M&S Consulting

Insights

Ideas from the field.

Straight talk from consultants doing the work, on AI, cloud, data, and the realities of enterprise transformation.

69 articles

All 69 articles

Business Strategy

The Money You're Losing in Procurement (And Don't Even Know It)

Your procurement team just ordered the same supplies from three different vendors. At three different prices. Nobody noticed until the invoices showed up. Meanwhile, someone in operations needed approval for a $200 purchase. It's been sitting in someone's inbox for six days. And

March 30, 2026 · 8 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Why Your Customers Keep Asking "Where's My Order?" (And How to Fix It for Good)

It's 4:30 PM on a Friday. Your phone rings. It's your biggest customer asking about an order that was supposed to ship yesterday. You check the system. Production says it shipped. Shipping says it's still on the dock. The tracking number doesn't exist yet. You scramble. Make som

March 30, 2026 · 7 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

Four Law Firms That Actually Got Digital Transformation Right (And What They Did Differently)

Most digital transformation case studies are marketing fiction. Vendor-supplied success stories with suspiciously round numbers, unnamed clients, and vague timelines. "Leading global firm reduces costs 40%" with no specifics about what they actually did or how long it took. Thes

January 13, 2026 · 12 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

Why Your Expensive Technology Sits Unused: The Change Management Problem Law Firms Ignore

You spent six figures on practice management software that was supposed to transform operations. Six months later, half the partners are still using spreadsheets. Associates enter the minimum data required and revert to email for everything else. The CRM has a 30% adoption rate.

January 13, 2026 · 11 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

Why Your Law Firm's Tech Stack Is Probably a Mess (And How to Fix It)

You have seventeen different systems that barely talk to each other. Practice management software from 2012. A document management system partners hate. A CRM nobody uses because it requires entering the same information that already exists in three other places. An accounting s

December 9, 2025 · 10 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

Stop Buying AI Tools That Don't Work: What Actually Delivers in Legal Practice

Your firm probably already bought an AI tool that's sitting unused. Maybe it was the contract review platform that promised to revolutionize due diligence. Or the legal research AI that was supposed to cut research time in half. Perhaps the document automation system that would

November 11, 2025 · 8 min read

Read
Enterprise Resource Planning

Why Your Finance Team Still Dreads Month-End (And What Actually Works to Fix It)

Picture this: It's 8 PM on the third Friday of the month. Your finance team is still huddled over laptops, cross-referencing spreadsheets that somehow still don't match. Someone mutters about a missing journal entry. Another discovers a subledger that wasn't updated. You've got

November 10, 2025 · 5 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

How Smart Law Firms Are Turning Data Into Profit and Power

It began with a single conversation, a weary managing partner at a 150-attorney firm sharing his frustration. Despite a stellar reputation, sophisticated clients, and premium rates, something wasn’t adding up. “We’re working harder than ever, but profits are flat,” he confessed.

October 29, 2025 · 5 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Are You Sitting on Hidden Cash in Your Inventory?

Too much cash tied up in stock. Occasional stockouts that lead to rush orders and frustrated customers. Spreadsheets that never quite match what the warehouse sees.If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. ERP should make inventory simple, yet many organizations only capture a

October 23, 2025 · 4 min read

Read
AI & Data

Why Your AI Pilot Keeps Stalling

Most enterprise AI pilots don't fail on the technology. They fail on the work that should have happened before the first line of code was written. Here's what we keep seeing, and what to do about it.

October 22, 2025 · 8 min read

Read
Emerging Tech and AI

Agentforce Use Cases: How M&S Consulting Helps Organizations Automate and Scale

As organizations strive to keep pace with rising customer expectations and operational complexity, Salesforce Agentforce emerges as a powerful platform to deploy AI‑powered autonomous agents across the enterprise. Unlike traditional chatbots, Agentforce leverages large language

September 19, 2025 · 8 min read

Read
Case Studies

Unlocking the Hidden Power of Your Law Firm's Data

If you ask most law firms whether they "use data," they'll likely say yes. After all, every firm tracks billable hours and case outcomes, right? But here’s the truth: simply having data isn’t the same as being a data-driven firm. Being truly data-driven means treating your data

September 15, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Cloud

Cloud Migration Is Not a Strategy

Everyone is migrating to the cloud. Very few organizations have a clear answer to why. The distinction matters more than most cloud roadmaps acknowledge.

September 8, 2025 · 7 min read

Read
Salesforce

Notes from a Project Rescue

When a Salesforce implementation is failing mid-flight, the instinct is to move fast. The move that actually works is to slow down long enough to find out what's really wrong.

August 14, 2025 · 6 min read

Read
Case Studies

What Powers Digital Transformation Success in Law Firms

When I talk to law firm leaders about digital transformation, one of the first things I emphasize is this: technology alone isn't enough. To drive real, lasting change, firms need a clear strategy grounded in strong pillars, pillars that align technology, people, and business goa

August 6, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Enterprise Apps

What ERP Modernization Actually Requires

ERP programs fail at a rate that should make every CFO uncomfortable. The reasons are well-understood and consistently ignored. Here's what it actually takes to get one right.

July 1, 2025 · 9 min read

Read
Case Studies

Why Digital Transformation Will Define the Law Firms of Tomorrow

The Imperative for Change Imagine your top associate, paralegal, or partner shackled to outdated systems and manual processes, while competitors race ahead with smarter, faster technology. That's the reality many law firms face today. Across every industry, technology is rewritin

June 6, 2025 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Introducing the Appalachia Software Factory

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.27.4" custom_padding="30px|||||" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_in

May 30, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Case Studies

Oracle Cloud Expansion & Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Implementation Case Study

The expansion into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) was driven by a need for cost optimization, licensing efficiencies, and a push toward a more automated, scalable cloud environment. M&S Consulting played a pivotal role in this transformation, working alongside internal teams

May 30, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Data Analytics

Your Data Problem Is a Business Problem

Data quality issues surface as technical problems. They're almost always symptoms of something upstream, a process, an ownership gap, or a decision that was never made. Fixing the data without fixing the source doesn't work.

May 19, 2025 · 7 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Why Most Tech Projects Fail (and What to Do About It)

Here’s a hard truth most leaders learn the hard way: it’s not the technology that holds your transformation back. It’s the people. You can invest in the best tools on the market. You can build a seamless integration, automate every process, and design the perfect user interface.

May 16, 2025 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Salesforce Agentforce: A New Era of Enterprise Service Automation

Salesforce’s Agentforce is changing how companies deliver customer service and support. In this post, we’ll break down what Agentforce is, what’s included in this offering, and how it compares to traditional Service Cloud solutions. We’ll also explore real-world use cases in gov

May 12, 2025 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Building a Robust Operations Power App to Replace a Maxed-Out SharePoint Site

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" custom_margin="|auto

May 5, 2025 · 5 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Redefining Efficiency for a Global Leader in Vision Correction

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4

April 16, 2025 · 2 min read

Read
Transformation

The Change Management Work Nobody Budgets For

Technology programs have a consistent blind spot: the work required to make people actually use the thing you built. It's not training. It's not communications. It's something harder.

April 3, 2025 · 7 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Blueprints, Burnout, and the Human Side of Change

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4

April 2, 2025 · 5 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Low Code, No Code Platform Comparison, 2025

[et_pb_section admin_label="section"] [et_pb_row admin_label="row"] [et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] No-Code and Low-Code Platforms for Enterprises and Startups, A Basic Review The rise of no-code and low-code platforms has transformed how businesses buil

March 20, 2025 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Managing Change: When Agile Sprints Aren't Working, And What to Do About It

Picture this: you've meticulously planned out a two-week Sprint. Everything’s mapped out, the team is ready to go, and the goals are clear. But then, like clockwork, a high-priority support ticket hits. Suddenly, you’re forced to reshuffle priorities, hold last-minute meetings,

March 4, 2025 · 6 min read

Read
Case Studies

An Urgent Rescue: Delivering a Last-Minute Cloud Migration for a Critical Government Agency

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.24.2" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type

February 24, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Problem Solved

M&S Consulting Implements Moodr Health Platform to Provide Employees with Proactive Mental Health Support

MORGANTOWN, WV (January 20, 2025), M&S Consulting, a leader in delivering technical and digital solutions to address complex business problems, is excited to announce a company-wide implementation of the Moodr Health digital platform, offering its employees cutting-edge mental

January 21, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Problem Solved

The Art of Active Listening: Enhancing Communication in Life and Work

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”, Maya Angelou You have critical conversations daily, and you may not realize the impact they have on others. Every conversation has the potential to shape s

January 7, 2025 · 3 min read

Read
Problem Solved

How to Be Effective as an Introvert in Your Career

Recently, I attended a virtual meetup focused on communication in the workplace. During the session, one of the participants asked a question that resonated deeply with me: "How can I be more effective as an introvert?" This question sparked a lively discussion and highlighted t

December 9, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

M&S’ SPLASH Announcements App Solves Major Salesforce Challenges

If you’re a Salesforce user, it’s likely you have several monitors with multiple windows open, for your email, Chat, Slack, Teams, or whatever your company uses, constantly checking them throughout the day so you don’t miss that vital Salesforce announcement or update. If this des

November 25, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Unlocking the Power of Transferable Skills in Business

Early in my career, I knew I needed to focus on two major areas: business acumen, learning the business you are in, and transferable skills, skills that are good to have regardless of your industry. I also knew that business acumen, although critical to having a deep understanding

November 18, 2024 · 5 min read

Read
Cloud and Virtualization

Mastering Salesforce UI Customization: Page Layouts or Lightning Pages, Which Fits Your Needs?

Having led various projects for clients within the Salesforce platform, we always have to decide when designing the user interface: Should we use page layouts or Lightning Pages? Customizing the UI with low-code solutions required a complex interplay of record types, page layout

November 11, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Embracing AI as a Skeptical Project Manager

The tick of a wristwatch, the sound of a motor turning, and the clap of a camera shutter, these are some of my favorite analog sounds that no Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool can replicate. AI is on the rise, and I have to admit, I’m not a fan. Every day, a new AI tool or progra

November 4, 2024 · 6 min read

Read
Case Studies

Elev8 GovCon Nomination Showcases M&S Consulting’s Leadership in Federal Contracting

M&S Consulting, a leading provider of innovative digital transformation solutions, is proud to announce its nomination for the 2025 Elev8 GovCon Award. This prestigious award recognizes companies in the federal government contracting sector that demonstrate excellence across eig

October 21, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Maximizing Productivity: How to Lead a Large Scrum Team Effectively

Managing a large scrum team can feel like herding cats, especially when the industry standard suggests keeping teams to no more than ten people. But there I was, coordinating a 27-member SAP scrum team, each actively participating in daily stand-ups. Despite the chaos, our proje

October 14, 2024 · 5 min read

Read
Case Studies

Carnegie Mellon University GRAAD Project Case Study

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.24.2" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}"

October 7, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Why Microsoft Technology is the Smart Choice for Modern Enterprises

[et_pb_section admin_label="section"] [et_pb_row admin_label="row"] [et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] Choosing the right technology partner is critical to business success. Microsoft has long been a leader in enterprise and federal technology solutions, co

September 23, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Level Up Your Skills: The Future of Learning Through Gamification

In today’s fast-paced world, continuous learning is not just a necessity but a crucial part of personal and professional growth. However, balancing work, family, and personal interests often leaves little time for traditional learning methods. That’s where gamification and micro

September 16, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Servant Leadership: The Key to Winning Together

Servant leadership isn’t just a buzzword in the Scrum world, it’s a mindset that places the needs of the team above all else. I’ve always seen myself as a servant to the team, whether it’s this project or any other. When the team wins, we all win. This philosophy includes not jus

September 9, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

The Importance of Creating Visual Solutions for Complex Data Problems

In the realm of data management and system integration, solving complex problems often requires more than just technical expertise. Visual solutions play a crucial role in understanding and communicating intricate relationships between systems. In this blog post, I'll share my e

September 3, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Transforming Public Sector Technology Services: The Human Story Behind the M&S Consulting and Carahsoft Partnership

In the ever-evolving world of public sector technology, the most impactful changes often start with a conversation. For M&S Consulting and Carahsoft, it was no different. It all began with a series of strategic discussions between the leadership teams of M&S Consulting and Carah

August 26, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Disaster-Proofing Your SAP HANA Data, An Overview of Different Techniques

A few years ago, I worked for a major US generic drug pharmaceutical company. Our manufacturing lab management system, which is the cornerstone for a highly regulated pharmaceutical company, was so crucial that even just a single minute of downtime would lose the company thousan

August 19, 2024 · 5 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Overcoming the Challenges of Launching and Scaling RPA

Three months. That’s all it took to transform a seemingly insurmountable problem into a streamlined, efficient process. We started with a data center inundated with thousands of items in the queue for manual processing. The skepticism was palpable, but within three months of imp

August 12, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Introducing the AI Roadmap: Transforming Business with Strategic AI Adoption

Staying ahead of the curve means embracing innovation. At M&S Consulting, we recognize the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and are excited to introduce our comprehensive AI Roadmap. This strategic guide is designed as a first step to give businesses and orga

August 9, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

The Evolution of RPA: Transforming Business with Intelligent Automation

When I started implementing Robotic Process Automation (RPA) around ten years ago, we were limited to rule-based, structured data processes. Although very successful, we still needed a human in the loop to make decisions and validate the processes. With the latest innovations, w

August 5, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

An Introduction to the Microsoft Practice at M&S Consulting: A Legacy of Innovation and Expertise

We pride ourselves on being leaders in tech consulting, leveraging over two decades of experience to solve big problems for enterprise companies and government. Our focus on Microsoft technologies underscores our commitment to harnessing our deep expertise and innovation to deli

August 2, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

How to Know if SAP is the Right ERP System for Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

In today’s fast-paced business environment, selecting the right Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can significantly improve efficiency and provide better insights into business operations and decision-making processes. One of the leading ERP solutions is SAP, known for i

July 29, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

M&S Consulting and Carahsoft Forge Dynamic Partnership to Transform Public Sector Initiatives

Professional Consulting Services and Innovative Solutions Now Available to Government Agencies M&S Consulting, a renowned enterprise IT and digital solutions provider, and Carahsoft Technology Corp., The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider®, proudly announce a transformativ

July 22, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Value-Driven Outcomes: Going Beyond the Obvious Choices

Here are two scenarios that make one crucial point... Scenario #1: In a recent livestream, Marcus Lemonis, entrepreneur and star of the CNBC reality show The Profit, met with the owner of Muddy Paws Cheesecake Bakery. While the cheesecake was outstanding, the disciplines around

July 12, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

The Three Pillars of Change Management: People, Organizational, and Technology

Change management is an essential discipline in today's rapidly evolving business environment. It ensures that organizations can adapt effectively to new processes, technologies, and market demands. As a subject matter expert in change management, I would like to share my perspec

June 10, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

RISE with SAP: What’s in It for You?

As SAP is transitioning to its cloud-based ERP solutions, you may be wondering, why? Or, more specifically, what’s in it for me? Surely, you have other priorities right now regarding your SAP implementation, such as maintaining your landscape, launching new functionality, and r

May 6, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine (Part 3)

Part 3 of 3 In A Series From M&S Consulting On Mining The Gold In Your Salesforce Org And Turning Data Into Revenue Part 1Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Part 2Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Salesforc

April 25, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Harnessing Generative AI in Government: Strategies for Addressing Bias, Privacy, and Security

The rise of ChatGPT has raised concerns about government employees potentially misusing AI tools, posing significant risks to citizen security and privacy.

April 17, 2024 · 10 min read

Read
Salesforce

Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine (Part 2)

Part 2 of 3 In A Series From M&S Consulting On Mining The Gold In Your Salesforce Org And Turning Data Into Revenue Part 1Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Part 3Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Salesforc

April 15, 2024 · 5 min read

Read
Salesforce

Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine (Part 1)

Part 1 of 3 In A Series From M&S Consulting On Mining The Gold In Your Salesforce Org And Turning Data Into Revenue Part 2Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Part 3Elevate Your Enterprise: Turn Your Salesforce Org Into a Growth Engine Building

April 8, 2024 · 5 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Building Stability: Lessons from Business Continuity Planning

Charter Spectrum Reach, a premiere TV/Internet/Phone provider, needed assistance creating a Business Continuity Plan. They needed a way to measure potential impact disruptions and have a plan to ensure they could keep operating after a potential disaster or emergency. We started

March 25, 2024 · 1 min read

Read
Notes

Women in Tech: M&S Leadership Stories

In this insightful collection, we've compiled stories from inspiring women across various STEM fields, each offering their unique perspectives and experiences. From overcoming obstacles to celebrating successes, these narratives shed light on the multifaceted world of STEM caree

March 18, 2024 · 28 min read

Read
Business Strategy

When It Comes To Billing and Invoicing, M&S Consulting Helps Our Customers Keep It Simple

warning The Problem: A longstanding client in the Media Ad Sales industry recently approached our team with a new challenge. The technology the company’s media division was utilizing to distribute TV advertising and commercials across their channels was being upgraded and a crit

March 11, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
News and Updates

A Thank You to Our Mentors: Stories that Shaped M&S Women in Technology

A thank you to those who have impacted and encouraged a few of our M&S Consulting female leaders: I have two men, and one woman to thank. Growth in being a woman in STEM does not always come from just female leaders, but also from male leaders who believe in you regardless of ge

March 6, 2024 · 6 min read

Read
Offerings

Transforming Tomorrow: M&S Consulting's Comprehensive Expertise Across Six Practice Areas

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, where innovation is the heartbeat of success, M&S Consulting stands out as a trailblazer in comprehensive and transformative solutions. We believe in fostering relationships designed not only in support of the current project, but al

March 4, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Offerings

Salesforce: 3 Simple Solutions to Solve Common Problems

Here’s the problem: Your company has been using Salesforce for a couple of years now, but it's too complicated. You are getting complaints that the interface is complex and that it’s taking sales away from actually selling. “The Salesforce interface is difficult.” Consider a red

February 26, 2024 · 1 min read

Read
Big Data & BI

M&S Consulting: Gain A Multi-Dimensional Tech Partner, Leading, Executing, and Elevating Your Digital Transformation Journey

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital business, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage but a necessity. With decades of experience in identifying, scaling, mobilizing, and implementing digital transformation initiatives, the M&S Consulting team is driving succes

February 19, 2024 · 3 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Unleashing Innovation: A Guide to Launching Your Project with M&S Consulting's Process Impact Blueprinting Workshops

Embarking on a new project is an exciting endeavor, but laying a solid foundation is crucial for success. At M&S Consulting, we've found the key to initiating projects lies in our innovative Process Impact Blueprinting Workshops. These workshops not only kickstart our projects bu

January 31, 2024 · 4 min read

Read
Notes

Art School Made Me a Better Consultant

I’m often asked about my background when I start new assignments. People are usually surprised when they hear that my degree is art-related. You may wonder how an art school background has helped me when working with clients to achieve their goals. It’s our job to consider how be

January 22, 2024 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

6 reasons to ensure your CRM is aligned with your sales process

Aligning your company's sales process with your customer relationship management (CRM) system is essential for six reasons. 1. Improved Efficiency Streamline and automate various tasks, such as lead tracking, deal management, and customer communication, eliminating manual data en

June 19, 2023 · 2 min read

Read
Business Strategy

Embracing Multi-Cloud Expertise: M&S Consulting's Advantage in the Growing Multi-Cloud Landscape

In today's dynamic digital landscape, organizations across various sectors are increasingly seeking ways to improve their IT infrastructure and streamline their operations. Cloud technologies have emerged as a critical component of modern IT strategies, with a multitude of cloud

April 11, 2023 · 3 min read

Read