The 3 Mistakes Your Firm is Making...

and the One Solution to Rule them all

Enarche blog

By downloading the Enarche Knowledge Management System Score Card at the end, you can expect to:

  • Identify and define each component of a KMS.
  • Determine what steps you can take to develop or optimize your KMS.
  • Take the first step toward securing your firm's single source of truth.
  • Recognize weaknesses in your existing operations.
  • Gain insight into key areas to address when evaluating a future KMS.

Is your team’s bandwidth being stretched too thin?  

Are complex operations preventing you from working on creative pursuits?   

Through our work in this industry, we've observed firsthand the risks associated with subpar information management. Too often, A/E firms waste time searching for vital information, fail to verify if that information is accurate, or worse, operate within isolated ecosystems, redundantly storing data. These threats to your success are the direct result of three common mistakes: 

MISTAKE #1 - UNDERUTILIZING A CRM

The underutilization of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems within architecture and engineering firms leads to a failure to store key information. Consequently, employees are at a loss when referencing past projects to secure new work. Without easy access to critical project details and firm data, team members waste time searching for them, which hinders productivity.  

When information isn’t stored, it lives in the minds of staff. Employees then heavily rely on this "institutional knowledge" to compensate for the inadequacies of the CRM system, further exacerbating the problem. This perpetuates a cycle of dependency and contributes to the loss of vital details over time as people forget and experienced team members depart. Furthermore, the absence of robust data storage and retrieval mechanisms deprives firms of the ability to gain actionable insights or view analytics on projects over time. 

Effectively incorporating a CRM system can yield substantial benefits for architecture and engineering firms. 78% of business development leaders acknowledge that their CRM effectively improves alignment between sales and marketing teams (HubSpot Research, 2023). This underscores the importance of leveraging CRM systems to streamline operations and enhance collaboration.

MISTAKE #2 - TOO MANY TEAMS, TOO MANY SYSTEMS

Are your internal departments stuck in silos? Rather than adopting a unified approach to data management, each department operates independently of one another and relies on its preferred system. As a result, employees struggle to determine the accuracy and reliability of vital information across systems. This fragmented approach breeds inefficiencies and duplicated efforts that cost substantial time and money. 

The root cause of siloed systems lies in the absence of a foundational unified system designed with the entire firm in mind. Consolidating disparate systems into a cohesive, unified platform allows firms to mitigate many of their data risks. 


MISTAKE #3 - THINKING QUICK WINS WILL SOLVE THE BIG PROBLEM

A common yet concerning trend within A/E firms is the delay of firm-wide foundational builds. Firms opt for a staggered approach instead of prioritizing a comprehensive system from the start, viewing small solutions as quick wins that are easier to manage internally. However, this strategy often leads to compounded challenges over time, as the initial problems persist, and individual departments resort to creating ad-hoc organizational processes to circumvent roadblocks. Additionally, delays in implementation only serve to fan existing problems, increasing operational costs and elevating the risk of data loss over time. Lastly, the lack of synergy between systems exacerbates user frustration, resulting in clunky, disjointed processes with low adoption rates among employees. 

In contrast, a proactive approach that prioritizes a comprehensive system shift allows firms to address underlying challenges in one swift motion, facilitating seamless adoption and integration across the organization. 


THE SOLUTION - A SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH (KMS)

If these issues sound familiar, the solution is a Single Source of Truth, or Knowledge Management System (KMS). This comprehensive approach to information management is key to streamlining processes, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring that your firm's vital information is easily accessible when and where you need it most.  

According to McKinsey Global, a robust KMS can reduce the time lost in searching for information by up to 35%, and even boost organization-wide productivity by 20-25%. Whether your firm seeks to improve its current operational system or embark on a new one, the Enarche Knowledge Management System Scorecard provides a comprehensive checklist designed to identify the specific areas of your KMS that cause problems.  



Don't let operational challenges hold your firm back — Download our Knowledge Management System scorecard below and empower yourself with the tools and insights needed to thrive in today's competitive landscape. 

›Authored by

Katelyn Litalien

Marketing Operations Director

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