Supply chain suites limit ERP suites to financial reporting, whereas suites tailored for the retail sector necessitate coordination with WMS, TMS, and OMS to achieve advanced capabilities such as inventory management and allocation. There has been historical consideration for these functions to be inherently part of the ERP, leading to debates on whether they should be hosted elsewhere. In retail, Procurement closely aligns with merchandising and planning engines. Conversely, in manufacturing and industrial contexts, Procurement engages in more direct collaboration with production and accounting, highlighting the varied nature of suite roles.In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 supply chain suites in 2024. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of supply chain suites. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each supply chain suites.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textWhile there might be overlap between retail and manufacturing business models, they have uniquely different processes, driving the need for distinct architecture and master data governance. While designing business processes and architecture, several decisions could have a catastrophic impact on operational efficiency and enterprise performance. While any enterprise decisions are never easy, what makes it challenging is that very little consensus exists on the role of enterprise systems, making it more art than science.In today's episode, our guest, Jonathan Porter, discusses different architectural patterns containing several supply chain technologies. He also probes into several factors driving decisions about choosing a specific technology or business process. Finally, he shares stories of his work and why they needed a new architecture.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us a textPrior to the introduction of supply chain business networks, industries relied on research and survey-based methods for supply chain planning. Companies in the data business frequently encountered substantial errors, resulting in inefficiencies across the supply chain. The establishment of networks posed challenges due to variations in communication standards and the difficulty of convincing the entire industry to adopt a unified platform. Although business-to-business communication adhered to standards such as XML or EDI, they provided limited connectivity and acknowledgment without centralized repositories to facilitate industry-wide supply chains.In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 supply chain business network platforms in 2024. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of supply chain business network platforms. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each supply chain business network platform.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send us a textTechnology is easy only for salespeople who have never implemented a single software. Sales and marketing hype often cloud executives’ judgment, leading to catastrophic decisions from the get-go. The biggest factor is unrealistic expectations. But that’s not all. Issues such as politics and power struggles may throw off any model or estimate. The wisest thing any seasoned ERP veteran could recommend is to increase the estimates as much as possible, as one thing consistent with technology implementations is that there will be surprises.In today's episode, our guest, Eric Kimberling, discusses an expert witness story of an ERP implementation failure and the factors that led to it. He also shares why being realistic with expectations is the foundational step to succeed with large transformational initiatives. Finally, Sam and Eric debate how other similar transformation initiatives struggle and what executives need to know about succeeding with these initiatives.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us a textConducting inventory-centric operations without an S&OP system is almost unfeasible. Historically, businesses handled operations using intricate spreadsheets that consolidated data from diverse sources. Despite ERP systems asserting S&OP capabilities, their inflexible data structures for transactions impede analytical workflows. An alternative system with a more adaptable structure is essential—one that permits effortless manipulation without disrupting fundamental operations.In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 S&OP systems in 2024. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of S&OP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each S&OP system.For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.