BrightBridge insights: our 5 most read blogs in 2021

Whether your business has been pivoting an offering in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, striving to grow in the face of uncertainty, or succeeding simply by staying afloat, we hope our blog has been a source of inspiration. We offer insights two or three times a month on a number of issues key to the successful operation of businesses and because every new year brings with it a new set of challenges, we thought we’d take a look at what have been the most popular reads throughout 2021… in case you missed them at the time of publication.

These topics are still relevant to today’s ever-changing landscape so we reflect on how – armed with these key learnings – you can approach 2022 with a greater sense of understanding. In this BrightBridge blog round-up special, check out our top 5, must-read articles.

5 challenges businesses face during COVID-19, and how to overcome them

From juggling work with home schooling, to prioritising morale in a hybrid working world – while many Covid-related challenges will undoubtedly have changed, many remain the same. With the last two years providing a rollercoaster of restrictions, businesses have had to re-assess and re-group on the preservation of employer-employee relationships when working apart. Empathetic leadership and utmost transparency continue to shape the way forward for businesses wishing to retain their very best staff, and boost productivity as a result.

The role of Oracle NetSuite and business-specific application software continues to empower businesses with real-time visibility of their operations, as well as providing access to all-important data from a single version of the truth – driving smarter decision-making both now and for the weeks, months and years to come.

Overcoming common pain points when growing a FinTech firm

“With real-time reporting, the ability to manage transactions in crypto and global currencies, consolidated financial statements with multi-jurisdiction tax localisation, and automated audits, NetSuite streamlines processes and simplifies business structure”, writes Jonathan Smith, who was interim CFO at one of our customers.

Together with the efficiencies offered by Oracle NetSuite, this blog identifies the pain points FinTechs may face when scaling up, which have only been exacerbated by the ongoing backdrop of the pandemic. Whether appointing leadership roles, raising capital, adhering to compliance, or tightening up on cybersecurity, we explore ways to overcome them, helping FinTech firms put their best foot forward.

5 signs your CRM solution is out of date and costing your organisation

Whether your company has outgrown a solution, the software is out of its development lifecycle or the system is just too complex to use, your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system could be costing your organisation money – and thus doing more harm than good! Supported by automation and AI, solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) iron out such complexities by offering user-friendly interfaces, customisable dashboard and workflow functions – while streamlining time-sapping tasks and integrating with third-party software.

With automated updates and improvements, D365 also ensures always-on access to the very latest version via the cloud – wherever teams may be based that day. Businesses equipped with an up-to-date CRM solution will enhance their understanding of customer needs, earn people’s trust and loyalty, and make informed decisions about their trajectories.

6 benefits of ERP systems for SMEs

For SMEs both young and old, the right Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has often meant the difference between thriving and surviving – particularly when faced with the events of recent times. Whether that’s enhancing productivity with key data and information made available via one single platform, embracing flexibility with a system capable of data management adjustments, or driving business growth through informed decision-making. The opportunities for SMEs are boundless when it comes to the many benefits afforded by ERP.

While it may prove a more costly outgoing in the short-term, a dedicated and agile solution that grows with the business can ensure the all-important integrated flow of information for greater visibility, company-wide. As a long-term investment – which is in fact, much more cost effective when adopted early in a business’ life – this blog explores just some of the ways SMEs can use an ERP system to realise their true potential.

Five steps wholesale distribution companies can take to increase profitability in 2021

With many parts of the retail and wholesale distribution sectors hit hard in 2020 and 2021, this blog explores ways companies can continue to increase profitability – capitalising on the opportunities largely driven by the seismic shift in consumer behaviour. Through integrating and harnessing data to fully understand the ebb and flow of this activity, businesses can better meet the demands of consumers, while also avoiding the costs associated with overstocking. Operating from a single source of truth can also help deter cashflow issues further down the line.

From investing in technology to re-connect disparate business functions, to enhancing internal communications to empower workforces and facilitate workflows, wholesale companies that adopt these practices can continue to reap the benefits into 2022.

Keep your eyes peeled for the very latest news and insights here on our blog and don’t forget to follow BrightBridge on LinkedIn, where we share all our insights and much more.

Want to learn how NetSuite or Microsoft Dynamics 365 can help support your business goals, drive productivity, and strengthen your presence in 2022? Get in touch here – our expert team is ready to have an informal conversation or take it to the next level and prepare a bespoke software demo for your business.