From Beacon Economics

California’s merchandise export trade had an exceptionally strong showing in February, although merchandise imports pulled back in the latest numbers, according to a Beacon Economics’ analysis of U.S. trade statistics released this morning by the U.S. Census Bureau. READ MORE

From Beacon Economics

The ability to accurately forecast where the U.S. and California economies are headed continues to be seriously hampered by the enormous uncertainties stemming from the ongoing turmoil of President Donald Trump’s administration.

From Beacon Economics

Each quarter, find updated analysis that goes beyond the state and national level to present a snapshot of employment, home prices, consumer spending, personal income, and other leading economic indicators within key areas of the state. READ MORE

Mack Brooks Exhibitions Group, organizers of the Fastener Fair exhibitions taking place globally, announce the launch of Fastener Fair USA. The first edition of this unique industrial fastener and fixing show will take place April 11-12, 2018 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, OH. 

Fastener Fair USA will be the premier event bringing together manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and end users in the region’s only dedicated fastener, fixing, and joining technology exhibition. The show will offer a first-hand look at the latest solutions and technology available in the marketplace, as well as a top-notch educational program developed and delivered by industry experts. There will also be networking events to facilitate relationships and collaborations with industry peers.

From Distribution One

To many people, the terms “ERP” (Enterprise Resource Planning) and “Accounting Software” are interchangeable. This misconception, however, ends up being a detriment to companies when purchasing decisions are based on the comparison of two distinctly different product categories.

So what is the difference between ERP and accounting software? In short, accounting programs are merely a subset of the core ERP software capabilities and represent a fraction of the functionality provided by comprehensive ERP. This truth, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Accounting software
Predictably, accounting software deals with the financial aspect of operations by recording business transactions: AR/AP, journal entries, and general ledger utilized to produce basic financial reports like income statements and balance sheets. Due to this specified but limited focus, the accounting software market has experienced some instability with providers resorting to buyouts or ceasing operations altogether. Why?

Accounting software provides a good snapshot of a company’s financial health today but lacks the ability to anticipate tomorrow. Without data-driven forecasting, companies base business decisions primarily on SWAG (Scientific Wild Assumption Guessing) to predict supply and demand for products and services causing many to fall short of their profitability goals.

ERP software
Accounting functionality comprises just one subset of the overall solution. ERP’s main objective is to facilitate the day-to-day management of business operations by incorporating data from multiple aspects of the business into a seamless and comprehensive information system. ERP encompasses: Order Entry, Financials, CRM, Reporting, Purchasing, Inventory Control, Warehouse Management (automation/scanning), Serial/Lot Control, QC Tracking, Label Generation, Kitting/Assembly, Secondary Processing, and more along with supplementary functionality of E-commerce, API, EDI, and Mobile Apps. 

By accurately processing and analyzing data through these company-wide functions, ERP software delivers forecasting integral to improving the timing of sales and inventory, detecting process deficiencies, and identifying strategic enhancements for growing productivity and competitive advantage. 

What's Best for You?
Because businesses demand a more complete, comprehensive software solution, ERP continues to consume the accounting software market. Understanding the differences in software functionality is critical to your company’s near and long-term success. If you’re currently investigating software options for your enterprise, please contact me with questions on comparing apples to apples.

Steve Monks
Sales Executive

From Fast Company

Innovation is a series of steps, and innovators possess certain characteristics. Every individual possesses some of those characteristics—though to varying degree—and recent research looks at what those characteristics are, and how we can “awaken” them in order to unleash our own innovative genius. READ MORE

From Inc.

The success of your presentation depends less on your slides than a lot of other factors. So if you spend all your time making slides (or worse, curating old slides), you are not going to make the impact you seek. READ MORE

From entrepreneur.com

Change is always awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. Take a moment and cross your arms. Now, cross them in the opposite direction. Which way was more awkward? READ MORE.

From Lawrence Heim, Elm Sustainability Partners

SEC Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar and the SEC Division of Corporation Finance Staff both issued statements tApril 7, 2017 on the conflict minerals rule in light of the final Court action in NAM v. SEC. READ MORE

From eset.com

Technology has changed the way we live, our relationships with others, and even how we take care of ourselves. These days, everyone – from the most inexperienced to the most advanced user – takes measures to protect themselves from cybercriminals seeking to compromise or steal information. In this article, we discuss how you can fend off cybercriminals’ malicious attacks, making it much more difficult for them to succeed. READ MORE

From Inc.

At 80 million strong, Millennials (those born from 1980-2000) are already at critical mass in that same workplace. To excel in today's work environment, it's important to understand Millennials and how to effectively work with them. READ MORE

From Lawrence Heim, Elm Sustainability Partners

Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with Senators Sherrod Brown, Robert Menendez and Brian Schatz, submitted a pointed letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission Inspector General Carl Hoecker asking for an investigation into recent actions taken by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar.  One of the actions Senator Warren wants reviewed is the January 31, 2017 statement from the Acting Chairman directing the staff to reconsider the conflict minerals rule. READ MORE

From Lawrence Heim

The new public comment period initiated by SEC Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar is now closed and we have reviewed almost all the submittals.  What is surprising is that there still seems to be significant misunderstanding or interpretations of the rule, and some issuers are spending far more than is likely necessary.   READ MORE

From Lawrence Heim

The conflict minerals disclosure is still required for calendar year 2016. No Executive Order has been issued, nor has SEC eliminated or modified the rule. READ MORE

Record breaking numbers for the show in all 3 categories—exhibit space, exhibitors, and total number of attendees in 2016

For the first time in its show history, the National Industrial Fastener & Mill Supply Expo (NIFMSE) is named on the list of Trade ShowNews Network’s Trade (TSNN) Top 250 Trade Shows and Trade Show Executive’s (TSE) Fastest 50 Winners. TSNN’s list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the United States and is ranked by net square footage. At just under 100,000 square feet, NIFMSE is recognized and awarded amongst other top winners.