Product lifecycle management (PLM) heavyweights Dassault Systemes and UGS Corp. closed out 2005 on a high note, both hitting the billion-dollar mark, enjoying double-digit revenue gains that surpassed the industry average as well as benefiting from healthy increases in sales of PDM (product data management) software.“PLM Heavyweights UGS, Dassault Break Billion-Dollar Mark” a Managing Automation� news article
ERP Blog
BI Market To Reach $2.5 Billion This Year | Gartner: BI Market To Reach $2.5 Billion This Year | February 7, 2006
New license revenue in the worldwide business intelligence software market will hit $2.5 billion in 2006, an increase of 6.2 percent over last year, according to research firm Gartner.
The Stamford, Conn.-based firm further projects ongoing growth through 2009, when license revenue is expected to reach $3 billion. The findings, based on a Gartner survey of 1,400 CIOs, indicate that business intelligence has surpassed security as the top technology priority this year.
RFID: A Technology Overview
Here is a good tutorial on the components of RFID:
1.2 RFID System
An RFID system is an integrated collection of components that implement an RFID solution.
An RFID system consists of the following components (in singular form) from an end-to-end perspective:
* Tag. This is a mandatory component of any RFID system.
* Reader. This is a mandatory component, too.
* Reader antenna. This is another mandatory component. Some current readers available today have built-in antennas
* Controller. This is a mandatory component. However, most of the new-generation readers have this component built in to them.
* Sensor, actuator, and annunciator. These optional components are needed for external input and output of the system.
* Host and software system. Theoretically, an RFID system can function independently without this component. Practically, an RFID system is close to worthless without this component.
* Communication infrastructure. This mandatory component is a collection of both wired and wireless network and serial connection infrastructure needed to connect the previously listed components together to effectively communicate with each other.
The Entire Tutorial can be found at:
RFID: A Technology Overview
Manufacturers raid piggybanks for ERP and RFID – Applications – Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
This is an older article, but has some good points on how RFID and ERP will be used in the coming year. The key point that it makes is that middle ware is one of the stepping stones that will link the two systems together.
Currently middle ware or the software between the RFID system and the ERP is the weakest link. This will get better but that is where the dollars are being spent to make the integration happen.
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Analyst house Datamonitor has found that by 2010, the market for radio frequency identification will top $6bn, as pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods and automotive industries start to spend on tracking their products.
Datamonitor predicts the boom will really take off at the latter half of next year, as initial pilots are wound up, results analysed and full-scale rollouts started.
The UK and Germany will be leading the way on RFID spending at least until 2010.
Manufacturers raid piggybanks for ERP and RFID – Applications – Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com
Manufacturing CIOs will be spending their budgets on RFID and ERP this year.
SAP R/3 Security in the Sarbanes OXley Era – 7 Steps for Better SOX Compliance
An interesting article on how to focus in on Sarbanes Oxley with your ERP:
7 major pointers which can help organizations towards better SAP security in the Sarbanes Oxley Era.Big4Guy – SAP R/3 Security in the Sarbanes OXley Era – 7 Steps for Better SOX Compliance
Integrated Solutions – RFID Required: LEGO’s Integrated RFID System
You’ve probably heard the stories of frustration with RFID: high overheads and little returns, constant implementation challenges, and business benefits that will be realized someday. So I’m sure you’l be as floored as I was when you hear LEGO Systems, Inc.’s story. Pat McGrath, project manager, distribution, Americas; and Gary Deets, applications manager, global IT, are so positive about RFID that you’d think they’re speaking pure conjecture, or at the very least, a bunch of marketing fluff. But, they aren’t. McGrath and Deets are speaking from real experience, from implementing an RFID solution into a LEGO DC (distribution center) to comply with both Wal-Mart’s and Target’s mandates – compliance they gained three months ahead of schedule.Integrated Solutions – RFID Required: LEGO’s Integrated RFID System
Corporate ERP of the Next decade: Microsoft/Unix/Java – Coexistence & Harmony?
Andrew Karasev
While in 1990th we saw very fierce fighting between Microsoft Windows and Apple Computer PowerMac for the workstations market, when two systems were practically not compatible and didn’t have plans to understand each other, plus all the blends of Unix/Linux were trying to step in and take workstation market over, the next decade in our opinion will be the decade of coexistence, integration, cross-platform heterogeneous data distribution and querying. Good example would be this – imagine you are freight forwarder and your company has Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains implemented as accounting and partly distribution application and on the other hand you have Oracle based cargo delivery / tracking system. You do not have to phase out one or the other – you make them coexist: if you need Great Plains user to lookup shipment status – you use heterogeneous query from MS SQL Server (Great Plains) to Oracle via linked server and have instant result set on the screen. Similar heterogeneous query you can have from Oracle side to MS SQL Server. Let’s look at the trends:
• XML – is platform independent way to communicate: transfer inbound/outbound streams of data. This is the sign of future coexistence and it is very simple in reading and understanding by human being
• IT Budget. Evolution versus Revolution: the old days of restructuring your company business operation around new computer system are probably over. Nowadays IT budget is pretty limited and corporate management considers IT as regular (not elite) internal services department. So – you, as IT manager or director has limited resources to revolutionize the company, so you follow the step-by-step evolution
• The sunset of proprietary languages. Good example is Great Plains Dexterity – this is the core of recent Microsoft Great Plains, former Great Plains Dynamics. Dexterity had the history of evolution, and now it is using SQL Stored procs to do the majority of database querying and updating, Microsoft plans to phase it slowly out and replace with the future .Net language of choice (not sure which one will win: C# or VB.Net – but this is not important at this moment). In the close future SQL with XML inbound/outbound will be the language of integrations
• The end of heavy custom programming. At least in the US – majority of the project will be outsourced. In the USA we will be mostly dealing with project management and specifications writing, plus physical hardware support. Even if you are dealing with, say Microsoft Business Solutions partner in San Francisco – partner itself will be using either overseas facility or simply contractors over there. When the majority of us will become project managers, thinking about business logic, not the way of realizing it in the code – we will stop heating the opposite platform –no more Microsoft VB.Net programmer hatred toward Java/EJB/J2EE programmer
We are already doing cross platform integrations from Microsoft Business Solutions products: Microsoft CRM, Great Plains to Oracle, DB2, Lotus and other databases, plus Microsoft CRM email messaging through Lotus Domino to begin realize the strategy
Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving clients in Chicago, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Arizona, Minnesota, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is CMA, Great Plains Certified Master, Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.
What You Need to Know About CRM
Frank Dazerton
Customer Relationship Management (abbreviated CRM) is a very hot topic among businesses. CRM is such a hot topic because it is a way for businesses to connect with their customers, increase profits, and have better customer service. There are several things that you need to know about CRM.
1. It’s all about the customer. Some companies focus too much on expensive CRM programs and elaborate IT departments and not enough on what is at the core of CRM. CRM programs need to be designed to appeal to the business’ customers. The best Call Centers are the ones which customers find easy to navigate. The best CRM vendors have the customer satisfaction in mind when designing their CRM applications.
2. On-demand is the way to go. Many vendors offer traditional CRM programs and service. I believe, however, that On-demand CRM is the way to go. On-demand CRM is different from traditional methods in that instead of requiring companies to hire new IT people, and use extensive resources to implement elaborate CRM programs, the software comes with support. On-demand CRM is no longer the “bring your own IT department†approach. Many vendors like Salesforce.com, Siebel, and NetSuite offer On-demand solutions that are great for businesses just getting into the CRM market.
3. Customer Relationship Management is not just software. Some businesses would like it to be simply software, but it will never be as simple as that. Customer Relationship Management is an ongoing learning process. The business must learn from the customer and change accordingly. The closer a business gets to its customer, the better. CRM applications and strategies are the methods through which the business can access, analyze, and learn from customer Data. Knowing what CRM applications are actually for is a very important step in understanding how to be successful when implementing CRM practices.
4. It is important to understand that there are hundreds of CRM vendors out there. Many of the vendors claim to be number one, but if you look closely, they may be number one in only one category. Other companies say that they are number one in CRM, but there is no basis for their statement. It is important for companies to choose the right vendor that will attend to all of their CRM needs. This may not always be the most expensive, “number one†company. On the contrary, some simple companies offer CRM solutions that are highly effective. Some of the major CRM providers are Siebel, Salesforce.com, NetSuite, IBM, Microsoft, and SAP.
5. The best CRM technology can be very helpful for any business. Some CRM applications can now be accessed via BlackBerry devices. Major vendors are constantly updating their software and improving their service. It is a good idea to stay as current as possible in terms of CRM technology. However, always remember to balance technology with customer service. There is no substitute for old-fashioned customer service, the most basic of all CRM ideals.
Customer Relationship Management can be very beneficial for a business if it is carried out properly. It is important to keep the customer in mind at all times when you are implementing CRM practices into your business. Remember that there are quite a few CRM vendors out there, and it is important to choose the vendor that is best for your company. Customer Relationship Management seems like a very daunting idea for someone who has never used it before, but if you follow these steps, you will surely see the benefits of successful CRM.
Frank Dazerton enjoys writing about a variety of Custromer Relationship Management topics. In addition to writing CRM articles, he writes for CRM Lowdown ( www.crmlowdown.com ).
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