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Nobody can be great at everything. But by partnering with the right people, everybody gets to do what they do best. And you all go forward.   This fireside chat explored shifting to or integrating a subscription model.   It’s a key issue right now, because there is so much money to be made.   That’s why Bluefort was thrilled to host a fireside chat with our VP of Product Bjorn Kijut and United States Senior Business Development Manager EJ Harof, and Andy Park, Co-Founder of Team Central.  The Subscription Model is More Than Valuable   It’s actually free money. Why?  One-off sales are hard to predict. So is the revenue that comes from it. But offering a subscription model for goods and services can bring in reliable revenue across the year AND boost the Customer Lifetime Value.   It also boosts the company’s Enterprise value.  But the problem is this – after the decision to go for a subscription model, most companies rely on a patchwork of existing solutions to handle individual parts of the subscription management process.   They’re usually a mix of manual and paper and spreadsheet methods and multiple programs for management. So there will be one program for customer base, one for invoices, another for billing, one for collections and reconciliation, another for resource management and allocation, etc.   Frankesteining solutions together actually strengthens silos because the already overworked teams stuck in inefficient processes now must find extra time to transition, and scale when needed. Then they must find the time to share even more data between teams.    Subscription management is no joke – it's an incredibly complex thing that can only be mastered if it is simplified.   We work together to help people whose migration to digitalization is completely overwhelming.  After all, an excellent subscription management solution has to tackle:   Automation  Compliance  Upselling and cross-selling   Invoicing and payments  Revenue management and growth  Reports and forecasting   Churn mitigation   And that’s just the basics! It’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed.   And when you're moving from time and materials to a subscription model all the challenges of the paper trail migrating to the cloud seem impossible to negotiate.   That’s why our partnership is bringing decades of experience from separate spheres in the Dynamics space together to bring customers into a space where they can enjoy all the benefits that subscription and the best subscription management brings. But the problem is this – after the decision to go for a subscription model, most companies rely on a patchwork of existing solutions to handle individual parts of the subscription management process.   They’re usually a mix of manual and paper and spreadsheet methods and multiple programs for management. So there will be one program for customer base, one for invoices, another for billing, one for collections and reconciliation, another for resource management and allocation, etc.   Frankesteining solutions together actually strengthens silos because the already overworked teams stuck in inefficient processes now must find extra time to transition, and scale when needed. Then they must find the time to share even more data between teams.   Subscription management is no joke – it's an incredibly complex thing that can only be mastered if it is simplified.   We work together to help people whose migration to digitalization is completely overwhelming.  After all, an excellent subscription management solution has to tackle:   Automation  Compliance  Upselling and cross-selling   Invoicing and payments  Revenue management and growth  Reports and forecasting   Churn mitigation   And that’s just the basics! That’s alot. It’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed.   And when you're moving from time and materials to a subscription model all the challenges of the paper trail migrating to the cloud seem impossible to negotiate.   That’s why our partnership is bringing decades of experience from separate spheres in the Dynamics space together to bring customers into a space where they can enjoy all the benefits that subscription and the best subscription management brings. Bluefort adds to the portfolio of business applications by ensuring that data is shared across everything and Team Central is the utility used to connect them.   Here’s an example. A business that wants to incorporate a subscription model that has a Salesforce CRM -   Years ago the solution would have been building an interface with the other system and move it forward. But now, to help the business go into production faster, a partnership like Team Central/Bluefort connects the Salesforce application to Bluefort’s LISA solution and enable the end customer to consume it as a service. They’ll be able to quickly connect the product thanks to Team Central platform.   Our partnership means delivering solutions in a much faster way.   We understand the complexities of the industry, and we’re getting ahead of the importance of connectivity thanks to our experience with companies like Accenture and Centric.  Here’s How the Partnership with Team Central Came About  The best partnerships come from companies whose services complement each other.   TeamCentral was born out of a a management and IT consulting firm called Centric Consulting. They moved from one-time licensing to the SAS model with a cloud.   They spotted that SAS applications in the market means an immense growth in Enterprise data. All this data is generated in silos and if the data can’t free-flow, it leads to a state of data chaos.   Looking at what was out there, they realized the need to build a no code platform that can handle those complex use cases. Testing revealed the high performance and demand for their product.   Their ability to create a platform that integrates data from incompatible sources is exactly what led to a partnership with Bluefort.   They enable customer with incompatible applications to merge their data, which segues perfectly with Bluefort’s LISA subscription management solution.   Some of the benefits of the partnership for customers:   Connecting the elements of customers in the D 365 space and are reselling Microsoft products   Connecting license needs from Microsoft to the partner and be able to build that straight to the customer   Helping customers with subscriptions to find opportunities, boost revenue and cut costs throughout the Enterprise   Giving reliable updates in real or near-real time with no code/low code   It’s amazing what can be accomplished when working together.   Curious?  Are you intrigued by what you could gain by a partnership with Bluefort?  Why not learn more here or reach out?  Say goodbye to manual sales processes and boost your growth with Bluefort's cutting-edge automation solutions. Learn how our end-to-end system streamlines the end-to-end process. 

One of the things that made WW1 so devastating was the new way that tens of thousands of soldiers were wounded.   It wasn't just the "usual” injuries that 21 million soldiers suffered WW1.The large-caliber guns, trench warfare, and close-quarter shooting caused the soldiers to suffer severe scarring and deformities. Some were missing entire sections of their faces.   The damage was not only physical, but also psychological. They didn't recognize themselves. And then they had to return home, and suffer social isolation and the shameful experience of scaring the very people who they defended with their lives.   It was trauma to body, mind, and soul.   But it also inspired compassion and ingenuity to come together to change these soldiers’ lives for the better, giving them a chance to face the world with more confidence.   It started with one person - a sculptor, who was volunteering in a hospital for the Royal Army Medical Corps. Francis Derwent Wood saw and heard first-hand how these facial injuries impacted the soldiers' lives.   He knew there was something he should do to help restore the soldiers’ dignity and chance their lives for the better. And he got an idea.   A Genius Idea  He founded the Masks for Facial Disfigurement Department at the Third London General Hospital, later known by Tommies as the "Tin Noses Shop.”   At first he made masks out of galvanized copper, and then would tailor them individually using pre-war photographs of the soldiers. The result? Life-life masks, painted to match the skin tone, and usually complete with glasses to help secure it in place.  Over time, and together with other sculptors including Sir Harold Gilles and Kathleen Scott, Anna Coleman Watts and physician Maynard Ladd and others, they developed all kinds of masks and prosthetics that were specifically designed to help restore these soldiers’ faces.   They constantly innovated materials and tools, to make the masks and prosthetics as cutting-edge and closely matched as possible to each soldier’s pre-war face.   And together they spread these innovations abroad, helping to restore soldiers in other allied countries.   These masks and prosthetics were more than just medical intervention. They were the direct result of a deeply empathetic act.   This true story brings us to an important truth. We as people are at our best when we use empathy to innovate.   Empathetic innovation   If we want to operate at the top of your potential, empathetic innovation is the secret hack to get us there.   The reason why traditional approaches to innovation don’t work as well is because they tend to focus on shiny new tech, or merely streamlining processes. Yes, these are important, but they can miss the mark when it comes to really understanding and addressing the heart of the problem they're meant to solve.   It’s like cold medicine. It deals with the symptoms, but it doesn’t get rid of the cold.   Traditional innovative guesswork leads business development teams to pour time and resources into solutions that might not resonate with their customers or tackle the root cause of their issues.   That’s why empathic innovation is the answer.    Empathetic innovation makes waves because it puts people at the heart of problem-solving efforts. It’s a collaborative approach that meets the needs of everyone involved.   1) A customer-focused approach  By adopting a customer-focused approach, we can dive deep into the heart of their pain points. That’s how it is possible to develop solutions that genuinely resonate with our audience and are more likely to succeed in the market.  It’s a lot easier to make a solution that they immediately recognise is the solution they’ve been looking for, rather than trying to convince them that they need your product.   2) Active listening  To understand what they specifically need, active listening doesn’t just help. It’s the crucial component of empathetic innovation.   This goes beyond just hearing what our customers say. It’s more about understanding their concerns, finding the root causes of their pain points, and how their problems impact them.   That comes from asking good questions. Getting curious. Leaving no stone unturned.   The big question is why are things affecting them the way they are? Knowing the why can help you figure out if there’s an even better solution to their problems than the one you had in mind.   Active listening is the key to the golden opportunities for innovation and growth that might have been missed otherwise.  It’s also a better chance at success because there’s no guesswork involved in what customers need.  3) Tackling problems emotionally first  This is where the real difference lay and where the magic happens because it all comes back to one basic truth - we as humans are emotional beings.   It’s about looking at emotional solutions over the technical solutions. How does the problem affect the well-being, happiness and satisfaction of stakeholders and customers, and how can a solution address this first?   Tackling problems emotionally, means putting ourselves in our customers' shoes and considering how a particular issue affects their well-being, happiness, and satisfaction.   That’s exactly how it worked with Frances Derwent Wood and the idea for masks and prosthetics. It didn’t come from a medical need.   It came from an emotional need to be able to live their lives with dignity and without shame, in bodies that they recognised as their own.   But Wood wouldn’t have known that if he wasn’t immersed in the world of wounded soldiers and what their post-war lives back home were like. And he wouldn’t have figured out this solution if he didn’t know about the deep emotional need those soldiers had to overcome that trauma.   By plugging these insights into how we develop our ideas and using our strengths, we can create products and services that not only solve their problems but also make them feel valued and understood.  Conclusion   In the world where it is right now, we’re getting to a place where it’s much easier to ignore who we are as people and see each other as personas or stats.   And because of this, we’re desperate for connection. To be heard and understood.   And this is just as true for our customers as it is for ourselves.   When we embrace empathetic innovation, we revolutionize the way we approach digital business challenges. We create a more connected, emotionally-driven world where our customers feel heard, understood, and appreciated.   And we solve their problems in ways they probably didn’t dream was possible.   And finding the solutions that customers don’t just want but need lay at the heart of all good innovation. It’s also the foundation for sustainable growth and competitive advantage.    Who doesn’t want to live in that kind of world?  We're big fans of empathetic innovation. Our LISA and TAPP products were developed directly from:   Listening to the problems that subscription companies have   Understanding how those problems affect them both as a company and as individual people.   We get the struggle. We're a SaaS company. We're B2B. We run subscriptions.   And we're fortunate to have amazing partners and clients who have opened up and told us what solutions they needed to transform their businesses and make their lives better.   Interested in talking to us about what your needs are? We're here to listen. 

Being a COO in charge of an IT Services organization feel like being lost in darkest space. Especially when you're dealing with the dreaded project 'black hole' – a project balances that you can’t trust. You know the feeling - the project that was supposed to be smooth sailing. But it’s evolved into this ridiculous, resource-guzzling monster. It's enough to give any COO sleepless nights. That’s why we’re here to talk about it. Strap yourselves in! Where does the problem come from? Ever spun plates and juggled chainsaws at the same time? Then you know what maintaining a healthy project balance feels like. You must keep your eye on all resources, staff, deadlines, any external stakeholder concerns, scope, and cost. No matter how good a COO is, sometimes the project goes wrong. It might be more complex than it looked at the beginning. Stakeholders might ask for adjustments. The timeline doubles. Potential risks are everywhere. Maybe the cost is much different than we thought. Or the PM quits. Blink, and suddenly you’re floating in the project 'black hole'. And at the center of that is the money, scheduling, and quality.So what can trigger the chain reactions that cause them? Here are several of the most common: 1. Resources underestimated When either the PM or the COO underestimates any of the resources involved in the project (whether that’s people, tech, or money) odds are there will be a resource crunch that is not likely to be resolved unless you push deadlines back, spend more money, or bring in more people or overwork the ones you have. 2. Miscalculation of deadlines The time each task (large or small) in a project takes has to be estimated. That means there’s lots of opportunity to miscalculate. Pls, unexpected things happen which can also impact all the processes around it. All of it means missed deadlines and extended timelines. This disrupts the balance. 3. Scope creep Ah, this little beauty is the bane of every PM, COO, and any team involved. When your project’s scope goes beyond the original parameters or objectives, you’ll have to adjust time, deadlines, cost, resources, and workforce. Otherwise, you’ll be plagued by incorrect project balances. 4. Bad communication When communication is ineffective, there will be misunderstandings. And misunderstandings always affect project expectations. And then yet again, a project balance is off kilter. 4. Neglecting Risk Management Risk is woven into even the “safest” of projects. We all know Murphy’s Law and how it’s best to plan for things going wrong. When potential risks aren’t identified or managed, the first thing they’ll do when they show up is knock the project balance. The bottom line is this – it’s really hard to keep everything going smoothly once problems start to arise. And once you have one incorrect project balance, it’s hard to keep the other ones from being impacted. How incorrect project balances wreak havoc When you’re suffering with project balances that are wrong or unreliable, the knock-on effects are brutal. Do any of these sound familiar? Chaos in operations: You need your operations to run smoothly, but once you have gaps in one part of your operations, you might have to siphon resources from other projects to plug the gap. That causes a domino effect, and everything is delayed or disrupted. That makes it hard to keep your balances anywhere near accurate. The money abyss: Whether it’s because of errors or changes, unexpected costs can start to pile up and nickel and dime you to death. Suddenly, your budget’s totally shot, but there’s nothing you can do about it because costs have to be met. Personal Stress: Whew, if you manage to avoid incorrect project balances taking their toll on your mind and your body, you’re very lucky. Stress costs. It costs you sleepless nights, anxiety and even ulcers, and can impact your moods and mental health. No one, even the most experienced COO, should have to fantastize about running for the hills to be a hermit. Teams are shattered: Your teams are impacted too. They can go through the same mental and physical stress. They might be pulling all-nighters or shutting out everything else in their lives to keep the project afloat. Working relationships can be damaged. Not only are they exhausted, but they won’t be happy. And that’s going to lead to quitting or burnout. Either way everyone loses. This isn’t about pointing the finger of blame for these problems; unless real negligence is involved, people do make mistakes and unpredictable events happen. But at the end of the day, it’s you as the COO who has to take the fall and explain to the C-Suite and stakeholders why things are the way they are. Strategies to Avoid the 'Black Hole' No one wants to float around in space forever. (Except adventurous 6-year-olds). So, how can you make your life easier by cutting the possibility of incorrect project balances way back? Here are six of the most popular steps: Use the tech that’s available to you: COOs and PMs that use the most cutting-edge project management tools and software will have jobs that are a lot easier. Why? They get real-time data and analytics. They’ll get numbers that are reliable 24-7. And when things go wrong, the right tools will make automatic adjustments and recommendations for pivoting. Get agile: Agile is a word that’s used a lot, but it’s for good reason. The more agile your approach, the better you’ll be when challenges or opportunities to do something better pop up. You and your teams will be less likely to panic when things demand change, because you’ll understand that readjusting is part of any project. It’s all part of the process. And when you’re not panicking, you’ll make better decisions. Encourage a collaborative attitude: Projects don’t happen if people can’t work together. Teams that practice open communication and teamwork will mean more eyes are on the situation. Obstacles are spotted earlier. Potential solutions will be more plentiful. When everyone’s involved in project reviews, there aren’t any surprises. Learning and upskilling: This doesn’t sound like an obvious solution, but this is more of a long-term strategy. There is zero chance that if you and your team are behind the times with strategies and best practices you will operate in the most efficient way. But if you and your team are up on the landscape of IT Services and project management, you’re far more likely to enjoy the best performance possible throughout a project. Good management of risk: When your team takes the time at the top of the project to identify risks and re-evaluate throughout the course of a project, you’ll always have a contingency plan ready. That saves time and resources. And you’ll have a stronger project at the end of it. Good communication with everyone: Every single person with a connection to the project needs to be kept in the loop. All communication should be transparent and timely – even when things go wrong. Misunderstandings and mistakes can be reduced when there are regular meetings and updates. These steps will start you on the right path to better project balances. It’s a lot of work, but you’ll be able to sleep better at night. Though…there’s one thing that can bring you all these benefits with just one process. Automation and your project balances There are two things that using an end-to-end, integrated automation solution does that will improve your life in ways right now you can’t imagine. First, automation takes away the causes of incorrect project balances. There is no more guesswork in resource allocation or timeline estimation because you’ve got real time data-driven numbers to keep you on the right path. Scope creep is a thing of the past, because you’ll never lose sight of the scope. When things start to come off course a bit, you’ll know right away instead of getting a nasty shock. And risk management will be so much easier because with automation all compliance is constantly monitored, risks are identified and graded, and solutions are automatically proposed. Automation also makes communication crystal clear because it knocks down silos. Information flow is streamlined. Misunderstandings and mistakes are cut way down. Everyone’s on the same page. And when your automation solution is cutting-edge, you benefit from the best practices and most effective project management processes that will keep your project as efficient as possible. Second, because the causes of incorrect project balances are now either seriously reduced or eliminated altogether, you don’t have to worry about how they impact you and your teams. You’re free to focus on what you need to focus on, because you and your team no longer have to put out fires. And you’ll be able to take back reliable balances to the C-Suite and stakeholders, confident that you know exactly where everything is.As a COO, you put a tremendous amount of work. You deserve to have correct project balances that reflect how much effort you and your team put into projects. As with everything else, once you understand what’s behind incorrect project balances, you’re in a much better place to take the actions necessary to keep your teams and your projects balanced (and your ulcer medication at bay!). Or you could let automation do it for you. Get out of the black hole for good. 86% of consumers will leave a brand they trusted after two bad customer experiences. - Emplifi Bluefort's end-to-end subscription platform simplifies challenges, ensuring COOs like you can lead with confidence. Ready to transform your business? Schedule a Free Discovery Call today. Step out of the black hole and into clarity.

At bluefort we focus on bringing a seamless experience for your sales and delivery team for subscription lifecycles using Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications and Power Platform applications. Let’s explore how these applications can run a quote-to-order process flow. Look at our product demo below to understand and experience how we bring this seamless experience using LISA Reach and LISA BusinessPro. Donec vitae orci sed dolor rutrum auctor. Nunc nec neque. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Nullam vel sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Pellentesque ut neque. Donec mi odio, faucibus at, scelerisque quis, convallis in, nisi. Morbi nec metus. Sed a libero. Phasellus nec sem in justo pellentesque facilisis. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Aenean imperdiet. Aenean viverra rhoncus pede. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Sed aliquam, nisi quis porttitor congue, elit erat euismod orci, ac placerat dolor lectus quis orci. Fusce vel dui. Proin faucibus arcu quis ante. Vestibulum facilisis, purus nec pulvinar iaculis, ligula mi congue nunc, vitae euismod ligula urna in dolor. Aenean imperdiet. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Duis lobortis massa imperdiet quam. Nulla neque dolor, sagittis eget, iaculis quis, molestie non, velit. In consectetuer turpis ut velit. Donec elit libero, sodales nec, volutpat a, suscipit non, turpis. [text-with-icon icon_type="image_icon" icon_image="480"] Written by Jane Doe Duis gravida nunc nibh mauris bibendum sed donec aenean. Lectus tellus vulputate montes, erat vel parturient. [/text-with-icon]JTNDc3R5bGUlMjB0eXBlJTNEJTIydGV4dCUyRmNzcyUyMiUzRSUwQSUwOS5vdXRsb29rLTM2NS1pZnJhbWUlMjAlN0IlMEElMDklMDloZWlnaHQlM0ElMjAyMDAwcHglM0IlMEElMDklN0QlMEElMEElMDklNDBtZWRpYSUyMHNjcmVlbiUyMGFuZCUyMCUyOG1pbi13aWR0aCUzQTE1OTFweCUyOSUyMCU3QiUwQSUwOSUwOS5vdXRsb29rLTM2NS1pZnJhbWUlMjAlN0IlMEElMDklMDklMDloZWlnaHQlM0ElMjAxNTAwcHglM0IlMEElMDklMDklN0QlMEElMDklN0QlMEElM0MlMkZzdHlsZSUzRQ==[tabbed_section style="minimal_alt" alignment="center" spacing="default" tab_color="Accent-Color" cta_button_style="accent-color" icon_size="24"][tab icon_family="fontawesome" title="Contact Us" id="1659971862466-9" icon_fontawesome="fa fa-envelope-open-o" tab_id="1659971862467-2"][/tab][tab icon_family="fontawesome" title="Set Meeting" id="1659971862493-4" icon_fontawesome="fa fa-calendar" tab_id="1659971862494-0"]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJvdXRsb29rLTM2NS1pZnJhbWUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRm91dGxvb2sub2ZmaWNlMzY1LmNvbSUyRm93YSUyRmNhbGVuZGFyJTJGYmx1ZWZvcnQxJTQwYmx1ZWZvcnQuZXUlMkZib29raW5ncyUyRiUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyMTAwJTI1JTIyJTIwc2Nyb2xsaW5nJTNEJTIyeWVzJTIyJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJib3JkZXIlM0EwJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNFClick the button below to open up my calendar and find the right date and time for us to have a chat.[/tab][/tabbed_section]