Analysis of ERM Software
Microsoft Dynamics is an important tool to drive business performance, measure financial effectiveness, and therefore help make better decisions. They offer one set of solutions to fast growing medium-sized organizations, and other to established enterprise organizations. Their targeted clients are fast-growing medium businesses.
Cost
Its packages range from $8,000 to $250,000, with a user range of 5 to 750 or 92,000. It allow for usage in multi-site organizations, and even multi-national usage.
Compatibility with Current System and Work Flow Processes
It follows the .NET architecture and work on MS SQL Server database platform. It runs on Windows Server OS and is incompatible with SaaS.
Functionality
In the manufacturing sector it is suitable for material management; sales and service management in sales order management sector; business intelligence and financial management in financial management sector; project management and supply chain management, sales and marketing and human resource management. Also, it comes in three versions, GP, NAV, and SL. The GP version is customized for financial environment, NAV is general software, and GP is for Project Management.
Ease of Use
This software is particularly suitable for small and medium businesses. It is modular, multilingual, multi-currency, and is customizable to a limited extent. This allows for users to work and collaborate while at different locations, and manage projects and access data in a timely manner. This increases their productivity and efficiency. They are also coming up with SaaS version of the software for the price conscious customers.
End User Support
Their service and support plans range from very basic self-serve to professionally managed accounts. In between the two extremes the service plan range from; support calls; unlimited online training; access to technical and support portal; access to updates and upgrades; and call-centre support.
Syspro
Syspro operates successfully in diverse manufacturing environment; it offers a choice of over 50 interactive application solutions. They are either in premises or on Cloud.
Cost
Its price range is from $20,000 to $500,000, with a user range of 4 to 1000 .
Compatibility with Current System and Work Flow Processes
The software follows the SOA, XML or Webservice architecture, and works on MS SQL Server database platform. It runs on Windows Server OS and Linux server, and is incompatible with SaaS.
Functionality
Within the scope of material management, it is useful in inventory management, engineering change control, and factory documentation. In sales order management, it is useful in; counter sales; CyberScan store; document flow management; quotations; report writer; sales analysis; and sales/purchase order. Within the scope of financial management it helps in budgeting; accounts payable; accounts receivable; activity based costing; taxation; payroll and analytics. Within the scope of production management, it is useful in; material billing; cost tracking; planning and scheduling; projects and contracts; quality management; requirement planning; and return management. Within the scope of supply chain management it can be an asset in business alerts, freight calculator, inventory forecasting and shipping management. In CRM and others, it is an asset in contact management and document management.
Ease of Use
It is a “single source, fully integrated end-to-end enterprise solution that does not require external applications single source, fully integrated end-to-end enterprise solution that does not require external applications to run the business. This single blueprint ensures that the basic underlying structure and processes remain the same, allowing the users to easily learn new features as the product continues to grow over years”. It offers a combination of powerful features, simplicity of use, information visibility, analytics and reporting capabilities, business process modelling and workflow management.
The software’s modular approach allows users to customize it according to their needs, and pay license fee for only that much.
End User Support
It has offices in Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The user support network is implemented and supported through a team of consultants, resellers and employees. By this approach, Syspro has earned a reputation of well-structured, effective implementers, who reduce time and cost through a systematized approach.
Infor
Infor primarily caters to process manufacturers in the driver’s seat giving them total control over how they enter, view, use, and analyze their business information.
Cost
The price range is from $12,000 to $100,000 for 5 to 500 users or 8000 .
Compatibility with Current System and Work Flow Processes
It is compatible with SOA architecture, and following database platforms; MS SQL Server, Progress, IBM DB2, Oracle Proprietary and Cloud based (SaaS). It works with Linux, Windows and Unix based operating system.
Functionality
In the field of material management, it is useful in Enterprise Resource Planning, Product Lifecycle Management and Quality Management. It is applicable in Sales Order Management and Financial Management as well. It is useful in Enterprise Asset Management and Supply Chain Management, as well as CRM and Human Capital Management. It has been designed in keeping usability in mind.
Ease of Use
Each of the variations have similar look and feel, which allows for easy switching by user with only limited training. Functionally, the design and user experience is similar between the CRM, EAM and Expense Management modules. Its modular design allows for introduction to users with minimal costs, and can be removed if it is not required.
End User Support
Each of the Infor ERP solutions provides comprehensive integration of the following departments; sales, customer relations, supply-chain, production, data, accounting, inventory, and human resources.
Sage
It offers much needed flexibility and functionality to manage business around the world markets with their compact and affordable software system.
Cost
The cost per user is $2610, and is applicable for user base of 20 to over 1000.
Compatibility with Current System and Work Flow Processes
It is compatible with the MS SQL Server, Oracle and Cloud based (SaaS) platform. It is compatible with Linux, Windows, and Unix based Operating System.
Functionality
Within the scope of materials management, it helps in inventory control. In sales order management, it helps in purchasing management, RF warehousing and sales monitoring. Within the scope of financial management, it is helpful in business intelligence, data collection and financial overview. In production management, it plays a role in discreet manufacturing and process manufacturing. It has capabilities in CRM, and multi-channel retail and direct marketing, and wholesale distribution.
Ease of Use
Its ease of user allows for its use in variety of businesses, from start-ups to multi-site, multi-division organization across the spectrum of industry.
End User Support
SAP
It is an ERP software through which you can promote profitable sales and interaction channels, reduce administrative costs, and ensure customer satisfaction through timely, accurate information.
Cost
The price of package ranges from $25,000 to $250,000 for user range of 25 to 1000 or 54,000 users .
Compatibility with Current System and Work Flow Processes
It follows the SQA architecture, and for database platform it depends on MS SQL Server; Progress; IBM DB2; Oracle etc. It runs on Mac OS, Linux, Windows, UNIX, Novell, and Netware. It is incompatible with SaaS.
Functionality
It comes in handy in inventory material management; sales and sales order management; financial reporting, accounting overview, banking & reconciliation; and cost accounting. It is also useful in e-commerce and e-learning.
End User Support
Through e-learning
Plex Online
It is manufacturing software that provides unparalleled coverage and access to operational intelligence. Managers make decisions based on real time data that continuous improvement and lean management.
Cost
It cost $5000 per month per user. The user range is 20 to over 1000 .
Functionality
It follows SaaS Multitenant SOA. It is compatible with wide range of database platform such as; MS SQL Server, Progress, IBM DB2, Oracle, ODBC etc. It runs on following operating system; Linux, Windows, Unix, Novell Netware, Solaris, etc. It has a modern and contemporary interface which is more along the lines of consumer software products than traditional enterprise products.
Ease of Use
It has been designed with user flexibility in mind, and services and support can be adjusted match production. It also incorporates the flexibility of application with real time functions allowing managers to increase and decrease production with the demand. It is directed towards small to medium sized manufacturing industries aerospace, automotive, food and beverage etc.
End User Support
It is sold primarily on subscription basis, and they claim that the usage cost is typically lower than that of installed software. The clients don’t have to make any investment in IT infrastructure and therefore can avoid lengthy deployment schedules.
Works Cited
ERP Focus. (n.d.). ERP Product Comparison. Retrieved from ERP Focus: http://www.erpfocus.com/erp-product-comparison.html
Software Advice. (n.d.). NetSuite ERP Software. Retrieved from Software Advice: http://erp.softwareadvice.com/netsuite-profile/
Top10ERP. (n.d.). ERP Software Systems Index for Manufacturing. Retrieved from Top10ERP: http://www.top10erp.org/erp-software-comparison-discrete-manufacturing-mfgmode-127
