Technological sophistication alone does not create momentum. The primary variable is not technology itself but rather the application of carefully selected technologies linked to a clear and consistent concept. When used correctly, technology acts as a fantastic accelerator that can greatly increase efficiency and lower costs. But you cannot make good use of technology until you understand which ones are relevant to your core business.

That’s where Whetstone comes in. Our Process Edge^TM systems integration services bridge the gap between manual process documentation and customized web-based software solutions that are tailored to the unique operations of your business. Rather than try and force you to fit certain technological applications, we first look at each functional area to be streamlined by documenting your current processes. We then determine how best to streamline those processes so that the required changes are embraced rather than resisted.

We then study your customers’ processes to ensure the systems you implement are fully optimized to add value to their business. This effectively deepens your relationships with these customers, thereby increasing the competitive switching costs and elevating your company’s status to that of strategic ally.

We adapt software solutions to fit the way your people work, but not before clarifying and then optimizing your current processes to ensure you implement the best systems and choose the right technologies to digitize your business. This approach results in a much quicker and widespread adoption of the software. We also ensure that your platform has the flexibility to adapt quickly and easily to your changing business environment. Every organization is unique, but combining your own processes and procedures with fundamental sales principles will allow you to fully leverage your company’s unique value.

A big mistake many companies make is in believing that Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a piece of software that you can just plug in and walk away. That would be akin to going out and buying an expensive set of pots and pans and some exotic ingredients, putting them on your counter, and then coming back and expecting a gourmet meal to be prepared. Technology is simply an enabler. You have to do something to make the technology deliver on its promise. And that takes a strategic approach using ingredients like imagination, education, energy, and teamwork.

We believe you should only implement technology if it adds value to your customers’ experience and not simply for your own convenience. The term CRM is actually a misnomer since it is doesn’t actually touch your customer. Rather, it’s an internal tool used primarily to improve your company’s ability to manage your customers’ information.

Whetstone’s DigitalEdge^TM solution can best be described as Enterprise Relationship Management (ERM), because it increases your ability to effectively manage all of your relationships – from job applicants, employees, suppliers and partners right through to your end customers. Everyone in the organization has to be involved in creating value for customers, not just sales and marketing. It only makes sense that if you do a better job of managing all of these relationships you’ll do a better job of delivering value to your customers.

How it works
A two-day, intensive workshop made up of a cross-functional team of colleagues from every department, (executives, sales, marketing, customer service etc…) as well as staff members from a targeted customer or guests from outside your industry to fuel divergent thinking and provide objective feedback during the brainstorming process. You will now use the knowledge gained from listening to your customers’ challenges and priorities, to examine exactly what they mean to your organization, and how you will align them with your vision, mission and values to inspire co-created solutions that lead to sustained, profitable growth for both you and your customers.

• Once we’ve documented and optimized your company’s current processes, we bring in the technological underpinning (if you don’t already have one) to accelerate your business to new levels of excellence.
• The  Process Edge™ framework gives you the ability to rapidly build web-enabled applications that automate and streamline strategically important processes for your customers. They will perceive you as a strategic ally and won’t hesitate to run key processes on your platform.
• It lays the foundation for a stellar lead management system that will gather insight into your customers’ most pressing needs and priorities and disseminate it throughout your entire organization. This creates strategic alliances that deepen the bond between you and your customers, while propelling you away from the status quo towards renewable cycles of innovation and increased profitability.
• It provides an ideal project management module, whereby customers can key in action plans on the spot. They can then log into your site and report back on the progress they’re making.
• Process Edge^TM provides a complete on-line repository for all your operations manuals so that anyone can go to that section at any time and see, step by step, how to do their job correctly. The advantage here is that as you scale, and change processes or procedures, you only have to make the change in one place.

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