Tag Archives: Cost
How Much Does It Cost to Own Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM?
In today’s business world, all types and sizes of businesses can benefit from the efficiency of a comprehensive CRM(Customer Relationship Management) solution. If your company hopes to grow and expand, it’s even more valuable.
When you hope to increase your client base, open new offices, or expand into new markets nearby or around the globe, you need a powerful, integrated system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM.
There’s no shortage of information and articles about the features and functionality of Dynamics 365/CRM; you can find a wealth of articles right here on the CRM Software Blog.
But one piece of information you might have had trouble pinning down is the price. When budgeting for a new or upgraded solution, you need to know the total cost of ownership. That’s not always easy to determine. There is a difference between the sticker price of the software and the actual cost of the software plus installation plus ongoing costs.
The CRM Software Blog’s Quick Quote Tool is here to help. The Quick Quote Tool will generate a ballpark estimate of the total costs involved in implementing and operating Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM.
Here’s how the Quick Quote Tool works:
Look for the orange ‘Request Instant Quote Dynamics 365/CRM’ bar at the top right of each page of the CRM Software Blog. Click the bar, and you’ll be taken to a screen with a short form to fill out. You’ll answer basic questions about your type of business, the number of employees who will be using the system, the level of support you’ll require (don’t worry, the questionnaire will help you answer these questions), and any concerns you have unique to your business. Include your contact information, and you’re done.
The Quick Quote Tool will use your information to customize a quote which you’ll receive instantly as a PDF sent to your email. After you’ve received your non-binding quote, your contact information will be made available to just one of our expert CRM Software Blog members in your area who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can choose to work with that partner or not; it’s up to you. The non-binding estimate and the referral are a free service we provide for our readers.
The CRM Software Blog Quick Quote Tool can get you started in determining just how much your Microsoft Dynamics 365 system will cost you from the first licensing to long-term support. Simply fill out the quote request form and be well on your way to a deeper understanding of the total cost of owning a Dynamics 365 solution from Microsoft.
By CRM Software Blog Writer. www.crmsoftwareblog.com
The Cost of Our Health
A study published this week provides hard facts about the truly bad deal the US is getting for health care. Simply put, the US for-profit health system costs four times as much than Canada’s single-payer system. Even though the two systems provide roughly equivalent results.
Why? Because of a veritable army of administrative workers who play no direct role in providing actual medical care, and the cost of paying dividends to shareholders of insurance companies. These administration expenses add up to an annual cost of $ 817 billion, which is an average of $ 2,497 out of the pocket of every American man, woman, and child every single year.
It is bad enough that we pay four times as much for the same thing, but keep in mind that the high cost of US health care is killing people. It also hurts our economy because in the US many of these costs are shouldered by private companies. In my personal experience starting companies and working with other startups, this makes it much harder to start new companies or keep small companies running. And as we all know, small companies are the primary engine of economic growth, providing two-thirds of net new jobs and driving innovation and competitiveness.
Also note that this study did not include the time and energy patients spend dealing with health insurance companies. I primarily live in the US, but I have also lived in three countries that have single-payer systems, and the amount of extra time I have to spend dealing with health insurance companies in the US is staggering.
When people claim that a single-payer system will cost you money, they are simply lying.
Chaos Theory And Cost Breakdown Analysis In Sourcing
Can a butterfly flapping its wings in Timbuktu disrupt your supply chain in the Mall of America, Minnesota? Chaos theory aficionados will answer with a resounding yes, as the butterfly effect, applied here, would dictate that the small wind from the butterflies can yield a snowstorm over time due to magnification.
Strategic sourcing professionals have numerous capabilities to leverage the butterfly effect: develop small changes that result in a dramatic positive impact on the business.
Let’s study one: cost breakdown analysis.
Cost breakdown analysis
A cost breakdown analysis (CBA) can help you understand the different components that make up the cost of a product. Its usual constituents are factors such as material, labor, overhead, etc.
You can get this information from multiple sources such as professional service providers, expert consultation, internal benchmarks, and so on. A key source of information can be your own suppliers. An in-depth understanding of what cost drivers influence your product thus helps to establish the cause-and-effect flow of various events on the product’s supply chain.
Getting cost data from suppliers
The days when suppliers were reluctant to share their cost information with the buying customer are over. The concern that the buyer would use strong-arm tactics for pricing negotiations is very much going the way of the dinosaurs.
Progressive, forward-looking enterprises are moving towards effective supplier collaboration in a multi-enterprise network environment. Your suppliers can be the best source of information to provide strategic insights for not just new product launches, but for high-volume, mature products as well.
Cost breakdown insights as part of sourcing
At the time you raise an RFQ (request for quotation), getting cost information pertaining to various cost drivers in different cost groups from suppliers can provide valuable insights. This can definitely alert you to take proactive steps in commodities markets to protect yourself from future disruptions.
Significantly more important is that it can highlight the differences in patterns from the average norm across different suppliers and can thereby provide untapped opportunities for cost savings and other KPIs (key performance indicator) improvements. The ability to cross-pollinate best practices and ideas across the supplier ecosystem results in a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Long-term, the relationships with stakeholders can evolve into different business models such as buy-sell, cost-plus, and other multi-tier cost/risk management strategies.
Cost traceability across the product lifecycle
As the product progresses throughout its lifecycle (in some cases, a multi-year lifecycle, or in the case of an Apple iPhone, as short as one year), detailed cost-breakdown analysis for all components is necessary to facilitate better margin understanding. Many organizations experience a “cost-gap” – missing information about product cost.
Developing a cost framework across this product lifecycle (from prototype to launch to high volume to retirement or next-generation) will eliminate cost gaps. This approach enables professionals to make the best decisions as the product traverses through various product milestones and decision gates while translating into improved product and supply chain sustainability.
In summary, cost breakdown analysis leads to a stronger, nimbler organization better equipped to handle the challenges brought by the flapping of the wings of a butterfly in Timbuktu!
For more insight, download the IDC whitepaper Achieving Competitive Advantage with Trading Partner Collaboration in a Global, Dynamic Supply Chain.
Follow SAP Finance online: @SAPFinance (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Ready for Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM? How Much Will It Cost?
If yours is a small or mid-sized business contemplating the purchase of a CRM (Customer Resource Management) solution or if you are a larger company and are considering upgrading to a comprehensive Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM solution, your research has undoubtedly answered a lot of your questions about features and functionality.
Something that may be a bit harder to pin down is the total cost of the software. You can’t just look online and get answers to such questions as:
• How much does the software cost?
• How much does installation cost?
• What are the fees for training and support?
• Are there any ongoing fees that I should know about?
Of course, a qualified Microsoft Dynamics partner can answer your questions in detail when you are ready. But before you sit down with a salesperson, perhaps you’d just like a ballpark estimate to see if a Microsoft Dynamics 365 solution will fit into your budget.
We’ve got you covered
That’s where the CRM Software Blog’s Quick Quote tool comes in. With the Quick Quote tool, you can get a working idea of the total cost involved in a Microsoft Dynamics 365 solution, including software, implementation, training, support, and fees.
Here’s how it works:
On the right-hand side of any page of the CRM Software Blog, find the orange bar labeled “Request Instant Quote Dynamics 365/CRM,” Click on the bar, and you’ll be taken to the Quick Quote form where you can answer a few short questions about your CRM requirements. Add your contact information, click “submit,” and watch your email inbox for a fast, free estimate for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 solution.
There is no obligation, and the quote is not binding; it’s a free service that we provide for our valued readers. So why not try the CRM Software Blog’s Quick Quote tool today?
By CRM Software Blog Writer, www.crmsoftwareblog.com
Leveraging Your Restaurant’s PMIX to Reduce Food Cost
Posted by Brady Thomason, NetSuite Solution Manager, Restaurant & Hospitality
You may have heard it referred to as a product mix, sales mix, or a menu item sales report—a PMIX has many names, but one major purpose: to provide insight to effectively manage food cost. That insight changes when using the PMIX daily versus weekly and monthly. Many successful operators use it frequently, but perhaps not as comprehensively as they should. This deeper dive will help you leverage this valuable report to ensure your restaurant is achieving its best food cost possible.
Daily
The daily PMIX provides quick insight for managers, shining light on crucial metrics including daily prep usage and menu item performance by day of the week.
Daily Prep Usage
One leading practice to identify and stop waste is to check the variance between actual and theoretical prep usage. This exercise should be performed daily by someone who has an intimate working knowledge of ingredients, recipes and station prep schematics, like a kitchen supervisor or manager.
Start by checking how many of one item you sold on the PMIX, then compare that to actual prep usage in that specific station on the line.
Example: If you sold 12 orders of mahi mahi tacos yesterday, there should be an equal depletion of the prep for mahi mahi tacos on the line. So, if a full pan of cabbage mix yields 24 orders of tacos and the pan was full yesterday, there should be approximately a half pan left. If there is less on hand, you just uncovered a problem you need to research. Are the cooks adding too much cabbage to the tacos? Was
the cabbage thrown away due to over-prepping? Use the daily PMIX to pinpoint waste.
Menu Item Performance by Day of Week
Another leading practice is to keep your historical PMIX reports in a binder tabbed by day of week (i.e. Mon, Tues, Wed, so on.). When filling out your daily prep list, you can make informed decisions of how much of an item to prep based on trends.
Example: looking at the PMIX for the past four Sundays you notice that you sell 50% less buffalo
wings than on Saturdays. Since you spotted this trend, you’re able to flex your par for buffalo wing prep between Saturday and Sunday, consequently reducing waste and improving freshness.
Weekly
A weekly PMIX will provide insight into activities performed less frequently, like ordering or product shelf life analysis.
Ordering
Viewing your rolled-up menu item sales quantities for a full week will provide helpful insights into
setting order pars. It’s a good idea to start with analyzing your most expensive food items and adjust your order pars accordingly.
Example: if you know you sell an average of 100 orders of mahi mahi tacos per week and there is 4 oz of fish per order, you know you’ll need about 25 pounds of fish on hand per week, assuming a 100% yield.
Product Shelf Life Analysis
The magic balance in a restaurant is to produce fresh food without excessive waste and labor, and shelf lives help maintain that balance. The goal for operators is to prep enough of something to last its full shelf life. Analyzing the weekly product mix to make sure you’re prepping to hit the shelf life “sweet spot” will help you manage food quality, reduce waste AND save labor.
Example: if there are 20 ingredients in your ranch dressing and it has a 4-day shelf life, you can see how prepping ranch every day would be a waste of valuable time. Oppositely, if you’re prepping too much and it doesn’t taste as good after four days, you’ll risk wasting it or serving an inferior product to your guests.
Monthly
Running a monthly PMIX is a great way to analyze the performance of each of your menu items.
Menu Item Performance
The science of menu engineering is complex. Basically, it all starts by categorizing menu item
performance based on popularity and profitability. Knowing which category each of your menu items fall into will help you make informed decisions about what action to take to improve your menu’s performance. Here are the four groups along with examples of possible actions to take:
- Star: high popularity, high profit—this is a winner! Keep it.
- Plow horse: high popularity, low profit—think about reformulating the item to improve margin
- Puzzle: low popularity, high profit—highlight or reposition on the menu, or run a promotion.
- Dog: low popularity, low profit—replace with a different item on your next menu rollout.
by NetSuite filed under
Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM: How Much Will It Cost?
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software is a category of integrated, data-driven software solutions that improve how you interact and do business with your customers. CRM systems help you manage and maintain customer relationships, track sales leads, marketing, and pipeline, and deliver actionable data.
With Microsoft Dynamics 365, you get a flexible solution that’s customizable to suit your business requirements. Choose a stand-alone application to meet the needs of a specific line of business or use multiple CRM tools that work together as a powerful integrated solution.
Regular readers of the CRM Software Blog know about the many benefits of Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM. What you may not know, but would like to, is the total cost of owning Dynamics 365.
To budget the total cost of a Dynamics 365 CRM project you need to know the license and maintenance fees plus the estimated implementation and services costs
That is where the CRM Software Blog Quick Quote Wizard can help.
Here’s how the Quick Quote Wizard works:
On the right-hand side of any page of the CRM Software Blog, locate the orange bar labeled, “Request Instant Quote Dynamics 365/CRM“. Clicking on that bar will take you to the Quick Quote request form.
Fill in some brief information on the form, and you will receive an instant, automated Dynamics 365 Quick Quote outlining software, maintenance, and estimated services costs for an entire project.
The estimate will arrive in your email inbox and comes without strings attached. It’s a free service that we offer our readers.
The Quick Quote Wizard is fast, free, and easy. Why not try it today.
Find a Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner in your area.
By CRM Software Blog Writer, www.crmsoftwareblog.com
How to Calculate an Ecommerce Solution’s Total Cost of Ownership
By Ian McCue, Content Manager
When a business kicks off its search for an ecommerce solution – or any software, for that matter – price is almost always one of the deciding factors. While it can be relatively easy to figure out the upfront price or first-year cost of an ecommerce system, the total cost of ownership (TCO) over the life of a solution is far more murky.
There are numerous pieces to consider when calculating the TCO of an ecommerce solution: licensing, implementation, integrations, apps/extensions, support and transaction fees. The price of each varies depending on the vendor and size of your business. Costs also differ depending on whether a company chooses a point solution, which only manages ecommerce, or an all-in-one solution, which unifies ecommerce with other key business applications like ERP, CRM, order management and inventory management.
This blog provides a brief overview of those six cost buckets outlined above. But for a more complete picture on TCO and specific costs, be sure to check out the new ebook, How to Calculate the Real Cost of an Ecommerce Solution.
Licensing
Licensing is likely the most obvious cost. The price may be as low as $ 30 a month but can grow exponentially depending on how many transactions and how much revenue your ecommerce site generates. Gross merchandise sales or monthly revenue play a role in pricing for many vendors, so it’s vital to crunch the numbers for a realistic estimate of the licensing fees.
Implementation and support
There’s a reason implementation is a scary word in the world of enterprise software – implementations can get very expensive, very quickly. That’s why it’s imperative to walk through the project in detail and set clear expectations around price before the project starts.
When it comes to support, many solutions come with free basic support. However, many businesses need more comprehensive support and should plan to spend at least a few thousand dollars annually on that.
Integrations
Most businesses need their ecommerce solution integrated with other core business systems to avoid manual data entry, enable accurate reporting and generally maintain efficient operations. Integration providers charge a monthly fee to connect the ecommerce software to each system, so this can add up quickly. And anyone with an IT background knows integrations break and are a frequent source of problems and an unforeseen expense.
Apps and extensions
Leading ecommerce solution providers have their own app store full of extensions that give their software additional functionality. Most companies need at least a few extensions that add customer-facing and back-end features that have become table stakes. Though some extensions are free, it’s common for an organization to spend hundreds of dollars per month for this additional functionality.
Payment gateways
Payment gateways are simply part of the deal when it comes to ecommerce, regardless of which system you choose. Payment gateways take a set percentage of every sale, though bigger online sellers may be able to negotiate a lower rate. Companies should shop around to find a gateway that supports its payment methods and security standards at the most competitive rate.
Cost is one of the most important elements in any business decision. But, as is the case with ecommerce solutions, determining the total cost is not always straightforward. Our hope is this blog and the corresponding ebook can eliminate some of the unknowns and inform your decision. This guide can shed light on the less visible fees that will impact your organization’s ecommerce budget in the years to come.
For more specifics on ecommerce solution pricing and key differences between a point solution and all-in-one solution, check out our new TCO ebook.
by NetSuite filed under
Adding Kiosks to Your Restaurant Requires Thinking About More Than Cost
Posted by Kevin Lentz, Restaurant & Hospitality Product Manager
As major brands including McDonald’s, Panera and Subway continue to roll out kiosks as part of their in-store order management strategy, businesses are struggling to decide whether kiosks make sense for them. The advantages of kiosks are clear: improved order accuracy, increased order throughput and additional revenue with upselling and cross-selling opportunities on every order. With self-service kiosks boasting 20% higher average tickets versus the counter, the ROI becomes a relatively straightforward calculation.
A single restaurant location that does $ 1 million per year in gross sales and gets 50% of its customers to use the new kiosks with a 20% lift in sales could net a $ 50,000 return in the first year. Even accounting for sunk costs like software integration, signage and customer education, plus monthly fees for the kiosks itself, the revenue adds up pretty quickly. And the more locations, the quicker the ROI.
But each quick service restaurant (QSR) and fast casual restaurant (FCR) concept must determine for itself whether kiosk ordering interfaces are “on brand.” While deciding whether to adopt kiosks in your chain, it’s important that you remain consistent with your brand, but remember, that argument can be made both ways. Brands stay relevant only by responding appropriately to shifting customer expectations, and current consumer polling shows that a majority of QSR guests are quite ready to adopt kiosk interfaces. So even in “high-touch” guest environments, today’s diners are more comfortable moving across technologies.
But like all technology, kiosks must be thoughtfully integrated into your business operations so the customer experience is seamless.
You need to consider, for example, traffic flow patterns that may need to change. Kiosk placement will be crucial, as you will want to engage customers early enough to benefit from the additional unstaffed lanes. Additionally, consider signage and placement for kiosks so that customers understand how to engage with the technology and queuing for kiosk ordering and order pickup. For example, how will customers be notified that orders are ready? Many kiosk vendors have built-in text notification platforms. If this is true of your provider, ask how you can integrate this information into your CRM system.
It’s important to factor how every step of the ordering process must change, and bear in mind that introducing new technology will also change your customers’ existing behavior. Largely, you will be removing employee interaction from the ordering process, putting greater burden on the guest, and the challenge is to make the experience engaging and fun for the customer. Whatever tasks you ask of the guest must be within their ability to execute.
Payment method is another key portion of the workflow that should be considered. Allowing customers to pay at a kiosk is one of the advantages of moving the tech forward in that it speeds up a typical “time on line” hog. And it can be great for credit card payment, but what about customers who want to pay with cash? Will you allow them to start an order at a kiosk and complete payment at a staffed terminal?
And speaking of payment methods, will you accept Apple Pay and Google Pay? And if so, what hardware will be present at the kiosk? Payment hardware is another real-world consideration that needs to be factored into the overall hardware design. Understanding your payment strategy, payment partners and their offerings early will help as you engage a design firm for your kiosk project.
It’s clear that kiosks are here to stay and customers are ready. Are you?
Learn more about NetSuite’s software for restaurants and the hospitality industry.
by NetSuite filed under
What Is the Total Cost of Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM? Ask Our Quick Quote Wizard.
Today’s businesses of all types and sizes realize how valuable a comprehensive CRM(Customer Relationship Management) solution is to the growth and success of their organizations.
If you are increasing your client base, opening new offices or expanding into new markets nearby or around the globe, you need a powerful, integrated system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM
In doing your research for the right CRM solution for your company, no doubt you have read numerous articles or talked with consultants about the many features of Dynamics 365 and what it can do for your business. But one piece of information you’d like to have before you commit to buying is the price.
When budgeting for a new or upgraded solution, you need to know the total cost of ownership. That’s not always easy to determine. There is a difference between the sticker price of the software and the actual cost of the software plus installation plus ongoing costs.
The CRM Software Blog’s Quick Quote Wizard is here to help. This tool will provide a ballpark estimate of the total costs involved in implementing and operating Microsoft Dynamics 365. Here’s how the Quick Quote Wizard works:
Look for the orange ‘Request Instant Quote Dynamics 365/CRM’ bar at the top right of each page of the CRM Software Blog. Click the bar, and you’ll be taken to a screen with a short form to fill out. You’ll be asked basic questions about your type of business, the number of employees who will be using the system, the level of support you’ll require (don’t worry, the questionnaire will help you answer these questions) and any concerns you have unique to your business. Include your contact information, and you’re done.
The Quick Quote Wizard will use your information to customize a quote which you’ll receive instantly as a PDF sent to your email. After you’ve received your non-binding quote, your contact information will be forwarded to just one of our expert CRM Software Blog members in your area who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can choose to work with that partner or not; it’s up to you. The estimate and the referral are a free service we provide for our readers.
The CRM Software Blog Quick Quote Tool can get you started in determining just how much your Microsoft Dynamics 365 system will cost you from the first licensing to long-term support. Simply fill out the quote request form and be well on your way to a deeper understanding of the total cost of owning a Dynamics 365 solution from Microsoft.
By CRM Software Blog Writer. www.crmsoftwareblog.com
Find Out Instantly the Cost of Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM
If you are investigating CRM software for your company, no doubt you’ve narrowed your choices to the few that will best meet your needs. As much as we all like all the bells and whistles, one feature that probably carries a lot of weight is the cost. Have you noticed how difficult it can be to nail down the cost of CRM software? Usually, a resale partner will want to make an appointment and deliver a sales presentation. But even if you like what you hear, it’s not a good deal if it doesn’t fit both your business processes and your budget.
We have a better idea. The CRM Software Blog’s Quick Quote tool is designed to provide you with a budgetary estimate for the total price of a Dynamics 365 project, including license and maintenance fees plus estimated implementation and services costs.
Before you even contact a Microsoft VAR Partner, the Quick Quote tool will let you know if Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM will fit your budget.
The Quick Quote tool is free, fast and easy to use. Just follow these three steps:
1. Click on the orange bar marked “Request instant Quote Microsoft Dynamics 365/CRM” (you’ll find it on the right-hand side of each page of the CRM Software Blog).
2. Fill in the brief form letting us know what your CRM needs are and what level of support you require.
3. Wait just a minute.
The CRM Software Blog Quick Quote Tool will instantly and automatically generate a working estimate and deliver it to your email inbox. There’s further help available should you need it, but there is no further obligation. This is a free service we provide for our valued readers.
So, if you’re investigating CRM software, this is the place to start. Get your free, instant Quick Quote now.
By CRM Software Blog writer www.crmsoftwareblog.com