2023 Gratitude Round-up

Noel and his wife Sally enjoying a hike in Hawaii

Eric and his family enjoying health and making memories.

Edgar appreciating new adventures across the world in Japan.

Michelle is taking in all the views the West has to offer.

Andrew is thankful for non-stop trails in Arizona.

Lisa enjoying making memories with her family.

As we step away from our desks to give thanks and enjoy a meal with friends and family this week, it's time to kick back and reflect on the real stuff – the wins, the challenges, and the moments that made us go, "Alright, not bad." In this What’s News, we're looking at what each Ablesoft team member is genuinely grateful for, both on the clock and off. If you’re a long-time subscriber, you might notice our list of employees continues to grow, which is a big win for us this year:

Alan: Dream into Reality

Alan is proud to see some pet projects finally kick off in the Ablesoft Core development. On the home front, the official adoption of Averie and Quinn means more chaos, love, and stories for the family album.

Noel enjoying iconic Hawaii entertainment.

Noel: Work Hard, Travel Harder

Noel's thankful that while he's jet-setting with his wife, the Ablesoft ship is sailing smoothly in capable hands. It's all about balance, and thankfully the leadership team has it covered.

Eric: Core Platform Magic and Growing Family Albums

Eric gives a shout out to the developers for putting in elbow grease on the Ablesoft Core platform. On the home front, it's all smiles with more cousins for Camden and the whole clan staying healthy.

Carson: Inching Closer to that Piece of Paper, and a Full-Time Career

Carson appreciating time with family this year.

Carson's almost done with school, and that's a win. Getting closer to that full-time gig is just the cherry on top of the sundae of family joy.

Edgar: Trains, Planes, and Slick Screenshots

Edgar's thankful for PTO time he could use to travel across the world to visit Japan. Additionally, he appreciates the discovery of ShareX for his secret weapon for making screenshots dance.

Ben: New Dad Vibes and Cool Customer Projects

Ben excited for another member to include in his family’s group costumes.

Ben's thankful for the newest addition to his family, Elijah, and the variety of projects keeping him on his toes at work. A baby in March and a killer project in June – not a bad year.

Michelle: Loving Support, and Marketing Triumphs

Michelle's giving a nod to the support squad in her personal life and the marketing team's slam dunk year at Ablesoft. New connections, clear communication – it's all coming together for the marketing team at Ablesoft.

Andrew: Biking Bliss and UI Magic

Andrew's loving life with tubeless mountain bike tires in the personal lane. Professionally, he's got a soft spot for third-party UI control developers making tech life a bit smoother.

Brian: Fam Jams and Professional Learning

Brian knows he has a lot to be thankful for with his family.

Brian's cherishing those moments with the family, especially the big gatherings. On the career front, joining Ablesoft was the jackpot, with learning and growth on the daily.

Lisa: Family Time and a Shinier ASI Website

Lisa values memories made on family vacations this year but doesn't forget to tip her hat to the progress the marketing team made sprucing up the ASI website.

Take a look at our new homepage format and customer success page. We hope yours is one we can draft next year.

4 Ways Data Can be a Nightmare

Data Nightmare: Is Your Business on the Brink?

Welcome to Part Two of our three-part series from Ablesoft Solution's Problem Playbook. Here, we continue to dig into the common challenges that small businesses often face. In our previous post, we discussed how our assessments play a pivotal role in supporting small businesses and bringing previously unresolved issues to light. Today, we venture into a struggle that might hit closer to home than you'd expect: the Data Nightmare.

Let's explore the four key scattered data pain points uncovered by our assessments, which naturally haunt small businesses:

Data Overload

In today's modern world, data is abundant, but insights are scarce. Many businesses struggle to keep their data organized in personalized Excel sheets, leading to information overload. This not only hinders effective decision-making but also makes scaling up a daunting task.

Legacy Shackles

Aging systems struggle to keep up with the rapid advancements of modern applications, creating a stubborn barrier to your business's growth and evolution. While you strive for innovation and efficiency, outdated systems tether you to the past, preventing you from using modern tools and technologies.

Undocumented Wisdom

Your long-standing employees possess a wealth of invaluable knowledge, much of which remains locked in their minds, never documented for the benefit of future generations within your organization. It's easy to become overly reliant on their experience, yet these insights, once unearthed and put into practice, can spark innovation, streamline processes, and bolster your organization's capabilities.

Inadequate Integration

As businesses change and grow, their software and data needs evolve, making it a tough challenge to smoothly extract data from an old source and link it to new technology. For many small business owners, this challenge can be puzzling, leaving them with questions about how to effectively adapt and integrate data into a modern tech environment.

Consequences of Neglect: The High Stakes of Data Mismanagement

The nightmare continues as we consider the real price of neglecting your data challenges.

Data Mistrust

When the data used for critical business decisions isn't reliable, it can shake the foundation of trust within your team. This uncertainty can slowly spread, causing team members to doubt the information they rely on. With trust eroding, collaboration becomes difficult, and team members may become hesitant to fully commit to common goals. This uncertainty can hinder teamwork, making it harder for team members to rely on each other, which, in turn, can slow down your business's progress and create a less cohesive environment.

Data Deception

The process of compiling data can be not only time-consuming but also reliant on the expertise of senior employees. For instance, while an employee can follow the steps to combine information, they might lack the knowledge to determine if the outcome is accurate or not. This situation presents a double challenge: first, the drain on time, and second, the need for experienced guidance to ensure data accuracy. It's a painstaking process that can slow down your operations and impact the quality of your decision-making.

Misguided Data Costs

Using incorrect data can lead you down the wrong path, resulting in misguided choices that may hurt your business's finances. This can manifest in various ways, from making unwise investments or allocating resources inefficiently, ultimately impacting your bottom line. The cost of such misinformed decisions can be considerable, threatening not only your business's profitability but also its financial stability.

Nightmare Averted: Ablesoft Solutions to the Rescue

In real life, Ablesoft roused a local company from their nightmare by sounding the alarm on scattered data. Learn how tailored reporting solutions saved them time and empowered confident decision-making here.

Wake Up Call: Secure Your Future Today

The data trap is a reality that no small business can afford to ignore. Are you ready to seize control of your data, turn challenges into opportunities, and thrive in a data-driven world? Don't wait—schedule a discovery session with us today to secure your future.

Discovering Treasures in Tech's Past

Discovering Treasures in Tech's Past: Edgar's Approach to Software Development 

If you frequent any thrift stores around Illinois, you might unknowingly cross paths with Edgar, one of the youngest developers at Ablesoft, as he scours the dusty shelves for outdated gadgets. Recently he installed a custom YouTube server app from his local server onto an iPhone 4s. Not the typical hobby of a 21-year-old, but for Edgar, it's a meaningful journey. He blends the old with the new, showing the importance of adapting and learning from the past in the ever-changing tech landscape. 

Tinkering Mindset: A Bridge Between Eras 

The unique tinkering mindset that drives Edgar to the thrift shops on a Saturday morning spills over to his approach to programming. He believes solutions to today's problems might lie in the past. This adaptive mentality is recognized as one of Ablesoft’s core values. 

Edgar realized early on that not all problems have the same solutions. Complicated doesn't always mean better. This lesson stuck with him as he grew.  

"Older technology has taught me that while primitive and obsolete, it offered simpler solutions and hardened methodology that was meant to last forever. Today’s technology tends to be complicated when it doesn’t need to be. And is always moving forward,” Edgar reveals. “Bloat is also a big issue and it’s the reason we need more powerful machines nowadays. Whenever I create software, my philosophy is to make it as simple as it can be. Lightweight and efficient.”   

From Complex to Simple: Learning from Old Wisdom 

He didn't stop there. Edgar took what he learned from old technology and mixed it with new ways of doing things. This combination of old wisdom and modern techniques is his secret sauce for tackling challenges. He believes that keeping things simple is powerful. 

"When I was younger, I took apart our family computer," Edgar remembers. "Seeing all these different components come together to make a useful machine really ignited my tinkerer mindset. The realization that many intricate systems can be broken down into pieces and assembled in many ways gave me a new outlook on problem solving.”   

Fusing Old with New: A Gateway to Success 

As technology keeps changing, Edgar's love for vintage tech stays strong. "There's always something new to discover and create," he shares. "Right now, I'm diving into making apps for Mac and iPhone. No matter what I'm working on, I bring a bit of the past into the present." 

Edgar's journey reminds us that old tech has valuable lessons. "Simple solutions work," he points out. "Embracing the past helps us build a better future." 

Embrace Passion: Create What You Love 

His story encourages us to explore our own interests, just like he does with technology. "Make what you love," he advises. "All the pieces are out there; you just need to put them together. Follow your passions, even if they're not usual." 

Edgar's approach, combined with Ablesoft's focus on adaptability, opens doors to refreshing ideas in programming. He invites us to join him on this journey of learning, creating, and blending old and new tech. So, while everyone's racing to keep up with the latest trends, let's not forget that some of the best solutions come from looking back. As developers, we stand on the foundation laid by those before us. And today's progress starts with a nod to the past. 

Ready to Simplify Complex Problems? 

Ready to turn complex problems into simple solutions, like Edgar does with old tech gadgets? Click here to take our assessment quiz and see if you are a candidate to simplify your own business problems. 

3 Challenges Small Businesses Face Pt 1

Taking Back Control: Strategy not Hype

With a successful track record in the software industry for over twenty-five years, our team has learned a lot about the common issues that limit employee productivity in businesses like yours and how best to solve them. In this three-part series, we offer solutions to these common pain points. 

The first problem we encounter is the impulsive jump to software that business leaders make in either blaming it unfairly for their problems or hastily using it as a quick remedy, without addressing the real underlying issues. Expensive software might promise big things, but it often falls short of fixing the root problem when not properly investigated. We want to shift the focus back to the core issue and offer effective solutions that go beyond costly fixes. 

Understanding the Real Challenges 

We believe in understanding the problem before suggesting a solution. That's where our assessments come in. We take the time to dig into your business and truly understand how it operates by getting to know the different stakeholders tied to the inner workings of your company and form a picture of the gaps in operations. This helps us find the best answers for your unique needs, paving the way for solutions that lead to long-term success. 

A New Perspective: Simplifying Operations 

Our assessments often reveal ways to simplify operations rather than complicating them with unnecessary technology. Take, for instance, the results of a process review we did with a current customer. Though a custom-built application may deliver value in the long term, the initial solution came in the form of revisions to their Excel sheet and appointing employees to specific roles in updating the data. In the end, the most effective solution was better cross-department communication and not purchasing technology. 

Practical Solutions: Taking Charge of Your Business 

At Ablesoft Solutions, our goal is not just to point out problems but to empower you with practical insights and tools to tackle those challenges. We take pride in offering actionable recommendations that help you regain control without getting caught up in technology hype. 

Embrace Insight-driven Strategies: Your Path to Success 

Before rushing into software solutions, pause for a moment and let our assessments guide you. Embrace the power of insight-driven strategies and take control of your business challenges. 

At Ablesoft Solutions, we're not just experts; we're committed partners in your journey to success. Let's keep the conversation going. Together, we can overcome any business challenge. Curious to know how we can help your business? Take our quick Assessment quiz and find out in under three minutes. 

Choosing Your Family Part 2

Nearly three years ago, I emphasized the advantages of expanding both our team and our family as a small business owner in 'Choosing Your Family'. Since then, we have continued this trend by welcoming new team members to Ablesoft and adding new family members across the group. Business growth was bolstered by solidifying our core values and strengthening our software infrastructure. By doing so, we can now be more selective in our hiring process, ensuring that new hires align with our business and can provide value to customers more efficiently. Personally, I used to dismiss the concept of 'core values' as mundane, but now, having experienced the benefits it has brought to Ablesoft, I urge fellow business owners to invest in the topic more seriously. 
 
Since the article was written we added a full-time and part-time developer along with a sales and marketing intern. Carson, our part-time developer and a former pharmacy professional, joined us in October 2022 after transitioning to software development. His passion for gaming and computer building has proven invaluable in quickly grasping technical concepts and solving intricate problems. Brian and Jacob were both hired this summer. Brian, a recent computer science graduate, is working full time, applying his skills right away. Meanwhile, Jacob, a student at Illinois State, is exploring the value of software and learning how to effectively communicate it to others. 
 
In all three cases, our employment decisions were based not only on technical abilities but also on alignment with the core values we have refined over the past five years at Ablesoft: forward thinking, personable, accountable, value-driven, and adaptive. These values were derived from recognizing what our customers appreciate about us and the qualities we have observed in our long-term team members. However, their alignment with our values was not the sole reason for bringing them on board. Another contributing factor is our investment in the Ablesoft Core, our shared project structure used across applications. This infrastructure enables us to train and utilize the skills of junior developers much more efficiently than in the past. Our commitment to hiring based on core values and investing in the Ablesoft Core has yielded a productive work environment where new hires can quickly contribute to projects and feel engaged. 

In the past five years, our families have also experienced growth. Eric now has a two-year-old, I recently welcomed a four-month-old, and Alan will soon have two children joining his family. While we can't hold our children accountable to our Core values or utilize the Ablesoft Core with them, this period marks an exciting time of expansion for both our business and our families. We hope you take a moment to visit our team page and become familiar with the faces behind the software that provides you value.  

EMPLOYEE JUMPED SHIP?

ABLESOFT HELPS YOU STAY AFLOAT

Losing a valuable employee can be a nightmare for any business. The sudden departure of a key team member can throw your operations into chaos, leaving you struggling to manage important tasks and projects. But fear not, because we at Ablesoft are here to help you weather the storm.

Recently, a construction materials company faced a major challenge when one of their key employees resigned, leaving them without critical support for their shipping and receiving operations. The company was in a panic, unsure of how to keep their operations running smoothly and meet their customers' needs.

That's where we came in. Our expert developer quickly filled the gap and provided a seamless transition for the client. In just a few days, our developer learned the company's unique system and ensured that their work continued without any interruptions. As a result, the client was able to maintain high-quality work and customer satisfaction, despite the sudden departure of their key employee.

Not only did our solution save the company from the headache of rushing to hire a new developer, but it also saved them a significant amount of money - almost $60,000! Our level of professionalism and self-directed approach impressed the company so much that they chose to work with us over two other firms they were considering.

At Ablesoft, we pride ourselves on understanding our clients' needs and building long-term solutions to ensure their success. So, if you're facing the risk of losing a key employee or uncertainty in your business, don't hesitate to turn to us for quick and efficient solutions that will help you stay afloat and navigate even the roughest seas.

A Thirst for Quality: Alan's Beer Awakening

Meet Alan, the brewing maestro and coding extraordinaire at Ablesoft. In 2020, Alan's insatiable thirst for exceptional craft beers led him on a journey that would awaken a new passion. Embracing a full-fledged setup capable of brewing 10-gallon batches, he dove headfirst into the world of brewing. Little did he know that this venture would uncover an unexpected connection between his coding prowess and the art of beer crafting. Read along as we follow Alan's transformative journey from coder to brewer.

Sips of Symphonies: Blending Flavors with Code
At Ablesoft, Alan's expertise lies in creating software that surpasses expectations. With meticulous attention to detail, he solves problems and ensures your software is reliable and stable. Like a seasoned detective, Alan meticulously uncovers even the tiniest mistakes, much like a brewer carefully sifts through the perfect blend of ingredients to create the tastiest beer.

Driven by curiosity, Alan delves deeper into the captivating world of brewing. The enticing aromas, flavors, and textures of beer captivate his senses. As his experience grows, Alan leverages his software skills to perfect every aspect of the brewing process — precise measurement of ingredients, temperature control, and the harmonious blending of flavors.
Alan recognizes the shared demand for attention to detail in both software development and brewing. Just as he diligently documents his software work, he meticulously records his brewing recipes, ensuring consistent creation of exceptional beer. He actively engages in a community of brewers, eagerly learning from them and exchanging ideas to elevate his craft.
 
A Toast to Celebration: National Brew Day
On the legendary National Brew Day, Alan gathered his loved ones to revel in his quality brews. However, unexpected leaks and issues threatened to undermine his ambitious goal of brewing 30 gallons. The group quickly collaborated, and with quick thinking and determination, the brew team successfully brewed all 30 gallons that day. As Alan recounts the story, he believes that the challenges and triumphs of Brew Day mirror the invaluable support one finds at Ablesoft when faced with unexpected development roadblocks. 

With disaster averted, laughter filled the air as they toiled away, crafting liquid masterpieces, and sharing anecdotes that would be passed down through generations. It was a day of celebration, where software and beer collided in a symphony of joy and a chorus of clinking glasses.

Excellence in Every Sip: Inspiring Greatness through Software and Brewing
With every sip of his creation, Alan aims to bring the same joy and satisfaction experienced by small businesses using Ablesoft's software products. As a software developer and brewing enthusiast, Alan embodies a core value at Ablesoft — an unwavering dedication to quality. His journey should inspire all of us to appreciate the beauty of craftsmanship and strive to create something extraordinary.

Unleash the Power of Ablesoft: Discover Quality Software Solutions
Got any snags in the way your company operates?  Maybe Alan’s story inspires you to contact us directly – phone or email to meet Alan in person. Who knows, you might even get the chance to savor a home brew while discussing solutions to your business hang-ups. Cheers! 

FROM EXCEL TO EXCELLENCE

Streamlining Decision-Making for Better Business Outcomes: How One Team Transformed Their Purchasing Process

The purchasing team at a specialty packaging company in Illinois was facing mounting challenges due to the company's rapid growth and increasing demands. The team was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they had to manage daily, leaving them feeling reactive instead of proactive. Outdated processes and Excel-based reports were no longer sufficient for managing a growing number of suppliers, products, and pricing options. It was clear that the team needed a more streamlined approach that would allow them to focus on critical thinking and making informed decisions. Enter Ablesoft.

Transforming the Purchasing Process: From Excel to Excellence

Collaborating closely with the team, we developed a custom report that provided the purchasing and supply chain information they needed in a centralized, easy-to-use format. By tailoring the report to the unique requirements of the team, we were able to provide a solution that made a significant difference.

Our custom report saved the purchasing team an impressive 3-4 hours per week, freeing up their time to focus on more strategic work such as evaluating suppliers and negotiating prices. The report empowered the team to make more informed decisions that not only saved time but also money and resources. Our report also provided a more comprehensive view of spending with vendors, enabling purchasing leaders to negotiate prices effectively.

Where Others Failed, We Succeeded

Despite previous attempts by other teams to solve this problem, our team delivered a solution that transformed the purchasing process. Our report was not only user-friendly but also delivered outcomes that positively impacted the business.

Passionate About Making Life Easier

At Ablesoft Solutions, we're passionate about making life easier for our clients. Our mission is to help businesses save time, work smarter, and make better decisions. We're thrilled to have had the chance to work with this purchasing team, and we're excited to partner with other companies to help them streamline their processes.

From Excel to Excellence: How Our Custom Reports Can Help You

If you're struggling with decision-making processes or need a customized solution to save time and improve outcomes, reach out to us. We'll work closely with your team to develop a tailored report that meets your unique needs. Our reports empower you to make informed decisions that can save you time and resources, and help you achieve better outcomes across your organization. Let us show you how we can take you from Excel to excellence.