Is IT working for you?

To me IT (Information Technology) is the most valuable enabler besides people. My dependency on IT is forever expanding as pressure to perform mounts.

Plus, I get bored easily and have no time to waste on duplicity or busy work. Productivity is enhanced when IT is used as designed and to its full capacity.  When it comes to process improvements the 2nd people I turn to is IT.  The 1^st are the process owners.

What I have learned is recent economic stresses have triggered reengineering and internal process improvements projects.  Leaders are rethinking what they do, why and how they do it. Working creatively and collaborating makes work life more productive, effective and efficient thus satisfying.

Triggers to work smarter are prompting us to do more with less.  This includes using IT (accounting systems, reporting and budgeting programs, analysis tools, etc) to the max.

For example; a Controller recovered tens of thousands from a process improvement initiative.  ROI was immediate and costs were eliminated.  Everything they needed was in house. It took a vision, goal, commitment, active management, communication and collaboration with process owners. The Controller is excited to start another project. This is a great thing for the business and motivator for its people.

Another example; client exported GL data into Excel.   At month end it took 5 hours to reformat the data dump for management reports.  Plus another hour each time data changed.  Why do that when FRx is idle?  It took 7 hours to create and test the report in FRx.  Now the report runs in a minute.  This is a huge improvement and time saver.

Pay attention to the little stuff that improves performance and job satisfaction.  Know what IT you have, explore what features are sitting idle and turn them on.  Other features often overlooked:

• Eliminate paper by embracing electronic pay and have your clients pay electronically.
• Electronically submit customer invoices and other documents via email or Fax.
• Reformat a document or report layout or add/delete fields to make it more meaningful.
• Import/export a budget instead of keying it in or designing a workbook.
• Add non-financial statistical data to determine cost per FTE or other measurable unit.
• Lock out control accounts (AR, AP, etc.) from GL posting and freeze prior periods.
• Request the payroll service to include an import ready GL entry, etc.
• Pay 1099 consultants via the payroll service, let them issue year end 1096, etc.

Let us know how you bring IT on…cathyg