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Holiday Season Best Practices for IT Leaders and ERP Teams

Holiday Season Best Practices for IT Leaders and ERP Teams

by | Nov 25, 2025 | AI, Business Consulting, Business Process Review, Cloud, Cybersecurity, ERP, ERP Consulting, EstesCare, Hosting, Leadership, Managed IT Services

Data center hallway decorated with holiday trees and soft string lights, symbolizing secure and resilient IT infrastructure during the holiday season.

Holiday Season IT Readiness Best Practices for ERP and Cloud Leaders

The holiday season creates one of the most strategically important periods for IT leadership. While business activity shifts and staffing levels fluctuate, critical enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and cloud environments must remain stable, secure, and ready to support everything from financial close processes to year-end production and distribution cycles.

For CIOs, IT directors, ERP managers, and cloud infrastructure leaders, holiday season IT readiness (and concomitant IT staffing) is not a luxury — it is a risk-management and performance essential. The combination of reduced headcount, heightened cyber threats, and increased operational demands makes this season a stress test for your systems and your strategy.

The most important holiday season IT readiness best practices for ERP and cloud leaders are here, with practical steps your team can implement immediately to strengthen uptime, reduce risk, and enter the new year with a stable, resilient foundation.

1. Establish Absolute Clarity Around System Ownership and Escalation

One of the biggest sources of holiday downtime is simple confusion: Who owns what? Who is on call? Who approves emergency changes?

Create and share a short, precise coverage plan that lists:

Clear ownership is one of the most effective holiday season IT readiness accelerators.

2. Strengthen Documentation for Critical ERP and Cloud Workflows

Holiday PTO exposes gaps in knowledge transfer. Reduce dependency on individual expertise by documenting:

Well-documented processes turn holiday coverage from reactive to predictable.

3. Validate Monitoring, Backups, and Alerts Before Schedules Shift

Monitoring is the heartbeat of holiday IT resilience. Before vacation schedules begin:

  • Test alert thresholds and notifications

  • Validate ERP job completions

  • Confirm cloud backup success across all environments

  • Review system performance baselines

  • Audit log forwarding and SIEM visibility

Strong monitoring is non-negotiable for ERP and cloud leaders preparing for holiday season IT readiness.

4. Implement or Reaffirm Your Holiday Change Freeze Policy

Change freezes exist for a reason; they protect stability when staffing is low. Review and clearly communicate:

  • Freeze start and end dates

  • Allowed exceptions

  • Approval protocols

  • Emergency change procedures

A well-maintained change freeze is one of the most important best practices for holiday season IT readiness.

5. Communicate Coverage and Expectations Across Business and IT Teams

Holiday issues often stem from misaligned expectations. Prevent this by sharing:

  • IT holiday hours

  • Support SLAs

  • Escalation contacts

  • ERP close-period dependencies

  • Expected response times

  • Cloud provider holiday schedules

Transparency eliminates confusion, delays, missed deadlines, and team conflicts.

6. Reinforce Cybersecurity Awareness During Peak Attack Season

December is the highest-risk month of the year for cyberattacks. Prepare your organization by:

  • Sending a brief phishing-awareness reminder

  • Warning about gift-card and financial scams

  • Requiring MFA reviews

  • Checking vendor access logs

  • Reviewing admin accounts

Cybersecurity vigilance is central to holiday season IT readiness for ERP and cloud technology leaders.

7. Recognize High-Effort Work and Strengthen Morale

Behind every stable ERP and cloud environment is a team of dedicated people. The holidays are the perfect time to recognize:

  • After-hours support

  • Successful cutovers

  • Critical patching cycles

  • High-stress project phases

  • Exceptional collaboration

Recognition improves retention, morale, and performance heading into the new year.

8. Use Low-Volume Periods for Safe Optimization Work

If your industry experiences slower holiday cycles, it becomes an ideal moment to:

  • Optimize ERP reports and queries

  • Tune cloud resource allocation

  • Review unused accounts and permissions

  • Validate storage utilization

  • Assess integration performance

  • Clean up historical data

These small improvements create significant long-term stability.

9. Prioritize Resilience Over Throughput

Many IT teams rush to finish projects before year-end. The smarter approach is focusing on the foundational elements that prevent incidents:

  • Communication

  • Documentation

  • Monitoring

  • Backup validation

  • Clear ownership

  • Proactive maintenance

This is the essence of holiday season IT readiness best practices for ERP and cloud ERP leaders: stability first, everything else second.

10. Conduct a Business Process Review Before the Rush Hits

A structured new-year readiness review prevents Q1 chaos. Assess though a BPR (Business Process Review):

  • ERP system health

  • Cloud hosting stability

  • Patch levels

  • DR recovery points and recovery time objectives

  • Storage, compute, and licensing needs

  • Integration and API performance

Starting strong in January prevents costly disruptions in February and March. EstesGroup offers a mini-BRP that saves both time and money and can easily be conducted virtually by our IT and ERP experts.

Holiday Season IT Readiness Protects Business Continuity

While many view the holidays as a slower period, IT and ERP environments face some of their highest risks during this window. By adopting these holiday season IT readiness best practices for ERP and cloud leaders, organizations gain:

  • Higher system stability

  • Stronger security posture

  • Faster incident response

  • Better cross-team coordination

  • Improved resilience going into the new year

Preparedness is not just a technical activity — it is a strategic advantage. Reach out to our team today for a free strategy session. Whether you are a new or old customer, the EstesGroup team has new ways to help your business today.

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EstesGroup Joins Elite Inc. 5000 Ranks

EstesGroup Joins Elite Inc. 5000 Ranks

by | Aug 30, 2024 | AI, Business Consulting, Cloud, Epicor Kinetic, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, Leadership, Managed IT Services, Manufacturing Innovation, Prophet 21, Sage

EstesGroup Soars to New Heights: Ranked Among America’s Fastest-Growing Companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 List

We’re thrilled to announce that EstesGroup has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies, securing a coveted spot on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for 2024. This recognition is a testament to our team’s hard work, innovative spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence. EstesGroup is the leading ERP consultancy for world-class technology and cloud solutions for businesses, and this has been recognized by the Inc. 5000 community. This annual ranking, compiled by Inc. magazine, showcases the fastest-growing private companies in America, highlighting the most successful independent, entrepreneurial businesses driving the economy forward.

Business Team Puzzle

A Milestone Achievement

EstesGroup’s inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list is a testament to remarkable growth and success over the past few years. This recognition places EstesGroup among an elite group of companies that have demonstrated exceptional revenue growth and resilience in the face of economic challenges.

Navigating Challenges, Embracing Opportunities

The past few years have presented unprecedented challenges for businesses across all sectors. From navigating the complexities of remote work to adapting to rapidly changing market conditions, companies have had to be more agile and innovative than ever before. The 2024 Inc. 5000 class represents companies that have achieved impressive revenue growth while navigating complex economic conditions, including inflationary pressures, rising capital costs, and a competitive hiring landscape. EstesGroup’s ranking on this list underscores the team’s ability to thrive and expand despite these obstacles.

The Journey

Founded in 2004, EstesGroup has quickly established itself as a leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP) consulting and managed IT services. This unique approach combines cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of our clients’ business processes, allowing the EstesGroup team to deliver tailored solutions that drive real results. Notable achievements include:

  • Developing AI-driven ERP optimization tools that increase clients’ operational efficiency immediately 
  • Expanding and enriching the client base, with a strong focus on mid-sized manufacturing and distribution companies
  • Launching an innovative cybersecurity division that has quickly become a go-to resource for businesses looking to protect their digital assets
  • Offering premier cloud solutions and services to businesses of all sizes, across all industries

As part of the Inc. 5000, EstesGroup joins a cohort of businesses that collectively added hundreds of thousands of jobs to the economy over the past three years. This achievement not only reflects our company’s success but also our contribution to job creation and economic vitality.

The Future

EstesGroup takes this moment to thank their incredible team, loyal clients, and all those who have supported them on this journey. The trust and partnership of these stakeholders have been instrumental in the company’s success. As EstesGroup celebrates this achievement, they are also looking forward to connecting with fellow innovators and entrepreneurs at the upcoming Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala in Palm Desert, California. For those attending, EstesGroup representatives would be delighted to connect and share ideas on how to continue driving growth and innovation across various industries.

EstesGroup raises a toast to continued growth, innovation, and success – not just for the EstesGroup team, but for all the visionary enterprises driving America’s entrepreneurial spirit forward. As the leading ERP consultancy, EstesGroup specializes in providing world-class technology and cloud solutions for businesses. EstesGroup’s expertise in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems enables organizations to streamline their operations, enhance productivity, and drive growth. This recognition by Inc. 5000 further solidifies our position as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to leverage technology for success.

Celebrating Two Decades of Excellence

This Inc. 5000 recognition comes at a particularly special time for EstesGroup, as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2024. Founded in 2004, EstesGroup has grown from a small ERP consulting firm to a national leader in ERP solutions and managed IT services. Over the past two decades, the company team has weathered economic storms, adapted to rapidly evolving technologies, and consistently delivered value to its growing client base.

About Inc. and the Inc. 5000

The Inc. 5000 list is a prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Companies are ranked according to percentage revenue growth over a three-year period. The list provides valuable insights into the most dynamic segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Many well-known companies gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs, offering award-winning content across various channels, including print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. The Inc. 5000 list, along with other recognition programs like Female Founders and Power Partners, provides top businesses with increased credibility and opportunities to engage with an exclusive community of their peers.

For more information about Inc. and the Inc. 5000, visit www.inc.com.

“Our inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the entire EstesGroup team. During unprecedented times, we not only persevered but thrived, leveraging our expertise in ERP and IT solutions to help businesses navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world. This recognition reinforces our commitment to innovation and excellence in serving our clients. As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in business technology solutions, empowering organizations to achieve their full potential in an increasingly digital landscape.” – Brad Feakes, President of EstesGroup

IT Strategies for Remote Teams (Video)

IT Strategies for Remote Teams (Video)

by | May 26, 2020 | Leadership, Managed IT Services, Network Security, Security, Software

Brad Feakes Director Professional Services
Brad Feakes

SVP Epicor Services, Professional Services

Daryl Sirota – Director, Technical Services
Daryl Sirota

Technical Services Director

 

Brad and Daryl talk about IT strategies for remote teams

 

Brad and Daryl sit down this week for a Q&A style chat to unravel a few of the complex IT issues in today’s work from home (WFH) environment.  At a high level, Daryl emphasizes how we should not make the mistake of trying to plug pieces of cloud software together expecting them to work properly.  That is almost impossible to do effectively without the appropriate policy to guide the technology.  You will need to understand how you will provide guidance to your end users faced with a variety of remote work environments (working for a cafe, home office, etc) and the new tools you will use to manage staff.

 

They move on to talking about some of the end-user WFH problems from asking the question “what does work from home mean?”  to discussing what technology can be used to help get users up and running while also creating business efficiencies.

 

Throughout the discussion, Daryl covers a variety of other topics such as data security, public vs. home wifi, two-factor authentication, remote access vs. remote control utilities, data access, machine vulnerabilities and many other topics.

 

Brad and Daryl do an excellent job of taking some big, complex issues around WFH and explain the issues that every business owner needs to be aware of as they navigate moving their staff into the cloud and potentially hiring a company like EstesGroup to help them with their remote IT management.

 

Of course, you can always reach out to our managed IT services team.  We’ll help you throughout the entire process of moving your company into the cloud and help you avoid the costly mistakes that can put your entire business at risk.

 

Are you having issues with or have questions about your current IT management? Contact us today.

EstesGroup and Alliance Machine Interview (Video)

EstesGroup and Alliance Machine Interview (Video)

by | May 11, 2020 | Epicor, Leadership, Managed IT Services, Software

Bryan Provo, President

Alliance Machine, Inc.

Bruce Grant, President & CEO

EstesGroup

 

Bryan Provo explains why working with EstesGroup is critical to his success

 

Alliance Machine’s Bryan Provo is President of his family’s 2nd generation manufacturing business based in Elk River, MN, north of the Twin Cities. For 30 years, his company has delivered high-value solutions to the aerospace, defense, medical and technology industries. 

 

When EstesGroup originally engaged with him over 5 years ago, Bryan’s mind was fixed on having hardware on-site (exactly where cybercriminals could access it). In conversation with Bruce Grant, Bryan explained his transition from wanting full access to his own hardware to wanting complete IT and security management from EstesGroup experts.

 

Bryan explained the challenging times that brought on his IT change: “I felt it was too difficult to manage the hardware portion.”

After a nasty ransomware experience two years ago, Bryan set out to find a managed IT service provider and, after many phone calls and after reaching out to multiple vendors, he partnered with EstesGroup. He realized, in his own words, “They had exactly what I was looking for.” 

 

Bryan summarized the success of bringing EstesGroup fully aboard for his IT needs: “It’s been an absolute heaven-sent.”

As you will hear in the interview, Bryan has experienced, and thoroughly knows, how difficult server crashes were before EstesGroup began managing his IT. Please listen to Bryan Provo explain various strengths of his partnership with EstesGroup in the following short videos, taken from the full interview with Bruce Grant:

Why EstesGroup Managed IT?

Why EstesGroup Cybersecurity?

Need help with your ERP or IT systems? Contact us today.

Can I Run Quickbooks and Compete in Smart Manufacturing?

Can I Run Quickbooks and Compete in Smart Manufacturing?

by | Nov 2, 2018 | Business Direction, Epicor, ERP, ERP Selection, Leadership, Manufacturing Innovation

Ready to Compete in the Smart Manufacturing Era?

You’ve heard the buzzwords: Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Digital Thread—but what do they really mean for your manufacturing company in today’s market?

Outdated accounting software and methods struggle to keep up with smart manufacturing demands.<br />

Here’s the truth: if you’re still using basic tools like QuickBooks, spreadsheets, or homegrown systems to run your operation, you’re operating at a disadvantage. In an era defined by real-time data, connected systems, and automated intelligence, companies that want to stay competitive—or even just stay afloat—need more than band-aid software.

What Is Smart Manufacturing, Really?

Smart Manufacturing is more than just the latest trend—it’s the next industrial revolution. It refers to the integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) to create intelligent systems that connect people, machines, and data across your organization. Industry 4.0 is the global movement behind it, driving innovation through:

  • Machine learning
  • IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things)
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Real-time analytics
  • Digital twins
  • Automated workflows

But none of this innovation works without the right foundation—and that foundation is a modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

Why ERP Is Non-Negotiable

A true ERP system brings your entire business together—from the shop floor to the front office. It’s the platform that unifies your data, processes, and people, enabling:

  • Accurate costing and inventory control
  • Better production planning and scheduling
  • Real-time visibility into operations
  • Data-driven decision-making
  • A launchpad for automation and AI initiatives

We’ve seen manufacturers transform overnight by moving away from legacy tools. One client left behind a patchwork of Access databases and Excel sheets in favor of Epicor ERP. The results? Immediate gains in inventory accuracy, job tracking, and customer satisfaction. Now, they’re exploring automation and machine learning to push even further ahead.

Can You Be “Smart” Without ERP?

Tools like QuickBooks simply weren’t built for the complexity of modern manufacturing. They lack the ability to connect machines, capture real-time data, or provide end-to-end visibility across your value chain.

If you’re serious about growth, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, a scalable manufacturing ERP system isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Is Your Business Ready for What’s Next?

If your systems are stretched thin, your infrastructure is holding you back, or your ERP feels more like a roadblock than a roadmap, it’s time to take a closer look at what the cloud can do for you.

At EstesGroup, we help manufacturers and distributors leave behind disconnected tools and outdated hardware in favor of flexible, secure, and scalable cloud environments. Whether you’re moving to your first ERP system or rethinking how to get more from the one you already have, we guide you toward a smarter architecture—one built on Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Open Cloud strategies that grow with you.

The future of manufacturing is connected, data-driven, and resilient. Let’s build that future—together, in a private or hybrid cloud built to handle ERP workloads.

Ready to take the next step? We’re here to help.

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10 Internal Questions You Absolutely Need To Ask For A Successful ERP Search

10 Internal Questions You Absolutely Need To Ask For A Successful ERP Search

by | Sep 28, 2018 | Business Consulting, Business Direction, Epicor, ERP, ERP Selection, Leadership

Choosing the Right ERP Search Questions Through Smart Internal Planning

You’ve probably seen a dozen articles titled “Signs You’ve Outgrown QuickBooks” or “Top 10 Reasons You Need an ERP.” And they’re not wrong. But what most of those articles miss is the crucial first step: how to prepare your internal team before engaging with ERP vendors or consultants.

User researching ERP systems on a laptop in a cloud-connected workspace.

Selecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is not just about choosing software — it’s about designing a future-ready business. ERP connects your finance, operations, sales, production, warehouse, HR, and more under one digital roof. But before you evaluate platforms or sit through demos, your team needs to understand why you’re making this move and what success should look like.

Planning gets a bad rap. It implies meetings, whiteboards, endless discussions, and — yes — work. But without it, even the best ERP system can fail to deliver. Planning is the first stage of any smart ERP project, and it begins with asking the right internal questions.

You wouldn’t step onto a battlefield without a plan. ERP selection is no different — that’s why ERP implementation rooms are often called “war rooms.” You map the strategy, align the troops, and prepare for a series of tactical shifts.

The ERP landscape has changed. Today, it’s not just about functionality — it’s about accessibility, compliance, scalability, and long-term business value. Whether you’re moving from QuickBooks or upgrading a legacy system, your internal alignment will make or break your ERP journey.

Let’s walk through the most important internal ERP planning questions to ask before you talk to vendors or schedule product demos.

10 Internal ERP Search Questions to Jumpstart Your Planning

1. What does your company need — and want — to accomplish with an ERP system?

Clearly define your objectives. ERP is a tool. What you build with it depends on what you’re trying to solve. Here are a few questions to jot down as you intensify your ERP selection process:

  • Streamlined workflows across departments?
  • Centralized financials and dashboards?
  • Standardized processes across locations?
  • Better forecasting, analytics, and automation?
  • Regulatory reporting?

2. What challenges are you facing with your current system?

Look at this through the lens of each department. This diagnostic view will shape your ERP criteria:

  • Production: Are delays caused by data silos?

  • Service: Is field tracking outdated or inconsistent?

  • Finance: Is reporting manual or slow to reconcile?

  • Executives/Owners: Are you flying blind without real-time data?

  • Sales & Marketing: Are leads slipping through the cracks?

  • Purchasing: Is supply chain visibility a guessing game?

  • Warehouse: Are inventory issues hurting fulfillment?

  • R&D: Are you capturing feedback loops efficiently?

  • HR: Are compliance and onboarding disconnected?

3. Are you fully utilizing the tools you already have?

Sometimes a training issue masquerades as a software issue. If you’re already on an ERP system, talk to a specialist. You may find that better configuration or retraining extends the life of your current solution — or highlights exactly where a new system is necessary.

4. Do you face any industry-specific compliance or audit requirements?

Define the compliance requirements your ERP must support — not just to pass audits, but to reduce risk and automate reporting. Every industry has its own regulatory alphabet soup:

  • FDA (21 CFR Part 11)

  • DoD/DCAA for defense contractors

  • HIPAA for medical records

  • FCPA for export compliance

  • UL/FAA/SOX, and more

5. Cloud, On-Premise, or Hybrid — what’s the right deployment model?

Need help deciding? Consider your internal IT capabilities, cybersecurity strategy, and scalability needs. Today’s ERP solutions offer flexibility:

  • SaaS/Cloud for ease of access and minimal IT burden

  • On-premise for organizations with strict data control needs

  • Hybrid/Hosted ERP for those wanting cloud benefits with tailored control

6. How will you support and maintain the ERP system?

Many organizations now opt for managed ERP hosting or full-service IT partners to ensure performance and uptime — while freeing up internal resources. Do you have in-house IT staff, or do you rely on a managed services partner? ERP systems require care and feeding. This includes:

  • Updates and patching

  • Security protocols

  • User support and access management

7. What’s your timeline and long-term vision that will answer your ERP search questions wisely?

Be honest. Do you need a system for 3 years or for the next decade? ERP is a long-term investment, and you’ll want a platform that can:

  • Scale with growth

  • Support acquisitions or new locations

  • Add new modules (CRM, EDI, BI, etc.)

  • Integrate with other tools and platforms

8. Do you have multi-company or multi-site requirements?

Many companies require robust role-based access controls, inter-company automation, automation and artificial intelligence for ERP, and cloud flexibility. If you operate across states, countries, or brands, make sure your ERP can handle:

  • Currency and tax compliance

  • Multi-entity financials

  • Location-specific workflows

9. What functionality do you actually need?

The clearer you are here, the easier it is to evaluate systems that actually align with your business. Start with your must-haves, then identify your nice-to-haves by department. Build a list with stakeholders across the organization:

  • What does finance need?

  • What does sales need?

  • What do executives need?

  • What does the shop floor need?

  • What does IT need?

  • What will streamline life for HR?

10. What’s your realistic budget and expected ROI?

Think long-term. What would it cost your business to not modernize? ERP isn’t cheap — but with the right strategy, the ROI is transformative. Budget for end-to-end ERP sustainability:

  • Licensing (monthly subscription or upfront purchase)

  • Implementation (typically 1–2x your software cost)

  • Training and change management

  • Support/maintenance

  • Infrastructure (especially for on-premise)

  • Potential staffing shifts

Your ERP Journey Starts Now — Start with the Right Questions

Most ERP failures start at the beginning — with poor internal preparation, unclear goals, and mismatched expectations. But if you put in the work to align your team, define your needs, and ask the right questions, your ERP journey can be smoother, faster, and more valuable.

At EstesGroup, we’ve helped hundreds of companies go from ERP chaos to operational clarity — from search to go-live and beyond.

Let’s help you start with confidence. → Chat with us now or schedule a free ERP consultation.

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