Learn to Tackle Your Debt with These Interest-Reducing Tips!
We must understand that there are interest-reducing ways from which you can reduce the interest on your debts and loans. So, if you’re paying interest on your debt, it’s time to fight back. Fortunately, the options below will help you more than you can even imagine.
There are many ways to pay debt faster. Still, the problem is that people often don’t take their obligations very seriously, leading to issues like forgotten payments. Another mistake made too often is taking debts through. These debts never get paid down because, on the one hand, they are paying the debt, and on the other hand, they are taking the new debts.
Switch to a 0% credit card
Suppose you are currently paying interest on credit card debt. In that case, it may be more cost-effective to transfer the debt to a credit card that offers this service of zero percent interest on balance transfers during a specific period. I think the best zero percent balance card would still be the Money credit card. Many offer zero percent interest for twelve to sixteen months, the most extended zero percent deal on the market. Alternatively, the Barclaycard Platinum with a 15-month BT visa offers zero percent on balance transfers for 15 months.
However, when applying for a zero-percent balance transfer card, there are some things to keep in mind:
For the most extended deals, you must pay a one-time transfer fee (three percent for the Virgin card).
You will probably only be successful in applying for a card like this if you have excellent credit.
If you don’t do this, you will probably receive a high interest rate on the remaining debt.
It’s worth noting that a few zero-percent balance transfer cards—including Virgin’s offerings—will allow you to lower your interest accounts on non-credit card debt (such as overdrafts or personal loans). This happens through a process called “money transfer.” You can learn more about this in this article.
Make 0% purchase credit card work for you
When you purchase certain financial products, such as one-year insurance, you may be given the option to pay for your coverage in monthly installments. It sounds nice in theory, but these types of tiered payments usually have a nasty sting in the form of substantial interest charges. You will end up paying interest at a rate of 30% APR or even more.
You can avoid these extra costs by paying the total amount right at the start. If you can’t find that large amount, consider getting a credit card offering zero percent interest on new purchases.
So, use your zero percent purchase card to pay your insurance premium in full, then gradually pay the balance on the card over several months. Suppose you settle your debt in total during the zero percent period; the entire transaction should be interest-free.
Find a better current account
Do you receive interest in your overdraft? Finding an account – with a decent zero-percent overdraft facility – is a straightforward way to lower your interest payments. So don’t let sluggishness get the better of you! Many of us stay with the same checking account all our lives, even if it doesn’t meet our needs.
If you’re often in the red, one of the best checking accounts on the market is Alliance & Leicester’s Premier account, which offers a zero percent overdraft facility of up to $2,000 for 12 months.
The account also offers a hundred-dollar bonus to customers who switch to it. This hundred-dollar offer ends in the first week of March, so you’ll need to act if you want to take advantage of it.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
When you have a business and want a swift transfer of funds from your customer, online payment gateways come in handy. They securely validate a transaction. Paymentgateways authorize payments from credit cards for businesses that work online and offline. Your customer’s credit card is validated, which allows you to get paid. When you have started a business, you will need a secure way to receive funds, and payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, and Square ease that process.
The Leading Players of Payments Conducted Online
You don’t need to be an expert to learn how online payments are conducted, but you may want to know the basics of who is involved in the whole procedure. Before you use a payment gateway for your business, you should learn about the parties involved. First is the merchant, the business owner working in the online sector such as eCommerce or travel who is offering a product or service.
The second player is the cardholder who buys and makes a transaction by purchasing the product or service. The third one is the issuing bank, which gives the customer access to debit or credit cards that allow the transaction to occur. The acquiring bank is the fourth and last player that holds value, as it maintains the merchant’s account and connects with the issuing bank to receive the funds.
Why Online Payment Gateways are Getting Big
When you choose a payment gateway, several benefits come along with it:
When you make your business transaction through online payments, you have saved yourself from physically collecting money.
Online payment gateways allow transactions to happen efficiently, which increases customer loyalty.
Since the process is easy, a payment gateway will allow sales and profits to increase as customers find it easy to pay for a product or service.
No discreet or hidden charges will occur once the payment happens.
With a payment gateway, the process is secure, and you are confident that you sent the money to the right source.
There are pros of using a payment gateway, yet there are a few minor setbacks that come with it:
A data breach can occur in which a hacker can extract your credit card details.
Some payment gateways object to specific cards and payments even though they market themselves as unanimously accepting payments from any portals and card type.
International customers are excluded from purchasing as a payment gateway may not work in specific countries. The company may also ask a customer to pay a high price to cover shipping costs or pay duty.
How to Work Through a Payment Gateway
When opting for payment gateways, ensure that you choose one that has the highest form of security. Payment gateways may have encryption, yet once the customer’s information is uploaded, it is on the server and poses a risk. With malware, which reads passwords and scans through confidential information, you, as a business owner, might receive a transaction that may seem authentic, yet it can be a fraud.
When you choose payment gateways, you increase your global outreach and send your product to all the corners of the world. If you had a physical shop that took only cash, you would be constrained as you wouldn’t receive large orders and only have a specific area you could cover. When individuals want to do impulse buying, they tend to choose their credit cards as they are easy and efficient. Carrying cash or issuing cheques is a hassle for most, and online payment allows easier product access.
How to Get a Competitive Edge with Payment Gateways
To retain your customers, you must strategize and maintain a business plan that increases brand loyalty. You have selected an action plan to increase sales and profits when choosing a payment gateway for your business instead of cash and cheques. The sellers’ reputation improves as they successfully receive online payments and deliver their products on time. Customers begin to trust the brand, purchase often, and tell their family and friends about the quick service.
The technological advancement of a payment gateway has allowed people to purchase any product or service from the comfort of their homes. Making online payments has never been easier and allows a smooth sailing experience. Even though it has its pros and cons, the world has accepted payment gateways with open arms.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Why is it that your home requires improvements nearly every year? That’s because every home, including yours, is a combination of different components put together to work efficiently. What if something at your home starts to cause you trouble? It means it is time to find a service that can deal with and rectify the problem. Find that service and ask the experts to address the issue. What should you do to find home improvement services, and how will you know if a particular service is worth hiring? Here is how:
Explore Your Options
With different systems working, anything can go wrong at any time. Sometimes, nothing goes wrong per se, but you need to call an improvement service to accommodateamendments to the home you had in mind. These services will be helpful in many ways, especially when you intend to improve your home. It is best first to identify reasons why to find.
We recommend that you give your home a complete overview before finding services to help you. The first thing to do is to explore your available options. Home improvement will keep you engaged almost every year, often multiple times a year, so be ready and ensure that you find a home improvement service as soon as your home starts to face the problem.
Reputation
Always start exploring services using a proper criterion. Make one if you have not already, as it will allow you to find top-of-the-line services and enjoy an excellent market reputation. Ensuring that your hired service is worth investing time and money in will take time. Prepare a list of services that enjoy an excellent reputation in the market.
Exclude from the list of options that are not up to the mark, even if available. It will help you pick services that are among the best in business. Reputation also matters as it allows customers to put more effort into finding home repair services than usual. Your list should prioritize service providers based on many factors, including reputation.
Licensure
Will you hand over a home improvement contract to a service without a license? Keep licensure in mind when you plan to hire the service. A licensed service is considered authentic as it is certified, and the permit validates its authenticity and reliability. Check the licensingdata and expiry to make sure that the license is valid and not expired. Although there is no harm in hiring a licensed service, the license may have expired while providing services.
Every time you explore home care service providers online, contact the service and ask for a license. Only shortlist services that have a valid license, and note to include services that have a license to operate in your state; otherwise, the service will be prohibited from providing services in your state.
Services Offered
One of the best ways to explore good, authentic services is by checking the services it offers. Remember, the company should provide a comprehensive portfolio of services, including all home improvement services. If these fall under the home improvement domain, the company should cater to them. It is pertinent to note that many companies provide limited services only. Your first preference should be to contact a comprehensive solution provider. Look for companies that offer many services but not all to hire the service and discuss your requirements with the services to avoid confusion later.
Budget
Think about it: what good is a top-of-the-line home care service if you cannot hire it? To avoid this, ensure that the budget is sufficient to employ the service, even if it is a little expensive. If the company provides excellent services and is available, then you should consider hiring it. It makes sense to hire a quality company and try to increase your budget if possible so that you end up with a company that knows how to cater to your home care needs.
Understanding is essential as it allows the company to approach a given task accordingly. Home care is not easy, and companies that understand the nature of the difficulties involved and have the resources available to cater to the job always rule properly.
Start exploring your options and making a list of services you can find. Start with services located nearby and give less priority to services located far away. Sometimes, choosing a company located far away is the only option. If so, hire the company before discussing your requirements and budget.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
A professionally built website is essential in running a business today. Your business website allows customers worldwide to interact with your brand, learn more about the company, product, and services, and then decide whether they are interested.
Without a website, you will only be able to cater to the needs of the people living nearby where a physical store is, and even then, you must go through a lot of competition. Additionally, a website gives your brand the freedom to growglobally and interact with customers who have never seen you but are interested in the value offered to them. Furthermore, let’s take a deeper dive into why businesses need a professionally made website to find success.
Sales
It is no rocket science that business cannot run without sales. Fortunately, there is an effective way to increase sales and attract more customers without even improving the website. A professionally built website engages the customer to stay longer, increasing the chances of purchasing.
Professionalism
If you do not have a website for your business today, you should know that a good portion of consumers may never consider you an option when they’re looking to shop. People tend to trust and rely more on any brand because of its online presence. It makes the consumer feel safe and your image a trustworthy one.
In the modern age, some customers and even other businesses may find that not having a website is unprofessional.
Marketing
Having a website means that your business has a digital presence, allowing the world to see your products and increasing your chances of generating profits. A website is always a good option, as it is one of the essential marketing tools. Combined with social media marketing tactics, it will generate more traffic on your website as more people visit to learn about your product.
24/7 Accessibility
Thanks to the Internet, people are now connected to the online world 24/7, giving businesses more opportunities to connect with their existing customers and spread their message to new ones. People living in different countries with different time zones also interact with your brand when you have a website. This means that you can make sales 24/7 during every country’s businesshours. Furthermore, it is a highly profitable way of expanding into new territories.
Credibility
Last but certainly not least, having a website gives your brand much-needed credibility with the customers. Digital presence influences the vast majority of people in the modern world. Millions worldwide access the internet regularly; it is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Without a website, it isn’t easy for customers to consider your brand credible or reputable. Moreover, a clean and neat website will always help your brand image and give people a platform to know more about your products and services.
Lasting Value
The best part about having a website is that you will have it forever once you invest, and the site continues to work forever. Not many advertising methods or platforms pay themselves once they start to work. The money you spend on a newspaper advertisement is long gone, and you can’t even get it back. No return on investment? Then you never will. It works the same way for Facebook, AdWords, LinkedIn, magazine ads, etc. But a website, if you do not make a positive ROI in the first year, do not worry since you have until the end of time to have a return on your investment.
Bottom Line!
In conclusion, the significance of a professionally crafted website for businesses cannot be emphasized enough. It is pivotal for engaging with customers globally, bolstering sales, and establishing trustworthiness. With its round-the-clock accessibility and enduring impact, a website is an indispensable asset for success in the modern business landscape. Embracing an online presence cultivates confidence and unlocks avenues to explore new markets and seize emerging opportunities.
Investing in a website equates to investing in your brand’s enduring growth and resilience, ensuring its relevance in the digital era. Websites are not just optional; they are indispensable tools in the business arsenal and possess the transformative potential to elevate it to new heights. Without meaningful customer interaction, progress isn’t merely tricky—it’s a question of survival.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
Transforming Supply Chain Efficiency with IT Solutions
Supply chain IT transformation is the strategic integration of digital technologies—cloud platforms, AI, automation, and real-time data systems—to completely redesign how businesses plan, execute, and optimize their supply chains for cost reduction, resilience, and faster customer response. This transformation replaces fragmented manual processes with connected digital workflows where inventory, orders, logistics, and suppliers become visible in real-time through intelligent automation.
I’ve spent over 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller watching businesses struggle with disconnected systems and manual supply chain processes that drain cash flow and create costly blind spots. This article will show you exactly how to evaluate your current operations, select the right technologies, sidestep common implementation pitfalls, and build a practical roadmap that delivers measurable ROI—using the same digital principles that have transformed financial operations for hundreds of our clients.
What is supply chain IT transformation and how do you get it right?
Supply chain IT transformation modernizes end-to-end operations using integrated digital tools to improve visibility, efficiency, resilience, and ROI
Cloud-based platforms replace fragmented manual workflows with real-time data and automation across planning, sourcing, warehousing, and logistics
Success requires aligning IT with business goals rather than simply purchasing new software
Data cleansing and governance create the foundation for effective transformation
Mid-market companies should start small with inventory visibility and basic automation before adding AI capabilities
Understanding Supply Chain IT Transformation in Plain Terms
Supply chain IT transformation rebuilds how information flows and decisions get made across your entire value chain, creating a connected digital ecosystem that responds instantly to change.
Traditional supply chains operate through sequential handoffs—sales passes orders to planning, planning tells manufacturing what to make, manufacturing requests materials from procurement, and logistics ships finished goods. Each department works in isolation with its own spreadsheets and systems. Digital supply chains connect these functions into a unified network where data flows seamlessly, decisions happen automatically, and exceptions trigger immediate responses across all teams.
Core technologies driving real change
AI and Machine Learning Transform Planning
Artificial intelligence analyzes historical patterns, market trends, and external signals to predict demand with unprecedented accuracy. Early adopters report logistics cost reductions of 15%, inventory decreases of 35%, and service efficiency improvements of 65%. These systems continuously learn from outcomes, adjusting safety stock levels, production schedules, and distribution routes automatically.
Cloud Platforms Create Connected Operations
Modern cloud-based systems integrate planning, execution, and collaboration tools into accessible platforms that work anywhere. Enterprise resource planning (ERP), transportation management (TMS), warehouse management (WMS), and control towers share standardized data models that eliminate duplicate entry and conflicting information.
IoT Sensors Provide Real-Time Visibility
Internet of Things devices on trucks, containers, and equipment feed location and condition data into central dashboards. Temperature monitors protect sensitive shipments, GPS tracking enables precise delivery estimates, and equipment sensors predict maintenance needs before failures occur.
Automation Eliminates Manual Tasks
Robotic process automation handles repetitive work like order processing, invoice matching, and shipment notifications. Staff previously buried in data entry now focus on exception management and customer service.
Why Supply Chain IT Transformation Is No Longer Optional
Digital transformation directly impacts your competitive position—82% of supply chain organizations significantly increased IT spending in 2025, focusing on AI, automation, and visibility systems. The gap between digital leaders and laggards continues widening as technology adoption accelerates.
Measurable business value
Companies with fully digitized supply chains achieve 20% lower operating costs and 11% higher earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). These improvements come from multiple sources:
Operational efficiency gains through automated workflows reduce manual errors and processing time
Inventory optimization cuts carrying costs while improving product availability
Consolidated sourcing leverages spend data to negotiate better contracts
Dynamic routing minimizes transportation costs through real-time optimization
Reduced expediting fees from better visibility and planning accuracy
McKinsey documented enterprise transformations delivering inventory reductions of 9-10% and on-time-in-full (OTIF) improvements of 5-10%. One retail client increased demand forecast accuracy by 40% while reducing safety stock from 150 to 35 days.
Strategic resilience benefits
Supply chain disruptions cost companies approximately 8% of annual revenue—making resilience a critical business imperative. Digital transformation builds adaptive capabilities:
Risk detection through predictive analytics identifies potential disruptions early
Multi-tier visibility reveals vulnerabilities beyond direct suppliers
Automated re-routing adjusts plans without manual intervention
Real-time collaboration coordinates responses across partners
IBM’s cognitive supply chain maintained 100% order fulfillment during COVID-19 disruptions by quickly identifying alternative sources and routes—capabilities impossible with manual systems.
Building Blocks of High-Performing Digital Supply Chains
Successful transformation requires more than buying software—you need clear architecture, clean data, and aligned processes that work together toward measurable business outcomes.
Essential architecture components
Start by mapping your end-to-end processes from customer order through delivery and returns. Identify where data gets created, duplicated, or lost between systems. Document manual handoffs that slow response times or introduce errors.
Your core technology stack typically includes:
ERP as the central backbone managing orders, inventory, and finances
Advanced planning systems for demand forecasting and supply optimization
Transportation and warehouse management for execution
Procurement platforms for supplier collaboration
Control towers that aggregate data and coordinate responses
Data foundation and governance
Master data management creates the single source of truth that makes everything else work. Clean, standardized records for products, suppliers, customers, and locations eliminate confusion and enable automation. Without this foundation, even the best software delivers poor results.
Integration through APIs connects your systems with logistics providers, suppliers, and customers. This real-time data exchange replaces phone calls, emails, and spreadsheets with automatic updates that keep everyone synchronized.
Key performance indicators should focus on outcomes that matter:
On-time-in-full delivery rate
Inventory turnover
Forecast accuracy
Order cycle time
Cost per unit delivered
Exception rates requiring manual intervention
Practical Roadmap for Mid-Market Transformation
Most mid-sized companies cannot transform everything simultaneously. This phased approach delivers quick wins while building toward comprehensive digitalization.
Step 1: Assess current state
Evaluate your existing systems, data quality, process standardization, and team capabilities honestly. Identify your biggest pain points—stockouts costing sales, expediting fees eating margins, or customer complaints about delivery accuracy.
Focus initial efforts where manual processes create the most financial impact. Calculate the true cost of errors, delays, and inefficiencies to build your business case.
Step 2: Execute 90-day quick wins
Days 1-30: Foundation
Clean master data for top 20% of SKUs representing 80% of revenue
Implement basic dashboards showing inventory levels and order status
Document current processes to identify automation opportunities
Days 31-60: Initial Automation
Automate order entry for your largest customers
Set up automatic shipment notifications
Pilot AI-powered demand planning for one product category
Days 61-90: Integration
Connect your main logistics provider’s tracking data
Share inventory visibility with key suppliers
Establish weekly KPI reviews with clear accountability
Step 3: Scale new capabilities
Change management determines success—75-95% of digital transformation projects fail to meet goals, primarily due to insufficient focus on people and processes. Create super-user networks, provide role-based training, and tie performance metrics to digital KPIs.
Establish a cross-functional steering committee including finance, IT, and operations leaders. Regular reviews of costs, benefits, and risks keep initiatives aligned with business objectives.
Leading organizations don’t just adopt technology—they redesign how work gets done. See it in action with Complete Controller.
Learning from Leaders: Transformation Success Stories
Real-world examples demonstrate that combining technology with process redesign and strong governance delivers breakthrough results.
Mazda’s cloud-based transformation
Mazda Motor Corporation transformed its supply chain by migrating to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, achieving 50% cost reduction and 70% performance improvement. The automaker shifted from monthly to daily demand forecasting, enabling production flexibility that responds to actual market conditions.
Key success factors:
Started with a specific problem—difficult inventory management across functions
Consolidated fragmented systems into a unified platform
Connected supply chain data with marketing for holistic views
IBM’s cognitive control tower
IBM built an AI-powered control tower connecting procurement, planning, manufacturing, and logistics data in real-time. Planners now answer “where’s my order?” in seconds rather than hours.
Critical capabilities:
Democratized data access across all supply chain roles
Created a single version of truth eliminating conflicting reports
Enabled predictive exception management
Maintained operations through major disruptions
Common Transformation Pitfalls and Solutions
Understanding why transformations fail helps you avoid costly mistakes and accelerate value realization.
Technology-first thinking
Buying platforms without redesigning processes wastes money and frustrates users. Digital transformation requires rethinking how work gets done, not just automating existing inefficiencies.
Solutions:
Map future-state processes before selecting technology
Involve end users in design decisions
Pilot new workflows with small groups before scaling
Data quality neglect
Poor master data undermines every digital initiative. Duplicate customer records, inconsistent product descriptions, and outdated supplier information create errors that multiply through automated systems.
Solutions:
Invest in data cleansing before implementation
Establish ongoing governance with clear ownership
Build data quality metrics into performance reviews
Insufficient change management
Complex systems without proper training generate workarounds that negate benefits. Users revert to spreadsheets when they don’t understand new tools.
Solutions:
Budget 25-30% of project costs for change management
Create in-system guidance and job aids
Celebrate early adopters and quick wins publicly
Converting Technology Investments into Measurable ROI
I’ve helped hundreds of businesses modernize their financial operations, and the same principles apply to supply chain transformation—connect every IT investment directly to financial outcomes.
Start with business questions that matter to your P&L:
How can we reduce inventory carrying costs by 25% without impacting service?
Where are expediting fees destroying our margins?
Which customers cost us money due to supply chain inefficiencies?
Map each technology initiative to specific cost categories and revenue drivers. When evaluating a new TMS, calculate expected reductions in freight spend, detention charges, and customer penalties. For planning systems, measure forecast accuracy improvements against inventory and expedite costs.
Integrate supply chain and financial data from day one. Operations and finance teams must see identical metrics to make aligned decisions. Monthly scorecards should show how supply chain KPIs translate to working capital, margins, and cash flow.
Build financial-grade controls into operational systems—role-based access, approval workflows, and audit trails protect against errors and fraud while enabling delegation. Transparent reporting creates accountability and sustained executive support.
Taking Action Toward Your Transformed Supply Chain
Supply chain IT transformation builds competitive advantage through connected, intelligent operations that anticipate problems and respond automatically. Companies treating this as purely technical miss the larger opportunity to redesign their business for speed, efficiency, and resilience.
The organizations succeeding today approach transformation as a business strategy supported by technology, not an IT project. They clean their data, align their teams, and measure everything against financial outcomes.
As someone who has guided businesses through operational transformations for two decades, I know the journey requires expertise in both technology and financial discipline. If you’re ready to modernize your supply chain while maintaining control of costs and risks, visit Complete Controller to learn how our team can support your transformation journey with the financial visibility and controls that ensure success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Supply Chain IT Transformation
What is supply chain IT transformation?
Supply chain IT transformation comprehensively modernizes supply chain processes using integrated digital technologies like cloud platforms, analytics, automation, and IoT to improve visibility, efficiency, resilience, and customer service while reducing costs.
What are the key technologies driving digital transformation in supply chains?
Core technologies include AI and machine learning for forecasting and optimization, IoT sensors for real-time tracking, cloud-based planning and execution platforms, robotic process automation for repetitive tasks, and integrated analytics with control towers for unified visibility.
What are the main benefits of digital supply chain transformation?
Organizations typically achieve 15-20% cost reductions, 35-65% efficiency improvements, better supplier collaboration, faster data-driven decisions, increased resilience to disruptions, and significantly higher customer satisfaction through accurate delivery promises and real-time tracking.
How do you start a supply chain IT transformation?
Begin with a maturity assessment and process mapping to identify gaps, prioritize high-ROI use cases like inventory visibility or order automation, clean and standardize your data, select scalable cloud platforms, and implement in phases with clear KPIs and strong change management programs.
What are common challenges in supply chain digital transformation?
Common obstacles include poor data quality, disconnected legacy systems creating silos, low user adoption due to inadequate training, misalignment between IT investments and business goals, and underestimating the importance of change management and governance structures.
Sources
Appinventiv. “Digital Transformation in Supply Chain Management: Reasons, Examples & Use Cases.” n.d.
BDO USA. “Supply Chain 4.0: 6 Ways Digital Transformation Is Transforming the Supply Chain.” n.d.
Whatfix. “Supply Chain Transformation: From Planning, Execution, to ROI.” n.d.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
Every organization and business, irrespective of its size, keeps a record of its business transactions, such as sales, expenses, and other financial transactions that occur every day. Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions; the individual responsible for the recording is called a bookkeeper. A bookkeeper is responsible for recording day-to-day transactions and presenting the data to the accountants, who form different statements like income, balance sheets, profit, and loss statements. However, some entrepreneurs and small businesses prefer doing the job themselves, leading to other problems. This article explains the different situations and conditions in which one must hire a professional bookkeeper for the job!
When the Workload Increases
At the beginning of a venture, a small team can manage the workload and assign different tasks to each member. However, as the business grows, the responsibilities grow as well. It increases pressure on the team members, which may affect the quality of the work; therefore, it must reassign the tasks to ensure efficiency. Bookkeeping requires attention and accuracy, as the financial management and projections depend on the revenues and expenses incurred by the company. When a person has various things to look after, some costs may go unrecorded, making it difficult to track the efficiency and profitability of the company.
When the Expenses are Not Categorized Accurately
It is important to track expenses accurately. The business must know when to incur the costs and the nature of the costs incurred. If the expenses are not categorized correctly, the company may pay more tax credits or face several other deductions from the business. A person who does not have a proper understanding of bookkeeping is likely to make mistakes in categorizing expenses that will lead the company to pay more. Often, the extra amount paid is more than the expense of keeping a bookkeeper. A bookkeeper will ensure that all costs are adequately categorized to avoid further payments.
Lack of Organization
A growing business for an entrepreneur means a lot of chaos and hassle until one develops a team to manage different tasks. The work can be overwhelming, leading to unorganized work and unfinished tasks. Also, a new business must maintain a good reputation amongst stakeholders and ensure timely vendor payments. It can be a problem for entrepreneurs and small businesses because various tasks appoint one individual, and the pressure may lead to errors. To avoid organized behavior, a company must hire a bookkeeper to handle financial recordings. It will help keep the business organized and manage the work well.
Moving Towards a Bookkeeping Software
A variety of bookkeeping software allows entrepreneurs and small businesses to practice bookkeeping without hassle. Some people may struggle with this software as they use technical terminologies that may not be easy to interpret by people who do not understand finance. Also, the software may seem confusing if he is unfamiliar with finance. When the company grows, the business may consider hiring a bookkeeper, and the need for formal and organized bookkeeping merges. Instead of involving yourself in the software, hiring a bookkeeper would be a great idea.
When Bank Statements Need Reconciliation
Bank reconciliation is integral for ensuring accuracy and eradicating all errors in the financial data. Therefore, it is essential to have accurate data in hand. The accuracy of the data confirms that the company is paying the correct amount in taxes. However, suppose an entrepreneur or a small business struggles with bank reconciliation and does not have time to do it regularly. In that case, hiring a bookkeeper is the only option left. A bookkeeper will handle all these matters to keep the financial data accurate and updated.
Hiring a bookkeeper can reduce costs that the company would otherwise be due to financial errors. Is it time for your company to hire a bookkeeper?
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The growth in the need for impactful entrepreneurship that creates highly relevant solutions for societal problems could never be stressed more than it is now. An entrepreneur’s job is to identify pain in society or a gap in the market, anything that consumers might need but is not present for use, and fill that gap while keeping the factor of wealth creation and maximization minds.
It is quite observable that small businesses around the world contribute a lot to global economic development. The worldwide growth and expansion of the entire entrepreneurial sector mainly depend upon these tiny startups and medium enterprises. Small and medium-scale businesses are the backbone of any country’s economy. According to economic analysts, most business sector growth is due to young prospective entrepreneurs’ creative ideas.
Many people become entrepreneurs because they think an entrepreneur’s routine is much better and more rewarding than an employed person’s monotonous routine. Some also believe they can change society for good and positively impact the global economic sector.
There are various approaches to entrepreneurship, and the field can be divided into several subcategories.
Social Entrepreneurship
For instance, social entrepreneurship has surfaced lately and caught the eye of many people interested in business. However, it is a kind of entrepreneurship strikingly different from the traditional type. This significant difference is that social entrepreneurship has a distinct value proposition from the other entrepreneurship types.
Also, it is not just about the value proposition, but the money this type of entrepreneurship makes is solely for the benefit of society and to promote a noble cause. One of the significant roles that social entrepreneurship plays in society is the development of humanity itself. Social entrepreneurs work for the betterment of society in many ways. Societal transformation is all about how social entrepreneurs address ongoing issues and help create solutions to those problems.
This sector’s progress is determined by how well the system moves toward betterment and how well people cope with the change on an individual scale. One thing that has revolutionized social entrepreneurship in recent times is IT’s involvement in every corporate sector. The participation of the latest social networking techniques and the creation of solid networks has brought about a massive revolution in entrepreneurship. It has made its key processes more efficient and effective.
The Impact of IT
The involvement of IT has also brought nations closer by making communication faster and more convenient. Entrepreneurs have been utilizing networking services. Particularly in social entrepreneurship, networking has played a pivotal role in expanding the horizons of social services.
As we know, every organization’s traditional business model revolves around wealth maximization, and social entrepreneurship differs from this conventional type at this very point. The sole purpose of social entrepreneurship is societal development and a positive system transformation.
Social entrepreneurship has never been in demand as it is in the current era. The reasons are simple and prominent. Industrialization has positively and negatively impacted the system and nature, where social entrepreneurship is needed to balance things. For instance, at a basic level, pollution’s adverse impact over the past few years is right before us. To revert it all, organizations felt the need to develop an industry with the primary objective of undoing all the damage.
Conventional trade and its players have gone so far in the race for profit maximization that they have almost ignored what they owe to society in the name of corporate social responsibility. That is where social entrepreneurship has taken the driving seat and done a lot to better nature and the system.
It would be safe to say that social entrepreneurs have played an essential role in securing the future of humanity. Social entrepreneurship has also impacted the changing conventional mindset of business and has proven in front of the world that it maximizes wealth, considering the welfare of nature. It has also shown the global economic sector that wealth maximization shouldn’t be the only objective of the corporate sector; they should also keep a check on what they owe to the society and system.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Running a business in today’s world is challenging, especially after the pandemic. A lot of companies suffered devastating losses, forcing many to shut down. In a way, these losses taught many business owners that not just internal factors but external factors play a vital role in keeping your business up and running. Many business people learned this the hard way, but the world doesn’t end there. Let’s take this pandemic as a starting point to understand what other factors could influence your cash flow.
Political Instability or Changes
In economics, political instability is the number one factor affecting a region’s businesses. Whether small, medium or large, any business will suffer political instability or constant change in the political environment. Politics are one of the reasons enterprises experience variable growth rates during election years. Most major corporations of the world try to minimize their business activities during this period and wait for new policies to emerge. Then, these businesses adjust their internal procedures accordingly. Therefore, any entrepreneur should always watch for any political change that could adversely affect their business.
Economic Ups & Downs
While most major corporations of the world tend to enjoy the economy’s ups and downs, most small and medium businesses suffer significantly due to it. If you are in the import and export business or are selling imported products, then the chances are that the regular increase or decrease in dollar prices might affect your business’s cash flow. If your country’s currency’s exchange rate is down, then your overall business landscape might suffer.
Social Norms & Influences
Society as a whole plays a vital role in shaping the demand and supply situation within a country. Fashion, trends, and taboos can hurt your business directly. For instance, during this recent pandemic, face masks became a significant business. Many widely known apparel and sports brands dove into the business of manufacturing face masks simply because their other products weren’t doing well enough. Almost the entire 2020 was in a state of lockdown. Government officials advised people not to do luxury shopping. Therefore, apparel and fashion accessories did not perform well. For many such businesses, the only viable option was switching to producing face masks and gloves.
Technological Advancements
For businesses that deal with technological products and services, staying up to date with the recent trends is a dire need. For instance, Nokia was the largest cell phone manufacturer just 10 years ago, and today, the company is not even in the top 5. Why? Simply because they could not keep up with their consumers’ technological demands. While the world was moving towards Android & iOS-based smartphones, Nokia was trying to compel them to switch to Windows smartphones, which backfired, and as a result, the company almost went bankrupt.
Social Media Influence
Social media is, quite possibly, the most powerful tool in human history to shape our choices and mindsets. Social media is used worldwide by people to express their pleasure and displeasure with products and services. If you make one wrong move, your business will appear on Facebook or Twitter with a negative review. Regular social media management and reputation management are essential to avoid such instances.
How to Prepare for External Factors to Better Manage Your Cash Flow?
Feeling helpless is natural when you cannot control the externalfactors that can have adverse effects on your cash flow. However, while you cannot control the elements themselves, you can manage your reaction to them and be better prepared. Maintaining a backup cash flow is crucial in today’s business climate. Of course, this might not be the best solution for every business, but restraining your spending and being flexible while maintaining your cash flow usually work for most companies. Adopting a flexible cash reserve strategy with pre-determined goals in mind can help you have enough cash reserve for rainy days.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Internet-based accounting, or cloud accounting as it is known, has paved the way for finance professionals to work from anywhere via remote systems. Previously, accounting teams had to be at a specific location to access and work on financial data. Managers were to share the data with employees due to data leakage or theft threats. However, today, with the advancements in cloud technology, it has become easier to share financial data with their teams for remote work. Enhanced security, better workflow software, and backup services have made this possible.
How Exactly Does Internet-Based Accounting Work?
Even today, the terms ‘cloud’ or ‘internet-based’ pose a threat to most traditional businesses. Financial teams are still skeptical about using cloud-based services, considering that data sales to advertisers and competitors are standard. However, this is not the case anymore today. Free cloud accounting software may be prone to such threats, but the paid and advanced ones aren’t. Cloud accounting today offers a plethora of benefits that traditional accounting or desktop-based accounting software may not. Here are some of the top help your company can enjoy while using an internet-based accounting software:
Easy & Reliable Connectivity from Anywhere
Probably, the most significant advantage of any cloud-based service is that you can access your data from even the farthest nooks and corners of the world. You can access the data quickly and work on it if you have an internet connection. This mobility reduces the hassle of your accounting team being at your office whenever you need anything done. You can easily access your accounting data using smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Instantly & Regularly Updated Information
Another significant benefit of cloud-based accounting software is that you will always find your data up to date. Cloud-based accounting software regularly updates and saves any changes made to the data and displays it to all necessary parties. This way, whenever you log in to check your data, you will find it updated. Previously, you had to prevent months of data from detecting a simple and minor change in your reports. Today, you can view the change history in minutes to understand the flow.
Third-Party Integrations for Advanced Functionalities
Most cloud-based accounting software today allows you to connect third-party applications or their applications to the software. By doing this, you can customize the accounting software as per your needs. In addition, you can integrate your customer relationship management (CRM) software, inventory management software, and the like into your accounting software to have all your financial data in one place.
Live Updates 24/7
For many businesses, it is a hassle to keep tabs on their recurring, accrued, or incoming payments. Asking the bank within the working hours may not be the solution. With cloud-based accounting software, you can quickly get back notifications on your smartphone. Similarly, any transactions made will appear as a notification to instantly inform you of the update.
Higher Security, Lesser Risk of Data Loss
With cloud-based accounting software, your data is always on the cloud, continuously backed up and protected. Companies that offer internet-based accounting software comply with the national laws of data protection. One could say that top-notch security means are in place to ensure your data is never misused. Unlike desktop applications, where your information is stored in your computer and is easily a target of hackers, your data is under top-level security with cloud software.
Tax Filing Made Easier
Most cloud-based accounting software offers you the ease of filing for taxes. You have to download your income reports, tax reports, etc., to have all the data you need for filing taxes.
Should You Opt for Cloud-Based Accounting Software?
Today, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, it is impossible to imagine your entire workforce regularly coming to your office. Lockdowns and safety measures might hinder the process. With cloud-based accounting software, you will efficiently work on the data from home or wherever you are.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Below, we explain solutions that the law allows you to cushion the impact of taxes in the accounting of your business but also the options of saving your obligations with Social Security:
Income tax and VAT deductible to save more
However, the deductions of expenses in the IRPF and VAT should not be taken lightly by the self-employed worker, who taxes indirect estimation as an easy saving formula. Apply according to the legally established expenditure affected by the activity, duly justified and accounting registered, to help you save and increase your solvency.
We detail the tax deductions in the IRPF. This year, the Law of Urgent Reforms of Autonomous Work added a novelty. The deduction in Personal Income Tax of 30% of the expenses on the percentage of housing affects the activity and the deduction of allowances in the same terms as the workers of the General Scheme.
Also, remember that you can also benefit from deductions for maternity, large family, and descendants or ascendants in charge with disabilities.
Discharge of expenses before the start of an activity
The beginnings can be challenging. Therefore, it is better for you than ever to seek maximum savings. Hacienda allows the deduction in the IRPF and VAT of necessary expenses for the start-up of the business. These are investment expenses that you can deduct provided that these requirements:
Give notice to the Treasury of the intention to undertake to present model 036 and check box 504. This procedure notifies a discharge before the start of the activity.
Invoices issued with a date after said previous discharge in the Treasury.
A posteriori, you must proceed to a second registration in the Treasury to start your activity.
Pension plans
Contributions to pension plans also have an essential fiscal advantage if the self-employed person can deduct up to a maximum of 8,000 euros or up to 30% of the net income from economic activities or work.
Health insurance
Do not forget to take out the health insurance. The medical insurance allows the self-employed to deduct the premiums up to a limit of $500 per person. The self-employed person can also include the spouse’s fee and children under 25. The limit of $500 per person extends to $1,500 for a person with a disability.
Reduction per start of 20% per start of the activity
Suppose you start economic activity indirect estimation without having exercised any other in the previous year. In that case, you can positively reduce by 20% your net return (income – expenses) in the first year and the next—20% on your income tax. If you have losses in the first year, you will not accept the reduction, although it is reserved for you when you fulfill the conditions.
Moving from a natural person to a legal entity
The autonomous tax determines the benefits it obtains. For this reason, the tax burden of the self-employed person, a natural person, is generally greater than that of a legal person. When you’re billing as self-employed, and the threshold of $46,000 exceeds, you should consider switching from autonomous to society.
Recover VAT from defaults with a rectifying invoice to save more
Unfortunately, unpaid bills are a continuum in independent accounting. Despite this, nobody escapes the quarterly appointment with the Treasury to declare and pay VAT through the 303 models. Still, the self-employed can recover the amount of the tax and thus the liquidity it needs.
This possibility, for which a judicial or notarial injunction process must be carried out, is subject to the debtor’s requirements as self-employed or a company. The collection of the invoice must not be during the six months following its issuance. The solution to the problem lies in the distribution of a rectifying invoice, canceling the VAT quota of the original, which you will submit to the Treasury, and you will include it in the quarterly model of the period in which you issue it.
Welcome to the self-employment quota bonuses
Already in the section of Social Security, the reductions in the quota of self-employed are among the most remarkable savings tricks of this top ten.
The most notable of the bonuses is that the current flat rate represents a saving of up to $2,700 during the first year for newly self-employed people who take advantage of it. This saving is reduced by tranches during the second and last years, except for self-employed under 30 and the autonomous ones under 35 who enjoy the bonus during the third year.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.