Key Takeaways
- Operational efficiency doesn’t always require new tools — by optimizing existing systems, aligning technology with real workflows, and integrating core platforms, manufacturers can reduce waste and boost productivity.
- Finance teams can drive better forecasting, faster reporting, and smarter decision-making by replacing manual spreadsheets, unlocking underused system features, and aligning sales tools with business needs.
- Technology teams can shift from reactive maintenance to strategic impact by assessing and optimizing existing tools, integrating platforms based on real business needs, and standardizing system use to improve efficiency and trust.
In a recent McKinsey survey, nearly 75% of high-performing organizations said they’re increasing their technology investments, even amid economic uncertainty. Their focus? Modernizing business systems, improving integration, and making better use of the tools they already have.
These companies aren’t just chasing the next big thing — they’re aligning technology with business strategy to unlock efficiency, agility, and smarter decision-making.
But for many organizations, technology investments aren’t paying off as expected. Underused features, disconnected systems, and outdated processes often stand in the way of realizing the full value of their technology.
We recently worked with a manufacturing company to make sure their systems were working for their business, not against it. By conducting a strategic assessment across operations, finance, and IT, we helped this company uncover untapped functionality, underused tools, and integration opportunities that would drive measurable impact.
Here are a few key opportunities we uncovered across operations, finance, and IT — and action steps you can take to make the most of your technology investments.
Operations: Maximize Efficiency and Minimize Waste
For this manufacturer, operational inefficiencies weren’t due to a lack of tools, but rather a lack of alignment and follow-through. Many of the systems in place had never been configured to support their actual business processes.
Here are three key opportunities we uncovered for them that you can implement in your organization.
1. Optimize existing business management platforms.
Before investing in new technology, take stock of what you already have.
What we found: They were paying for multiple modules within their ERP that had never been implemented. With better configuration, they automated manual tasks, reduced paper usage, and improved productivity across teams — without purchasing new software.
What you can do: Start by conducting a walk-through of your current workflows. Identify where manual processes still exist and ask: “Is there functionality in our existing systems that could replace this?” Partner with your IT team to explore underused modules or integration opportunities that could eliminate bottlenecks without requiring new software.
2. Align digital tools with business processes.
Technology doesn’t deliver value in isolation. It needs to be embedded into how work actually gets done.
What we found: The shop floor team had introduced tablets to replace paper tracking, but adoption lagged. We worked with stakeholders to standardize digital workflows, develop training, and secure the right operational budget. The result was consistent usage and smoother daily execution.
What you can do: Before you roll out a new digital tool, pause and map how it connects to existing workflows. Involve the people who’ll use it every day, and define what success looks like — is it faster turnaround, fewer errors, or better tracking? Aligning the rollout to real operational needs helps improve adoption and long-term results.
3. Integrate core systems to streamline operations.
Disconnected platforms cause version control issues and duplicate data entry.
What we found: Two business-critical platforms — used separately for design and production — were never integrated. Once we defined specific integration use cases, leadership prioritized the long-delayed project. This reduced rework and created a smoother process from design to delivery.
What you can do: Identify where double data entry or copy/paste work still happens between systems, then prioritize integrations that will reduce manual handoffs and improve version control. Even small improvements can pay off in speed and accuracy.
Finance: Gain Clarity and Plan with Confidence
For finance teams, underutilized systems don’t just waste money — they slow down planning, create reporting challenges, and increase risk. In this organization, we found several areas to significantly improve forecasting and reporting.
1. Replace complex spreadsheets with forecasting tools.
Manual models eat up time and leave too much room for error.
What we found: Budgeting was done entirely in spreadsheets. By implementing forecasting software, the finance team could run “what-if” scenarios and respond to shifting priorities in real time.
What you can do: If your budget is living in Excel, start small. Identify one recurring scenario — like a revenue forecast — and pilot it in a modern planning tool. The speed and flexibility you gain will quickly make the business case for wider adoption.
2. Improve financial reporting from existing systems.
Sometimes the right features are already in the system — you just need to make sure they’re turned on.
What we found: Their financial platform had unused reporting features, so teams were exporting data to manipulate manually. With better configurations and user training, they accelerated reporting and improved accuracy.
What you can do: Run a reporting and planning audit. List the top five reports your team produces each month and how long they take. Then, ask your system administrator or ERP partner to review whether those outputs can be automated or streamlined within your current system. This small step can free up time and improve decision speed.
3. Reevaluate and replace underperforming sales tools.
Sales and finance both suffer when the wrong CRM is in place.
What we found: Their legacy CRM lacked adoption and insight. By involving both departments in selecting a replacement, they improved pipeline tracking and forecasting — and ensured broader buy-in with a clear rollout plan.
What you can do: If your CRM isn’t delivering insight, schedule a cross-functional discussion with sales, finance, and IT. What do teams need it to do, and what’s missing today? Use that input to assess your current tool or select a new one. Shared ownership improves adoption and ensures you get the reporting and forecasting visibility finance needs.
Technology: Align Systems to Strategy
Technology leaders are often stuck in maintenance mode, forced to react to issues rather than driving proactive improvements. We helped reposition IT as a business partner in this organization by focusing on proactive, strategic action.
1. Conduct optimization assessments to prioritize fixes.
Without a clear picture of what’s working (and what’s not) it’s hard to move forward.
What we found: The company hadn’t reviewed their tech stack in over five years. Without a clear picture of what’s working (and what’s not), it’s hard to move forward. A formal assessment revealed opportunities for automation and better configuration. Many improvements required no new software, just smarter use of current tools.
What you can do: Create a technology inventory. List every core platform in use, when it was last reviewed, and who owns it. Then, identify three systems that haven’t been assessed in the last few years. These are often ripe for low-effort improvements — like automation, integration, or user enablement — that can deliver outsized business value.
2. Plan for platform integration based on defined use cases.
Connecting platforms with purpose helps improve business processes.
What it looks like: A long-standing plan to integrate two major systems kept getting delayed. By documenting specific business needs, such as reducing manual handoffs and improving real-time visibility, IT was able to justify the integration and align it to business outcomes.
What you can do: Talk with users about friction points between systems. What are they re-entering, emailing, or exporting constantly? Turn those into integration use cases with measurable benefits — like fewer errors, faster processing, or better real-time data. Use those examples to make your integration roadmap business-first, not tech-first.
3. Audit and standardize key platforms.
Technology waste often starts with inconsistent use across the organization.
What it looks like: Their centralized HR platform was widely viewed as inefficient. IT discovered that inconsistent role configurations, limited support, and rushed rollouts were hurting adoption. A roadmap was created to standardize usage and increase system value without starting from scratch.
What you can do: Choose one enterprise platform and review how it’s being used across teams. Are permissions set up consistently? Are there naming conventions or training gaps? Standardizing use across roles not only improves efficiency and adoption — it helps restore trust in the system’s value and performance.
Turn Technology into a Strategic Advantage
Today’s top-performing organizations treat technology not as a standalone investment, but as a critical part of business strategy. Success starts with understanding how your systems are used today and how they can support your business tomorrow.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start optimizing, we can help. Our cross-functional team of advisors can evaluate what’s working, find what’s not, and build a roadmap for smarter technology use so your systems finally deliver the results you expect.
Make a habit of sustained success.
Who We Are
Eide Bailly is a CPA and business advisory firm helping our clients grow, thrive, and embrace opportunities and innovation.
