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Choosing the Right Deltek Cloud

Posted by Joel Slater on March 30, 2023

ChoosingtheRight-Deltek Cloud_Banner

For over a decade now, Deltek has been offering its ERP applications in the cloud. In fact, at this point, a majority of Vision and Vantagepoint clients have opted to move their software to a cloud-based deployment, also known as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). For good reason- it provides a variety of important benefits that most modern companies can’t live without: 

    • Anytime, anywhere, secure access  
    • Always on the latest versions of the software 
    • Deltek managed data backups &
    • best-of-breed data security 
    • Backed by Amazon Web Services (AWS)

As an increasing number of firms move their operations to the cloud, it's important to understand the different levels of cloud service available. Deltek offers three cloud-level options: Standard Cloud, Flex Cloud, and Enterprise Cloud. All offerings provide the same data security protocols, deliver API access, SQL stored procedures, and the ability to set up a sandbox environment. However, each progressive tier features enhanced levels of control, flexibility, and access to your Deltek database. As you’ll see, regardless of your size and complexity, there's a cloud level that's tailored to your needs.

Standard Cloud

A majority of Deltek clients are in the standard cloud. It provides all of the perks mentioned in the checklist above. It’s a turn-key SaaS deployment option. As mentioned, all cloud tiers, including standard, provide API access, accommodation of SQL stored procedures, and a sandbox environment. There are also convenient options for data import and export using the ‘front-end’ of the system, via import utilities. This will make more sense as we get into the two elevated tiers below, which include increased flexibility for more robust data access and improved ability to support certain external product integrations.

Note that with standard cloud, you have the ability to add Custom SQL reports without actually needing to upgrade to Flex, via the ‘Custom report add-on’ option.

Flex Cloud

Deltek Flex Cloud introduces a handful of important benefits as compared to the standard cloud. A primary example is ODBC Read-Only access. Meaning, you can establish a secure, read-only, direct connection to your Deltek database. You may hear this being referred to as accessing the ‘back-end’ of your Deltek system. This capability can provide benefits such as enhanced flexibility to integrate with 3rd party tools if for any reason APIs aren’t the right solution for you. Flex Cloud also offers a preview environment before upgrades and increased options around associated upgrade timing.

Enterprise Cloud

The Deltek Enterprise cloud is the top-tier option for firms looking for extensive control and access to their SaaS database. Typically, this is for those clients seeking to preserve certain aspects of an on-premise-like experience, but who want to avoid the downsides of hosting the system in their own internal environments. Building upon what is available in Flex Cloud, Enterprise cloud allows for additional options, including ODBC Write Access (the ability to not only read/pull data but also to write back to the database via that ODBC direct connection). Furthermore, the ability to accommodate more custom development, including SQL Custom Triggers, Tables, Views, and Indexes. Enterprise Cloud also unlocks the ability to have Test & Development SaaS environments, which is not an option with the two previous tiers.

The grid below helps to provide a more visual summary:

Deltek Cloud Solution Options

Need help understanding any of the terms above?  

API Access: API stands for Application Programming Interface. Simply put, API is a way for different software programs to communicate with one another. Within the Deltek context, it means that external programs can connect to your Deltek API-enabled ERP system. This can include purposes like retrieving project data, updating financial information, or creating new records.  

SQL Stored Procedures: SQL script that can be stored and executed in your Deltek database. Stored procedures can be used to assemble and complete specific tasks, including greater flexibility to update information across multiple hubs/info centers.      

Custom SQL Reports: a report that is created using SQL queries. Custom reports are used to retrieve specific data from your Deltek database, including the ability to search across multiple hubs/info centers and assemble the data in a single formatted report.  

ODBC Access: ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a way for different software programs (such as Excel, Access, or Business Intelligence tools) to communicate with your Deltek database using a standardized interface. You can establish a secure connection to your database in either a read-only format (allowing a program to only consume/retrieve data) or also the ability to provide write access (allowing the program to make changes to Deltek- such as adding new records, updating existing, or deleting records). 

Assistance with Choosing the Right Cloud Level 

In summary, choosing the right cloud level for your firm depends on your specific needs and goals. While the standard cloud does work for many, others may require the increased control and flexibility offered by the Flex Cloud. For those who need even more access to their data among other requirements as described above, the Enterprise Cloud may be the best choice.  

 If your organization is considering a move to the Deltek cloud, Full Sail Partners is here to guide and help you understand these options further. A good starting point is to fill out this brief questionnaire which allows us to assess your cloud compatibility among other important initial topics to consider. If you are already in the Deltek Cloud but want to consider upgrading your cloud level, that is of course an option too.  

 

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Change in the Workplace Climate – In Comes the Deltek Cloud

Posted by Lindsay Diven on March 31, 2021

MovetotheCloud-Deltek Cloud_BannerBeginning in 2020, the workplace environment saw a drastic change when the pandemic shut down nearly all in-person office work. Not expected by many, this dark and looming cloud forever transformed the workplace indefinitely. Zoom and video conferencing became an everyday alternative to face-to-face interactions at the office, and work from home became the only solution and not a privilege.

While many workers had to adjust to this new remote working model, businesses had to quickly adjust to this changing workplace climate. As a result, employers had to quickly adapt to allow this newly created remote workforce to able to get work done from anywhere with an internet connection. As stated in July 2020, Accounting Today’s top VARs of 2020 noted that this is the year that has pushed the cloud over the tipping point largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now a year later, the forecast for the workplace environment has changed. Many firms accepted this back in 2020, but the businesses that held out hope that normalcy will return are now facing the reality that so many have accepted as the “new normal.” While the Deltek Cloud has emerged as a solution to solving numerous challenges professional services firms faced by becoming a more remote workforce, there are also other benefits to consider when choosing to move to the cloud.

The Difference Between Fog and the Cloud

Cloud computing in itself by name can be confusing. Simply stated, on-premise or hosting your own software means that software and servers that run your Deltek solution are typically hosted within the four walls of your business. In other words, on-premise is similar to fog in that it is on the ground.

On the other hand, the cloud means that the software and servers used to run your Deltek solution are on an external infrastructure like Amazon web services. Additionally, software as a service (SaaS) is a component of the cloud.

The Brightside to the Deltek Cloud

There are so many misconceptions about the cloud and the entire idea can seem daunting. To put your mind at ease, here are some benefits to taking your Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint system to the Deltek Cloud.

  • Fast and Easy Upgrades – Always have the latest and greatest version of your Deltek solution without the need to tie up valuable IT resources for software and hardware upgrades.
  • Off-Site Data Replication – Protect your data from an unexpected natural disaster with multiple backups in multiple data centers.
  • Secure and Reliable – Data is secured and monitored 24/7 to standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and reported on Service Organization Controls (SOC) audit requirements.
  • Access from Anywhere at Anytime – Workforces are more mobile and remote than ever, give your teams secure access to your Deltek solution from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Easily Grow and Expand – As your company grows, so can your Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint instance by simply adding users to your license, not hardware which tremendously helps during the acquisition and expansion process.
  • Cost Effective – Eliminate costly and time-consuming software and hardware upgrades and ongoing maintenance hassles and the people and time required to support this making future costs predictable.
  • One Subscription Fee – Using the Deltek Cloud allows you to pay one subscription fee that can be easily budgeted for year after year allowing you to use IT budgets for projects that can improve your firm’s productivity and effectiveness.

Should the Deltek Cloud be in Your Firm’s Forecast?

It’s easy for us to assume that since we made it through the crisis created by the pandemic without the Deltek Cloud, then we can continue on with our newly crafted workaround solutions. While this seems logical, there are other reasons to consider the cloud. Take a minute to review the following questions:

  • Does my firm have aging hardware?
  • Do we have plans for growth in the near future?
  • Is our workforce becoming more remote and mobile?
  • Are we getting ready to upgrade from Deltek Vision to Vantagepoint?

Is you said YES to any of these questions, then it’s time to take your Deltek product to the cloud.

No Umbrellas Needed for the Deltek Cloud

When it rains, it pours. Well, with the Deltek Cloud, it pours with even more benefits. For starters, nothing really changes for your firm or employees. The Deltek Cloud offers the same power of Vision/Vantagepoint and the same functionality your teams are accustomed to using on a daily basis. Furthermore, your employees get unlimited access to the Deltek University eLearning content at no extra cost so they can continue to build on their knowledge and improve how your firm uses Vision/Vantagepoint. Lastly, making the move to the Deltek Cloud is simple and can be done in 24 hours or less in most instances. Above all, by choosing the Deltek Cloud, your firm will be resilient to any workplace climate change going forward.

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Why NOW is the Time to Move to the Cloud

Posted by Amanda Roussel on May 13, 2020

MovetotheCloud_BannerLeadership teams and firm owners have countless business elements to focus on and decisions to make. Some decisions are no-brainers, others are hard, and some just need to wait for the “right time.” There are often firm improvements pitched for consideration that may not make it to the priority list, or that are labeled as a luxury rather than a need. The word “value” can often determine where an initiative may fall on that labeling scale. One initiative that is proving to be a need is moving your firm’s ERP solution like Deltek Vantagepoint or Vision to the cloud. Now is the time, and it should be an easy decision. Let us identify some of the many advantages of moving your ERP solution to the cloud.

Make it Easy for Your Teams

Professional services firms have data… lots of data. Much of this data is centered around your people and projects and should be safely stored and easily accessible. With a device and an internet connection, teams can securely access their solution from anywhere. This allows for great flexibility with office, remote, and field team members. The cloud is not only flexible with location, but it is also flexible with firm size. Growth is a leading driver for many firms, and it is important that systems put in place now allow for scaling up when the time is right. The cloud offering makes it easy for teams to get their work done, providing value for the firm.

Reduce IT Burdens

Another benefit the cloud offers is removing the burden on your IT team, whether internal or external. On-premise hardware requires system maintenance and server upgrades which take time and money. Moving to the cloud, IT resources can be reallocated, and your firm will have confidence knowing that your ERP system is running on enhanced security, using updated hardware and software, and requiring zero maintenance from your IT team. You can also rest assured that a disaster recovery plan has been established and is ready to be deployed, if needed. The value of the cloud ultimately improves firm efficiency because you can now focus on what you do best, providing value to your own clients.

Fixed Costs vs Unexpected Costs

Planning for and managing expenses is a significant part of a firm’s financial health. Opting for a subscription-based fee for cloud services, firms can have confidence in budgeting a fixed cost. Otherwise, a best-guess amount would be budgeted for on-premise hardware needs. Another factor that should be considered is potential downtime. On average, downtime with a traditional IT system can be four times longer than the cloud alternative. Unexpected expenses and downtime can put an unfortunate burden on a firm. Choosing to be in the cloud ensures value with increasing reliability and reducing operating expenses.

Everyone is Invited to the Cloud

Small and large businesses alike have the same access to the cloud. The cloud can give businesses a competitive edge as they use the latest ERP solution like Deltek Vantagepoint for project management, financial management, and other streamlined processes. With proven tools accessed easily from the cloud, project managers, accounting teams, marketing groups, and executives can stay integrated and informed, no matter the firm size. The cloud does not discriminate on who gets value.

Continuity is a Necessity

Now is the time to make the move. Firms should be proactive in protecting their valuable data and seamlessly move it to a safe place. Do not wait until something goes amiss with your traditional IT system. Because cloud solutions are reached via the internet, users have greater flexibility with computer upgrades and mobile devices, too. The cloud is the leading choice for data storage because it is secure, reliable, and always available. With all these benefits, it should be an easy decision that NOW is the time to move to the cloud.

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The Benefits of Being in the Cloud

Posted by Wes Renfroe on February 26, 2020

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What exactly is being in the cloud? Well, being in the cloud simply means running your firm’s ERP such as Deltek Vantagepoint or Vision on a remote server. Therefore, your firm does not need to concern itself with having the IT infrastructure on premises. Furthermore, being in the cloud allows your firm to focus on the more important matters of running your successful business leaving the IT responsibilities to the professionals. Let’s check out how your firm benefits from being in the cloud.

Cloud Means Lower IT Costs

Being in the cloud, your firm doesn’t have to worry about staying up to date with hardware and software. Simply stated, there is no need to buy additional servers, Windows operating systems, or SQL licenses if your ERP system is in the cloud. As a result, IT professionals managing your ERP system in the cloud will handle all of this for you so there are no additional costs incurred.

Cloud Security is Top Notch

With cloud management, your data is safe. Cloud professionals handle automatic updates and do multiple daily backups. Malware and virus scanning are also performed regularly. Most importantly, if there is a problem, business continuity is of the utmost importance. Cloud professionals work to ensure that your data is accessible as soon as possible in a disaster situation.

Reduced Burden

Being in the cloud, your firm does not have to deal with handling the setup or deployment of your ERP solution which ensures that it does what you are expecting. Cloud professionals have experience with the product you are using or are thinking of upgrading to in the cloud. Furthermore, a testing environment can be put in place for your firm to get comfortable with the ERP it wants to use. For example, you can try Vantagepoint thoroughly before committing the company to upgrade.

All Cloud Solutions Are Not the Same

Choosing the right partner to host your ERP system in the cloud is extremely important and not all cloud solution providers can be treated equally. Therefore, picking the right cloud partner is essential to ensure your ERP system is properly taken care of by the right professionals. For instance, you want to choose a partner that specializes in the ERP system you want to have hosted in the cloud. This ensures they know the ins and outs, and all the requirements to successfully maintain your ERP system.  

The Cloud Makes Running Your Business More Efficient

Leaving your IT issues to the professionals in the cloud, you can focus on the matters that really drive firm success. Moreover, with secure 24/7 access to your data from anywhere with an internet connection, you can ensure you have what you need when you need it enabling your firm to run efficiently. If your firm does choose to upgrade your ERP from Vision to Vantagepoint, being in the cloud would make it a much easier transition for your firm.

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Top Trends in the AEC Industry

Posted by Ryan Felkel on March 20, 2019

Cloud ComputingOut of all industries and professional disciplines, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) leads in innovation. Not just in building design, but in how construction projects are completed. Among other efforts, the AEC industry is embracing modern technology to make projects and overall business more successful. Let’s take a look at some trends.

Moving to the Cloud

Taking your software to the cloud is becoming an extremely cheaper alternative to hosting your own software tools. Software/Desktop as a Service (SaaS/DaaS) is changing the AEC industry for the better. SaaS/DaaS gives employees the ability to access the software products they use from anywhere with an internet connection. As a result, it’s allowing firms to become more efficient and mobile.

Business development teams can retrieve important CRM information about their clients and prospects on-the-go. Project managers can update project records while they are on-site at the project. For AEC firms to stay competitive, they need to embrace SaaS/DaaS solutions to keep up with the changing times. Check out this link to learn more.

BIM Technology

Building information modeling (BIM) technology is not just for large firms anymore. It has now become economical for small firms and even the self-employed. With BIM, AEC firms can create digital models of structures…but it’s not just a 3D representation of a structure; it’s more like 6D. Whereas 3D is width, height and depth, the 4th D is time, the 5th D is cost, and the 6th D evaluates the environment and sustainability of the structure. 

Even more, it’s a shared knowledge base of project information. By using BIM, companies will be apprised of a project’s status by instant access to all project information, even emails. Want to take Deltek Vantagepoint and Vision even further with project management? Check out Deltek PIM here for more information.

Software Integrations Using the Blackbox Connector

Third party software solutions can now be integrated with Deltek Vantagepoint and Vision. Using the Blackbox Connector for Constant Contact or Mailchimp, email marketing efforts are automatically updated in Vantagepoint or Vision. Instead of relying on plain spreadsheets for company business intelligence, firm employees can easily create real-time graphical dashboards with the Informer integration for Vantagepoint or Vision. Learn more about the Blackbox Connector options for Deltek here.

Stay Ahead of the Competition

Many AEC firm leaders are hesitant to make an investment into new technology. However, evaluating current practices and exploring ways to use technology to help streamline your business processes can prove to have a true return on investment. How can Full Sail Partners help you embrace modern technology?

Reach Full Sail Partners  

Why Take Deltek Vision to the Cloud?

Posted by Ryan Felkel on August 23, 2017

Deltek Vision Cloud Did you know that 30% of Vision customers are in the cloud today? That is a fact, and the number is growing every day as more and more Deltek Vision clients are deciding to take their systems to the cloud. Now, what makes the Deltek Vision Cloud so attractive for so many firms?

Always Available and Reliable 

Being able to always fully utilize your Deltek Vision system is vital to run a successful business. With the Deltek Vision Cloud, you can rest assured that your firm will have access to Vision whenever needed with a 99.9% average uptime. What makes this possible? Well, Deltek has a dedicated cloud operations team. Ensuring your data is always safe in case of disaster, with a top-notch disaster recovery environment, is the number one priority.

Know Your Data is Secure in the Deltek Vision Cloud

As the leader in ERP solutions for project-based firms, Deltek knows the importance of data security to these firms. Therefore, Deltek selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) to ensure your data is protected by a leader in the data security industry. Working together, AWS maintains the physical infrastructure and security, and Deltek handles application management in the Deltek Vision Cloud. To learn more about AWS, click here.  

Access Deltek Vision from Anywhere

With the Deltek Vision Cloud, if you have a secure internet connection, you can access Deltek Vision from anywhere. This allows your mobile workforce to search data and update information while working remotely. Since Deltek makes protecting your data its top priority, you can be certain that these remote connections are secure.

Keep Up with the Latest Versions

When you use the Deltek Vision Cloud, timely updates to the latest versions of Vision are automatically done for you. As a result, you can free up valuable IT resources from having to implement the updates and hot fixes. Additionally, custom reports and other customizations are easier to maintain in the cloud environment during the update process. Deltek also allows you to determine the best upgrade window for your firm.

Consider Moving to the Deltek Vision Cloud

If your current hardware is aging or you have plans for growth, you can avoid the cost of replacing old hardware or adding new hardware by moving to the Deltek Vision Cloud. Your firm will have safe and reliable Vision access, as well as remote employees with a secure internet connection. Futhermore, you can leave the burden of Vision updates and hot fixes to the dedicated Deltek cloud operations team instead of your IT resources. The cloud is waiting for you.

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Stop Flushing Your Valuable Resources Down the Drain with Siloed Data

Posted by Full Sail Partners on June 22, 2016

siloed_data.pngThe technology and applications that power your firm are critical to the overall mission of your organization. Unfortunately many of these applications are disconnected which causes us to end up with siloed data. So what’s the big deal? Firms that end up with siloed data spend more time flushing valuable resources (time and money) down the drain than working towards their overall business objectives! Do you really want to spend more time managing your data, than managing your clients?! Stop flushing your resources down the drain by eliminating siloed applications from your organization.

But wait, what exactly is a siloed application? Siloed applications are partitions within organizations that isolate departments, teams and even people. These applications do not communicate or share data with any other system, greatly limiting your ability to leverage the data living inside of these systems.

Are You Stuck in a Data Silo, But Don’t Even Know It?

Have you ever stopped to think about how your internal systems communicate and share data? Perhaps you’re unsure about the overall connectivity of your business systems. Read the below scenarios to see if you are suffering from siloed data.

  • Your systems are slowing you down and preventing you from making real-time decisions
  • You find yourself unsure of where critical data lives. Or even worse, you find yourself locked out of accessing data because you don’t know the right username or password
  • You are unable to track campaign/project results without checking multiple systems
  • You are representing data in multiple locations, causing the need for duplicate entry

If the above scenarios describe your firm, then you are suffering from data silos. Fortunately for you, this is a common problem and there is a solution!

How Can You Get Rid of Data Silos?

There are many ways to get rid of data silos in your professional services organization. The trick is finding the right solution that fits your corporate culture. Here are some examples of ways to break free from the grips of siloed data:

  1. Take it to the cloud. As we have written about in previous blogs, there are multiple benefits to taking your organization’s data to the cloud. The benefits are clear in strict terms of breaking your data free from restrictive silos. Mainly, once your data lives in a cloud based application or system you are now able to leverage connections to this data from all over the world. Gone are the days of being tied to a desk. Employees are doing more than ever before and they are doing it from all around the world!
  2. Centralize your data storage with a master record set. Creating a master data set will introduce a method to the madness of managing disparate data. Next time you are evaluating a new piece of software or application ask yourself how it fits in with your already established master data set. Is it worth adopting this technology if it only creates additional silos? This is something that you will need to review with all key decision makers and stakeholders.
  3. If you connect it, they will come. Unfortunately we find ourselves living in a world of highly specialized technology. There is a reason the average company has 5.5 applications per employee; in today’s highly competitive market we need access to the tools that can help differentiate us from our competition. Fortunately, integration technologies are becoming widely available.

    Once seen as an option only available for major corporations, application integrations have become common place in both the business and personal world. If you have ever hooked your Instagram account up to your Facebook account – you’ve used an integration. If you’ve ever synced your email accounts to one central mailbox – you’ve used an integration.

    Integrations allow us to get the most out of current investments, while not limiting the technology available to our business teams. In fact, many firms won’t even consider purchasing new software if it does not have integration capability.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you are ready to start breaking free of these data silos, but don’t know where to begin, we have the webinar for you. Join Pete Nuffer as he presents Dude Where’s My Data. This webinar will review best practices focused around data integrity, including the establishment of a master record set. See how new out of the box tools can be used to promote data sharing within your organization.

Eliminate Siloed Data with Integrations

Join the 21st Century and Get More Social with Deltek Kona

Posted by Rana Blair on May 28, 2014

In the last 200 years we’ve developed a variety of methods for communicating with one another.  We’ve taken the journey from individual letters delivered by horse to instant mass communication.  How can things get any more social than that? Deltek Kona, that's how!

Being ‘social’ involves more than just communicating and working together. Merriam-Webster defines social as relating to or involving activities in which people spend time talking to each other or doing enjoyable things with each other”. 

The key phrases “talking to” and “doing enjoyable things with” only seem to reference something outside of the workplace.  In the 1980s, the focus was on output and productivity.  In the decades that followed, we labored to attain the ever elusive ‘work-life balance’.  In the new millennium, we strive toward contributing fully in our work and personal lives without restrictions of time and space.  We want to enjoy ALL of our life.

get more social, deltek konaDeltek Kona, released in spring 2012, combines all that we know about working together with the best methods of communication.  It presents that blend to us allowing us to talk to each other AND do enjoyable things with each other across our work and personal lives.  Guided by the principles of confluence, immersion, accessibility, and digestibility; the innovators at Deltek Kona have found a way to leverage the best of all the communication tools developed in the past 50 centuries (not a typo: we still draw on walls to convey our thoughts) to help us interact in a more social and enjoyable way today. 

How does Deltek Kona help us get more social?

Use Deltek Kona to Create a Hometown

Kona is organized around context specific spaces or groups.  Each space is formed with a level of focus appropriate for its purpose.  There are no limits to the number of spaces an individual can belong to or the number of members in any one space.  Each space landing page is the “hometown” for the group allowing members to participate in and view interactions that are taking place.  Over time, users begin to become acquainted with each other’s concerns, thought processes, and involvements.

Enhancing Personal Interaction

Individual users may have more than one group in common across work and personal interests.  Knowing more about what you have in common with others allows you to get more social with them as individuals.  The ability to create and store one-on-one conversations with people in your Kona network allows users continuity and privacy even when time and distance are barriers to traditional communication methods.

There are times when we are having a conversation in a group but need to direct our comments to a particular person.  Deltek Kona incorporates “@mention” functionality to expand the personal contact in the context specific discussion. Nothing encourages us to communicate more than feeling like we are being listened to and understood.

Eliminating Polarization

Deltek Kona was built to be free.  Users can enhance their organizational experience with an upgraded account.  Regardless of the type of account, the experience and interaction is the same. This removes the barriers of participation across all members of the group and continues the social experience as no one is barred from participation because they must pay.  This allows us to use Kona for all sorts of purposes, from family reunions, to political organizations, to multi-firm business projects.

Deltek Kona further removes barriers by elimination of platform dependencies.  The Kona software works the same on any operating system and internet browser.  The accessibility extends to the mobile platform where users continue to get more social from wherever they are and whenever they want to. 

Increasing Personal choice

One of the favored features of the Deltek Kona product is its flexibility with the individual users’ need to digest information and connect on in his or her own time.  From the moment one opens the Kona product, it is clear which items take priority.  A user can access a conversation with 20 unviewed in-line comments and get a clear picture within minutes.  This is the first step in creating an enjoyable social experience when working with a group.

Because the Kona team recognizes that email has its merits, they’ve enabled the individual to decide how much or little Kona activity is transferred to email.  The possibilities to limit but not eliminate are almost endless for the individual user.  Being able to choose which groups to get more social with enhances the interactions that are wanted.

With much of our productivity arising from collaborative efforts conducted across vast geographic spaces, we meet and interact with more people than ever.  The Deltek Kona tool allows us to stay informed and control the inflow of information leading to a more relaxed experience.  When we remove unnecessary stressors, we naturally take time to get more social and find common ground with those around us.  Sign-up for Deltek Kona today and join the 21st Century’s answer to communicating, socializing, and getting things done.

 

Deltek Kona, Social Collaboration

 

 

 

From Marketer to CXO, What Does CRM Mean for You?

Posted by Full Sail Partners on April 24, 2014

What does crm mean

What does CRM Mean? CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a solution that enables your firm to cultivate relationships and gain valuable insight in to marketing efforts. An integrated CRM solution brings together data from all data sources within an organization to provide a holistic real-time view of each customer or campaign. This real-time knowledge provides your team with the metrics and data needed to make informed decisions in a quick, yet calculated manner. 

What Does CRM Mean for My Firm 

A CRM system is truly something that each member of your team can benefit from. Examples of the benefits a CRM solution provides include: 

  • Track client contact information | No need for the use of virtual cards or digging through outlook to find email signatures, a CRM allows your entire firm to store valuable customer information in one location.
  • Monitor marketing campaigns and efforts | What good are your marketing efforts if you cannot track the results? Track the effectiveness of your efforts and campaigns to help better refine your message and target audience.
  • Review past engagements | Utilize dashboards to easily track which messages, campaigns, and leads resulted in the highest wins.
  • Access customer (or lead!) information, on the go | Never get left out in the cold again! Gain access to your customer information on the go! Readily available intelligence allows your business development staff to go out and produce, and track, results.

What does CRM mean for your SMB, and how can you use it to grow stronger? The answer is simple; a CRM solution means that as your business grows, and the associated contacts and connections grow with it, you have the ability to manage a myriad of relationships across your entire firm. Clients are the lifeblood of any professional services firm, and without a proper CRM solution in place, you are essentially ignoring an open wound. So how can your firm use CRM to manage an opportunity from concept to completion? Simple: 

  • Pipeline and Cash-flow forecasting | Avoid rough patches and dry spouts by becoming intimately familiar with your pipeline of potential new business, and the value of your current projects.
  • Track progress on current sales opportunities, review historical information on past opportunities | When speaking to a client or prospect, easily log details about the conversation for later follow-up. Tracking detailed information about interactions can allow you to win future work, based on often overlooked past experiences.
  • Create milestones for each step of the project, and specify a target completion dateTasks can be created and associated with each milestone within the project, so you have more granular control of what needs to be done, by whom, when.
  • Comprehensive reporting allows deeper insight | Setup your marketing goals within your CRM and track status and progress quickly and easily.

It is important to not only track valuable customer data, but to do so in a way that promotes sharing amongst your team. Promote growth and sharing and consider taking your customer data in to the cloud with an all-in-one CRM solution that consolidates all of your information in to an easy to access system. Stop wasting valuable customer insights and information, and start impressing customers with your deep firm-wide knowledge about each relationship. 

So next time someone asks you ‘what does CRM mean’, you can tell them, “CRM means winning more work!” 

 

Deltek Vision CRM

IT Consultant, Cloud Solution, Cost Savings … Oh My!

Posted by Wes Renfroe on April 16, 2014

Cloud Solution, IT ConsultantJust like Dorothy in the Land of Oz, we are all searching for the great and powerful wizard to handle our problems, like computing.  Instead of the brave lion, the full-of-heart tin man, or the intelligent scarecrow, our companions to this all-powerful place are IT Consultants who lead us to today’s version of the Land of Oz … the Cloud Solution. 

What is a Cloud Solution?

First, let’s talk about this land that, to many people, seems amorphous and far away – the Cloud Solution for your IT problems.  The cloud is really a symbol for an ever available electronic network that relieves you of managing your IT infrastructure.  To bring it closer to earth … the cloud is really a partnership where another company manages all of your IT needs including securely storing your computer data, handling all hardware and software needs, and allowing you continuous access to your computing.  

The cloud takes the IT infrastructure burden off you

and allows you to focus your energies on what you do best.

Here’s an example … let’s say you’re a small construction engineering firm.  Your engineers can create CAD designs that are a thing of beauty.  But managing an internal network, updating software and hardware, and troubleshooting issues are just not in their skill set.  Furthermore, researching and buying all those computers and other technical devices is a massive non-revenue generating responsibility.  You need someone to take care of all this – you need a Cloud Solution that will eliminate headaches, and provide benefits: 

  • Reduce costs – managing your entire IT hardware and software structure and all labor with people whose first skill and interest is taking care of your computing.  
  • Be disaster safe – with disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, it’s nice to know that your data is housed in a facility specifically designed to protect the hardware and software from these types of occurrences.  Is your building that safe?
  • Be green – these days, we’re all trying to do our part in taking care of our planet; the less energy we use and the fewer old computers that end up in a landfill is a big part of that.  Cloud computing manages this far more effectively than many businesses are designed to do.
  • But most importantly, allow secure access to your data from anywhere, at any time on any device.  

Yes, literally.  Access.  Anywhere.  Anytime.  Anything.

What does a good IT Consultant do?

“Sounds good,” you say, “But who will get me started?”  That’s where you work with an IT Consultant from Full Sail Partners.  According to Forbes.com, “Be the Best Consultant Ever:  6 Things That Will Make You Great” (11/05/13), a successful consultant will:

  • Do exactly what they say they are going to do
  • Pay attention to details which produce error-free deliverables
  • Truly be the “expert”
  • Think critically through all possible solutions
  • Be resourceful
  • Probe effectively and listen critically

In short, a good IT Consultant is there for YOU. 

So when we pulled back those drapes and learned the great and powerful Oz is, in fact, Full Sail Partners, all fears vanished.  Full Sail offers the consulting expertise and a free webinar to further help solidify the benefits of cloud consulting.  And, luckily, there is no need to click our heels three times to find that consultant – one click of a mouse and you’re on your way.  

And, yes, you can keep the ruby red slippers … you’re welcome!

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