The Role of ERP in globalisation

Nowadays, more and more organisations provide products and services globally. They operate in different countries and in different locations; Also they have their manufacturing plants, regional sales offices, distribution centre, national, regional and global headquarters throughout the world. However, it brings the challenges for ERP, like legal and business principles of the country, multi-currency operations, language barrier (especially in developing countries).

The role of ERP is to use all available organisation resources efficiently. In general, it ensures flexibility of the company and creates the environment for achieving core competence of the organisations. Also, it can be identified as the critical component of corporate globalisation strategies and be required to satisfy the demands of support functionalities in a global environment- such as intercompany stock transfer, software localisation.

The survey from the Gartner Research study had identified that 70% of organisations desired to operate a single global ERP system. However, a centralised ERP solution is slow to implement in a global environment. And the company may have to change their existing IT solutions- from many to one, which requires a large amount of time. As a result, a better choice for the companies two-tier ERP solution, which means the company can use one core ERP with another solution from same vendor for subsidiaries or one core ERP with other solution from another one vendor.

Mengyun Hu (1862091)

Mengyun Hu : 21 May 2019 19:36 |  Tags: Erp Erp Systems Integration |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

ERP starts with Business Process: Standardization?

Business Process is a prerequisite of ERP. Standardized process is a integral part of it.

Then, there comes the perception: standardization would quite often limit the flexibility. However, Hammer and Stanton; quite oppositely, proposed standardization would enable flexibility in the way of allocating personels with less training effort. The reason for this would be explained through the controlled and uncontrolled dynamics. For the controlled dynamics, flexibility can be achieved through standardization.

To enrich the arguement, there would be another factor that impact on this. It is the learning curve of learning experience. While standardization allows un-trained employee to execute different tasks in different roles successfully (which means flexibility), the learning curve in this situation would be barely achieved. People gain experience through learning curve by doing a same task in a period of time. Unfixed and changing tasks could cause confusion for staff and inhibit the learning curve. When standardized process links with role & responsibilty, the learning curve should be considered. Process standardization, if promoting flexibility, would obmit the value of the learning curve.

Nguyen, Le Thang (1760903)

Le Thang Nguyen : 10 May 2019 05:26 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Compare BI and ERP

As th time for age of big data is coming, how to manage mass of data and find the useful information in mass of date is the developing way. Now, big data in business have two developement directions--Business Intellengence (BI) and Enterprise Resource Planning. Now I want talk about the diffrence and common compaired BI and ERP.

BI canbe discrbed as "a set of techniques and tools for the acquisition and transformation od raw data into meaningful and useful information for business analysis perpose", BI fucus on data management. The main fuction of BI is through import data from other systems (ERP data is one of database fro BI) and export the data analysis sumarize. Gnerally speaking, BI can divided three parts. The three parts respetivily are data warehouse (numerous centralized storage of data); data extraction (with extraction tools to find the needed data from data warehouse); and front-end display (such as report, PDA).

Reference

Turner,Dawn M. "What is Venture Management".

Yanjun Wang (1550539)

: 20 Apr 2016 23:50 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Extended ERP

In the internet era, there is an intense competition of business occurring in the means of using information technology to increase the efficiency of the operational and management aspects in organizations. Therefore, changing the strategy toward e-businesses have to adapt the usage of ERP system which could share functions and communication to partners and customers. In addition, it has to develop data evaluating method and interface in order to connect processes for the bonding between ERP and external organization sites. E-business is a kind of business that have a rapid changing in technology and trend, so quick gathering of the useful information is become more serious factor to gain the advantages in the market. Allowing people to easily access to the entrepreneur ERP system helps increase the accuracy of the data while reducing the analysis time for the strategy planning. Thus, the ERP system is now extended to be developed together with the Thin Client or GUI (Graphic User Interface) to reduce the complexity in using the system. This allow the end-users or suppliers to input the data into the system and connect directly to the business. For the users with in organization, the extended ERP creates the convenience in access and interpret the data for analytical usages and reduce learning curve of the system. There are three main advantages of Extended ERP. First is the integration by using ERP-based can centralized between software such as SCM, CRM, and E-commerce, only one input of information can be pulled out for various usage. Moreover, the extended ERP also creates the supply chance network with organizations as center, connecting suppliers’ and customers’ operation with SCM and CRM respectively. Finally, Internet Protocol (IP) and Web application create the system that allow the online access to the data base of organizations, not only by the employees but also partners, suppliers and consumers. The sharing of information both internally and externally all type of business to occur virtually in the world of internet.

Chonlada Han-ong-art

Karl M. Kapp, William F. Latham, Hester N. Ford-Latham. Integrated learning for ERP success: a learning requirements planning approach. Boca Raton: The St. Lucie Press; 2001.

Mahesh gupta, Amarpreet kohli. Enterprise resource planning systems and its implications for operations function. Technovation 2006; 687-696.

: 20 Apr 2016 14:23 |  Tags: Erp Erp; Integration |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Modules integration

Rapid and efficient flow of streams of information is a prerequisite for the smooth functioning of logistics processes. It is also important to note that the introduction of computerized information processes created an entirely new quality. This also applies to the logistics, where many functions are associated with various transition of information. Modern IT systems support the process of production planning at many levels, from the moment of the generation of orders by customers through the purchase of raw materials, storage of raw materials in the warehouse, production of the finished item with subsequent storage, picking, to delivery to the customer. Having an opportunity to work with ERP system alongside with appropriate modules it is possible to plan, control and manage resources.

However, chosen ERP system may have very good Shop Floor control module but insufficient Advanced Warehousing module. Very advanced Transportation Management module may not go with ‘decent’ Requirements Planning module or Purchasing Module. On the other hand, ERP can offer various modules where functional advancement can be there, however company requires very advanced Requirements Planning module as this is key strategic component of their success.

To me the question stands; how big risk is to ‘move’ specific functionalities to 3rd party systems. Is it good idea to create all necessary interfaces for the ERP to be able to communicate with second system or is it usually better to try to keep as many modules as possible from one provider. The benefit of second option is seamless integration, no interfaces, less risk (especially at implementation phase). Obviously answer would be different for each company. But we need to be prepare for choice we possibly would need to make at some point. Should we sacrifice functionality for benefit of seamless integration? Should we pay more for unused functionalities for some modules to use integrated system which is outstanding in single, strategic way? Or should we choose customization path?

Oliwia Lewandowska

: 19 Apr 2016 11:33 |  Tags: Erp Systems |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

challenge of mobile ERP

The ubiquity of the smartphone might lead the ERP system to a new application. In some aspects, companies are willing to applicate the new technology. For example, it is benefit for companies if personnel are willing to provide their technology for business things.

However, some challenges appear for IT people. the main concerns are security and two main compatibility. It is difficult to control personal devices and prevent the devices form hight risks way of personal usage habit. in addition, two compatibility environment, iSO and Adroid, and variations of Android from all the phone manufacturers make mobile ERP more complex. How to cope with the new version of operating system and how to update without interfering business work are issues for the IT people.

The application of moblie ERP still have many restrictions at this time. However, the technology of moblie ERP application is gradually matured and the barriers to use mobile ERP is reducing. It is possible that the usage of mobile ERP will increase faster than expectation.

Bo-Hsiang Chang

: 17 Apr 2016 17:05 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Integrated Cloud based ERP for SME'S

SME'S in the developing nations are the most aggressive adopters of ERP to their business process. The online server hosted off the site is best suited for such growing SME's because the payment needs to be made in accordance with their need and usage. Using a cloud-based ERP server reduces the capital expenditure by not investing money in the server infrastructure.

When the different functions of ERP such as CRM,HR etc. are hosted in different clouds, separate administration of different systems costs time and money. The use of the required function in an integrated cloud reduces the expense and increases the efficiency of the business process. The server and software package providers pitch their marketing skills to which SME's fall as a bait which ends up making the business go the downward spiral.

To be successful and to outgrow the competitors every business has to deliver the highest quality on time and quickly possible at the cheapest cost. Hence, every SME who is the planning stage on wheater to adopt an ERP package should think in detail of what the outcome and benefits would be in a long run

Arjun Sunil Kumar

: 10 Apr 2016 17:05 |  Tags: Cloud; Erp; Smes |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Role of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) in the Business Process Re–engineering (BPR):

The fast movement in the technological world and the new systems that have been developed though the time has played a significant role into re-engineering the business process within any organization. According to Soliman and Youssef (1998), the implementation of ERP is considered to be one of the fundamental element of the BPR process, where the others include objectives, radical change and the examination of the current process. Most companies used to employee IT to the present process, where BPR process needs a radical change to the process. Thus, the implementation of ERP systems is helpful in terms of changing the current process to be aligned with ERP system, which will meet the BPR objective as well as it will be more integrated and productive (Soliman and Youssef, 1998).

On the other hand, Baloglu (2005) suggested that the implementation of ERP systems needs to be aligned with the BPR projects, which will give employees time to accommodate of using the new system. Thus, training employees is an important element in the implementation of ERP and BPR, where might be fail if not applied sufficiently (Glykas, 2013).

References

Baloglu, A. (2005) Implementing SAP R/3 in the 21st Century: Methodology and Case Studies, Istanbul: Anatürkler Yayınevi.

Glykas, M. (2012) ‘Effects of business process reengineering on firm performance: an econometric analysis’ in Ozcelik, y. (ed.) Business Process Management: Theory and Applications. London: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 99-111.

Soliman, F. and Youssef, M. A. (1998) ‘The role of SAP software in business process re-engineering’. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 18 (9): 886 – 895.

: 28 Mar 2016 18:33 |  Tags: Erp Erp Systems |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

ERP system and Internet of Things

In recent years, many ERP systems have competed each other by trying to provide the best solution for improving the business. After introducing cloud-based platform i.e. SAP HANA, Oracle ERP Cloud, Microsoft Dynamic cloud ERP and so on, they tried to seek for other new technologies to support the organisation. However, this article will only focus on SAP solution. While the user of internet has dramatically grown every year, and devices has become more and more intelligent. From SAP’s research, they found that the number of connected devices through the internet would be more than fifty billion by 2020. They expected that many physical objects would be able to communicate via the internet. The internet of things (IoT) can be defined as the integration of several technologies such as RFID, sensor, actuators, and wireless network (Atzori, Iera and Morabito, 2010).

 As last few year ago, SAP introduced an additional solution (IoT connector solution) which can use to connect sensor-based data with SAP HANA platform. This solution will combine data from automation devices and smart devices to perform a better retrospective and predictive analysis. Moreover, there are several benefits that the organisation can gain from these technologies solution.

• Improve efficiency, sustainability, quality, and safety
• Increase decision-making performance
• Improve decentralised data consistency
• Reduce operation cost
• Simplify software integration

Although, this solution may not be suitable for every business, there are some businesses can use it to improve their processes such as manufacturing, supply chain integrity, energy, health service and so on. But, they still have some major technical issues that require to consider. For example, Internet scalability, identification and addressing of the network, heterogeneity technologies (Haller, Karnouskos and Schroth, 2008).

Atzori, L., Iera, A. and Morabito, G. (2010). The Internet of Things: A survey. Computer Networks, 54(15), pp.2787-2805.

Haller, S., Karnouskos, S. and Schroth, C. (2008). The Internet of Things in an Enterprise Context. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pp.14-28.

SAP. (2016). IoT Platform | Internet of Things Applications | SAP HANA. [online] Available at: http://go.sap.com/product/technology-platform/iot-platform-cloud.html.

Chompassorn Pholtanasak (1465063)

: 28 Mar 2016 15:08 |  Tags: Cloud Erp Erp Systems Integration |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Gartner Magic Quadrant for single instance ERP systems.

Writing about web page http://www.gartner.com/technology/reprints.do?id=1-25C3331&ct=141201&st=sb

According to Gartner's latest research (2014), Microsoft Dynamics AX was is positioned as a market visionary and leader. Microsoft Dynamics AX is being increasingly adopted by large companies with thousands of users. From Gartner's research, it is ascertained that customers rate the quality, usability , flexibility and scalability of Microsoft's solution highly.

Dynamix AX is Mircorosft's flagship ERP solution. AX incorporates fincance, HR, operations management, and specific capabilities for retail, manufacturing, service and public sector industries.

Strengths

• Strong execution of partner product innovation strategy
• Strong user interface and flexibility in comparison to others in the market
• Product quality and scalability has been consistently high
• Enahncement and incorporation of services such as Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services
• Strong CRM capabilities.

Another good example of an ERP solution is Epicor, who according to Gartner is another market visionary. Since it's launch in 2008, Epicor has experienced significant growth in terms of sales of their on-premise and cloud solutions.

To read the complete report visit the following link:

http://www.gartner.com/technology/reprints.do?id=1-25C3331&ct=141201&st=sb

: 26 Apr 2015 22:42 |  Tags: Erp Systems Gartner Magic Quadrant |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem