Blog

  • Crunching the Numbers

    Crunching the Numbers

    How ElevateERP Helps with Your Accounting Needs

    It’s that time of year again when trying to maneuver the scary world of taxes makes us all appreciate the value of a great accountant. From interpreting the foreign language of the IRS and navigating countless forms, to tracking invoices and accounts payable, your “numbers guy(s)” can truly make or break you. 

    It may not be the most glamorous side of business management, but as any entrepreneur knows, even small errors in the books can create big problems for your company. That’s why it’s so crucial to have tools and systems in place that support your staff in being high performers.

    We’ve shouted from the rooftops that ElevateERP can help you save money and make money, but did you know that the portal helps with managing money too? ElevateERP takes the most tedious parts of accounting and makes them faster, smarter, and way less stressful, so your cash flow keeps moving, your team feels empowered, and your customers stay happy. Let’s break it down. ⬇️

    Streamlined Invoice Management

    ElevateERP simplifies the invoicing process by integrating with Stripe Payments, allowing customers to pay invoices directly from the portal. Additionally, the portal features a cash receipt connection that automatically syncs any payment made on ElevateERP to Epicor Kinetic, saving hours of reconciliation. This seamless integration keeps everyone on the same page when it comes to account balances and payment status without requiring manual intervention.  Not to mention, the convenience of a “one-stop” portal improves cash flow and minimizes errors associated with traditional invoicing methods. 

    Efficient Returns Management

    Managing returns can be complex and time-consuming. ElevateERP addresses this challenge by allowing customers to initiate Return Material Authorizations (RMAs) on their own and track their status in real-time. This streamlined process ensures accurate accounting of returns and improves the overall customer experience by empowering them to manage their own returns. 

    Secure and User-Friendly Interface

    Security is of course a critical concern in accounting. That’s why we made sure ElevateERP integrates with Epicor Kinetic’s robust security features, so that all financial data is protected. Additionally, the platform’s intuitive design requires almost no setup, making it accessible to users of all skill levels and reducing the learning curve associated with new accounting systems.

    Conclusion

    ElevateERP offers a comprehensive solution to enhance accounting efficiency through streamlined processes and robust security features. By automating routine tasks and providing real-time access to critical data, ElevateERP enables accounting professionals to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth and protect against errors.

    Set up ElevateERP in less than 15 minutes today and give your accountants the vacation they deserve after tax season. We are offering your first month free from now until April 15. Book a call today so you don’t miss out!

  • 5 Ways to Lose a Customer

    5 Ways to Lose a Customer

    … and What You Can do About your Customer Retention

    Acquiring a new customer takes indefinite amounts of time, effort, and resources; but losing one can happen in an instant. When customers encounter frustration, delays, or a lack of transparency, you won’t always get a nasty review on Google. Sometimes consumers simply take their business elsewhere, leaving you none the wiser. Customer retention takes effort.

    If you’re unintentionally making the mistakes below, you could be driving customers away without even realizing it. Here are five of the most common ways businesses lose customers and how ElevateERP helps you fix them before it’s too late. 

    1. Negative Customer Service Experiences

    Customer service will make or break your business. It is the single most important thing to consumers when determining retention rate, with 93% of consumers saying they are likely  to make a repeat purchase from a company with excellent customer service. But the customer service game has changed from back in the day. In our highly stimulating world that’s focused on instant gratification, consumers expect quick, efficient, and helpful interactions. When they face long wait times, unhelpful responses, or difficulty getting the information they need, frustration builds. 

    A single negative interaction can turn a once-loyal customer into a competitor’s newest client. Studies show that 96% of consumers will leave a company due to poor customer service. And they don’t just leave quietly – they tell others. In the age of online reviews and social media, a bad customer service experience can damage your reputation and cost you more than just one lost sale.

    Customers want convenience and efficiency. If your business can’t provide it, they’ll find someone who can.

    Luckily, ElevateERP provides an innovative solution that allows your customers to kiss these pain points goodbye. Instead of being hindered by time of day or representative ability to get simple answers, customers can access all of their account information 24/7 with the click of a few buttons. 

    Empower your customers to track shipments, create new orders, and start returns without needing to contact a representative. They find quick resolution that leaves them satisfied while your team saves precious minutes on the minutia. That way, when there is a more complicated issue, the best of the best from your customer service team can go above and beyond for each customer. 

    2. Lack of Pricing Transparency

    Few things erode trust faster than unclear pricing. When customers have to jump through hoops to get a quote, they feel like they’re being manipulated. If they don’t understand or can’t access your pricing structure, they’ll start looking for a more upfront supplier.

    Transparency in pricing isn’t just about building trust in your brand, it’s also about efficiency. If a potential buyer has to call, email, or wait for a response just to get basic pricing information, it slows down their purchasing decision. And in today’s fast-paced market, delays kill deals.

    If customers don’t trust your pricing, they won’t trust your business. But with ElevateERP, customers can:

    • Generate their own quotes directly in the portal
    • See clear, upfront pricing without waiting on a sales rep
    • Access invoices and pay them within the portal 
    • Keep track of receipts and past orders 

    Statistics show that 94% of consumers would be loyal to brands that actively practice transparency. By making pricing information accessible and accurate, ElevateERP removes hesitation from the buying process, leading to faster conversions, fewer lost opportunities, and a more loyal customer base.

    3. A Confusing Ordering Process

    How easy is it for a customer to place an order with your company? If the answer is anything other than “as pie”, you’ve got a problem.

    A complex or outdated ordering system creates friction, and friction leads to frustration. If customers have to go through multiple steps just to complete a purchase, they are likely to abandon their order entirely. In fact, 87% of online shoppers said they would abandon an order due to a complicated checkout process, an issue that is just as pressing for B2B interactions as it is for e-commerce. 

    ElevateERP, on the other hand, allows customers to generate and submit orders directly from the portal and can receive instant order confirmation with minimal effort.

    4. Delayed Orders

    A customer places an order and expects it to arrive on time. When it doesn’t, irritation and disappointment are quick to set in. And if you really want to add salt to the wound, make sure they have no idea where their order is or when it will finally show up.

    Shipping delays happen, usually through no fault of your own as a business owner. But the way you communicate those delays makes all the difference. If customers are constantly calling for updates, that’s a red flag. Roughly 91% of consumers actively track their shipments, and 82% of Americans expect highly accurate delivery information when tracking their package – so if your customers are experiencing delays with no updates and can’t sufficiently track their orders, you might be sending them straight into the arms of a competitor. 

    You guessed it – ElevateERP to the rescue again. Our portal allows your customers to track orders and get updates on shipping status instantly, so they never feel like they’re left in the dark again. 

    5. Limited Autonomy (No Self-Service Options)

    Today’s customers rightfully want control over their buying experience. If they have to call, email, or submit a ticket just to get basic information, they’ll quickly lose patience and take their business elsewhere.

    Self-service portals are becoming the gold standard across industries. Customers expect to be able to log in and access their vital account information without having to wait for a response from a representative. 

    Here’s what frustrates customers the most:

    • Having to contact support for simple tasks like reordering or invoice retrieval
    • No access to the account details that impact them the most, like past orders or shipment tracking
    • Feeling helpless in the return process
    • Having to request reports or data manually instead of generating them instantly

    Customers don’t want to wait on your availability, they want answers on their own time. If your business doesn’t offer self-service options, you’re forcing customers to take an extra step that they don’t want to take.

    But ElevateERP puts your customers in control by offering: 

    • Instant access to account data (order history, invoices, shipments)
    • Self-service returns management to initiate RMAs hassle-free
    • Custom queries to pull the exact data they need from your company, when they need it

    By empowering customers with self-service tools, you reduce frustration, save time, and create a seamless experience that keeps them coming back.

    Get Started Today

    Keeping customers happy doesn’t have to be a hassle. We want to help you remove roadblocks to customer retention and protect your business from unnecessary loss. To learn more about our innovative portal or how we can help you effortlessly save time and money, book a demo HERE! 

  • The Hidden Costs of Inefficiency

    The Hidden Costs of Inefficiency

    How ElevateERP Saves Your Business Time and Money

    What if I told you that your company could be losing thousands in hidden costs every month without even realizing it?

    Every business leader knows that time is money. It’s not always the big operational failures that eat away at your profits. It’s the small, everyday inefficiencies—the 5-minute tasks that add up to hours, the invoice delays that create cash flow bottlenecks, and the sales opportunities lost to slow response times.

    Most businesses don’t recognize these hidden costs until they zoom out, and that’s exactly where ElevateERP comes in. Our portal doesn’t just streamline operations, it erases inefficiencies you didn’t even know were costing you big.

    Wasted Minutes = Wasted Money

    Let’s break it down. Say your team spends the average 3-5 minutes per customer inquiry about orders, invoices, returns, or shipments. If you get just 50 inquiries per week, that’s up to:

    • 4+ hours per week spent answering repetitive emails.
    • 16+ hours per month—two full workdays lost.
    • 192+ hours per year—that’s nearly five full workweeks your team could have spent selling, innovating, or scaling your business.

    Now multiply that by the hourly cost of your team members and the cost of inefficiency skyrockets.

    ElevateERP eliminates these invisible time-wasters. Customers get their answers instantly (77% of consumers said that the best service a company can provide is a quick response) and your team reclaims their time.

    The Slow Leak in Your Cash Flow

    Delayed payments don’t just affect your books, they put unnecessary strain on your business. If your customers wait days to receive invoices or struggle to find their payment options, your revenue gets stuck in limbo.

    ElevateERP aims to reduce the hidden costs and streamline your accounting processes, creating a better experience for your customers and eliminating obstacles that hinder cash flow 👇

    • Invoices are accessible instantly: No waiting on email responses.
    • Stripe integration speeds up payments: Customers can pay on the spot.
    • Optional instant cash receipts automatically record transactions in Epicor Kinetic, reducing reconciliation time.

    Cash that used to take weeks to arrive now lands in your account within days. Not to mention, customers also have the option to make purchases from the ElevateERP portal, creating a one-stop-shop for all of their needs.

    How Slow Processes Kill Sales (and How to Fix It)

    Your sales team is only as fast as your systems, which means you could be slowing down revenue before it even starts. ElevateERP works to not only save you money, but also make you money by offering your customers another convenient opportunity to purchase from you. From instantly generating custom quotes to creating new orders, your customers can do it all in our portal without a sales rep!

    This frees up your team to pursue new leads and focus on delivering top tier customer service for your valued clients. As an added bonus, self-service is proven to increase sales, with 60% of US consumers actually preferring automated systems over contacting a representative. 

    Speed sells – and ElevateERP makes sure nothing stands in the way of customers buying from you, again and again.

    The Power of Efficiency (Without the Overhead Costs)

    Most businesses assume that increasing efficiency requires hiring more people or investing in expensive custom development.

    ElevateERP proves otherwise.

    • Setup takes just 5 minutes: No need for a months-long IT project.
    • No extra headcount needed: Your current team becomes more productive instantly, with ElevateERP potentially reducing payroll costs by up to 90%.
    • No expensive software builds: You get the benefits of a custom portal at a fraction of the cost.

    The best software is the one you don’t even have to think about. ElevateERP works behind the scenes to protect your company’s resources and open new doors to success – no constant oversight or maintenance necessary. 

    It’s not just about saving on man hours. It’s about giving your business the ability to move faster, operate smarter, and scale effortlessly.

    The question isn’t whether ElevateERP will save you time and money. It’s how much you’re losing by not using it.

    📅 Book a demo today and see for yourself! 

  • A Beginner’s Guide to ElevateERP: Navigating Our Features

    A Beginner’s Guide to ElevateERP: Navigating Our Features

    Beginners Guide

    If you’re an Epicor or Kinetic user looking to take your business operations to the next level, ElevateERP is your ultimate partner in efficiency and customer satisfaction. Take a deep dive into each ElevateERP feature and discover specific ways this portal can transform your company’s workflows. 

    Order Management: Streamline Your Sales Process

    With our robust order management feature, customers can create and print orders directly from the portal, bypassing the need for manual intervention.

    • Time-Saving: No more back-and-forth emails or phone calls—customers have the autonomy to manage their orders.
    • Error Reduction: Automation minimizes data entry errors, ensuring accuracy.
    • Enhanced Sales: By serving as an additional point of sale, the portal makes it easier for customers to do business with you – a win-win for everyone involved! 

    Quotes: Simplifying the Quoting Process

    In the sales vein, creating accurate and professional quotes is essential for converting leads into loyal customers. ElevateERP streamlines the quoting process through:

    • Automatic Creation: Users can generate quotes directly through the portal, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
    • Customizable Options: Customers can choose between available parts and quantities, making informed specifications based on their needs and your inventory. 
    • Efficiency: By automating quoting, your team can focus on building stronger relationships rather than managing administrative tasks. 

    Shipment Tracking: Keep Customers in the Know

    ElevateERP makes shipment tracking effortless by integrating tracking numbers and links within the portal.

    • Real-Time Updates: Customers can monitor their shipments at any time, reducing the need to contact your team for updates. One article from Business Wire shares that shipment tracking is the most important feature for consumers who order online, with 91% of consumers actively tracking their packages or orders. Interestingly, 70% of consumers would rather use tracking information than connect with a customer service representative. 
    • Improved Transparency: Offering detailed tracking information fosters trust and loyalty and reduces frustration during the shipping process.
    • Scalability: This feature handles high volumes of shipments seamlessly, making it ideal for businesses of any size.

    Invoice Processing: Simplify Payments

    ElevateERP’s integration with Stripe Payments ensures that invoices are easy to manage for both your team and your customers. 

    • Direct Payments: Customers can pay their invoices directly from the portal, speeding up cash flow and simplifying customer experience. In one study, 52% of consumers said they believe online billing makes paying bills easier and more convenient – and we all know convenience is king in today’s day and age. 
    • Instant Cash Receipts (Optional): With ElevateERP, you can enable automatic recording of cash receipts in your Epicor ERP system as soon as Stripe transfers the funds to your bank account. This eliminates manual reconciliation and ensures your financial records are always up to date.
    • Printable Invoices: Conveniently download and print invoices as needed for record-keeping.
    • Secure Transactions: Built-in security ensures that payments are processed safely and efficiently.

    Custom Queries: Tailor Data Insights to Your Needs

    One of the standout features of ElevateERP is the ability to display data from custom queries. 

    • Personalized Insights: You can tailor data reports to meet your customer’s specific needs, empowering them to access exactly what they require.
    • Customer Autonomy: Customers can easily download any information you deem relevant to their relationship with your company – anything from inventory levels to brick and mortar location details can be included as a custom query to make ElevateERP feel like it was made just for you.
    • Operational Efficiency: Reduce the workload on your internal teams by giving customers the tools to independently access the data they need.

    Returns Management: Simplify RMAs

    Returns can be one of the most frustrating aspects to commerce for both consumers and businesses. Managing return processes usually requires a lot of resources from businesses (multiple team members, time spent on back and forth, etc). As a result, the process feels overwhelming and even intentionally complicated for consumers.  ElevateERP works to streamline RMAs and make the process less of a headache for everyone involved. 

    • Seamless Initiation: Customers can start a return process directly from the portal without requiring any additional steps. 
    • Tracking and Updates: Monitor the status of returns in real time, ensuring straight-forward communication, smoothing frictions, and enhancing your business’ reputation for transparency.
    • Efficiency Gains: Streamlining RMAs reduces processing time, improving overall  customer satisfaction and protecting your company from unnecessary drains on resources. 

    Security and Branding: Build Trust and Recognition

    • Top-Tier Security: ElevateERP integrates with Epicor Kinetic’s robust security features to protect customer and business data.
    • Custom Branding: Include your logo, custom URL, and brand colors for a cohesive and professional customer experience.

    Why These Features Matter

    Each ElevateERP feature is designed to enhance your business in measurable ways:

    • Customer Empowerment: Give your customers the tools to manage their own accounts, boosting satisfaction and loyalty.
    • Team Efficiency: Free your team from routine tasks so they can focus on strategy and growth.
    • Revenue Growth: With faster sales cycles, enhanced cash flow, improved customer retention, and scalability for growing markets, ElevateERP not only saves your business time and money, it actually increases revenue! 

    Ready to Explore ElevateERP? Explore how ElevateERP can revolutionize your business operations by scheduling a demo with us today. Whether it’s streamlining order management or enabling advanced data insights, ElevateERP is your partner in growth and innovation. Visit our website to learn more.

  • ElevateERP 101: What Is It and How Does It Work?

    ElevateERP 101: What Is It and How Does It Work?

    ElevateERP - What is it

    Welcome to the ultimate solution for Epicor and Kinetic users. ElevateERP offers new levels of efficiency and accessibility in today’s fast paced business environment. The software acts as a customer service representative, accountant, and salesperson all in one – unburdening your team from mundane tasks and allowing them to focus on the big picture. 

    Want a fast-track to saving your business time and money, improving productivity, and increasing revenue? Integrate ElevateERP today!

    What Is ElevateERP?

    ElevateERP is a user-friendly, self-service portal that integrates seamlessly with your existing Epicor ERP or Kinetic system. Developed with over 20 years of expertise in Epicor ERP and Kinetic, it empowers your customers to effortlessly access and manage essential data and account information like order details, shipment tracking, and returns – making sure your team is available to go above and beyond when more complex issues arise. 

    How Does ElevateERP Work?

    ElevateERP serves as an extension of your existing Epicor ERP system, offering a range of functionalities:

    • Order Management: Customers can effortlessly create and print orders without manual entry, streamlining the order management process and offering another convenient point of sale.
    • Shipment Tracking: Customers can easily track the whereabouts of their shipments with standard tracking numbers and links, staying updated on the status of their packages in real-time.
    • Invoice Processing: With the seamless integration of Stripe Payments, collecting payments has never been easier. Customers can pay and print invoices directly from the portal, simplifying the invoicing process.
    • Custom Queries: With ElevateERP, you have the freedom to write and create your own personalized queries. These queries can be easily downloaded by your customers, allowing them to access valuable insights and data whenever they need it.

    Benefits of Using ElevateERP

    • Enhanced Customer Experience: By providing 24/7 access to essential information, customers can retrieve what they need at their convenience without wait times, leading to increased satisfaction.
    • Increased Efficiency: Automating routine tasks allows your team members to focus on big vision tasks that set you apart from competitors and build your brand.
    • Cost Savings: Streamlining processes such as order creation, invoice management, and shipment review reduces manual labor and associated costs. 

    Getting Started with ElevateERP

    You can level up your business in just a few short minutes by integrating ElevateERP today! The setup process is straightforward and intuitive, usually taking only 5 minutes to complete. Schedule a demo to get an in depth understanding of how ElevateERP can transform your business operations or ask questions about integration HERE!