Northeast Ice Storm Anniversary (Part 1)

It’s been a year since a historically-devastating Thursday night ice storm gripped northern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and southern Maine.  Though the ice eventually melted, down trees and damaged power infrastructure robbed several thousand individuals and businesses of power—and customers of these businesses still demanded adequate and prompt service.

Just as pandemic planning may have seemed abstract, vague, and useless until enterprises needed to amend human resources policies and supply chain procedures in response to this year’s H1N1 flu outbreak, traditional business continuity/disaster recovery planning is similarly abstract until it is actually tested in a live environment.  A case in point is the now-notorious utility company Unitil, who, according to a (N.H.) Union Leader article, will be investigated by the public sector for its inability to restore power to residents for over half a month in some cases.

Your enterprise’s disaster recovery plan must be contingent on what is most crucial to your business and what services you must provide immediately to your customers.  If your business is dependent on having adequate staffing in times of disaster, the plan should include how to cope with extreme circumstances by adding and dispatching additional staff quickly so that business can be delivered.  If your business relies largely on the available of technology, like many of our customers, the restoration of that technology in a timely fashion is a top priority.  This priority should be reflected explicitly and appropriately in your business continuity plan.  This should take into consideration leveraging current technology and outsourcing relationships, both of which are outlined in more detail in this IBM whitepaper.

GraVoc Associates, Inc. is a full-service technology consulting firm located just outside of Boston in Peabody, MA.  GraVoc has served Greater Boston, New England, and beyond for over fifteen years in the fields of information systems, information security, and professional services.  GraVoc’s disaster recovery/business continuity consulting has served, among other clients, many clients in the highly-regulated financial services industry, which provides a high standard for business continuity compliance.  For more information, please visit the GraVoc website at www.GraVoc.com. 

More information on the anniversary of the 2008 ice storm will be made available on the GraVoc News Blog, http://gravoc.blogspot.com, on Thursday December 17th.

ERP Investment: A Good Idea in a Recession?

A recent whitepaper by the folks at SAP outlined a variety of mistakes made by companies in challenging economic times.  While the whitepaper is a thinly-veiled prod to urge readers to invest in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system such as their own, it illustrates management errors and how investing in an ERP system during a recession results in better transparency and efficiency, fostering faster growth when the economy gets back on track.

The document outlines six mistakes being made by businesses.  The first is “taking existing customers for granted.”  Existing clients who already trust and appreciate a business’s product are the lifeblood of the business, especially when everyone else is hesitant to buy anything.  Customer relationship management is crucial because staying “in tune” with customer needs is impossible without staying “in touch” with the customer.  Another mistake is “failing to capitalize on market opportunities.”  A company will miss out during times of economic growth if they do not recognize the need to introduce a new product and use tools to project the estimated revenues and costs associated with the product. 

The paper identifies “allowing operational efficiencies” and “driving the wrong behavior in the organization” as two more mistakes being made that can be solved by an ERP product.  Administrative tasks can take a fraction of the time with an ERP system.  As wasted time costs companies money, time efficiency can help businesses cut costs.  Furthermore, metrics that are easily visible within the system can prompt managers to create the most effective sales incentives.

Perhaps the two most important aspects of the paper are the mistakes of “letting problems go undiagnosed and uncorrected” and “failing to offer transparency to stakeholders.”  By tracking all aspects of the company’s operations, decision-makers can find and eliminate issues and make more informed decisions in a timely manner. 

An effective ERP system can solve all of these problems.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, located near Boston in Peabody, MA, is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner with operations in the practices of information systems, professional services, and information technology.  The information systems practice, among other things, helps customers choose the correct ERP system that fits their needs and enhances their operational efficiency.  Last year, GraVoc climbed from 15th to 2nd in New England among Microsoft Business Solutions (Microsoft Dynamics) resellers.  For more information about GraVoc’s custom utilities that can work hand-in-hand with ERP systems to create more transparency within your organization, please visit gravocsoftware.com.  For more information regarding the information systems practice in general, please visit GraVoc.com.

GraVoc Showcases Health & Recovery Application at Tradeshow

On Friday, GraVoc sent three representatives to the Association for Behavioral Healthcare (formerly the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Corporations of Massachusetts) 10th Anniversary Provider Celebration.  At the ABH expo, GraVoc promoted GHR, a comprehensive bed management software designed for inpatient health and recovery service providers similar to many attendees of the event.

Like many of the GraVoc Software products, this solution was designed based on customer input regarding their needs and which key processes must be streamlined with this software.  This was GraVoc’s first time attending this event, and many representatives of health and recovery organizations from throughout Massachusetts were impressed by GHR’s functionality.  The application was designed with the goals of a quick learning curve and ease of use.

GHR handles occupancy management, admission processing, management of billing processes (including care that falls under health insurance and care that does not fall under health insurance), discharge management, client history inquiry, and reporting.  With GHR, a behavior health facility will be able to waste less time on administrative tasks and instead spend that time caring for their patients.  More information about GHR, including screen shots of the application, are available on the GraVoc Software website.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a consulting firm specializing in information systems, professional services, and information security.  The information systems practice encompasses the development of several internally-developed GraVoc Software solutions, all of which are profiled on the gravocsoftware.com.  For more information on GHR or the company, please visit GraVoc.com or call the GraVoc offices at 978-538-9055.

GraVoc Attends PACC Business Expo

GraVoc Associates, Inc. featured their information security services at the 2009 Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on Thursday.  Additionally, GraVoc’s Dan Vassallo delivered a presentation about blogging and how the GraVoc News Blog improved the company’s web presence, credibility, and search engine optimization.

GraVoc shared a booth at the tradeshow with marketing consultant Divergingsoul Media Production, who also impressed attendees with its variety of digital media service offerings.  Attendees were encouraged to visit the GraVoc booth by the chance to win a portable media player.  Congratulations to Colleen Derrivan of Phil Richard & Associates Insurance, who won the raffle.

At the conclusion of the event, the Chamber of Commerce presented a panel of seven members who used non-traditional techniques to market their products or services.  Dan Vassallo represented GraVoc on the “7 Experts, 7 Tips, 7 Minutes” panel, explaining how the GraVoc News Blog has heightened GraVoc’s web presence and search engine optimization.  It is now easier for businesses looking for a Boston-area, North Shore, or Peabody technology consulting firm or Microsoft Dynamics partner to find GraVoc and learn more about the services the business provides.  Dan has received comments from competitors, vendors, and customers about how the blog has made the firm appear to really be on top of relevant issues.  It also lets customers know what is new with the business. 

GraVoc Associates, Inc., based in Peabody, MA, is a seventeen-person consulting firm specializing in the areas of professional services, information systems, and information security.  For more information on GraVoc and the services the company provides, please visit GraVoc.com or check out the archives of the GraVoc News Blog.

Catch GraVoc at Upcoming Tradeshows

GraVoc Associates, Inc. will be attending the following tradeshows this week:

• Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, Thursday October 22, 2-7 PM
• MHSACM’s 10th Anniversary Provider Celebration - “Enduring Mission, United In Purpose,” Friday October 23, 8AM-2PM.

The PACC Business Expo is taking place at the Holiday Inn in Peabody, MA, and GraVoc will be sharing a booth with DivergingSoul Media Production.  At the expo, GraVoc will be sharing information mainly about its information security services, which are explained in further detail on the GraVoc website.  GraVoc is looking to help businesses who need guidance as the March 1 deadline for compliance with the Massachusetts Data Protection Law closes in.

Also at the PACC Expo, GraVoc’s Dan Vassallo will be featured in the “7 Experts, 7 Tips, 7 Minutes” discussion, where he will explain how regular updates of the GraVoc News Blog has helped GraVoc’s marketing efforts.  This segment will take place at 4:00 PM on Thursday.

At the MHSACM tradeshow, to be held at the Westin Waltham Hotel in Waltham, MA, several members of GraVoc’s staff will be on hand exhibiting the GraVoc Health Recovery Management System (GHR) application.  This user-friendly, easy-to-use software helps medical organizations easily track which rooms/beds are occupied and how long.  It also keeps track of patient history and streamlines medical service to billing insurance companies. 

Eliminating time spent on administrative tasks enables medical professionals to dedicate their precious time and energy on helping patients’ recovery.  GraVoc was invited to this tradeshow by a satisfied GHR customer, and the company is excited about the opportunity to demonstrate how the GHR application can help health and recovery organizations improve their service process, cut down on wasted time, and improve their bottom lines.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, located in Peabody, MA is a full-service consulting firm that specializes in information security, information systems, and professional services.  A versatile organization, GraVoc’s client base, as evidenced above, has spanned from medical organizations to financial institutions, to manufacturers, distributors, and commercial clients in a wide range of fields.  For more information about the company, please visit the new GraVoc.com.  If you happen to be in the area, GraVoc would love to see you at one of the tradeshows this week!

Marsh Leads Team at JDRF Walk

GraVoc senior associate Stefanie Marsh led a tremendous fundraising effort at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Seacoast Walk held Sunday September 27th.  An active member of the foundation’s New Hampshire Seacoast chapter, Marsh joined over 500 other walkers in the event, which was held despite a second consecutive year of foul weather.

Marsh’s team, “Zack’s Pack,” is named for her son Zachary, who is affected by diabetes.  Over 15,000 children are diagnosed annually with juvenile diabetes, and while treatment for the condition has improved substantially in the past decade or so, there is no cure.  Due to the generous support of family and friends, Zack’s Pack alone raised over $4,000 for diabetes research.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, a Peabody, MA-based consulting firm specializing in the practices of information systems, professional services, and information security, is proud of Stefanie’s achievements and her dedication toward community service and the JDRF.  For more information about GraVoc, visit www.GraVoc.com, and for more information about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, please visit jdrf.org.

Congratulating One Employee, Welcoming Another

Part of the buzz surrounding GraVoc Associates’ fifteenth anniversary party last month was the fact that the company was celebrating its first retirement.  Yesterday it became official, as office manager Patricia Kulakowski stepped down from her post at the front of the GraVoc building.

Pat had worked in this capacity at GraVoc since 1996, and she will be celebrating her retirement by taking a trip to Aruba with her husband next week.  The entire GraVoc staff congratulates Pat on her milestone and sincerely appreciates her many years of service and contributions while at the company.

Pat will be replaced by fellow Peabody native Connie Leaver, who began working full-time at GraVoc last week.  Having previously worked in both the insurance and in the banking industries, Connie is eager to bring a unique view to the consulting firm.  The GraVoc organization warmly welcomes Connie and encourages customers to greet her kindly the next time they call or stop by.

GraVoc Associates, celebrating fifteen years on the North Shore, is dedicated to increasing customers’ efficiency and profitability through technology.  GraVoc provides services in the three practices of professional services, information systems, and information security.  For more information regarding the business, please visit www.gravoc.com.