Cloud hosting: Quality of systems, customer service critical for remote work
Organizations small and large are turning to tools that allow them to work remotely more easily quicker than ever. But they must have certain requirements from their cloud hosting provider to make remote work properly. It’s something that’s necessary for any company to look at in these changing times that COVID-19 has brought to us.
Organizations small and large, like Esler Companies, are turning to tools that allow them to work remotely more easily quicker than ever. It’s something that’s necessary for any company to do in these changing times that COVID-19 has brought to us.
Absolute must haves
A company absolutely must have these things from a cloud hosting provider:
Quality systems for consistent up time and powerful computing
State-of-the-art security
Outstanding customer service with rapid response when help is needed.
Michael St. Onge is controller at Esler Companies. He worked with Michael Wallace of Peak Adviserfs on a project that included moving some of Esler’s processes and software to the cloud.
Peak Advisers has partnered with GoToMyERP, a provider that we recommend to all of our customers who need the advantages the cloud offers their business operations. GoToMyERP offers the critical must haves above and more.
St. Onge talked briefly about his company’s experience with GoToMyERP.
Peak Advisers: How do you view GoToMyERP's customer support?
Michael St. Onge: “GoToMyERP’s customer support is class-leading! Whether we are looking to amend user-permissions or need help with temporary service outages, their response time is second to none. I have been consistently impressed with their promptness and ability to respond to inquiries, no matter the time of day. “
Peak Advisers: Has the pandemic changed the level of support?
Michael St. Onge: “The level of support we have received during the pandemic has been the same as what it was prior to the outbreak. Same excellent response time coupled with the confidence that your issue will be addressed in a timely and efficient manner.”
Peak Advisers: How would you compare your experience with GoToMyERP compared to your experiences with other hosting Providers?
Michael St. Onge: “I have utilized other providers and I can honestly say that GoToMyERP is the best. I cannot say that the “destination” is functionally different (solid, consistent cloud based performance), but the “journey” is head and shoulders above their competition. I have never once had to make repeated requests for the same issue or wonder when my inquiry will be answered. In my opinion, this is how customer service can set your business model apart from the competition. Make the “journey” seamless for the customer and they will come back and recommend you time and time again to their peers.”
Peak Advisers: Tell us about your experience working with Michael Wallace and Peak Advisers.
Michael St. Onge: “I would absolutely recommend working with Peak Advisers and Michael Wallace. They were able to lay out a comprehensive plan of migration after evaluating our current state and formulate a step-by-step road map that we could follow. The plan was constructed in such a way that it could be executed by our Accounting and Finance staff and did not require the use of a dedicated IT support team (which we currently do not have).
Check out our blog for additional ways Peak Advisers has to help your organization work better remotely.
Call us at (303) 801-4772 or use the button below to contact us to get started with cloud hosting and other applications that can improve your remote work flow.
3 big post pandemic opportunities for small businesses
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant economic downturn. Economic downturns create significant opportunities for business owners who have the wherewithal to take advantage. If you’ve got cash—or the availability of cash—read on for three investments to consider right now.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant economic downturn. Economic downturns create significant opportunities for business owners who have the wherewithal to take advantage.
If you’ve got cash—or the availability of cash—here are three investments to consider right now. This information appears in The Hartford Small Biz Ahead blog.
Real estate
When people say it’s all about location, location, location, they’re absolutely right. The strength of the property market really does depend on where the market is, what industries are located nearby and the social and financial demographics of the local population. But, regardless of location, the downturn has and will continue to affect many commercial properties nationwide. Why?
More businesses have discovered that working from home actually works and, over the next few years, will also realize that they have too much office space. If your business is working remotely, Peak Advisers has tools and ideas about how to make things run more efficiently for you. See some of them here.
Additionally, think about the businesses in these industries:
Retailers suffering from huge losses of traffic in to their locations
Movie theaters have been closed for months
Event venues not able to host large gatherings
Commercial property markets are challenged in big ways. This might have been the last straw for many of the businesses mentioned above.
Article author Gene Marks reports property values will decline in many areas, and that presents an opportunity if you’re looking for warehouse or production space. Consult a commercial real estate broker and plot your strategy.
Inventory and equipment
Some surveys predict hundreds of thousands of small businesses will go out of business because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This isn’t good news for those small business owners or for the economy, but it does present opportunities for businesses looking to snap up equipment and inventory.
If you’re in the market for that special machine—a used printing press, a forklift with low miles—then you should start looking now. Just Google “used equipment for sale near me” or visit online sites like MachineryTrader.com to see what deals are available.
Mergers and Acquisitions
According to BizBuySell, a marketplace for businesses looking to buy and sell, there is now a “lifetime opportunity” for business acquisitions, article author Gene Marks reports. Many baby boomers have already been looking to get out of the game and retire prior to the pandemic and now, after struggling through the ordeal, want out more than ever. Other businesses—struggling for any number of reasons—may have also been pushed over the edge by the economic downturn.
This presents a great opportunity for any other business owner looking to expand or for an aspiring entrepreneur with a little capital who is looking to start his or her own company. Talk to a business broker, go to BizBuySell or ask around in your local trade association.
Marks has one final piece of advice: There is a great financing deal available for small businesses. Included in the CARES Act is a provision that will forgive the first six months of principal and interest payments on any new Small Business Administration Section 7(a) loan closed before September 27, 2020. The loan proceeds can be used for real estate, business acquisitions, assets and even working capital.
For more information on SBA Section 7(a) loans, use this link.
Peak Advisers now has more ways to help businesses grow even bigger
Peak Advisers is proud to announce our new affiliation with Net at Work. Net at Work is a national IT consulting firm and, like Peak Advisers, it’s a company dedicated to unleashing the power of technology to change the trajectory of your organization’s business.
This is big news!
Peak Advisers is proud to announce our new affiliation with Net at Work. Net at Work is a national IT consulting firm and, like Peak Advisers, it’s a company dedicated to unleashing the power of technology to change the trajectory of your organization’s business.
Peak Advisers is the only QuickBooks Solution Provider in the Rocky Mountain region that can take you from fully using the incredible QuickBooks products and when the time is right, to the next level ERP and or human resources systems.
This means Peak Advisers can now help you fully manage all of your needs as your business grows larger and more complex. Net at Work provides a wide range of technological services with everything from comprehensive human resources systems to manage the complete employee life cycle, to handling payroll for more than 150 employees, to complicated infrastructure solutions.
High Impact
The impact of Net at Work is simple and transformative. It drives you to:
Achieve greater revenues
Reduce inefficiencies and costs
Maximize profits
“Peak Advisers is affiliated with a national firm that can direct, help and assist you with all of your IT needs beyond QuickBooks,” said Peak Advisers partner Michael Wallace. “We are also very proud that our QuickBooks knowledge has resulted in us being Net at Work’s QuickBooks experts.”
Call Peak Advisers at (303) 801-4772 to learn more, or use the button below to contact us to find out more about how we can help you implement advanced solutions.
We'll help you overcome obstacles to operating your business remotely
What kinds of struggles are you encountering as you move to operate your business more remotely? Peak Advisers is here to help you overcome the obstacles you have encountered … and we’re ready to do it remotely.
Remote work challenges
We are all looking for ways we can help slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. Working remotely rather than gathering in the office has become critical.
What kinds of struggles are you encountering as you move to operate your business more remotely? Peak Advisers is here to help you overcome the obstacles you have encountered … and we’re ready to do it remotely.
We want to reassure you that Peak Advisers remains open for business even as we adapt to the difficult circumstances that we all are encountering during the global coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Needs for working remotely
Do you have strong hosting, is it secure and can you access it 24/7? Can you count on it being “up” in times of crises? Do you have the ability to invoice your customer and collect payments? Maybe you just haven’t implemented these abilities yet. Peak Advisers can help you get it done.
Solutions
We’ve been talking with our clients about apps and best practices that make remote work not only possible, but easier to manage and more productive. This outbreak really points out the need for them. Here are some of the solutions we have to offer.
QuickBooks Online
The QuickBooks Online app for Windows and Mac brings the power of the cloud to the desktop! With the app, your business can access QuickBooks Online accounting software from anywhere that has an Internet connection, across all your different devices and platforms.
GoToMyERP
One easy way to achieve business continuity, regardless of outside circumstances, is by moving your critical accounting and business applications to the cloud. So, no matter where your employees are working from, they can continue to do their job as if they were still in the office. Decentralizing your operations and moving away from on-premise systems also allows for savings, such as reduced IT staff demand, disaster recovery plan and maintenance of hardware to name a few. Peak Advisers has partnered with gotomyerp.com ... to get QuickBooks hosting at its highest quality.
Automation
Peak Advisers Automation Services will save your company money because accounting data entry tasks that take hours are reduced to taking just minutes. Our cloud-based conversion processes mean these crucial functions continue to take place even in times when remote work is mandatory.
Bill.com
Bill.com is a US-based cash flow management software system that integrates with QuickBooks to support your account receivables and accounts payable. Use the mobile app to approve and pay business bills on time, from anywhere. Get 24/7 connectivity to your business financials, whether you’re working remotely, you're on the road or just out for coffee.
QuickBooks Payments
Get paid 2X faster by accepting payments in QuickBooks. Take mobile card payments, send online pay-enabled invoices, set up recurring billing and more. Receive instant notifications when customers view and pay invoices. Information from every sale appears in QuickBooks in real-time—no adjustments required.
COVID-19 changes everything
If you want to increase your ability to work remotely, need to upgrade your QuickBooks, want to see how Intuit Field Service Management works, understand how to automate certain workflows, or get some QuickBooks training this period of lower activity is a good time to do it.
Through our corporate subscription of TeamViewer, we can connect with 1-20 people for a meeting & training, file analysis and general remote working. We can bring multiple people together from their remote locations throughout this situation, while complying with local regulations.
Turning to the personal part of what has developed, our hearts and thoughts are with the people who have been affected by this unprecedented event. We appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities and governments around the world who are all working to contain coronavirus.
At Peak Advisers, our priority is everyone’s health and safety - we wish that for all of you and your loved ones.
Dos and Don'ts for using QuickBooks remotely
It’s essential during the COVID-19 pandemic to be able to work remotely. Peak Advisers can you help you improve your ability to keep working even though you can’t go to the office. Here is some critical information about how best to connect to QuickBooks desktop accounting software applications.
Cloud computing
It’s essential during the COVID-19 pandemic to be able to work remotely. Peak Advisers can help you improve your ability to keep working even though you can’t go to the office. Here is some critical information about how best to connect to QuickBooks desktop accounting software applications.
QuickBooks desktop isn’t designed for remote access
QuickBooks is not designed to be used remotely other than with RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Many IT people freely use the terms VPN (Virtual Private Network) when referring to remote accessing networks. Most VPNs are good for moving data files (Word, Excel, PDF, etc.) but they are not fast enough for live database applications like QuickBooks.
DON’T connect QuickBooks via VPN
A common mistake is to install the client (QuickBooks) on a laptop then create a connection via VPN to the server at the business. A VPN upload (data from Server to Remote) is between 5-85mbps (megabits per second) and download speeds can be 50-100mbsp. QuickBooks needs to communicate with the server at a rate of 90mbps on a continuous sharing up and down or faster. Most Local Area Network systems communicate at 100mbsp or faster—up into the gigabit speeds.
VPN delays up or down increase the potential for data errors and corruption. If you need to work from home and you need to use QuickBooks, forget about it using VPN. VPN connections are two things:
Unreliable
Too slow
If you attempt to work with QuickBooks over a VPN line, you will corrupt your data file. It may not happen immediately, but it will happen.
DO use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)
There are ways to work remotely with QuickBooks. The bottom line here is use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) applications that allow you to connect to a PC at work on a Local Area Network--this is just like you were sitting at your computer at the office. Another option is to speak to a Service Provider Host who can create a local hosted working environment including Virtual PC and Virtual Servers dedicated for you and your QuickBooks. Peak Advisers recommends GoToMyERP for this kind of hosting environment. Call us at (303) 801-4772 for more information.
Another option: QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is another option for using QuickBooks remotely. We can help you determine if QuickBooks Online is right for your business.