Video: ERP Channel Partners – Can they Survive the Cloud?

ERP Channel Partners – Can they Survive the Cloud?

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, interviewed Microsoft’s Director of ERP Marketing, Guy Weismantel, about the latest updates to the Microsoft Dynamics ERP product line. The topic of discussion turned to ERP Channel Partners and how the cloud computing era will affect them.

Mr. Weismantel talks about how Microsoft ERP Channel Partners can adjust to the new marketplace where there is now hardware or software to install or maintain. Cloud computing brings a new way of doing business. Traditional resellers and implementors make money on both the licenses of the software, the hardware provided, and the service to install and configure the systems. But additionally, they should be making money from the value added services such as crafting the best solution for the client and providing an upsell opportunity. This is the area that will need to expand for these ERP Channel Partners to survive.

This is the third in a series of 7 videos that we will be posting.

How Can ERP Channel Partners Survive in the Cloud Era?

Getting More Microsoft Dynamics Information

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ERP Channel Partners

For information on the Microsoft ERP Channel Partner Program, please see http://partner.microsoft.com
ERP Channel Partners

Plex Online Cloud ERP now integrates with Salesforce.com

We normally do not publish press releases directly, but this is an exciting announcement. It is a step in the right direction, however, according to the article, it is only the Lead Management system that is integrated. We would have liked to have seen the whole Sales Force Automation process linked over to Plex, including Opportunity Management, but this is a good start.

Plex Online Cloud ERP Offers Customers Expanded Integration

Plex Systems partners with Revolution Group to offer seamless ERP, CRM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 4, 2011 — Plex Systems, Inc., provider of the No. 1 rated manufacturing ERP software, today announced additional functionality options for its Plex Online customers who use Salesforce.com.

With a range of ERP features in its comprehensive system, Plex Online is already one of the top SaaS / cloud computing manufacturing solutions. Manufacturers that use bothSalesforce.com and Plex Online in their business operations will benefit from the seamless integration of the two applications.

Together with implementation partner Revolution Group, Plex Systems researched how Plex Online and Salesforce.com could interface and created a fully cloud-based integration of the lead management process.

“Plex Online provides a complete suite of CRM tools for managing the total sales process, from powerful quote tracking and order entry modules, to release accounting and shipment tracking, to revenue reporting,” noted Patrick Fetterman, Plex Systems vice president. “Yet, for customers that must keep their Salesforce.com deployment, Plex Online will now be able to integrate with it. Teaming with Revolution Group, the integration with Salesforce.com is an opportunity to provide manufacturers with even more functionality.”

Launched as one of the original cloud computing companies in 1999, Salesforce.com reported annual earnings exceeded $1.3b in the fiscal year ending on January 31, 2010. Based on Salesforce.com’s real-time, multitenant architecture, the company’s platform and CRM applications have revolutionized the way companies collaborate and communicate with their customer.

About Revolution Group
Revolution Group, a Premier Plex Systems Implementation Partner and Registered Salesforce.com Partner, has been delivering solid, business-driven IT solutions and services to manufacturers since 1995. Revolution Group combines technology, a broad understanding of business best practices, and the best hardware and software alternatives to help bring clients cost-effective, reliable and scalable solutions. Their expertise in Plex Online implementation ensures clients the competitive advantage that technology promises. For more information, visit www.revolutiongroup.com.

About Plex Systems, Inc.
Plex Systems, Inc. is the developer of Plex Online, a SaaS ERP (software as a service) cloud ERP solution for the manufacturing enterprise. Plex Online offers industry-leading features for virtually every department within a manufacturer, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Quality Management Systems (QMS) for the shop floor, Supply Chain Management (SCM) for procurement, and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for finance and management. Plex Online’s comprehensive functional coverage delivers a “shop floor to top floor” view of a manufacturer’s operations, enabling management to run its business at maximum efficiency. Founded in 1995, Plex Systems is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, with customers around the globe. Follow Plex Systems at twitter.com/PlexSystems. More information is available at www.plex.com.

Plex Systems and Plex Online are trademarks of Plex Systems, Inc.
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Markit Strategies and PR, LLC

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Cloud 2.0 is Here

Watching a recent Salesforce.com partner presentation, we got to see firsthand where the technology world is going specifically to Cloud 2.0. The age of Cloud 2.0 is here. We are moving from fixed environments to web-based, real-time environments. No longer are computers chained to the desktop, now the mobile worker is free to go anywhere.

More importantly, they are updated in real-time on the status of their coworkers, their projects, their subordinates, their customers, all through the new technology of Chatter, within Salesforce.com. If you haven’t heard of Chatter, think of it as Twitter for the corporation.

Social media such as Twitter and Facebook are creating a generation of people who expect real-time updates on their friends and co-workers. Being aware of what people are working on and how they are solving problems through collaborative technologies are more examples of Cloud 2.0. Facebook has become a giant part of the web. In fact, in the younger generation, Facebook is the web. In general, if not monitored, you are likely to find more people on Facebook than on their business systems at any time. So why not bring the power of Facebook to business systems? That is what Salesforce is attempting to do with Chatter.

With the release of the iPad, there is now a tablet based mobile technology that can bring the web vividly to anyone, anywhere. At first, we thought it was purely and entertainment platform, but the more we understand it, the more we see that Apple is now moving to both a mobile and web based computing platform. It could probably be the next generation of Macintoshes for the cloud generation. People are now able to create, produce, and develop from anywhere there is a cell phone signal (or wifi).

Comparing Cloud 2.0 to Legacy Computing

Here is Salesforce’s view of Cloud 2.0. This says a lot!

Cloud 1.0	Cloud 2.0
Amazon.com	Facebook
Tabs	Feeds
Pull	Push
Click	Touch
Desktop	Smartphone/Tablet
Fixed	Mobile
Location Unknown	Location aware
Windows/Mac	Cocoa/HTML5

No longer are we talking about managing a business from within the four walls of the company. Businesses can now operate virtually. Further, sales will love this new technology as they can prep for their meetings in the parking lot with real-time pushed data, they will be able to connect to their customers and build relationships and then report back immediately via their iPad to their CRM, and they will have real-time insight into everything about that client by way of the mobile web.

As you can see the combination of social media, interactive CRM and ERP, and mobile touch computing such as the iPhone or iPad are changing the landscape of computing and IT. It is an exciting time to be in technology!

Cloud 2.0

Are IT managers worried about cloud computing?

There is a new survey out that shows that IT Managers are not sold on the benefits of cloud computing. The primary reason is that these IT Managers view cloud computing as risky. The article portrays these IT leaders as being risk adverse and so they are careful not to expose their company’s data to all the potentials of being on the Internet.

Is it possible though, that they are avoiding the loss of control and the potential of losing their jobs, once executives realize that they can pay a lower monthly cost for a secure outsourced cloud computing solution? Many IT Managers like to be in control. They have the keys to the kingdom and are the gatekeepers to the most valuable asset in a corporation, the data. Giving up this control would require a tremendous change to their thinking.

Further, many may believe that they are best suited to protect this data asset. The ironic thing is that, in the article linked above, it points out that “Beyond the topic of cloud computing, the survey also found that employees often engage in behavior that puts their company at risk. Half of IT professionals said workers donâ€™t adequately protect confidential documents and 32 percent said workers use software and online services that were not authorized.” This just goes to prove that these IT Managers see themselves as the best ones for guarding the kingdom.

Alternatively, major SAAS players such as Salesforce.com implement carrier-level security such as Access control (including biometric scanning for access) and Physical Security, Environmental Controls, Power Management (including redundant generators), Network security (such as redundant networks) and Fire detection and Suppression. Additionally, all transactions are encrypted. These are strongly protected data stores. Only larger corporations maintain these levels of security. Further, many SAAS providers have dedicated security teams that maintain the highest level of security. Can a mid-sized company IT Manager say the same?

As such, it is probably more likely that privately these managers realize this and are actually fearing the loss of their job as more and more of their infrastructure is moved to the cloud. Just as moving from mainframes to PCs, it will be interesting to watch the transition from internal PC networks to cloud computing.

We are interested in knowing what you think on this topic. Please post your comments.