Month: December 2019

Security Awareness and Reach New Customers

Looking for a competitive advantage for your business? It might be closer than you realize. Taking the pressure off of your internal IT team provides space for serious innovation.  

Slow networks and websites. Questionable security processes. Iffy backup procedures. Taken separately, each of these components of your business could cause significant damage to your customer relationship, but together they could spell doom for your entire company. In today’s highly competitive landscapes, it doesn’t take a lot of frustrations to entice a customer to take their business elsewhere — or to widely share their poor experience on social media. The threat of cyberattacks is always present, while data breaches are happening on a near-daily basis. With more than 60% of small businesses unable to function after a data breach, it’s imperative that your infrastructure is fully secure and optimized. Unfortunately, many small to mid-size businesses struggle to staff their IT teams adequately with limited budgets. Working with an IT-managed services provider offers significant benefits, including more structured costs, improved security levels, and quick responses in the event of an emergency.

Improving Customer Experience

Today’s customers have certain expectations of your business — that your website loads quickly, that they’ll have immediate and secure access to their order history and account information, and that they can get support when, where, and how they need it. Each of these operational activities has a basis in technology and without the right infrastructure, you are certain to lose the respect (and business!) of your customers. Creating a proactive support structure for your business begins with secure data backups and a robust disaster recovery strategy, so you can quickly resolve problems when they occur instead of risking the goodwill of your customers.

More Efficient Operations

Is your team spending double the time required for data entry due to slow networks or business applications that haven’t been fully optimized? Working with an IT services provider lends added creativity and support to enhance your business operations and streamline unwieldy processes. Each efficiency that you add ultimately translates to a boost in revenue and longevity for your business. Without the confidence that your business network and data systems are fully secure, your high-paid internal IT professionals are forced to perform day-to-day maintenance that is little more than a temporary patch as opposed to a long-term solution for technology challenges.

Enhanced Security and Disaster Recovery Support

Each click of the mouse performed by your staff could spell disaster for your company, with ransomware and other malware running rampant through businesses of all sizes. From a tightly managed firewall to aggressive antivirus and anti-malware solutions, you need the confidence of knowing that your company is fully protected in the event of a cybersecurity incident. Even if you had the funds to staff a full-time cybersecurity expert, it would be difficult if not impossible for that individual to stay up-to-date on all of the various risks facing your industry. Working with an IT services provider that specializes in cybersecurity expands the knowledge and solutions available to your organization and helps keep your company safe in the tumultuous security landscape.

Creating an environment where your teams are fully supported and confident in your company’s infrastructure allows them to focus on the most important aspects of their job — your customers! The team at Data Magic Computer Services is laser-focused on creating a secure and reliable infrastructure for your company, reducing stress and frustration for your staff. Contact the tech wizards from Data Magic at (469) 635-5500 or use our quick online form to request your free initial consultation. We work with organizations of all sizes in the Dallas – Fort Worth area, providing forward-thinking IT support that works just like magic.

Are you ready for the true IoT revolution and the need for rapid consolidation of systems? Buckle up for a wild ride in manufacturing IT for 2020 and beyond.  

There are critical transformations on the horizon for 2020. and it couldn’t be a more exciting time for those in the manufacturing IT sector! Manufacturing is a world of near-continuous evolution, where a simple shift could mean the difference between wildfire success . . . and losing a significant amount of ground to emerging competitors. From connecting (and protecting!) industrial wearables to creating a single global model for delivery, here are some of the Top Trends that you can expect to see in manufacturing IT in 2020 — and beyond.

Globalization of Manufacturing IT

The days when you could have multiple systems managing various regions of your business are fading quickly, with centralization and globalization the catchphrases you should expect to see as we start the next decade. This unified infrastructure is crucial to securely manage quick access to customer data, project status and shipment information.

Increased IT Outsourcing for Small to Mid-Size Businesses

The complexity levels are astounding, making it extremely difficult for internal technology teams to keep pace with the rate of change necessary to stay competitive. This — along with shrinking infrastructure budgets and the need for enhanced security — is causing manufacturing IT teams to look for new ways to co-manage or outsource their basic technology management and help desk functions.

Industrial Wearables Grow to a $1.5 Billion Industry

What if your front-line supervisors had immediate access via their smartglasses to which lines are slowing down so they can help push through bottlenecks in real time? Smart devices that provide workers with immediate access to critical data points provide valuable insight and even training to the next generation of manufacturing personnel, and the $1.5 billion estimate for manufacturing wearables is expected to be conservative. This also means that manufacturing IT departments will be tasked with both deploying and securing these devices.

The Rise of Robotics and the Exoskeleton

While exoskeletons are not quite yet ready to turn your production line workers into Iron Man, robotics and exoskeletons are moving forward at a dramatic pace. While they may still be a few years in the future. 2020 is the time to start thinking about how to implement this “Coming Soon” tech to your manufacturing and distribution workflows. With the introduction of these new connected devices, you are also creating a host of new technology challenges in terms of integrations with current platforms, security, connectivity, and more.

Which of these top tech trends will your business invest in for 2020? Let the wizards at Data Magic Computer Services help you craft a strategy that puts your manufacturing IT to work for your business. Contact us at (469) 635-5500 for more information or request your free initial consultation via email to {email}. We do our best to stay ahead of the coming trends, so we can help guide our clients through the ever-changing technology landscape. Each engagement is very personal for us, and we always enjoy the opportunity to help your company grow and evolve.

Tips to Keep Your Technology Safe

Did you know that you might be overworking your computer’s power supply? Find out how this happens — and how to keep your business technology safe when you’re online.  

The digital world can be a frightening place, with thousands of businesses falling prey to hungry cybercriminals each year. These unscrupulous individuals may not be specifically targeting your system, but a blanket phishing attack can be just as damaging to your business technology — and your ability to continue as a profitable business! Fortunately, there are some tips that you can share with your staff that will help you stay safe online.

1. Maintain Active and Aggressive Antivirus and Anti-Malware Protection

While it’s clear that both types of software offer a degree of protection, do you truly need both? You definitely do! While a virus is a self-replicating piece of code that can take control of your system, malware is a term that refers to a variety of different malicious software types. Anti-malware protection is a broader scope, and works against Trojans, ransomware and offers general virus protection. Antivirus software is often considered to handle older viruses, while anti-malware is more focused on zero-day exploits and advanced threats.

2. Invest in Ongoing Training for Your Staff

Your staff is truly the final defense for your business, and a single click by a well-meaning individual could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in remediation, lost customers and negative publicity if you are hit with a major data breach or malware attack. Teach your team what spam emails look like and encourage them to be extremely wary of clicking links online.

3. Don’t Skimp on Update Time

Cybercriminals are always scanning for software that hasn’t been updated, just to see if there are security glitches that they can exploit. When you apply software patches and updates as soon as they’re available, you’re helping protect your organization from the vulnerabilities that can come from these quick exploits. It’s not enough to set a quarterly schedule of updates, critical system updates such as Microsoft Windows or Office 365 should be applied as soon as after they are available as physically possible.

Bonus tip from our experts: It usually isn’t necessary to turn your computer off every night — rebooting once a week should be plenty! If you restart your computer too many times, you might wear out the power supply.

One of the ways that Data Magic Computer Services has been able to grow is because of our serious commitments to our clients — and to each other! Our team of smart individuals is incredibly cohesive, and truly enjoys working together to create a positive outcome for our clients. This is one of the reasons that Data Magic is now the #1 Dallas IT support and managed services provider, and we would love to earn your business. Contact us today at (469) 635-5500 or fill out our online form to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.

Choosing Manufacturing Software

As you know very well from your time at trade shows and what you get in your inbox every day, there are a lot of software vendors out there trying to sell you their manufacturing software solutions.

From the outside looking in, a layman may think that manufacturing firms are just about manufacturing – but you know that’s not the case. While the service offered may be one thing, you have to be able to cater to your business as a whole.

After all, your industry is a complex one -it’s constantly evolving, which presents a number of difficult challenges:

• Complicated supply chains
• Rising costs of labor
• Local and offshore competition
• Multi-faceted inventory management considerations

It’s these challenges that manufacturing applications aim to help you deal with. Unfortunately, equipping your firm with the best software available isn’t just a matter of picking one at random.

There are some that are better than others – but how can you tell them apart? Many firms like yours have a combination of up-to-date software programs running side by side with core legacy programs.

How Can I Choose The Right Manufacturing Application?

The reality is that, given how large and important the manufacturing industry is, the need for constantly improving technology is so considerable, and there’s no end of options available to you.

With so many vendors vying for your business, how can you narrow down the options and choose the best one for you?

What Features Does The Right Manufacturing Software Have?

Worthwhile manufacturing software will…

Assist With Inventory Management

Let’s face it – this is often the primary concern for those operating in the manufacturing industry, right?

If you’re going to invest in software, it should have features including:

1. Barcoding
2. Asset management
3. Raw materials management
4. Cycle counting
5. Customized reporting

If you can’t manage your inventory with the application you choose, then you’re just going to have to find another, right? That’s why you should ensure it has inventory management capability before you make any decisions.

Be Accessible

This is easy to overlook, but it’s crucial that you choose software with a user-friendly interface. If you and your staff are going to rely on it for daily, frequent work, then choosing software that’s easy to learn to use can make a huge difference.

Before making your selection, give the trial version a test run, or view the training materials that you would have to rely on.

Integrate With Your Systems

It may sound like a basic consideration, but you would be surprised by how frustrating it can be to try to integrate an incompatible application.

Whether you’re running on MAC OS, Linux, or any form of Windows (XP, 7, 8, 10, 2000), you need to make sure the software you choose will work with it.

In a nutshell, the right manufacturing software will make what you already do, easier. Simple as that – but, does that sound too good to be true? The good news is that it isn’t.

Comparison Of Industry-Leading Manufacturing Applications

Fishbowl Manufacturing Software

This application offers business automation and inventory management capabilities, along with built-in integration with QuickBooks for material requirements planning (MRP) and job shop floor control/manufacturing execution.

Fishbowl Manufacturing Software supports the following operating systems:

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Mac OS
• Linux
• Windows 2000
• Windows 8
• Windows 10

Fishbowl Manufacturing Software also provides training and support via online tutorials, in-house support, and training videos. Despite that, many reviews suggest that it can be very difficult to use if you lack extensive technical skills.

NetSuite Manufacturing Edition

In addition to the standard inventory management capability, NetSuite Manufacturing Edition also provides manufacturing firms with accounting and financial management, order management, customer relationship management, and an e-commerce platform.

NetSuite Manufacturing Edition is compatible with Mac OS, but also offers an operating system-agnostic web browser option, which means it’ll integrate perfectly no matter what system you use.

While NetSuite Manufacturing Edition only provides standard training materials, reviews suggest that it is very user-friendly and modern in its interface. Furthermore, given the browser option, it’s less expensive upfront and is very easy to implement.

E2 Shop System Software

This solution, designed with job shops/contract/make-to-order shops in mind, provides scheduling, purchasing, shipping, accounting, and customer management features. Users can easily generate quotes (incorporating costs for labor, overhead, materials and more), as well as generate shipping labels and packing slips with ease.

E2 Shop System Software supports the following systems:

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Mac OS
• Linux
• Windows 2000
• Windows 8
• Windows 10

While easy to learn and use according to reviews, E2 Shop System Software has an outdated interface that will likely not scale for enterprise-level needs.

Luckily, most Dallas IT companies will help you with making your decision. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the manufacturing software solutions above, contact us.

Manufacturers Can Capitalize on the Benefits of Next-Generation Technology

Is your business ready for the hyper-connected world of Industry 4.0? With the focus on artificial intelligence and connected devices, manufacturers have a near-unlimited potential for innovation. 

For years, manufacturers have been teased with the value that technology can provide — but may still be struggling to recognize the expected value within your business. When you consider the complexity of some of the systems that are new to the marketplace such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the bevy of connected devices, it’s not surprising that change isn’t happening overnight. Fortunately, there are at least three key ways that you can capitalize on the wealth of next-generation technology options that are relatively mature and ready to use.

1. Make Sure Your Tech is “Smart and Secure”

Smart technology boasts a lot of benefits for manufacturers, but it’s vital that you also secure these connected devices before allowing them to freely access your business networks where you also store sensitive or confidential data. It only takes a single poorly-configured router or connected IoT (Internet of Things) device to bring your business network to the ground, so IT services professionals strongly recommend that manufacturers regularly review their data access procedures and keep a close watch on connected devices.

2. Automated Compliance and Security Reporting

There are some pretty hefty charges associated with poor compliance, so many manufacturers spend a significant amount of staff time pulling together reports that prove their compliance measures are adequate and correctly implemented. Reducing these costs is a big win for your bottom line, which is why robotic process automation (RPA) is a big buzzword for today’s forward-thinking manufacturers. RPA allows organizations of all sizes to reduce redundancy and streamline processes, bringing extreme levels of efficiency to legacy workflows.

3. Maximize Efficiency with Data Consolidation

If the idea of pulling together a wide range of disparate data systems gets your mind humming, then you’re truly going to enjoy the possibilities that data science offers. It’s easier than ever before to stitch together a variety of datasets and analyze them in a meaningful way, allowing your team to draw conclusions that can boost operational efficiency and reduce errors. Simply being able to uncover production trends in a new way offers an extremely powerful tool for analysis, helping teams pinpoint any inefficiencies and quickly test resolutions before a broadscale deployment of a new solution. Organizations have been utilizing ERP (enterprise resource planning) software for decades, but the new analytical tools truly take the possibilities to new heights.

Creating a hyper-connected business starts with a secure and robust network and communications infrastructure for your business. The experts at Data Magic Computer Services have decades of experience working with manufacturers to define the right software and solutions to keep your company on the cutting edge of innovation. Contact us today at (469) 635-5500 or fill out our quick online form to receive your free initial consultation. From managed IT support to WiFi networking and integrations, Data Magic is the top-rated Dallas Fort Worth IT services company for manufacturers.