FSN - Market Analysis

Work smarter not harder with intelligent data capture

Some business processes and transactions are easier to automate than others, so there are lots of areas where manual data processing and data entry still create bottlenecks of inaccuracy and tardiness. But some of these are disappearing with the help of intelligent data capture software, says Financial Systems News (FSN) writer, Lesley Meall.

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Performance Management Framework – Part III

This article is the third in the series for Financial Systems News (FSN) concerning the implementation of a performance management framework focused on helping organisations plan, resource, execute and monitor corporate strategy.

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Only 11% of accountants believe their organisation has processes in place to manage spreadsheet risk

Organisations are still putting themselves at considerable financial and reputational risk by failing to properly control the way they use spreadsheets, according to new research undertaken by Protiviti. The global consulting firm polled 100 ICAEW Chartered Accountants in December 2011.

Interested in the need for spreadsheet control? Join the live discussion on Financial Systems News’ (FSN) Linkedin Group here

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UNIT4 acquires MentecPlus

UNIT4 Business Software Ltd, the UK division of UNIT4, has acquired MentecPlus Integrated Solutions Ltd, sole distributor of Agresso Business World in Ireland since 1998. The acquisition also includes the IP for the M+ suite of products which are widely used throughout the UK & Ireland and internationally. The company will be renamed UNIT4 Business Software Ireland and will continue to sell and support both the Agresso Business World and Coda Financials product lines in Ireland.

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KPMG lifting the fog on fears over cloud

KPMG says that more than half of UK businesses are concerned about the safety of their data as cloud computing takes off but their fear is not preventing adoption, with 23 per cent of CIOs already using the cloud and a further 53 percent planning to do so within the next 12 months.

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New FSN White Paper -"Margin Pressure -The strategic and operational response to sustaining profit margins in challenging markets."

Profit margins are under pressure from a combination of geo-political change, unprecedented economic volatility and structural changes such as the impact of the internet on trading methods. In response to the more testing conditions, businesses have ‘tightened their belts’ and sought to reduce costs. But with an inability to control prices and costs already cut to the bone there are seemingly few places to turn to for improved profitability. In this FSN White Paper, sponsored by Oracle, Gary Simon, FSN’s managing editor, explores what practical strategic and operational steps businesses can take to improve their margins.

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There's an app for that

Accountants have always embraced the latest technology developments, and the current generation of mobile apps is no exception. So FSN writer Lesley Meall finds finance professionals using them and producing their own.

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UNIT4 gives FSN an update on its plans to "disrupt" the performance management software market

Last week UNIT4, the owner of two key financial management packages, Agresso and CODA announced plans to “disrupt” the performance management software market in 2012 with what it says is a completely new approach to delivering business analytics, i.e. turnkey, rapidly deployed, business performance solutions available on a pay-as-you-use basis from a dedicated app store. Gary Simon, FSN’s managing editor caught up with Ton Dobbe, Vice president, Product Marketing for UNIT4, to discover exactly what UNIT4 has in mind.

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Can business software cope with euro exits or the collapse of the currency?

The euro experiment may fail. The currency may collapse. A country such as Greece, or Ireland, or Italy may decide to default on its debts or leave the euro. A return to the drachma, or the punt, or the lira could yet become a necessity. Peek-a-boo! It’s time to stop hiding behind the sofa. Because even if European politicians don’t want to remove their blinkers and acknowledge the need for a ‘plan B’, just in case the unthinkable happens and they have to ditch their grand plan, businesses must assess the risks they face and start making contingency plans.

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UNIT4 set to disrupt performance management software market

UNIT4, announced plans last week to “disrupt” the performance management software market in 2012 with a completely new approach to delivering business analytics tools for the enterprise. UNIT4 Business Analytics Apps - says the vendor which is known for its Agresso and CODA brands - are turnkey, rapidly deployed, business performance solutions available on a pay-as-you-use basis from a dedicated app store.

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