WBSRocks: Scaling Growth with AI, Enterprise Software, and Digital Transformation

Sam Gupta
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Sep 21, 2021 • 36min

WBSP153: Grow Your Business by Learning To Identify ERP Disasters Through ERP Demos w/ Andy Pratico

Send us Fan MailERP sales teams are some of the most confident people, while the ERP implementation team would come across as the most nervous. If you ever sat in an ERP demo, the sales team would provide assurance on every single doubt you might have, and the implementation team is rarely involved in the sales process. After signing the contract, you might never see the pre-sales or salesperson, and in the implementation, the lead might not agree with the verbal commitment during the sales phase. To be successful with your ERP implementation, you need an expert hand who knows how to look under the hood.In today's episode, we have our guest, Andy Pratico, who discusses why ERP demos are designed to deceive and why ERP salespeople are more incentivized to sell their products and the success of their customers. He also touches on how to find the right references and evaluate them. Finally, he discusses different manufacturing verticals and their unique requirements.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.
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Sep 20, 2021 • 44min

WBSP152: Grow Your Business by Aligning Sales Compensation Strategies With Your Growth Plans w/ Ryan Wicklum

Send us Fan MailSales compensation is a multi-edged sword. There are many variables, and each variable could significantly impact your top line and bottom line if the consequences are not thought through. If the base salary is too low and if it doesn't meet the basic needs of salespeople, they might be looking for additional sources of revenue for themselves and might not be committed. If you paid too much in base, they might not be motivated to work hard and go out of their way to close deals.In today's episode, we have our guest, Ryan Wicklum, who discusses why companies require a framework for sales compensation strategies aligned with their growth plans. He also touches on psychological drivers and motivational triggers that drive sales teams to deliver results. Finally, he shares several stories of bad compensation strategies that fired back for the company and the good strategies that paid off. 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.
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Sep 17, 2021 • 1h 4min

WBSP151: Grow Your Business Through Enterprise Integration, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts

Send us Fan MailIrrespective of whether you are integrating two hardware components or software products, the challenges are similar. You need to understand the current state of the integrated components, but the future state is equally important, especially if the future state may not be in your control. For example, if you aim to integrate an e-commerce platform with an ERP, the only piece you will own will be the integration code. The product life cycle of e-commerce or ERP products is out of your control. While these technical considerations are important for your integration strategy, the most important question for any integration project will be the purpose and outcome expected from the integration.In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss how to plan for enterprise integration. We covered many grounds in this episode, including what enterprise integration is and why it matters, the pros and cons of point-to-point integration vs. centralized integration strategy, and why integration projects could be as big as ERP. We also discussed the role of iPaaS and how they can help avoid the Frankenstein of integration code across platforms. Finally, we discussed the best practices, the role of swim lanes or data flows, and integration patterns.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.
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Sep 16, 2021 • 1h 5min

WBSP150: Grow Your Business by Better Understanding E-Commerce Discounting Strategies, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts

Send us Fan MailMarketers tend to offer sitewide discounts to their entire audience without considering where visitors are in the buyer's journey. Sure, that might drum up more sales, but it can hurt your bottom line in the long run. They also use discounts to attract the top of a funnel audience. Sure that's effective in the retail world? But does that work in every single situation? So what can you do to segment your customers better and understand if they truly care for discounts?In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss E-commerce discounting strategies. We covered many grounds in this episode, including seasonality and its impact on discounting; cultural, regional, and geographic factors that drive discounting; aged and obsolete inventory and their discounting treatments. Finally, we also had a chance to touch matrix-based discounting, influencer strategy, and coupon codes--and how they can help you measure discounting strategies.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.
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Sep 15, 2021 • 46min

WBSP149: Grow Your Business Through Dynamic Adjustments to Warehouse Operations w/ Jon Schechter

Send us Fan MailWhen it comes to automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), there are several choices available. You have regular ASRS systems that will require changes to your facility and processes as they are designed to be more of the conveyor belts. Mobile ASRS, on the other hand, don't have to travel in a fixed path. Instead, they can travel to a predetermined location or work center inside a facility. Mobile ASRS systems are also very flexible in accommodating real-time demand and changing picking operations as the demand changes.In today's episode, we have our guest, Jon Schechter, who discusses how mobile ASRS systems differ from regular ones. He also touches on the rigidity of the regular ASRS systems and why they would not be suitable when the demand may fluctuate significantly. Finally, he describes the technology behind mobile ASRS systems in simple terms that will help you assess if they could be fit for your facility. 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.
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Sep 14, 2021 • 38min

WBSP148: Grow Your Business by Increasing Average Order Value w/ Ronnie Teja

Send us Fan MailStrategic placement of complementary products and personalized recommendations can help increase revenue from each transaction and the lifetime value of each customer. But strategic placement is art and science and requires you to understand customer behavior at a deeper level. If you go overboard with your suggestions, the customers may bounce from your site. And if you underserve them, you might miss out on the opportunities to be able to upsell and cross-sell. In today's episode, we have our guest, Ronnie Teja, who discusses the upsell and cross-sell strategies for e-commerce merchants and how you might be able to increase the average order value for your customers. He also touches on several customer service strategies, including how to motivate your employees to meet their customer service targets. Finally, he touches on how personalization strategies can help increase the average order value from each transaction. 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.
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Sep 13, 2021 • 46min

WBSP147: Grow Your Business by Forecasting the Outcome of Strategic Sourcing w/ Edmund Zagorin

Send us Fan MailAs a procurement leader, if you are too focused on seeking discounts, sometimes you might lose sight that the cost of spend could be higher than the discount you might be seeking. Also, as the number of SKUs increases in your organization, the SG&A costs rise at an increasing rate than your top line because of increased marginal overhead with each SKU. The cost of spend is a key metric that manufacturers and distributors need to measure and control. Or you might hit the growth inflection point.In today's episode, we have our guest, Edmund Zagorin, who describes why the cost of spend is an important metric for some of the strategic sourcing categories. He also touches on various strategic sourcing terms and processes, such as how to interpret the implications of purchase price variance KPI and why it's important. Finally, he touches on why businesses should be forecasting the outcome to reduce the cost of spend and better manage supplier relationships.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.
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Sep 10, 2021 • 1h 3min

WBSP146: Grow Your Business by Preparing for Enterprise Security Issues, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts

Send us Fan MailCybersecurity issues are becoming more and more common. As the adversaries and state-funded agencies get sophisticated in their capabilities, most businesses will need to rethink their cybersecurity strategy. It will be even more critical for regulated companies such as aerospace and defense and medical devices. Also, as we advance with our capabilities with industry4.0, OT security will be even more critical. What can executives do to educate themselves and prepare for enterprise security?In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss how to plan for enterprise security. We covered many grounds in this episode, including risk factors and considerations for executives as they prepare for cybersecurity. We also discussed concepts such as the importance of threat profiles and the common entry points for ransomware. Finally, we discussed how to evaluate software and hardware from the perspective of cybersecurity.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.
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Sep 9, 2021 • 58min

WBSP145: Grow Your Business by Better Understanding Conversion Rate Optimization Techniques, a Live Interview w/ a Panel of Experts

Send us Fan MailFor e-commerce sites, the conversion rate is perhaps the most critical metric. Many sites focus on getting tons of traffic, but what is the point in having that traffic if they don't convert. When it comes to improving conversion rate, various factors drive the conversion rate, including page speed, expectations of your users, and flow or navigation.In today's episode, we invited a panel of cross-functional experts for a live interview on LinkedIn who brings significant expertise to discuss conversion rate optimization techniques. We covered many grounds in this episode, including the factors that drive it. Finally, we also had a chance to touch if platform selection may affect the conversion rate and any strategies to improve it.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.
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Sep 8, 2021 • 39min

WBSP144: Grow Your Business by Avoiding ERP Disasters Through the Investment in the Pre-ERP Phase w/ Rich Sade

Send us Fan MailThe most critical factor in winning or losing a deal is always timing. And the faster you convert your customer, the faster you answer all of their questions, and the faster you ship it to them, you can outrun your competition. To do so, you need to think about the speed to your customers and suppliers. This speed requires cross-functional alignment and everyone operating on one system and with process harmony.In today's episode, we have our guest, Rich Sade, who describes his journey and the pitfalls of implementing six ERP projects throughout his career. He also highlighted the importance of the pre-ERP phase and how that could improve the chances of success of selection and implementation. Finally, he also touched on how he could convert his business from make-to-order to configure-to-order and improve the customer experience while expediting the sales cycle.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.

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