How The “Fast 50” Can Benefit Even More

Effective ERP Solutions Are Key

Each year, WashingtonTechnology.com, the online authority for government contractors and partners, releases its “Fast 50” rankings, which celebrates the success of small businesses in the government market.

Through a process of nominations and data analysis, such as five years of government contracting revenue to determine a five-year compound annual growth rate, the Fast 50 has become a benchmark for determined growth in the government contractor sector.

This year's list, released in early August, highlights the fastest-growing small businesses  in a tough market, and diversity and resilience are the themes.

With the current budget environment and uncertainty about when projects will get funded, the companies listed are acutely aware of the many challenges, and have planned accordingly with a visionary approach.

And that's a tribute to this type of thinking, according to Stuart Nottingham, Director of Technical Services of Management Applications Inc., of Raleigh, N.C., which has been providing businesses in all industries  – including government contractors and partners – with ERP solutions and other consultative network services for more than 20 years. 

“We've worked with several of these companies,” said Nottingham, “and a common theme is preparing for current conditions, as well as future growth, with the proper ERP mechanics, such as Microsoft Dynamics SL.”

Indeed, Microsoft Dynamics SL has been the “go-to” enterprise resource planning software products for project-driven small- and medium-sized business, as its comprehensive business management solution provides project-, service-, and distribution-driven businesses with project management and project accounting functionality to help organizations effectively manage projects and improve profitability and efficiency.  Functionalities of Microsoft Dynamics SL include finance, project accounting, manufacturing, field services, supply chain management, analytics, and electronic commerce, among other growth-oriented features.”

“This is the first thing that jumped out when I saw this year's Fast 50 list – how so many of these companies are not using this resource, and how they improve even more by doing so,” added Nottingham.

Nottingham noted that they've been working with companies for more than 20 years in implementing Microsoft Dynamics SL (in fact, Management Applications is one of Microsoft's longest-standing certified partners for this ERP product), and how it's made all functions of a business operate more efficiently and profitably.

“It's a wonderful solution, and one that provides so much flexibility for tailoring and growth,” he added.

As for this year's Fast 50 list, 15 companies are making return appearances.  Last year’s top company, SAVA Workforce Solutions, moved just one spot, from No. 1 to No. 2. 

Others making repeat appearances and proving they are more than one-year wonders are Integrity Management Consulting, Innotion Enterprises, FedSys, Soft Tech Consulting, Evoke Research and Consulting, VAE, and MicroTech.

MicroTech, which is also on Washington Technology’s Top 100 list of the largest government contractors, is making its fourth consecutive appearance on the Fast 50.

The No. 1 spot this year goes to newcomer Universal Understanding, whose growth has skyrocketed in the past five years, from $122,698 in 2007 to $102.7 million in 2011.  The company’s compound annual growth rate is a whopping 437.91 percent.

And keep in mind that the Fast 50 isn’t about raw revenue or bulk.  The report notes there are only three companies on the list with more than $100 million in revenue, “but those small businesses have found a way to grow rapidly in a very tough market,” according to the report.

As well, the Fast 50 group represents a well-oiled economic engine, as the total aggregate revenue they earned in 2011 is $1.4 billion.  In 2007, the same companies brought in a total of $65.6 million.  As a group, their compound annual growth rate is 115.32 percent from 2007 to 2011.

But again, despite these successes, Nottingham sees even more growth despite challenging economic conditions and a lack of a Federal budget, and that is the best ERP solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics SL.

“It's really a no brainer,” concluded Nottingham.  “And one by one, companies are starting to see it.”