Leading ERP Products
Leading ERP Products
The ERP market constitutes products from dozens of vendors of all sizes. This appendix reviews the key features and distinguishing characteristics of the industry leaders, including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, and Soft- Brands. The purpose is to provide overview and insight into the underlying philosophies of these vendors.
Specific system characteristics and functionality, however, undergo changes on a regular basis. To obtain current
and detailed information on these products, the reader should visit the vendors’ Web pages.
SAP
Founded in 1972, SAP is the leader in providing collaborative business solutions. By April 2005, it had an estimated 12 million users worldwide with more than 88,700 installations and more than 1,500 partners. The customer list consists of firms of all sizes in 26 different industries, including aerospace, auto- mobile, banking, chemicals, consumer goods, higher education, post office, and utilities.
For years, SAP R/3 software had been the leading ERP software, providing comprehensive functions that integrate virtually all major business processes within the enterprise. Recently, SAP developed a family of my SAP products as replacements for R/3. SAP is offering upgrades from R/3 to my SAP for current R/3 customers. SAP R/3 customers who wish to continue with R/3 may do so, but SAP will stop supporting the system in 2012. New SAP customers, however, will be unable to purchase SAP R/3. In the future, my SAP will be the focus of all SAP sales activity.
KEY FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
my SAP ERP comes with four individual solutions that support key business processes: my SAP ERP Financials, my SAP ERP Operations, my SAP ERP Human Capital Management, and my SAP ERP Corporate Service.
my SAP ERP Financials
FINANCIAL AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING. my SAP ERP Financials supports both financial accounting and managerial accounting. Financial accounting functions help users comply with international accounting standards, such as GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It also supports the legal and accounting requirements resulting from European market and currency unification.
Using the financial accounting functions, users can perform the activities of general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, fixed asset accounting, cash journal accounting, inventory accounting, tax accounting, accrual accounting, fast close, financial statements, and parallel valuation.
Using the managerial accounting functions of my SAP ERP Financials, users can perform the activities of profit center accounting, cost center and internal order accounting, project accounting, investment management, product cost accounting, profitability accounting, and transfer pricing.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. The solution includes new tools that support corporate governance projects, including:
• Management of Internal Controls
It certifies the accuracy of quarterly and annual financial statements and disclosures. Meanwhile, it designs, establishes, and maintains disclosure controls and procedures. Moreover, the solution evaluates and reports the effectiveness of those controls and procedures and indicates any significant changes, including discrepancies that have occurred since the most recent evaluation.
• Management of the Audit of Accounting Information System
my SAP ERP Financials includes an auditor’s toolbox to help users comply with corporate governance requirements, such as Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The solution enables audit trails to the document level, tests users’ financial system security controls, and provides structure control reports for better auditing.
• Management of Whistleblower Complaints
my SAP ERP Financials includes whistleblower functions that support Section 301 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act, allowing stakeholders to send and analyze anonymous complaints.
• Management of Capital and Risk
my SAP ERP Financials supports the requirements of Basel II by enabling users to evaluate the capital adequacy frameworks used to analyze risk levels and allowing users to create a reporting framework and analytical workbench that operate with central bank data.
FINANCIAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT. my SAP ERP Financials includes features and functions to support financial SCM activities such as electronic invoicing and payments, dispute management, collections management, credit management, cash and liquidity management, and treasury and risk management.
my SAP ERP Operations
my SAP ERP Operations provides solutions for procurement and logistics execution, product development and manufacturing, and sales and service. The solution also provides powerful analytical tools for better decision making.
PROCUREMENT AND LOGISTICS EXECUTION. my SAP ERP Operations enables users to man- age end-to-end logistics for complete business cycles, including purchase-to-pay and make-to-order cycles.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING. mySAP ERP Operations enables core de- velopment and manufacturing activities. The solution provides features and functions in production plan- ning, manufacturing execution, asset management, product development, and data management.
SALES AND SERVICES. mySAP ERP Operations supports core sales and services processes, includ- ing sales order management, aftermarket sales and service, and global trade services across SAP and non- SAP systems. It also helps users manage incentive and commission programs.
mySAP ERP Human Capital Management
The solution provides integrated, enterprise-wide functionality in human resource management. It helps users to identify, recruit, and track most qualified employees. With SAP Learning Solution, it enables enterprises to manage and integrate business learning processes. It functions to integrate team and individual goals with corporate-level goals and strategies. Moreover, its performance management could link management objectives to performance review and appraisal and support a performance-oriented com- pensation process. In addition, mySAP Human Capital Management helps users to implement different reward strategies. Companies can perform comparative compensation package analysis based on internal and external salary data to ensure competitiveness in the marketplace.
WORKFORCE PROCESS MANAGEMENT. mySAP ERP Human Capital Management supports all basic processes related to personnel and employee information management. Through a centralized data- base, employees and management have instant access to up-to-date, consistent, complete information. The solution supports key processes for managing and disseminating organizational structure and policy information. It facilitates effective time management strategies and provides convenient tracking, monitoring, re- cord keeping, and evaluation of time data. It also enables users to handle complex payroll processes.
The solution supports current legal regulations for more than 50 countries worldwide, besides ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for reporting purposes. Accordingly, it supports all processes involved in international employee relocation, from the planning and preparation of global assignments to personnel administration and payroll for global employees. Advanced features address considerations such as national currency, multiple languages, collective agreements, and reporting.
WORKFORCE DEPLOYMENT. mySAP ERP Human Capital Management provides comprehensive support for project resource planning that ensures employees are assigned to appropriate jobs, projects, and teams. The solution uses a portfolio management paradigm to unify project management, time track- ing, financial data, and employee skills information. It facilitates workforce deployment across other SAP solutions, which enables businesses to create project teams based on skills and availability, monitor project progress, track time, and analyze results. It supports call center scheduling, which is based on fore- casted call volume and shift schedules. It schedules retail staff based on customer volume, shift schedules, and skills.
mySAP ERP Corporate Services
mySAP ERP Corporate Services supports and optimizes both centralized and decentralized administrative processes. It can be tailored to meet specific requirements for transparency and control, as well as reduced financial and environmental risk, in the real estate, project portfolio, travel and environment, and health and safety management. It also enables a unified approach to total quality management, delivering efficiencies that result from fewer product returns and improved asset utilization. It has strong quality control and maintaining function so that it could react quickly when unexpected issues arise throughout the prod- uct life cycle.
Oracle | PeopleSoft
Founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Oracle was the first database management system to incorporate the SQL language. Oracle is also the first software company to develop and deploy 100 percent Internet- enabled enterprise software across its entire product line: database, business applications, and application development and decision support tools. Oracle is one of the world’s leading suppliers of software for in- formation management.
Oracle acquired PeopleSoft on January 18, 2005 (and PeopleSoft completed the acquisition of J.D. Edwards in July 2003). For the PeopleSoft Enterprise and J.D. Edwards EnterpriseOne product lines, the combined companies plan to develop and release a subsequent version of each and plan to continue to enhance and support the PeopleSoft product lines until at least 2013.
ORACLE E-BUSINESS SUITE
Oracle E-Business Suite is a complete and integrated set of enterprise applications. Oracle uses a single, unified data model that stores information for all applications in one place. Its Financial Services supports documentation and auditing for compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulations, and the Manufacturing/High technology provides option-dependent sourcing, automated spare parts return and repair processing, international drop shipment, and distribution planning.
PEOPLESOFT ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
PeopleSoft Enterprise is built on its Pure Internet Architecture technology and designed for complex business requirements. It includes Campus Solutions, which University of Michigan and other universities are using, Customer Relationship Management, Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Service Automation, Supplier Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management, Asset Management, and Enterprise Performance Management Product Modules.
J.D. EDWARDS ENTERPRISEONE
Edwards Enterprise One is a complete suite of modular, preintegrated, industry-specific business applications designed for rapid deployment and ease of administration on a pure Internet architecture. It is ideally suited for organizations that manufacture, construct, distribute, service, or manage products or physical assets. Enterprise One includes functionality of Asset Lifecycle Management, Customer Relation Management, Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Project Management, and Procurement Management.
Microsoft
Microsoft Dynamics is a family of integrated business applications for small and midsize organizations and divisions of large enterprises. It provides applications and services for retailers, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and service companies. The Microsoft Dynamics series includes Dynamics GP,
Dynamics AX, Dynamics SL, and others. These solutions are ready to work with widely used productivity applications, like Microsoft Office, and technologies such as Microsoft Windows Server System and Microsoft.NET.
MICROSOFT DYNAMICS GP
Microsoft purchased this accounting software package from Great Plains Software in 2001. Formerly known as Great Plains 8.0, Dynamics GP focuses on the business-process needs for lower midmarket businesses and is scalable to meet the requirements of complex business processes for upper midmarket and corporate firms. Dynamics GP offers integrated capabilities for financial management, distribution, manufacturing, project accounting, human resource management, field service management, and business analytics. Dynamics GP delivers deep access to decision-driving information and a rapid return on investment, as well as expert, dedicated customer service.
MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX
Dynamics AX is a multilanguage, multicurrency ERP solution with core strengths in manufacturing and e- business together with strong functionality for the wholesale distribution and business services industries.
Dynamics AX offers a full range of functionality to control manufacturing and production. At any time, users can measure specific costs associated with employees, machinery, and products. Its capabilities regarding material planning help users project long-term needs, foresee fluctuations in demand, and adjust plans accordingly. Users can manage the shop floor more effectively by reducing manual entry, and enable employee information such as time registration and payroll to be accessed through a Web site.
By collecting and analyzing production-related information, such as work hours and production activities, users can improve cost control. For project management, Dynamics AX uses Gantt charts to pro- vide a detailed illustration of scheduled elements. Users can define their own Gantt plans and envision the production flow from one machine to another. Because of the online configuration, products can be generated online and with greater precision. At the same time, users can open the system to customers and ven- dors so that they can configure their own products, submit orders, and view an expected delivery date via the Internet. The full graphical suite, including version control, helps users design and maintain bills of materials.
MICROSOFT DYNAMICS SL
Dynamics SL is a robust, flexible solution built to meet the needs of project-centric and distribution- driven companies. It also boosts employee efficiency by providing real-time data access through a Web- based interface.
Sage Software
Sage Software offers automated business management solutions including accounting, human resources, payroll, fixed asset management, customer relationship management, and e-commerce software. The most powerful member of the Sage software family is MAS 500.
MAS 500 is a complete enterprise management solution that was developed to help companies manage and streamline operations. This SQL server-based software system automates all areas of busi- ness management including Core and Advanced Financials, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Project Accounting (including time and expense tracking), Wholesale Distribution, Discrete Manufacturing, Warehouse Management, Human Resources and Payroll, e-Business, and Business Intelligence.
MAS 500’s recent version 7.0 includes new warehouse management and business intelligence modules that enhance workflow throughout an organization. MAS 500 Suite is the only application in the enterprise market developed from the start exclusively for Microsoft platforms and is designed to support the latest features of current Microsoft releases.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
Manufacturing
The program streamlines the entire manufacturing process and helps users respond quickly to customer demands. Advanced capabilities include project management, routings, bills of materials, work orders, MRP, scheduling, job costing, and labor reporting.
Distribution
Ideal for larger distributors with multiple warehouses, MAS 500 optimizes the supply chain, improving productivity and workflow. It also reduces inventory carrying and shipping costs and manages customer returns quickly and efficiently.
Project Accounting
MAS 500 gives project-driven businesses the control to reduce cost overruns, improve cash flow, closely track progress, and capture every billable hour.
Soft Brands
SoftBrands is a leader in providing next-generation enterprise software for businesses in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors. It has more than 4,000 customers in more than 60 countries.
The Fourth Shift Edition for SAP Business One was provided by Soft Brands to meet the unique needs of dynamic small and midsize businesses. The Fourth Shift Edition enables emerging companies to streamline their operational and managerial processes with SAP-centric solution.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
Custom Products Manufacturing
Custom Products Manufacturing helps users to plan and control make-to-order and engineer-to-order products. Users can price custom products by having retail prices established and, as the custom product is configured, roll up the retail prices for a final sales price. Users can alternatively price custom products based on accumulating the component costs and applying a markup. Users can easily estimate and track job costs, schedule production, control inventory and purchasing, manage job configurations, and improve customer order processing. Users can respond quickly to quotation requests and customer inquiries, which improves customer service. Users can promise valid delivery dates based on availability of material and meet users’ promises using Fourth Shift to coordinate purchasing, manufacturing, and ship- ping activities. The Fourth Shift Edition could help users improve job cost estimating, quicken job configuration processes, manage job-related activities, and track job status and actual-versus-estimated job costs.
Trace and Serialization
The functions of Lot Trace and Serialization help users gain control over raw materials and finished goods to improve quality, prevent waste, and provide better customer service. Fourth Shift Edition Lot Trace/Serialization allows users to track lot-traced items throughout the manufacturing process, from receiving through shipping. Serial numbers can be assigned to items at the time of shipment. The Fourth Shift Edition could help users improve quality control, prevent waste, and improve customer satisfaction.
For further information, please visit the following companies’ Web sites.
1. www.sap.com
Comments
Post a Comment