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An ERP who owns who

If you have been around even a short time in the ERP software business as either a user or a provider, you are sure to know of the latest acquisitions. The big ones of course are all the companies Infor bought as well as the Oracle mega mergers of PeopleSoft/JDE. Here is a website dedicated to tracking these acquisitions, called fittingly enough The ERP Graveyard.

The ERP Graveyard has a spreadsheet of acquisitions going back to the 1990’s. So if you are interested in what happened to so-and-so software, you might find your answer to dead ERPs here.

The top 20 ERP implementation tips

Stumbling through various ERP websites, we came across this article that shows some of the key factors for doing an implementation correctly. You should probably read this one…

The top 20 ERP implementation tips
By Jan Stafford, Site Editor
22 Jun 2005 | SearchOpenSource.com

An enterprise resource planning ERP software project can be daunting for first-timers or veterans handling a migration. Get started on the right foot with the top 20 ERP implementation tips from Linux users, consultants and vendors.The top 20 ERP implementation tips

A Closer Look at the ERP Software Solution

Here is a basic overview of ERP. For people just starting it is a beginning primer on ERP software.

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A Closer Look at the ERP Software Solution
Mike Piotrowski

ERP Solution

Information technology has not only transformed the way we live in modern society, but also the way in which we do business. Enterprise Resource Planning, often referred to as ERP, is becoming one of the most commonly used software systems in several industries and organizations. The object of this article is to provide pertinent highlights about exactly what ERP is.

The definition of Enterprise Resource Planning refers to not only software but also the business strategies employed as part of the implementation of ERP systems. This implementation makes use of various software applications in order to improve the performances of organizations in resource planning, control of operations, and control of management.

ERP software contains several software modules that work to integrate vital activities across operating departments. An ERP System not only includes the ERP Software but also the business processes and hardware that make this system work. These systems are more than the sums of their parts as the many components work together in order to achieve one common objective-to provide an organization with a greatly improved and streamlined business process.

History of ERP

ERP has been well over 20 years in the making. This system is the result of the trial, error, and growth of Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) during the 80s. MRP was the evolution of Inventory Management and Control, which was conceived during the 1960s. ERP has grown beyond the coordination of manufacturing processes into the integration of back end processing on very large scales. From its origins as a legacy implementation ERP has morphed into a new and improved client-server architecture.

Benefits of ERP

This software attempts to bring all aspects of the business into one single enterprise-wide database or information system. This allows instantaneous information and communications to be shared between multiple departments. The primary benefit of this is a greatly improved efficiency in business operations. Implementing this system will not only help communications between departments but in day-to-day management functions as well. ERP is an ambitious design that also supports the resource planning part of corporate planning as this is often the weakest link in strategic planning as the result of the inadequate integration of ERP software with Decision Support Systems.

ERP Failures

It would be quite rude to conclude without at least mentioning the fact that failures in this system are occasionally reported in one of the four components of an ERP System. These systems are: ERP software, Business processes supported by the ERP System, Users of the ERP Systems, and the hardware and/or operating systems upon which the ERP applications are actually run. The failure of one or more of these components has the potential to cause the entire ERP project to fail.

Ontech Systems of Milwaukee Wisconsin, is committed to making a difference in your business through the productive use of computers, networks, software and the vast array of products and services we offer. Contact Michael Piotrowski, President of Ontech Systems to discuss a new ERP business solution for your company today.

5 Minute Guide to ERP

Natalie Aranda

Information technology has transformed the way we live and the way we do business. ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning, is one of most widely implemented business software systems in a wide variety of industries and organizations. In this short article, well try to concisely explain the basic yet important concepts relevant to ERP.

What is ERP – ERP is the acronym of Enterprise Resource Planning. ERP definition refers to both ERP software and business strategies that implement ERP systems. ERP implementation utilizes various ERP software applications to improve the performance of organizations for 1) resource planning, 2) management control and 3) operational control. ERP software consists of multiple software modules that integrates activities across functional departments – from product planning, parts purchasing, inventory control, product distribution, to order tracking. Most ERP software systems include application modules to support common business activities – finance, accounting and human resources.
ERP Systems – ERP is much more than a piece of computer software. A ERP System includes ERP Software, Business Processes, Users and Hardware that run the ERP software. An ERP system is more than the sum of its parts or components. Those components interact together to achieve a common goal – streamline and improve organizations business processes.
History of ERP – The history of ERP has been more than 20 years. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the evolution of Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP) II in 1980s, while MRP is the evolution of Inventory Management & Control conceived in 1960s. ERP has expanded from coordination of manufacturing processes to the integration of enterprise-wide backend processes. In terms of technology, ERP has evolved from legacy implementation to more flexible tiered client-server architecture.
Benefits of ERP – ERP software attempts to integrate business processes across departments onto a single enterprise-wide information system. The major ERP benefits are improved coordination across functional departments and increased efficiencies of doing business. The implementation of ERP systems help facilitate day-to-day management as well. ERP software systems is originally and ambitiously designed to support resource planning portion of strategic planning. In reality, resource planning has been the weakest link in ERP practice due to the complexity of strategic planning and lack of adequate integration of ERP with Decision Support Systems (DSS).
ERP Failures – We couldnt conclude our brief guide to ERP without mentioning ERP failures. The failure of multi-million dollar ERP projects are reported once in a while even after 20 years of ERP implementation. We have identified the four components of an ERP System – 1) ERP software, 2) Business Processes that ERP software supports, 3) Users of ERP systems, and 4) Hardware and Operating Systems that run ERP applications. The failures in one or more of those four components could cause the failure of an ERP project.
Natalie Aranda writes about business and information technology.

ERP – Army Style

Stumbling around the web, we came across a great ERP reference site. This site is the US Army’s ERP/SOA Resource Center. Its own description is as follows:
As the Army embarks on transforming its warfighting capabilities, it is imperarive that the Business Capabilities / Enablers / Processes transform to support the warfighter. ERP systems provide an integrated suite of Information Techonology applications that support the end-to-end business operations of an entire organization. The ERP Resource Center is designed to provide Enterprise Process Owners, Program Executive Officers, Program Managers, and others involved in the Business Transformation of the Army with detailed information, supporting documents, and tools and techniques regarding the use of ERP systems.

This site is filled with useful information.Â It is not helpful if you are a small company looking for an ERP system other than to guide you in an overview of what ERP is and does.Â There is a glossary online there too, but it is government focused.Â If however you are implementing a Tier 1 package, then this gives a lot of good information.

Revenue and Receivables Management: Myths and Truths About ERP

Do you take best of breed or do you find a single source? The question of whether to implement multiple solutions that fit the specific niche areas of your business or to implement a single platform, single database solution of a modern ERP system.

There is an interesting article that debunks the myths of going best of breed. Taken with an accounting slant, this article does point out some of the key considerations an IT manager must make when considering whether to implement specialized solutions or to roll out a single ERP system:

Revenue and Receivables Management: Myths and Truths About ERP

By Sanjay Srivastava

Six myths about ERP debunked

Enterprise resource planning ERP technology has a proven history of delivering value to todays corporations by enabling a centralized information warehouse to be leveraged enterprise-wide. However, ERP has a broad focus, and best-of-breed BoB applications have been developed to provide the depth of functionality required by key functional areas, such as accounts receivable. As a result, corporations have long recognized the need for best-of-breed applications to bridge fill the void of ERPs functional limitations.

With ERPs broad focus, it is easy to believe that it can provide a single solution to all of your corporations challenges. However, it is important to know where the lines of reality and myth collide. There is no doubt that ERP plays a very crucial role in todays enterprise, but as with any technology, naturally there are functional limitations. It is crucial to understand what these limitations are.

Read the Article here…

Best Practices in ERP Software Selection

This is a great post that gets right to the point about ERP Selections:

Best Practices in ERP Software Selection
Posted 8/2/2006 by Eric Kimberling (ERP Consultant)

ERP vendor selection can be a daunting task, and one that is often not given the appropriate attention. CIOs or other executives in charge of making such major decisions often make decisions based on perception, gut feel, or faulty information. For example, executives often choose ERP software vendors based on what competitors or other large companies have chosen. However, information such as this does not necessarily reflect what is appropriate or inappropriate for your specific company. Further, planning for a successful implementation involves more than choosing the right software; it also involves preparation to ensure that ERP enables measurable improvements to your business.
In choosing an ERP or IT software package and planning for the overall project, executives need to make decisions based on objective and unbiased information rather than gut feel. In particular, organizations should consider the following:
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Hugger-Mugger fixes goofed open source ERP implementation

Although this article is a year old, it shows how an IT centric approach to ERP will lead to problems. ERP should be a process centric approach with the software being an enabler to good processes:

Hugger-Mugger fixes goofed open source ERP implementation
By Jan Stafford, Editor
05 Jul 2005 | SearchOpenSource.com

The low cost and easy accessibility associated with open source applications make them very attractive to some companies. But, as yoga and exercise products manufacturer Hugger-Mugger discovered, love at first sight led to a hastily implemented and ultimately botched implementation of Compiere’s open source ERP.

Read Article…