Continuing from their discussion on time billing, Bradford Dempsey and Joel Harris address remote work in the second part of this series. They explore how the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, a transition that many companies, including Solutions360, had to navigate swiftly. The conversation focuses on how remote work necessitates a robust framework for planning and forecasting to maintain productivity and profitability without the traditional oversight of in-office work. They di...
In this first part of a two-part series on "Clear Talk," host Bradford Dempsey and guest Joel Harris dive into the contentious issue of time billing within business operations. They discuss common misconceptions and emphasize that time billing is not about mistrust but about gathering essential data for informed decision-making. Joel Harris shares his initial resistance to time tracking in his early career and how he later understood its importance for managing corporate resources and making ...
In this episode of the ClearTalk Podcast, Brad Malone and Andrew Ashbury explore the critical dynamics of labor management in the integration industry. They discuss the importance of proactive planning—knowing when to "throttle up" or "throttle down" before it becomes a necessity. Brad emphasizes the need for mature systems that allow for transparent communication between sales and operations, ensuring alignment and readiness for shifts in labor demand.Andrew highlights common pitfalls, such ...
In this episode of ClearTalk, Roman Burchart, VP of Operations at Solutions360, hosts John Lyall, Customer Success Manager, to delve into the critical topics of disaster recovery and business continuity. They explore how companies often overlook these areas until an emergency strikes, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for any disruptive event that could affect business operations.Roman and John discuss the differences between disaster recovery, which traditionally focuses on restor...
In this episode of the ClearTalk Podcast, Mack Graham engages with Tofiq Indawala, Director of Consulting for Solutions360, in a deep dive into cybersecurity, a critical issue for modern businesses. They discuss the common cyber threats like phishing, ransomware, and IoT vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by integrators who are increasingly adding internet-connected devices to their networks.Tofiq underscores the importance of employee education on recognizing and ...
In this episode of ClearTalk, Brad Dempsey welcomes Roman Burchart, VP of Operations at Solutions, to demystify the buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI). They start by breaking down AI's capabilities, from enhancing reasoning and creativity with generative models like ChatGPT to the practical applications in business processes. The conversation transitions into the fascinating realm of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and its implications for the future.Highlighting Solutions' latest...
In this insightful episode of ClearTalk, John Graham is joined by Tim Archambault, a senior sales executive at Solutions360, to explore the pervasive challenges that systems integration companies face today. They dive into the critical issue of data fragmentation across multiple systems, which hampers companies' ability to make informed decisions and streamline their operations. Tim discusses the common reliance on inefficient data management practices, such as the use of spreadsheets, and pr...
In this engaging episode of ClearTalk, join hosts John Lyall and Andrew Ashbury as they delve into the exciting world of Q360 adoption, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing customer engagement and maximizing business system efficiency. Through a detailed discussion, Andrew likens the process to a comprehensive, unbiased evaluation, akin to a multi-point car inspection, providing objective insights into system usage. The episode highlights the collaborative nature of this engagement,...
Dive into the nuanced world of sales on the latest ClearTalk podcast episode, where we demystify the differences between opportunity management and sales forecasting. With expert Chris Peterson, Founder and CEO of Vector Firm, we challenge the idea that sales is either an art or a science and explore how the best sales teams blend structured processes with strategic agility. Uncover the essentials of an accurate forecast report, the dynamics of sales probability, and the execution of best pra...
On this episode of ClearTalk...Join host Jen Jackson as she dives into the essentials of Project WIP with expert Brad Dempsey. In this episode, they'll discuss:Defining WIP: Uncover what WIP (Work in Progress) reports are and why they are seen as the lifeblood of Project-Based Companies.Importance for Systems Integration Companies: Understand why the WIP schedule is vital for assessing company performance and future projections.Spotting Red Flags: Bradford offers insights on indicators of pot...
Join us for an insightful episode of ClearTalk as we dive into the world of supply chain management - a hot topic in the integration industry for years.We are honored to have Michael Stammire, VP of Procurement for Avidex, join us to share his best practices in responding to the ever-changing supply chain challenges.Stammire opens up about how the pandemic impacted Avidex, from project delays to freight and logistics issues. He discusses the shift in buying habits and the adoption of more mat...
Join us for an insightful episode of ClearTalk as we dive into the world of supply chain management - a hot topic in the integration industry for years.We are honored to have Michael Stammire, VP of Procurement for Avidex, join us to share his best practices in responding to the ever-changing supply chain challenges.Stammire opens up about how the pandemic impacted Avidex, from project delays to freight and logistics issues. He discusses the shift in buying habits and the adoption of more mat...
Prepare for a captivating episode of ClearTalk as Brad Malone, Solutions360's Vice President of Professional Services, joins forces with our CEO, Bradford Dempsey, to explore the intriguing realm of information transparency.Sharing information can ignite fiery debates among business owners, especially when it involves financial data disclosed to employees. However, Solutions360 has a game-changing solution: Q360. This powerful data repository empowers your team to make informed decisions, fue...
Get ready to dive deep into the world of profitability with the latest episode of ClearTalk! Our CEO, Brad Dempsey, sits down with Brad Malone, VP of Professional Services, to uncover the truth behind measuring profitability.While profitability is a metric that grabs everyone's attention, are you measuring it correctly? As integrators are in the business of selling labor, it's essential to understand the importance of burden rates when it comes to measuring profitability. As Malone points out...
On this episode of ClearTalk, Brad Malone, VP of Professional Services at Solutions360, joins CEO, Brad Dempsey, to discuss the BIG "WHY".Q360 is a business management tool, which is much more than just another ERP system.“We have really shifted the paradigm, from 'Go-Live' being the milestone and just focusing on the software, to focusing on fulfilling the integrator’s objectives... the platform is just one aspect of the project,” says Malone.With every implementation, we start with what we ...
On this episode of ClearTalk, Brad Malone, VP of Professional Services at Solutions360, joins CEO, Brad Dempsey, to discuss closed-loop estimating.In simple terms, closed-loop estimating is the feedback loop from lessons learned from each project so they can be incorporated in future estimates, setting them up to be more accurate and profitable.There are always similarities along with uniqueness across all projects, and there are lessons to be learned from both aspects. “When we have similari...
On this episode of ClearTalk, our President, Joel Harris, is once again joined by Eric Morris, CFO at Wayne Automatic for PART 2 of this discussion on why budgeting is important for the success of your integration business. The pair also covers many best practices for using your budget as a tool throughout the year, as opposed to creating a budget and putting it on the shelf.It may be a bit cliché, but they say that when you set goals, they need to be SMART, and it’s the same thing with...
On this episode of ClearTalk, our President, Joel Harris, is joined by Eric Morris, CFO at Wayne Automatic to discuss why budgeting is important for the success of your integration business.“You wouldn't go bowling if they covered the pins and you couldn't see how many pins went down. It’s the same thing in this great game of business - you need to know the score.” Eric MorrisMany integration companies are privately held family-owned business, and many of these businesses, in Solutions360’s e...
On this episode of Cleartalk, Tim Archambault is joined by long time friend, Kevin Colores.
On this episode of ClearTalk, John Graham is joined by Tyler Ebnet from Revenueify, a fellow NSCA Membership Advisory Council member.At last month’s Pivot to Profit, a big topic of conversation was the frustration around the slow uptake of managed services programs. It is clear that integrators have the desire and the will to make the transformation to a recurring revenue model, but they are running into roadblocks.The pair discuss many practical and tactical ways to increase revenue. Without...