Doing What Comes Naturally Accessing Zycus Spend Management Innovation Through A Simplified and Practical User Interface Zycus Inc Profile
Doing What Comes Naturally Accessing Zycus Spend Management Innovation Through A Simplified and Practical User Interface Zycus Inc Profile
By promoting the utilization of SAP through a familiar, easy-to-use interface, the overall level of possible resistance may diminish to the point of making the SAP PPS offering more viable.
The key of course will be the degree of dynamic connectivity that Duet offers between the MS software and the SAP application relative to an organization’s procurement practice. Given that one of the many benefits of Duet being advocated by Microsoft and SAP is the purported short implementation timelines and lower corresponding costs, means further investigation would seem warranted.”
From the SAP Procurement for Public Sector White Paper (by Jon Hansen, 2008)
Referring to an SAP – Microsoft collaboration in a profile article on another vendor may seem somewhat contradictory, even unnerving at first. After all, why would Zycus want SAP mentioned in an article that is supposed to be centered on introducing their innovative spend management solutions?
The answer of course is as simple as Zycus’ solutions are easy to use! While SAP was “compelled” to team up with Microsoft to develop a solution that would address the inefficiencies and inconsistencies inherent in the gap between desktop productivity and their enterprise business applications (an 85 percent e-procurement initiative failure rate does create a sense of urgency), Zycus’ comprehensive spend management suite was already far advanced in terms of user friendliness and adoption. In short, Zycus is “simply” one of the most powerful spend management solutions available in the industry today.
And perhaps this is the basis for the company’s confidence in making the statement that “Innovation and Ease of Use is at the core of every Zycus offering.”
Or perhaps it is the fact that the Zycus intuitive user interface evolved naturally as an original element of the suite’s “evolution to excellence” strategy. Compare this with being an adjunct by-product borne out of an urgent necessity to address the multitude of challenges that are associated with all ERP-centric supply chain solutions. After all, the 85 percent rate of initiative failure is not indigenous to the SAP offering alone. It is an industry-wide malaise that appears to be the impetus behind undertakings such as Duet, whose champions are striving to arrive at a destination where Zycus has long been a part of the landscape … doing what comes naturally!
In this light can SAP or for that matter any tier one organization effectively compete with the Zycus spend management offering?
Simplifying the User Experience
Considered to be the world’s “leading provider of spend management solutions to Global 1000 companies,” Zycus’ “cutting-edge technology and domain expertise” is specifically geared toward increasing organizational user adoption while continuing to drive sustainable savings.
To achieve the balance between user acceptance and the operational imperatives that are needed to drive savings on a consistent and meaningful basis, a vendor organization must have an unsurpassed level of technological expertise and practical understanding. Those foundations are built upon the Zycus edict that one must focus on “the results that spend management technology can achieve rather than just the technology itself.”
Many of you are already well aware of my unwavering belief that technology, while being an important element of a sound program, is secondary to identifying, understanding and responding to the unique operating attributes (nee requirements) of key stakeholders both within and external to an organization’s supply practice. This alone is one of the key tenets that appears to have propelled the Zycus solution to “drive maximum user adoption, sustainable savings and reduced cycle time.”
And the process of maximizing user adoption is a far less onerous task when you have proactively versus reactively placed yourself in the users’ position.
Simplicity and Size Do Not Imply a Diminished Outcome or Result
Far too often our tendency to confine a particular set of circumstances into a known or familiar context means that we often overlook the greatest opportunities to enhance outcomes. What is the old saying about generals who are fighting the last battle today?
What this means is that we are inclined to take the safe route that corresponds with the sentiments of years past when no one ever got fired for choosing IBM – regardless of the outcome.
Today, with outcomes being of paramount importance in an increasingly globalized market, this past mindset has limited our ability to both seek and discern the viability of alternative solutions. Instead, we spend an inordinate amount of time and money pursuing Band-Aid fixes such as Duet and Service-Oriented Architectures through familiar partners versus pursuing leading-edge web-based solutions that are grounded in practical, real-world experience and expertise.
For this reason, and in an attempt to capitalize on the innovative competencies of newer and smaller firms, there has been a gradual yet steady reversal in vendor selection practices for both public and private sector enterprises.
One such example is the U.S. Federal Government’s 2002 decision to begin unbundling contracts as a means of engaging an increasing number of SME suppliers who are technologically savvy and offer creative pricing models (i.e. Software as a Service) that are capable of delivering win-win results to all parties.
In line with what I had once been told at a Price Waterhouse conference in 2002, that “out there somewhere are struggling small companies who will one day emerge to become the IBMs and Microsofts of the future,” I now realize that the “one day” is today, and that Zycus is one of those emerging companies.
Why Zycus?
For those of you who are part of my regular readership, you already know that an important tenet of the Procurement Insights Sponsorship Program (which includes these profiles) is my total commitment to neutrality. And as such I will continue to leave the assessment surrounding the viability of the Zycus value proposition entirely in your hands, (as always, I will direct you to the Link To Our Sponsors section of the PI Blog to investigate the Zycus offering in greater detail, and at your own convenience).
That said, what I found interesting about the Zycus value proposition are the intuitive elements of a technology that has clearly been formed around understanding and adapting to the user experience in the real-world. Using this non-technological approach to technology development meant that the complexity that drives the suite’s results engine remains hidden behind the outward-facing simplified user interface. In short, I do not need to necessarily know how an engine operates to be able to put a key in my car’s ignition and drive.
This is a similar premise with the Zycus web-based spend management suite of solutions. Using the automobile analogy once again, as an end-user I merely need to understand the mechanics surrounding how to start and drive my car, not how to build it or even maintain it beyond putting gas in the tank and changing the oil.
Doing What Comes Naturally Accessing Zycus Spend Management Innovation Through A Simplified and Practical User Interface Zycus Inc Profile - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
“Recognizing that adoption or end-user compliance is one of the main barriers to a successful program, the ability for project champions to leverage user comfort with known applications such as Excel to access certain functions within the SAP architecture could stimulate stakeholder buy-in, at least internally.
By promoting the utilization of SAP through a familiar, easy-to-use interface, the overall level of possible resistance may diminish to the point of making the SAP PPS offering more viable.
The key of course will be the degree of dynamic connectivity that Duet offers between the MS software and the SAP application relative to an organization’s procurement practice. Given that one of the many benefits of Duet being advocated by Microsoft and SAP is the purported short implementation timelines and lower corresponding costs, means further investigation would seem warranted.”
From the SAP Procurement for Public Sector White Paper (by Jon Hansen, 2008)
Referring to an SAP – Microsoft collaboration in a profile article on another vendor may seem somewhat contradictory, even unnerving at first. After all, why would Zycus want SAP mentioned in an article that is supposed to be centered on introducing their innovative spend management solutions?
The answer of course is as simple as Zycus’ solutions are easy to use! While SAP was “compelled” to team up with Microsoft to develop a solution that would address the inefficiencies and inconsistencies inherent in the gap between desktop productivity and their enterprise business applications (an 85 percent e-procurement initiative failure rate does create a sense of urgency), Zycus’ comprehensive spend management suite was already far advanced in terms of user friendliness and adoption. In short, Zycus is “simply” one of the most powerful spend management solutions available in the industry today.
And perhaps this is the basis for the company’s confidence in making the statement that “Innovation and Ease of Use is at the core of every Zycus offering.”
Or perhaps it is the fact that the Zycus intuitive user interface evolved naturally as an original element of the suite’s “evolution to excellence” strategy. Compare this with being an adjunct by-product borne out of an urgent necessity to address the multitude of challenges that are associated with all ERP-centric supply chain solutions. After all, the 85 percent rate of initiative failure is not indigenous to the SAP offering alone. It is an industry-wide malaise that appears to be the impetus behind undertakings such as Duet, whose champions are striving to arrive at a destination where Zycus has long been a part of the landscape … doing what comes naturally!
In this light can SAP or for that matter any tier one organization effectively compete with the Zycus spend management offering?
Simplifying the User Experience
Considered to be the world’s “leading provider of spend management solutions to Global 1000 companies,” Zycus’ “cutting-edge technology and domain expertise” is specifically geared toward increasing organizational user adoption while continuing to drive sustainable savings.
To achieve the balance between user acceptance and the operational imperatives that are needed to drive savings on a consistent and meaningful basis, a vendor organization must have an unsurpassed level of technological expertise and practical understanding. Those foundations are built upon the Zycus edict that one must focus on “the results that spend management technology can achieve rather than just the technology itself.”
Many of you are already well aware of my unwavering belief that technology, while being an important element of a sound program, is secondary to identifying, understanding and responding to the unique operating attributes (nee requirements) of key stakeholders both within and external to an organization’s supply practice. This alone is one of the key tenets that appears to have propelled the Zycus solution to “drive maximum user adoption, sustainable savings and reduced cycle time.”
And the process of maximizing user adoption is a far less onerous task when you have proactively versus reactively placed yourself in the users’ position.
Simplicity and Size Do Not Imply a Diminished Outcome or Result
Far too often our tendency to confine a particular set of circumstances into a known or familiar context means that we often overlook the greatest opportunities to enhance outcomes. What is the old saying about generals who are fighting the last battle today?
What this means is that we are inclined to take the safe route that corresponds with the sentiments of years past when no one ever got fired for choosing IBM – regardless of the outcome.
Today, with outcomes being of paramount importance in an increasingly globalized market, this past mindset has limited our ability to both seek and discern the viability of alternative solutions. Instead, we spend an inordinate amount of time and money pursuing Band-Aid fixes such as Duet and Service-Oriented Architectures through familiar partners versus pursuing leading-edge web-based solutions that are grounded in practical, real-world experience and expertise.
For this reason, and in an attempt to capitalize on the innovative competencies of newer and smaller firms, there has been a gradual yet steady reversal in vendor selection practices for both public and private sector enterprises.
One such example is the U.S. Federal Government’s 2002 decision to begin unbundling contracts as a means of engaging an increasing number of SME suppliers who are technologically savvy and offer creative pricing models (i.e. Software as a Service) that are capable of delivering win-win results to all parties.
In line with what I had once been told at a Price Waterhouse conference in 2002, that “out there somewhere are struggling small companies who will one day emerge to become the IBMs and Microsofts of the future,” I now realize that the “one day” is today, and that Zycus is one of those emerging companies.
Why Zycus?
For those of you who are part of my regular readership, you already know that an important tenet of the Procurement Insights Sponsorship Program (which includes these profiles) is my total commitment to neutrality. And as such I will continue to leave the assessment surrounding the viability of the Zycus value proposition entirely in your hands, (as always, I will direct you to the Link To Our Sponsors section of the PI Blog to investigate the Zycus offering in greater detail, and at your own convenience).
That said, what I found interesting about the Zycus value proposition are the intuitive elements of a technology that has clearly been formed around understanding and adapting to the user experience in the real-world. Using this non-technological approach to technology development meant that the complexity that drives the suite’s results engine remains hidden behind the outward-facing simplified user interface. In short, I do not need to necessarily know how an engine operates to be able to put a key in my car’s ignition and drive.
This is a similar premise with the Zycus web-based spend management suite of solutions. Using the automobile analogy once again, as an end-user I merely need to understand the mechanics surrounding how to start and drive my car, not how to build it or even maintain it beyond putting gas in the tank and changing the oil.
Doing What Comes Naturally Accessing Zycus Spend Management Innovation Through A Simplified and Practical User Interface Zycus Inc Profile - To learn more about this author, visit Jon Hansen's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
Joe DagerJoe Dager is President of Business901, a progressive coaching company providing no-nonsense direction in areas such as Lean Six Sigma Marketing and organized referral marketing. What others say: In the past 20 years, Joe and I have collaborated on many difficult issues. Joe’s ability to combine his expertise with “out of the box” thinking is unsurpassed. He has always delivered quickly, cost effectively and with ingenuity. A brilliant mind that is always a pleasure to work with.” - James R. If you want to learn more about Business901, start a conversation with us. We can be found @ Web/Blog: Business901.com Web/Blog: FundingYourNonprofit.com LinkedIn Profile Follow me on Twitter - Visit Joe Dager's Website |
|||
David AchesonDavid Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns. David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website |
|||
Dave KurlanDave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website |
|||
Linda RichardsonLinda Richardson is the Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Richardson, a global sales training and performance improvement company. As a recognized leader in the industry, she has won the coveted Stevie Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sales Excellence and she was identified by Training Industry, Inc. as one of the “Top 20 Most Influential Training Professionals.” Ms. Richardson is credited with the movement to Consultative Selling and is the author of ten books on selling and sales management, including Sales Coaching — Making the Great Leap from Sales Manager to Sales Coach, and Stop Telling, Start Selling. She teaches sales and management at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton Executive Development Center. Linda is a frequent speaker at industry and client conferences, has been published extensively in industry and training journals, and has been featured in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Nation’s Business, Selling Power, Success, and The Conference Board Magazine. Learn more about Richardson's sales training and performance improvement solutions at http://www.richardson.com web - Visit Linda Richardson's Website |
|||
Stephanie RobeyStephanie Robey is President and CoFounder of Pivot Positive, LLC - an Internet marketing business focused on helping people start work at home ventures. Previously, she was employed at The Search Agency with over 20 years experience in graphic design and 10 years experience in online marketing. She was responsible for launching the Conversion Path Optimization (CPO) unit where she and her team have conducted hundreds of optimization tests for online companies across multiple verticals. She is a successful entrepreneur having started and sold 2 companies and remains on the board of directors of the third, PhotoSpin.com Stephanie began her career in the direct marketing realm creating and producing direct mail for many of the major cable television companies and directly attributes her understanding of Internet marketing to those early offline experiences. Stephanie is a graduate of San Diego State University with a BFA in Graphic Arts and also holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Read Steph's Blog Meet Steph and Dave Sign up for our Free 7-Day BootCamp: Self Employed & Rich - Visit Stephanie Robey's Website |
|||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to Jon's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 | |
|
| |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
 |
 Think Networking Client-Attracting Web Copy Strategic Plan Testing and Measuring Business Building Check List |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Diversion Blogs
Top Diversion Blogs of 2009 | |
 |
More PR Resources
Press Release Builder | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||