Business Insights
Manufacturing in China – Yea or Nay
First, let’s all agree that if your invention, OEM part, Widget – or whatever your item – can be manufactured here in Iowa or somewhere in the USA, that is great news. As a patriot, I’m excited to see the “Made in America” label on products sold here and around the world. On the flip side, some products would never see the light of day if they had to be made domestically. Consumers know what they are willing to pay for a particular item. Retailers demand a significant profit margin and the...
Business Insights
IT security best practices for today’s businesses
It’s true. Technology is always changing. Sometimes, technology changes in small, incremental ways, and at other times, it makes big shifts in what can seem like the blink of an eye. With technology in a constant state of change, it can be difficult for businesses to know they’re doing what’s necessary to ensure they’re properly secured. So, what do businesses need to know about information technology and security? Any business – small, medium or enterprise – can benefit from integrating I...
Technology
Video conferencing solutions to streamline workplace communication
Because the face of the marketplace is changing, so are the landscapes people conduct their business. Arguably, employees can work mobile or remotely from nearly anywhere. Corporate headquarters. The branch office. Home. Starbucks. You get the picture. Speaking of pictures, video conferencing is an easy, streamlined way of connecting people to each other no matter where they call office. Put simply, video conferencing allows workers to connect more in real-time and spend less time...
Business Insights
Cybersecurity checklist: Is your business at risk?
One of the top things on the minds of today’s business leaders, board members and IT staff is the risk of what a cybersecurity event might bring to the business. More and more business leaders are asking the question: How do we protect ourselves? Business disruption, loss of revenue, loss of information and fear of public disclosure alongside changing public disclosure laws are all reasons why businesses are paying attention to cybersecurity. And one of the difficult things ab...
Accounting
Signs of finance department dysfunction
We’ve worked with finance departments ranging from one to 100 people. Regardless of size or industry, five themes pop up over and over again. Focus on these five areas to help transform the value your finance team brings to your organization. 1. Evaluate the design of your team Your back office accounting team may have all of the right components, but roles and responsibilities evolve over time, leaving you with illogical division of duties, inefficient reporting structures, and vastly ...
