Craig Barnaby | Beroxperts | Managing Partner/COO

“As a new startup company every penny and dime are scrutinized over and over before being allocated and spent. When looking at operating software for our B2B and B2C we ran the gamut from cheap to custom but settled on NetSuite by Oracle.  

 

My early concern was local support, not having to depend on NetSuites expensive Premium Support.  

 

We are very, very pleased that we found Justin Parker and his support Team at The Parker Initiative, ‘TPI’. Justin first came to meet with us, listening to our past struggles, current concerns, future plans and wish list. Thru this initial conversation found a really likable man, his positive outlook is contagious. We have found him to be someone you can trust and want to spend time with.  

Our initial project was taking our existing company and bringing in our new company under one set up of NetSuites. He did this with a short time frame, on budget and quality results.  

 

We have now moved on to other projects and could not be any happier with our decision of going with TPI. Certainly if you are looking for a great partner who is ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work, call Justin and his team at The Parker Initiative.”

 

– Craig Barnaby | Beroxperts | Managing Partner/COO

Terry Porter | PlayTime | Director of IT

“TPI has been a solid partner in bringing a new business unit into our NetSuite environment. Key roles were:

  • Advisory – providing input on various NetSuite areas such as drop shipping details, custom segment use and other detailed areas.  

  • Programmatic – TPI’s team produces results that behave like they should. TPI has an in depth understanding of NetSuite workings. That is married with business sense to produce results that meet expectations. 

  • Data Migration – TPI was provided customer information to transfer from the legacy ERP system. They were also given basic mapping/data rules for the source data. They applied experience to address the many potential pitfalls that exist in these exercises to perform a good import of the data to NetSuite. 

  • Reporting – TPI understands the intricacies of NetSuite which is valuable in producing accurate reports.  

TPI has a strong talent pool to handle the various needs and is increasing their bench depth. We look forward to a continued relationship with TPI to mutual advantage.”

 

– Terry Porter | PlayTime | Director of IT

Aaron Stenhaug | Digi | Assistant Controller

“TPI is genuinely committed to ensuring  our success by providing thoughtful recommendations and solutions that not only address short term pains but also long term strategic visions. TPI’s resources are well rounded not only include subject matter experts in systems (NetSuite), but there expertise extend to finance and business operations best practices.”

 

– Aaron Stenhaug | Digi | Assistant Controller

Brandon Mills | DuraMark | VP of Finance

“I can’t say enough about the quality and value of service provided by Justin Parker and the TPI team. We have worked with Justin for years and were thrilled when he started TPI. From the first time we started working with him, Justin quickly became a trusted business partner. Justin didn’t pretend to know the details of our business when we walked in the door and didn’t show up with all the answers. He took the time to hear our issues, listened to how we were trying to use NetSuite to run our business, observed our key business processes and asked many questions. Then, he put together a plan and talked us through several options for solutions before we agreed on a course of action. Over the years, he has helped us accomplish transformational change using NetSuite that has helped bolster our business to levels not previously imagined. Prior to Justin, we weren’t sure NetSuite was the right product to run our business. He quickly changed that mindset.   

 

Justin and the TPI team are incredibly talented but represent themselves as modest and diligent while serving as collaborative problem solvers. TPI communicates timely and is respectful of project deadlines and budgets. TPIs level of professionalism and expertise make our relationship so much more than a typical consultant-employer relationship. DuraMark is a better, more efficient company and a happier NetSuite customer due to the TPI team’s guidance and execution on several initiatives over the years.”

 

– Brandon Mills | DuraMark | VP of Finance

Kristy Kapsner | MotoAlliance | Co-Owner/Director of Operations

“I am happy to write a recommendation for TPI.   Justin and his team provided the foundation for the best software implementation in our company’s history.  Their expertise in accounting, operations, and warehouse management enabled them to understand our existing processes quickly.  From there, they were able to suggest ways to use NetSuite to enhance our business & its processes. We came out of the implementation with far more than a software package in place.  We now have a better business model along with the software to support it.”

 

– Kristy Kapsner | MotoAlliance | Co-Owner/Director of Operations

James Blunt | Tigris Fulfillment Partners | VP of Operations

“Justin and his team are a pleasure to work with. Justin is very knowledgeable of NetSuite and has helped us solve many problems that had us (and other consulting firms) stumped. He is easy to work with, strives to understand your problems, and his responses are prompt and thorough. Justin has a great team of developers that have solved every problem that we have thrown at them.

 

TPI is great partner. They truly want to build a long-term partnership, and aren’t just engaging to make a quick buck. They are practical, skilled, and execute a higher level than other firms in the NetSuite space. TPI has introduced practical solutions to solve meaningful problems where their competition has failed.

 

TPI adds value to our organization by providing responsive daily support coupled with practical solutions to solve business problems. Their team is professional, responsive, and knowledgeable. They are a pleasure to work with and provide meaningful value to our business.” 

 

– James Blunt | Tigris Fulfillment Partners | VP of Operations

Private Equity Firms Need To Make This Investment Right Now

You might be focusing your investments on everyone but yourself. Your internal strategies and organization might be on the back burner. Even though your goals for the upcoming year might revolve around investing in the growth of other companies and helping them “make it”, you need to make this one investment for your own business…

 

Private equity firms need ERP systems

There are strings attached to your investments. You want to know your money is being spent well. Many private equity firms are investing in ERP systems to keep up with their goals of increasing revenue, reducing waste and generating healthy profit margins.

 
What’s an ERP system?

ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems reduce complexity across your business functions and help you make better decisions. The system is a software platform that brings all of your departments into one place and projects data that will help you determine what’s working for your business and what’s not.

 

NetSuite for private equity firms

NetSuite has a special platform for private equity firms. The platform supports your firm by reducing as much risk as possible. NetSuite can advise you on new solutions, costs and timelines to keep you on track with investment goals.

NetSuite’s special platform for private equity firms includes custom reporting, carve-outs, unique add-ons and platform flexibility. All of these resources help you track and decide how your money is being spent.

 

The next steps of your investment
CONTACT THE TPI TEAM

TPI has a dedicated team of consultants that will help you implement your ERP system, train your employees and work with you on your business goals. We help our partners get the best out of their ERP systems through personalized consulting.

Your Small Business Needs an ERP System

Some small business owners are under false pretense that ERP systems are only for large businesses and corporate giants. Small business owners and entrepreneurs actually benefit a great deal from ERP systems. Without a large manufacturing station and countless employees, planning inventory and fulfilling orders is draining.

 

Keep your business small and still deliver BIG

 

Isn’t that the dream? Maintaining your tight-knit, small business plan while still being able to serve all your loyal customers with efficiency and quality? These two goals seldom have a positive outcome without proper management of processes and streamlining your operations. ERP systems help with these functions by blending and automating key business functions such as order processing, production and finances.

 

Benefits of an ERP System for small businesses

  1. Reduced complexity: Instead of each department within a small manufacturing company having their own information system, all relevant data can be shared and accessed across all departments. This essentially eliminates the need to re-enter or export data, which yields a decrease in errors, increased productivity, and reduced expenses on HR.

  2. Better decision-making: By providing real-time data, small business owners can making difficult decisions easier and are able to quickly respond to changes in the business environment.

  3. Flexibility, scalability and growth: Because of the increased data clarity that an ERP system provides, staff are able to adjust their attention to manage increasing volumes of business. This helps small business adjust to their growth without ever feeling disorganized or overwhelmed.

 
The best ERP System for your small business

Before choosing an ERP system that is the best fit for your business we recommend reading “Considering a New Business System”.

There are multiple ERP systems available for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our preferred ERP System is NetSuite, however our specialized consultants at TPI can evaluate your business needs and help with this decision process.

How To Conquer Demand Planning for 2021

“No plan of operations extends with any certainty beyond the first contact.”

Wake up and conquer demand planning for 2021

It’s October!! And you know what that means – you’re beginning your planning cycle for next year. And how on earth do you even accomplish such a thing in today’s environment? If there’s one thing for certain, it is to execute that plan with absolute certainty, and to have the perspective and agility to move and pivot when you inevitably encounter the unexpected.

The hallmark of any business plan or operations plan bound for success is having a cadre of creative coaches to carry the load.

 

Prepare to fulfill your customers’ orders NOW

So let’s talk for a minute about Demand Planning.

 

No matter what business you are in, having a clear forecast of what volume of orders you are expecting is absolutely central to your business. There are endless resources committed to the depths and varieties of demand planning, but who has time these days to do all of the research, all of the analytics, and figure out how to use all of the tools to fit your business?

 

KPI’s and a good coach are your secret weapons to conquer demand planning

Listed below are 3 simple steps to get started on your demand planning process. Remember that no matter how good your starting plan is, the most critical element is to have a process that is agile enough to adapt to our changing environment, and the tools to help guide your decisions.

  1. KPIs – Understand what is important to you and why – you know you want to use your demand planning functionality and tools, and that it can help you and your team simplify your daily work, but how do you know if you are getting better?

    a. Are you trying to have the best order fulfillment rate?

    b. Best lead time?

    c. Best on-time delivery?

    d. Lowest inventory cost?

    e. Least amount of inventory space? Getting clarity on what is important and deciding how you will measure your progress is paramount.

  2. Get a coach – as a business owner or supply chain planner, you probably already have a good idea of what you want and what is possible. What you may not have is a ton of time for analytics and setting up your business processes and systems to achieve what you want. The budget is tight, and you can’t just staff up with so much uncertainty on the horizon – you have important things to keep your focus on. Hire a coach who can learn your business and bring expertise in both the process and your business system. A coach will save you time and give you confidence in how to adapt your plan going forward.

  3. Start today – Demand planning is not a one-and-done exercise. It is iterative, agile, and ever-

    improving. It is about building habits around learning what is happening in your business, with your customers and your supply chain to meet their demands. Take the first step and commit to a regular cadence of review, learning, adoption, and progress.

That’s it!! If we could offer a simple formula for building a successful demand plan, we’d love to have your insight on where this launchpad would fall apart. We haven’t seen it fail yet and are committed to learning and adapting our ability to deliver this message effectively to those in need. Take care and happy planning!!

4 Ways To Get the Most Out of Your New ERP System

When we enter a partnership with a client we take a look at their business needs. Our team of specialized consultants pinpoint the organizational needs and obstacles that are preventing success. With that information, our team implements an ERP system such as NetSuite and other organizational tactics to help our client leap forward with their business goals.

We maintain our partnerships with clients after the initial implementation to ensure our clients will have success with their ERP sytem. This success comes from several contributing factors and we want to share the top five that will help our clients get the most out of their ERP systems.

 

1. Understand why you need an ERP sytem

Maybe you’re a small or medium sized business and think there are cheaper ways to navigate your business goals. You might figure only big companies are running ERP systems.

We want our clients to pin-point their business objectives and understand what they wish to achieve with an ERP system. With this understanding and having everyone on board, an ERP system will be more successful for your business. Identifying, communicating and planning for certain goals will improve the outcome of those goals.

On the technical front, it is also important to primarily understand your business needs. The various technical capabilities and software features of an ERP system are not the most vital components to your business success. What really matters is how you want your business operations to run and what your key business requirements are. Once you have this defined, you can more effectively choose the software that fits your unique business needs and customize your unique features to support your mission.

 

2. Commitment from company executives

When you’re implementing an ERP system for your business it is crucial to have everyone on board. Your CEO, CIO, IT director, IT staff and all other staff have to adopt this new system for optimal success. Even with the best system, plan and support consultants you could fall short on your goals if you don’t have top-management support because there are conflicting business needs and interests. Unanimous support of a core set of goals is critical for seeing success with a new ERP system.

 

3. Back up your new ERP system with a strong support team

A new ERP system requires strong project management support and resource commitment. An ERP system isn’t a one-time project that thrives without support. An ERP system needs a project manager and other participating roles in the project. Here at TPI we have specialized consultants that assist in those roles for our clients by providing VIP support. A strong project implementation plan and execution is key to ERP success.

 

4. Support your staff with adequate ERP training

With a new ERP system, you’re not just forcing change on your IT folks- you’re impacting everyone. Investing time and money into training and change management is necessary for ERP system success. If you’re working with consultants from TPI or another company this training could easily be outsourced. Ask your ERP consulting team about different available methods for on-boarding your staff.