< PreviousReady to elevate and simplify?844.461.9500 | connect@arcticit.com | www.arcticit.comNative-OwnedExperts in tribal network securityAward-Winning managed services provider16 years implementing tribal ERP and case management systemsTribal Platforms EnrollmentTM – Powerful and affordable. Trusted by tribes across America to manage over 400,000 member recordsRecognized by as a Leading Tribal Enrollment TechnologyProviderArctic IT looks out for our unique tribal needs. They have the depth of expertise and broad tribal client base that proves invaluable in strategizing and implementing solutions.”BRUCE YOUNGBERGPort Gamble S’Klallam TribeINDUSTRY INSIGHTSINSIDER’S INSIGHT from TribalHubʼs Executive Officer, Mike DayChoosing the right Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and fully implementing it within your organization is critical to success in our increasingly data-driven world. Making the wrong ERP system choice can be a "career killer" for you and a long expensive nightmare for the organization. Choosing and implementing the correct ERP system is still a complicated process requiring great skill and patience in guiding the organization through a myriad of change to obtain the desired results. There is no easy path. For tribal organizations, this decision is doubly tricky by mixing in requirements for fund/grant accounting with commercial business accounting. An ERP system is truly a core data gathering point. I like to think of it as the center hub of a wheel with all of the various systems in the organization attaching to it as separate spokes, feeding it all the data necessary to produce a single holistic view of the entire organization. This view often comes in the form of consolidated financial statements, combined services reporting or perhaps a daily operating report (DOR) for a tribal casino.Common systems that integrate into a CRM, and often come as separate software modules of any ERP include General Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Purchasing and Inventory, Fixed Assets, Payroll, Time & Attendance, Human Capital Management, CRM systems, and Reporting. For tribal organizations that have casinos and hotels, ERP data integrations often include systems managing slot accounting, table games, bingo, poker, sports betting, cage & credit, promotions, point-of-sale, and hotel property management. These lists of common integrations to an ERP system are not exhaustive, and the complexity of integrating data is already apparent. Microsoft- 26%Infor- 21%Sage Systems- 37%Other 2%Others such as Stoneridge Software (DFC), Data Plus, EpicorSage Systems- 34%Oracle 6%Infor- 6%Government ERP- Grant Funding & AccountingGaming ERP- CommercialIntuit 3%Abila- 19%Microsoft- 15%Other- 13%Others such as Intuit, Tyler Technologies, Serenic Corporation, IBM, Black Mountain Software, Blackbaud, Corbin Willits Systems, Diversied Technology, Harris Computer Systems, Logo, Mitchell HumphreyOracle 10%Accufund- 8%{ Results are available in the TribalHub Information Portal and are based on tribes whohave responded to our outreach inquires. } TribalHub Members receive our Industry Insights report on a monthly basis, but in celebrationof our 20th Anniversary Edition, we're passing this insiders only information on to all! Organizations often spend months of resource time and a pile of money attempting to create a short-list of qualified systems and service providers that have experience working with a tribe or tribal enterprise. TribalHub can often provide this data more completely and instantly. Understanding what your peers are doing/using gives YOU a valuable edge in decision makingPHONE: 269-459-9890 • EMAIL: contactus@TribalHub.com • WEB: TribalHub.com Copyright © 2019 TribalHub. All rights reserved.Thoughts on implementing an ERP system from Scott Cannaday, CFO, Isleta Resort and Casino Successful implementation of an ERP takes this one thing – commitment – to a whole new level. This commitment must permeate throughout the enterprise, from the CEO & CFO all the way through the organizational structure to accountants, HR recruiters, technicians, production workers, and all other levels of day to day operations. To decide to commit, you must fully understand the advantages of ERP. The results are directly related to the effort – you get out of the ERP project what you are willing to put into it. When you commit and implement the system effectively, there are many advantages. Implementing ERP is not just a project … it is a culture change … and does not happen over weeks or months. It can take a yearor two to completely implement and integrate ERP before you start seeing the benefits and rewards that true metadata can provide to your organization! *Read Scott's full article: Enterprise Resource Planning Considerations In Tribal Enterprise Operations on page 34.ERP to Cloud ConsiderationsBased on insight provided by Mike Day, Scott Cannaday and Info-Tech Research Group, each organization/enterprise should carefully evaluate the benefits in light of potential risks. Whether security, privacy, and reliability are risks or rewards fully depends on how confident the organization/enterprise is on its ability to manage them internally. Be Strategic about ERPMost of the issues surrounding ERP that plague organizations today stem from poor planning and rushed decisions. This often leads to a customized and ad hoc ERP environment that, in turn, results in overspend and underutilization.All of this can be avoided by taking a strategic approach to ERP.Having an actionable roadmap provides a clear path to benefits realization. Your application lifecycle stage, business model, and future direction define which critical path to follow. The ERP roadmap connects business targets to actionable initiatives. Findings submitted by Info-Tech Research GroupTRIBALHUB MEMBERSHIPAs we do in each TribalHub Industry Insights report, we give you a snapshot of what tribes across the US are doing and/or using specific to a given topic or solution. If you are not yet a TribalHub member- you are missing out on important data andrecommendations to help you make better decisions. HEAR FROM YOUR PEERSWatch the member benets demo video on TribalHub.com to review additional member benefits and make the choice to become amember today! TIP OF THE MONTHFREE TribalWise Upgrade! All TribalHub members now have access to the TribalWise Online Learning Value Package. This means you now have access to 200+ online learning sessions which include topics from popular categories such as:• IT Networking• Cyber Security• Project Management• Business Skills• IT Service Management• Office Productivity• Cloud Management• Software DeveloperLogin and begintaking courses now!tribalnetonline.com |33| tribalnetonline.com34FEATURE | FINANCEBuzzwords and acronyms — those words and abbreviations that drive us all crazy! “Enterprise Resource Planning” or ERP is certainly one of those. To try and understand some basics about ERP, while trying to keep it simple, let’s first define ERP and learn its history.WHAT IS ERP?Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the “integrated management of core business processes, often in real-time and mediated by software and technology.” ERP is sometimes referred to as Business Intelligence (BI) or Integrated Management (IM) or even called by industry specialty terms such as Materials Requirements Planning (MRP). The real key to ERP is a somewhat simple and basic question you can ask yourself: What do I, as a business executive, get from all this investment and how do I get information I can act on as opposed to just a bunch of reports?How do I get information I can act on as opposed to just a bunch of reports?The Gartner Group first used the abbreviation ERP in the 1990s to extend upon the capabilities of MRP. Over time, ERP developed to apply the MRP model to other business activities and then, ultimately, to the entire enterprise. Accounting Departments have always been frequent users of computerized systems to handle large volumes of transactions but really haven’t benefited from the integrated application of ERP until the last couple of decades or so. Now, accounting is integrated with purchasing, which is integrated with inventory, which is integrated with point of sale, which is…well, you get the point. This broad integration is continuing with HR systems, training activities, contract and license management and many other activities that were previously done by hand or on a spreadsheet.ERP is dependent on two major tenants — data collection & data interpretationWhat truly makes electronic systems become ERP tools is dependent on two things:• Can the organization collect, store, manage and integrate large volumes of data across multiple platforms in an easily accessible manner? • Can the organization interpret the data in a meaningful way once it is assembled?In order to be successful, your enterprise must have the ability to follow through on these two critical components of an ERP project. The key element of these two overriding principles is the technical and management talent of the entire team, top to bottom.ERP — SO WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?Proper utilization of ERP will provide your business with a continuously updated view of core business activities using common databases maintained by a database management system. Sounds simple, right? But there is a problem — who is going to do this work? Many times, businesses spend tens or hundreds of thousands of capital dollars on a “system” but don’t have the human capital to fully utilize the system’s capabilities. So, this brings us to the first question: What is your greatest challenge to implementing an ERP system?What is your greatest challenge to implementing an ERP system?It is key to note that ERP involves multiple enterprise software systems and a complete suite of operational modules for each system. In addition, achieving the integration necessary to truly benefit the “enterprise” is not something any one vendor is likely to provide. This is where the greatest challenge arises— COMMITMENT.Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)CONSIDERATIONS IN TRIBAL ENTERPRISE OPERATIONSBYSCOTT CANNADAYCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, ISLETA RESORT AND CASINOMr. Scott Cannaday is the Chief Financial Officer of Isleta Resort and Casino, having joined the enterprise in April of 2016. He is a member of the senior executive team and oversees all financial operations of the business including gaming, hotel & resort operations, retail activities, recreational offerings and business development activities. ABOUT THE AUTHORtribalnetonline.com |35ITEMEntry cost Long term costMaintenanceUpgradesSecurityAccess/AvailabilityTimelinesTalentTurnoverON PREMISEHigher up-front cost Capital investment is recouped but must be refreshed regularly Internal cost of IT & maintenanceFees for upgrades You control your data Continuous accessImmediate access Fully trained software techniciansStaffing changes impact knowledge baseCLOUDLower entry cost Limited capital investment but annual service fees/rents continue forever3rd party provided and presumed to be continuously upgradedUpgrades may be includedDependent upon 3rd partyDisruptions due to outage beyond your controlImmediate access Vendor provides technical talentStaffing redundancyTRIBALNET MAGAZINE | SPRING 2019COMMITMENTSuccessful implementation of ERP takes commitment to a whole new level. This commitment must permeate throughout the enterprise, from the CEO and CFO all the way through the organizational structure to accountants, HR recruiters, technicians, production workers, and all other levels of day to day operations. There are several obstacles that can make or break an organization’s commitment, such as:• The willingness of executive management to commit the resources necessary to achieve true ERP functionality• The total cost of ownership and maintenance of a fully integrated ERP system • The internal resistance of current personnel to change when they do not see a direct benefit to what they do on a daily basisDifficulties aside, committing to a full (or even partial) ERP implementation can provide an enormous amount of analytics in a usable form that can benefit any business. So, what should you consider in order to decide if ERP is right for your organization?Are you considering a move to a full ERP system? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Should you consider a cloud-based solution? Why or why not?ADVANTAGESTo decide to commit, you must fully understand the advantages of ERP. The results are directly related to effort — you get out of the ERP project what you are willing to put into it. When you commit and implement the system effectively, there are many advantages:• Processes are optimized — a successful system ensures processes are performed efficiently and at the lowest data level possible.• Accuracy and timeliness improve — when processes are optimized, the central data store becomes the focal access point of raw data. It is much easier to combine data for higher level results than to try to decompose metadata into smaller elements.• Redundancy is avoided — unnecessary steps and operations are eliminated and data summarization is done in real time. • Department performance increases — staff is no longer required to extract and summarize data from multiple sources• Enhanced management functions — increased access to information allows management at all levels to make better, faster and more accurate decisions.DISADVANTAGESDeciding whether your organization can commit to ERP requires a critical evaluation of the potential roadblocks to implementation. Inability to overcome the roadblocks will result in a failed project.• Cost — perhaps the biggest roadblock is cost. Not only are the systems expensive, but the implementation requires a significant soft cost investment as well. It is not unusual for consultants, installers, and trainers to add 50-100% soft costs to a project.• Internal resistance — this is not only the resistance to change, but also the resistance of departments to “share” information or even simply communicate information. If departments don’t buy in, they won’t support the project.• Organizational culture — ERP systems, in and of themselves, do not change the way an organization operates — that must come from within. Leadership must have the ability to facilitate the culture change.• Talent pool — success depends on the talent of the workforce. Skilled, educated people are critical to the installation, deployment, and management of an effective ERP system.IMPLEMENTATION FACTORSOk, so you’re in! Now you need to decide if you should keep everything in-house or use the cloud. IT investments are one of the largest capital expenditures made by US businesses. ERP systems used to only be available for large corporations — Apple, Boeing, Exxon, and the like. Today, software systems are integrating ERP and BI into their packages bringing the benefits of ERP to smaller enterprises. Do I purchase? Develop internally? On-premise solution? Cloud-based?So, do you go in-house or use the cloud? Here are a few factors to consider:DECISION TIMEAre you planning any new or improved integrations or an ERP installation in 2019? Enterprise system software is a multibillion-dollar industry that produces components supporting a variety of business functions, but is it right for your enterprise? Here are a few critical questions to ask even before you start to investigate ERP solutions.Does your organization …1. Possess the ability to follow through on the collection, storage, management and integration of large volumes of data and interpret it in a meaningful way?2. Have the financial and physical resources, time and talent to continue the project over an extended period of time?3. Have the willingness to commit to the project over the long haul?Implementing ERP is not just a project, it is a culture change, and does not happen over weeks or months. It can take a year or two to completely implement and integrate ERP before you start seeing the benefits and rewards that true meta-data can provide to your organization. Unlock the full potential of your workforceKronos® solutions help you engage and retain a high-performing workforce, while controlling labor costs and minimizing compliance risk. Our automated tools and on-demand data access make it easy to:• Schedule best-fit employees based on skills, preferences, and demand• Gain real-time visibility into employee time, attendance, and leave• Empower employees through mobile self-service for improved productivity Optimize your most valuable asset — your people — with Kronos. © 2018 Kronos Incorporated. Kronos and the Kronos logo are registered trademarks of Kronos Incorporated or a related company. All rights reserved.TribalHub Members access the Industry Information Portalto get helpful information snippets like these:Top 4 most installed tribal membership tracking/enrollment systems are:• Tribal Data Resources- Progeny• Arctic IT- Tribal Platforms• Creating Stronger Nations-DCI Origins• Handel Information Technologies- RiteTrackApproximately 80%of the IT Directorsand/or CIO's at tribal organizations report to the top level executive or tribal council. 78% of tribes in the lower 48 states have fewer than 5,000 members.Tribes are more likely to have 2 separate IT departments, rather than shared for their government and gaming divisions. Take this information a step further to make better decisions when you use the Request to Connect feature to get feedback from your industry peers.Become a member at TribalHub.com today! Bringing Technology & Tribes TogetherPartner & SolutionsProgramConsulting &Management ServicesEducational Training &Developmentconnection. growth.opportunity.Great Discounts Throughout AllTribalHub Service DivisionsPHONE: 269-459-9890 • EMAIL: contactus@TribalHub.com • WEB: TribalHub.com Library• survey ndings • deep dive analysis• benchmarking comparisons • Industry Insights Reports• policies and procedures SIGN UP orRenew TODAYat TribalHub.commemberbenets - The Industry’s Most Valuable ToolMEMBERSHIPSearchable Database• decision makers at tribal casinos, governments and health centers• technology products and solutions in use at other tribal properties• specic vendor information• information about organizations serving or representing tribesmembershipmembershipTribalHub Members have exclusiveaccess to 20 years worth of industrydata and resources. Unlocking information not found elsewhere,to help make smarter decisions AND savetime and money. | tribalnetonline.com38Can you give us a look inside the Information Systems Department at the Island Tribe?We have nine people in the IS Department with the head of our department reporting up to the Tribal Administrator. We support more than 350 employees/users across 30+ locations mainly situated in a two-mile valley located in Washington State. Our tribal IS Department is separated from the gaming IS Department. We support and oversee technology for all of the tribal government functions as well as non-gaming commercial enterprises owned by the tribe. Can you highlight any key projects your team has been engaged with in this last year?For the organization as a whole, we are unifying, streamlining and simplifying all technological solutions to be more productive and more cost effective. Our biggest achievement as a department has been working with our Internet Service Provider (ISP) to create a dark fiber network which connects all our locations with enough bandwidth to administer our entire valley like one big building. The fiber doesn’t directly provide a noticeable benefit to the users, but the solutions we are able to run over the fiber do. Below are a few examples of systems that are greatly improved by 1G, 10G and 40G connectivity. Bringing all 250 security camera streams to NVRs in our data centers that are accessible to police and security 24/7 from their respective locations has been a huge benefit — no more driving all over the place to check footage or make recordings. A lone police officer can quickly canvas the entire campus while eating lunch at two o’clock in the morning.In addition, security and access control are now managed and monitored from one system. Therefore, credentials can be created or deactivated from one location instantly, instead of visiting each location the user may or may not have been granted access to. Not only is this faster, but also much more secure as at a glance one can infer the security profile of any given user.Our servers and services are located at only two locations, which allows us to invest more money into the quality of the hardware and software solutions. As a result, every user gets high performance back end support for their apps and their file shares. Every user also gets folder redirection so that they can walk into any building on campus, log into a PC and get their desktop, documents, local printers and mapped drives. This is helpful and secure as many employees who have internal meetings and presentations in other tribal buildings don’t need portable computing or storage media to bring their data to the meeting. Once, not that long ago, the tribe ran many separate digital phone systems. Now, we have one large in-house IP system. The on-board phone directories connect all employees together with only a button or two. Having control over the phone system allows us to respond quickly to new needs without going through contractors or phone companies. What would you say is the overall mindset of your department?Our IT team has a voracious appetite for solving problems and solving them once — the right way. Our successes have emboldened and inspired us to keep exploring and iterating. We look as far into the future as we dare, and ask, “Is this a direction that our organization should go, and how do we get there?” Everyone shows up to work believing things will be better by the end of the day in at least in some small way, and that kind of positivity makes for a tremendously positive and productive work environment. Over the last few years, our department has greatly expanded our capabilities, bringing many outsourced services back in-house, centralizing and standardizing existing solutions, and taking responsibility for both the successes and failures associated with those decisions. Sometimes you have to take the risk to get the reward — we uphold that mindset.We would like to thank Morgan for taking the time to connect with us for this interview. He welcomes your questions and comments at: mrothrock@squaxin.usQUESTION + ANSWER | SQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBEIS MANAGER Q&AMORGAN ROTHROCK IS MANAGER ATSQUAXIN ISLAND TRIBEMicrosoft cloud solutions optimized for tribal organizationsMicrosoft Office 365 Utilize Microsoft Office, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Skype for Business, Power BI, etc. Employ software as a service—never patch or maintain on-premise servers Join 100 tribal organizations already successfully using Microsoft Office 365Compare Office 365 options here aka.ms/IndianCountryO365Microsoft Azure Meet business challenges with an always-expanding set of cloud services Build, manage, and deploy applications using your favorite tools and framework Ensure security and compliance of your data (FedRamp, FISMA, HIPAA) Hold your de-encryption keys on Sovereign Tribal LandLearn more about Azure here aka.ms/IndianCountryAzureFor more information from your dedicated Microsoft Tribal Account Team—contact Don Lionetti at donlion@microsoft.comNext >