mrc's Cup of Joe Blog

Join us in exploring the world of modern development, evolving technologies, and the art of future-proof software

Year: 2017

Case Study: Breaking the application delivery bottleneck

EducationSummary: Many businesses face an application development bottleneck. Application development efforts can’t keep up with business demands. As a result, business users are often stuck waiting around for the applications they need. Learn how one company solved this very problem, and how you can do the same.

What are the “true costs” of Business Intelligence?

EducationSummary: While implementing Business Intelligence can drive revenue and save money, some businesses overlook many of the deployment and ownership costs of BI. Besides the cost of software, they don’t anticipate the fees that crop up during some BI implementations. In this article, we explore some of the “true costs” of Business Intelligence.

5 (more) reasons why end users bypass the IT department

EducationSummary: “Shadow IT” is a term used to describe IT solutions and systems created and applied inside companies without their authorization. How can you control the rise of Shadow IT in your business? You must first understand why it happens. Why do users feel the need to circumvent IT in the first place? In this article, we explore a few more reasons and share some tips to help you control Shadow IT.

7 reasons why end users bypass the IT department

EducationSummary: “Shadow IT” is a term used to describe IT solutions and systems created and applied inside companies without their authorization. How can you control the rise of Shadow IT in your business? You must first understand why it happens. Why do users feel the need to circumvent IT in the first place? In this article, we explore a few reasons and share some tips to help you control Shadow IT.

Why do 90% of spreadsheets contain errors?

Save MoneyAccording to a number of different surveys conducted over the last few years, spreadsheets are still a commonly used tool for business intelligence. But, according to this article, 90% of spreadsheets contain errors.

Think about that for a second. Many companies still rely on spreadsheets for critical decisions, but most spreadsheets contain significant errors. In other words, critical decisions are made every day based on error-filled spreadsheets. How much does this hurt business? …

5 (more) tips to maximize the value of your business data

EducationSummary: We’re in the middle of a data explosion. The modern business has access to more data than ever before, and it’s only growing. However, not every business knows how to use this data to its fullest potential. In the second part of this two-part article, we explore a few more ways to get more value out of your data.

The surprising benefits of custom ERP reporting

EducationSummary: ERP systems rarely provide a perfect fit for your company’s unique reporting needs. While this may seem like a minor problem, it leads to serious issues. These issues not only waste time, they can even halt business growth. Learn how one company created custom reporting over their ERP system–and the surprising benefits they saw as a result.

Solving the Top 10 Application Security Threats

EducationSummary: Cyberattacks are increasing. Attacks are more sophisticated and frequent than ever. Yet, application security still lags behind. Through poor security practices, businesses unwittingly expose themselves to reputation damage and massive revenue loss. Why is security still such a big problem, and how can you address it? This free paper will help you answer both questions.

5 (more) hidden costs of mobile app development

EducationSummary: As more and more businesses jump into mobile app development for the first time, many make a crucial mistake: They go into the process with a limited understanding of the true costs of developing a mobile app. In fact, many falsely believe that development cost starts and ends with the developer. In this article, we highlight a few more important costs that you should anticipate before starting your mobile app development project.

One way to improve your current software (without buying an off-the-shelf solution)

Save MoneyHere’s a quick exercise to try: Make a list of all the ways you wish your company’s software or systems were better. It could be anything. Maybe you just don’t like the interface. Or, maybe you want modern features, like mobile apps or web-based reporting.

Now, what keeps you from actually addressing those issues?

In my experience, many companies face the same problem: They’re tied to their current software/system. They don’t want to bring in third party software, but they don’t have the time/resources to build the new features into their current software.

In short, they need a way to improve their current software quickly, without spending an arm and a leg.

If you’re in that situation, here’s a story you’ll want to read. It explains how a company added a much-needed web-based ordering system to their current enterprise system. The best part: They found a way to improve their current software quickly, without buying an off-the-shelf, generic solution. You can read the whole story here.