FEATURE: ERP
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AI features. Robotic Process Automation
promises and also delivers huge efficiency
and ROI factor to the ERP application
especially on the most routine data entry
jobs, which takes hundreds of man hours
at almost 5% to 10% of the cost and
works more efficiently than the most
efficient users.
How do you cater for
different verticals?
Terri Hiskey, Vice President of
Product Marketing for Manufacturing
at Epicor Software
With common base modules like financials
and supply chain management, vertical
specific modules are developed, which sit
on top of these modules and get integrated
thereby removing the duplication of tasks
WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE
NEED FOR ERP SOFTWARE THAT
CAN MANAGE VARIOUS MODES OF
MANUFACTURING IN SUB-VERTICALS.
What questions should an
enterprise looking to deploy an
ERP system ask of vendors that
supply such solutions?
• Is your solution delivered in the cloud or
on-premises or both?
• What is the difference in the on-premises
version versus the cloud solution?
• How safe is my data in the cloud?
• How can I get my workforce trained and
excited to use this solution?
• Can your analytics provide our executives
with dashboard views into what is going
on with the business?
• Can you share with me some success
stories of other companies who are
similar to me that have achieved their
goals using your solution?
ALI HYDER, GROUP CEO OF
FOCUS SOFTNET
Can you tell us about the latest
developments in ERP solutions?
Most of the ERPs are gearing towards
integrated Robotic Process Automation and
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INTELLIGENTCIO
and giving real-time analysis of various
departments. With mobile apps, the
vertical applications get more hands-on
for all stakeholders including the customers
and vendors.
What are the main benefits
an enterprise should profit
from following an ERP
implementation?
Critical business decisions based on
business intelligence gathered from an ERP
system is a major benefit, which helps the
organisation increase revenues and reduce
cost. With proper ERP, the business should be
able to know where the costs are higher and
have margin for increasing efficiency and
with proper forecasting and trend analysis
revenues can be maximised.
Another important aspect is the optimum
utilisation of the resources, thereby increasing
overall efficiency and customer satisfaction.
What questions should an
enterprise looking to deploy an
ERP system ask of vendors that
supply such solutions?
More important than asking the vendor
about the application, the enterprise should
analyse the requirements internally and look
for references within the industry as to which
ERP application is used by them, for how
long and with what level of satisfaction.
Doing internal homework is more important
than depending on the promises of the
vendor on deliveries. One should also look
at the brand and market reputation of the
service provider. n
When an enterprise is
looking to deploy an ERP
solution what are the factors
they need to consider?
Earlier ERP deployments were considered
very complex and a difficult job but of late
the implementation has become much
easier with ready-made templates catered to
each vertical. Plus, online cloud accessibility
ensures minimum problems with respect to
infrastructural issues.
Nonetheless, it is imperative that the scope
of ERP and the critical functions of the
business are clearly laid out to avoid any
issues at the last minute of go-live. It is also
important to understand the features and
functionalities available in the ERP that is
being considered for deployment as not all
ERPs have all the features even though basic
modules are common across all ERPs.
Ali Hyder, Group CEO of Focus Softnet
www.intelligentcio.com