3       Conduct research on an ERP package, such as Microsoft Dynamics GP or Microsoft Dynamics NAV, for small – to – medium sized (SME) organizations  (between $30m and $ 1b in revenue). Compare that package for available modules, functionality, and so on to the SAP system.

If you are comparing two different ERP software solutions, you know how easy it can be to get bogged down in lists of features and modules and lose sight of your ultimate goal of finding a system that will help your business improve efficiencies to save you time and money. 

This is especially true when comparing Microsoft Dynamics GP and SAP Business One. Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains, and SAP Business One, sometimes called SB1, have very similar module/feature lists.  When feature lists are similar, you have to look beyond what the features are to how they function to determine which product is the right choice for your business. 

In a functional review of small- to mid-market ERP systems, the Accounting Library ranked Business One near the bottom in all five areas while Microsoft Dynamics GP was at or near the top of all five lists. The difference in functionality has a direct result on user productivity.  A 2007 analysis of the impact of ERP applications on people's productivity revealed that Microsoft Dynamics users on average scored Microsoft Dynamics 18 percent higher than SAP users scored SAP applications. 

Microsoft Dynamics GP works off of three core strengths to gain the functional upper-hand over SB1:

Works like and with OfficeAs a SQL-based Microsoft product, Dynamics GP works like and with Office products.  As a result, integrations with products like Outlook and Excel are seamless and available “out-of-the-box” for Microsoft Dynamics GP users.  Additionally, users already familiar with Office products will require less training on Microsoft Dynamics GP due to its Office-like interface.  On the flip-side, SAP is still working with Microsoft to build their integration to Office. 

Role-based home pagesWhile SAP Business One provides a traditional user interface with immediate access to all of its features, Microsoft Dynamics GP provides each of its users with an individualized, task-centric experience based on 20 pre-defined, customizable role templates and information views.  These role-based home pages save each user time by providing them with the information that is most relevant to them at all times.  They also streamline the way that information moves through the organization, protecting data and improving efficiency in every process. 

Enhanced data analysisSAP relies on ISV solutions for reporting and analytics functions.  On the other hand, Microsoft Dynamics GP enables you to analyze data from multiple angles using cubes within Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services.  Additionally, with Microsoft Dynamics GP’s SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder, Business Portal and direct integration with SharePoint, the possibilities for data analysis and collaboration are boundless. 

Due to the benefits derived from the enhanced functionality of Microsoft Dynamics GP, it can provide a lower total cost of ownership and a proven Return on Investment(ROI) for the feature set than SAP Business One.  By looking beyond the features to how they function, it is easy to see ways that Microsoft Dynamics GP can save your organization time and money when selecting a new ERP software solution.

SAP CLAIMS AND THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX TRUTH

SAP CLAIM 1: Microsoft Dynamics AX is more of a midmarket solution and is not appropriate for a large, complex business.

THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX TRUTH: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 supports the unique requirements for businesses in 36 countries—all from a single-instance deployment of the software. Multiple currencies, multiple time zones, multiple languages, and compliance with multiple banking and reporting standards and legislative codes give you the global coverage that you require. Furthermore,Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 has benchmarked performance of 5,200 users and 1 Million Lines per Hour across 10+ workloads.

SAP CLAIM 2: Microsoft requires a number of third party or ISV solutions to provide a complete offering.

THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX TRUTH: Microsoft Dynamics AX offers robust core functionality out of the box (feel free to review the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Capabilities brochure). Microsoft also uses ISV solutions to bring deep industry expertise to customers who required very specialized, industry-specific functionality that cannot be met by out-of-the-box solutions. Business partners who specialize in specific industry solutions provide rich insights and leading-edge business expertise - such as Merit Solutions' food safety (MAXFood) and Life Sciences quality and compliance (MAXLife) solutions for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

SAP CLAIM 3: Microsoft Dynamics AX offers too much flexibility, making compliance a challenge.

THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX TRUTH: By actively managing a balance between compliance requirements and agile business practices, organizations can minimize risk, increase operational efficiency, and successfully build a foundation on which to grow. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 has made key enhancements in compliance and auditing, enabling companies to enforce compliance in a consistent and cost effective manner, while streamlining business processes and improving efficiency across the organization. As noted above, for companies who required FDA compliance, our MAXLife and MAXFood solutions can provide further compliance support for those regulations.

SAP CLAIM 4: SAP’s Fast Start Program reduces the risk, time, and cost of implementing the solution.

THE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX TRUTH: Merit Solutions' Rapid On Implementation Methodology is designed to speed time to value and maximize return on investment - while minimizing the risk to your organization. The Rapid On implementation methodology reduces the cost, complexity, and time required to realize the benefits of your ERP investment. Every project is managed against a clearly defined scope, with a fixed, affordable price.

WHY CHOOSE MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX OVER SAP?

Here are the top five reasons why companies looking for new ERP solutions choose Microsoft Dynamics AX vs SAP: 

• Analyst Rankings. Gartner, Inc. identified Microsoft Dynamics AX as a Leader in its ERP Magic Quadrant (December, 2010). Nucleus Research ranked Microsoft Dynamics AX as a Lead in it's Value Matrix, which is based on functionality and usability (May, 2012). And Forrester Research found that Microsoft Dynamics AX is a Leader as an Order Management Solution (August, 2010). See Analyst Views below.
• Improve Employee Productivity. Inflexible systems overwhelm, overload, and frustrate people – the employees, managers, customers, vendors, and partners who are working hard to make things happen and grow your business. The easier a software application is to use, the faster employees are able to adopt it and thereby enable the organization to reap the benefits the system provides. And when you connect your people to the right processes across your company with a fully integrated business management solution that is familiar and easy to use, you are setting the stage for increased productivity and efficiency.
• Low Total Cost of Ownership. Independent research has demonstrated that, on the whole, Microsoft Dynamics AX offers a higher return on investment (ROI) and lower overall costs than other major competitive offerings. A recent survey by Panorama Consulting also found that Microsoft Dynamics had the highest percentage of users who realized between 81- and 100- percent of benefits compared to SAP and Oracle.
• Scale With Your Business. Microsoft Dynamics AX is designed to empower your people to be more productive and your systems to last longer, with the ability to scale to accommodate growth while delivering the insight you need to respond quickly in an ever-changing world of business. Expand business opportunities, modify processes, and differentiate your business with comprehensive ERP software that provides unprecedented agility that makes it easy to adapt, grow, and change.
• Flexible Deployment Options. Microsoft Dynamics AX offers deployment options that give you choice today and flexibility for the future. Companies can deploy Microsoft Dynamics AX on-premises or in a Cloud ERP model with a single ERP solution that can be implemented all at once, or in phases according to your needs.

PROVEN VALUE / RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Nucleus Research has found that Microsoft Dynamics AX customers achieve returns in areas of increased visibility, increased productivity, and reduced costs:

• Users moving from disparate systems or paper-based processes can expect Microsoft Dynamics AX user productivity to increase by up to 30 percent.
• 75% of Microsoft Dynamics AX customers see a positive ROI in 23 months.
• 75% of Microsoft Dynamics AX customers reported improved operations and visibility.
• 56% of Microsoft Dynamics AX customers were able to directly reduce staffing costs.
• 44% of Microsoft Dynamics AX customers were able to reduce IT costs.

Learn more by reading the full reports: The Real ROI of Microsoft Dynamics AX ;The Value of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Manufacturers.  

ANALYSTS: "MICROSOFT DYNAMICS AX IS A LEADER"

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the Nucleus Research "Technology Value Matrix - First Half 2012 Enterprise Applications". The Value Matrix is based on functionality and usability, the two core measures that Nucleus has found indicate an application’s ability to deliver initial ROI and, ultimately, maximum value over time. The Value Matrix evaluates products that have a global presence and provide core functionality for finance and accounting, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain management, project management, and customer relationship management. (May 2012)

Microsoft Dynamics AX has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant of the Gartner Inc. "Magic Quadrant for Midmarket and Tier-2 Oriented ERP for Product-Centric Companies", a research report that evaluates global ERP products and that is specifically tailored for product-centric, midmarket companies with 100-1,000 employees and with annual revenue between $50 million and $1 billion. (December 2010)

Forrester Research, Inc., a leading independent research firm, cited Microsoft Dynamics AX as an order management hub solutions leader in "The Forrester Wave™: Order Management Hubs" (August, 2010).  

1.     1.  Conduct research on the Web Sites of either CIO Magazine or CFO Magazine for stories about ERP implementation successes and failures. Using specific examples, describe the reasons for the successes and failures. What conclusions can be reached?

ERP Systems are complex, and implementing one can be a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive project for a company.  The technology is tightly integrated and requires a commitment from all divisions and often a change in the way a company does business to make it work.  It can take years to complete and cost as much as $500 million for a large company.  Moreover, there is no guarantee of the outcome.

A notorious example of a failed ERP implementation is the Hershey Foods’ SAPAG’s R/3 implementation.  The company spent $112 million and 30 months on their ERP project.  When they went live in July 1999, the company experienced problems pushing orders through the system, resulting in shipping delays and deliveries of incomplete orders

Many reasons have been cited for the Hershey ERP failure.  One, the project was originally scheduled to take four years, but the company forced the implementation to go live in just 30 months.  Two, the company simultaneously implemented a customer-relations package and a logistics package, substantially increasing the overall complexity and employee learning curve.  Three, the company went live at their busiest time of the year, just before Halloween, and the resultant delays caused third quarter profits to fall by $151 million compared to the previous year

Conclusion:

There are as many reasons for successful ERP implementations as there are for failed projects.  However, success seems to often be measured by whether or not the project came in on time and under budget.  Whereas, fully utilizing the system to achieve improved business practices appears to be ignored.  Performance measures must be developed and standardized to give organizations a clearer picture of the benefits derived from Enterprise Resource Planning implementation.  Much has been written about and learned from some well-publicized successes and failures in ERP implementations.  Some of it has even been directly contradictory.  However, most agree on some basic rules:

·         Establish the business processes prior to selecting the software.

·         Staff the project team with members of the user community in addition to IT staff.

·         Develop an implementation plan and stick to it.

·         Train the users thoroughly on the process changes and flow of information in addition to the actual software.

·         The project doesn’t end with “go-live”, but must be continually monitored.

1.) SEARCH FOR AT LEAST TWO (2) PROPRIETY AND OPEN SOURCE ERP

·         MICROSOFT

·         SAP

·         Openbravo

·         ORACALE

a.) Feautures of the ERP System

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) software applications. Microsoft Dynamics applications are delivered through a network of reselling partners who provide specialized services.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Dynamics

Openbravo is a commercial open source software company. The head office of Openbravo S.L. is located in Pamplona, Spain. A sales office is located inBarcelona. The company is responsible for the development of two products: Openbravo ERP and Openbravo POS

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openbravo

SAP is the market and technology leader in business management software, solutions, and services for improving your business process.

 Oracle Corporation's E-Business Suite (also known as Applications/Apps or EB-Suite/EBS) consists of a collection of enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and supply-chain management (SCM) computer applications either developed or acquired by Oracle.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_E-Business_Suite

b.) Modules Available

SAP Module Overviews

·         Financial Accounting (FI)

·         Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM)

·         Controlling (CO)

·         Materials Management (MM)

·         Sales and Distribution (SD)

·         Logistics Execution (LE)

·         Production Planning (PP)

·         Quality Management (QM)

·         Plant Maintenance (PM)

·         Project System (PS)

·         Human Resources (HR)

Source : http://www.erptips.com/Learn-SAP/SAP-Module-Overviews/

Microsoft Dynamics Module Overview

·         Financial Management

·         Human Resource Management

·         Supply Chain Management

·         Business Intelligence & Reporting

·         Manufacturing Solutions

·         Project Management

·         Customer Relationship Management

Source: http://www.calszone.com/microsoft-dynamics-gp/module-list/

Oracle Corporation's E-Business Suite Module Overview

·         Oracle CRM

·         Oracle Financials

·         Oracle HRMS

·         Oracle Mobile Supply Chain Applications

·         Oracle Order Management

·         Oracle Procurement

·         Oracle Project Portfolio Management

·         Oracle Quotes

·         Oracle Transportation Management

·         Oracle Warehouse Management Systems

·         Oracle Inventory.

·         Oracle Enterprise Asset Management

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_E-Business_Suite

OPENBRAVO Module Overview

·         Master Data Management

·         Procurement Management

·         Warehouse Management

·         Project and Service Management

·         Production Management

·         Sales and Customer Relationship Management

·         Financial Management and Accounting

·         Business Intelligence

Source: http://evolpe.com/software/erp/openbravo-erp/modules

C.) Industries served by the ERP System

·         San Miguel Philippines

·         ABS-CBN

·         MERALCO

·         Maynilad

·         RocketSpace

·         3D MEDITEC

·         GRUPOEULEN

·         Social Cars

·         Glidewell Laboratories

·         Exhausto

·         1-888-TRASH-IT!

·         Expert Group

·         China Telecom

·         Uncommongoods

·         Zagrebacka Banka

D.) Programming language available, for  that ERP System

JAVA

-Most Oracle applications are programmed in Java. And oracle enterprise one is not an exception it is also programmed in Java.

-OPENBRAVO also use JAVA as a programming language

ABAP

ABAP is programming language used in SAP module development.

Microsoft Dynamics

C/AL (Client/server Application Language) is the programming language used within C/SIDE the Client/Server Integrated Development Environment in Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Formerly known as Navision Attain).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/AL

Disadvantage and Advantage

a.) Proprietory

Disadvantage:VERY EXPENSIVE

Advantage:Safe :)

b.)Open Source

Disadvantage:Not safe for big  Comapnies

Advantage:it's FREE!

I Recommend the Proprietiory ERP System, because it safe and it trustworthy .

I ended my English 1 with a bang!

With a bang, because I think that I learn many new things in life. not only the subject, but the lesson in life that I will cherish and share to others. and I would like to give thanks to my BSIT-1C Classmates, because of them I have funny with my English 1. and I give thanks to My professor "Ms.Vasay, Ma. Juliet " for making the Job done in English 1 Subject. and for making us feel that we are a family in this class. English is not my favorite subject, but this is the only time I LIKE IT!

Not, because of my professor is so beautiful or my classmates will give some answer, but the truth is I Like this subject, because Of it's charisma that can attract students to enter this class.

English 1 is not a boring subject that I Expect, but it is the most exciting subject that I ever had in my either life .

Ever since I have had the ability to understand it, I have been fascinated by the English language. As a child, I would either be writing, reading or telling stories and ever sine then, have read a wide variety of both fiction and non-fiction texts from a variety of genres and eras.

"I'm proud to say that I learn many things in this subject, not only the subject but the lesson in life that I will bring in my journey in life." : )

Corel released a version X5 of its popular graphics design suite today. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 includes all the best from previous versions and adds several new tools, features, and user resources to the mix. It remains one of the most user-friendly applications in its category on the market.

I had the pleasure of using a prerelease edition of the software suite, and wrote a review of the previous version, X4, last year. Corel focused on a few key areas with X5—powerful and fast tools, higher accuracy in finding use assets, the ability to output to any media, and multicore support.

The latest version is much more complete and finely tuned than previous releases. It has several new additions, yet retains the ease of use that made CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 a true pleasure to use.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 still comes with CorelDRAW for vector art and layout, Photo-PAINT for image editing and bitmap art, PowerTRACE for converting bitmap images to vector, and Corel CAPTURE for taking screen shots. New to the suite is SWiSH miniMax2 for Flash animations, CorelCONNECT to help a user find images and graphics to use in their designs, and several other tools, including PhotoZoom Pro 2 and Microsoft Visual Studio for Applications 2.0.

Corel takes a different approach to the design field than its competitor, Adobe. The Graphics Suite can be thought of as a combination of InDesign, Photoshop, Fireworks, and Illustrator—and with the latest release, even features found in Flash. It even has some tools for working with Web sites.

While Adobe’s products are tailored for creative professionals, however, Corel targets the group in the middle such as freelancers, fashion designers, and hobbyists. It is for those who may not be professionals in the design field, yet who use the related technology in their daily work. Adobe’s products are still top of the line in terms of functions and tools, yet can take quite a bit of time to learn.

The application is also one of the best deals on the market in terms of design suites. The entire software bundle sells for close to the same price as a single application from Adobe’s CS4 product line.

Where Corel’s design products shine is in streamlined workflow and an easy to use and learn interface. Corel includes nearly all the resources a user needs to get started in the field, from stock images to tutorials and guides of nearly every shape and form.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 is currently only available for the PC, and according to representatives from Corel, there are currently no plans for a Mac version. I personally ran the application on a Windows Vista virtual machine inside the Mac OS, however, and it worked well.

Ease of Use

The user-friendly interface remains one of the most attractive features of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5. In addition to being rather easy to use, several other tools are present to help beginners learn the application. There are more than two hours of video training included, tool tips appear when a user hovers the mouse pointer over an item, and still present are the side bar tutorials that teach a user how to use a tool when it is selected.

Rather than shipping to stores in a traditional box, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 comes inside a nearly 400-page hardcover guidebook. In addition to working as a full training resource, the book also includes new insights from design experts, an inspiration gallery, as well as several tips and techniques.

CorelCONNECT is one of the new additions in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5. The application speeds up the process of finding images and content, and integrates directly with CorelDRAW and Photo-PAINT. A user can specify what kind of material they are looking for, and CorelCONNECT will search the computer for it. Any images or objects it finds can then be dragged and dropped to a toolbar and can then be sent directly to CorelDRAW and Photo-PAINT. It also syncs directly between both applications, so if an object is added or removed, it will occur elsewhere.

This helps quite a bit with improving the workflow. A user can find an image in CorelCONNECT, have it appear directly in Photo-PAINT where it can be edited, and then have the edited image appear directly in CorelDRAW.

A key point of CorelCONNECT is to replace the book found in previous releases that included images of all the clip art, images, and materials that are bundled with the software. Corel figured it would be easier to digitize the process, and it was a great move on their part. Each of the thousands of clip art, images, and other materials included in X5 have keywords, so a user can search for Òtree,Ó for example, and it will pull up all images and objects with that keyword. It can also be specified if the image being searched for is a folder, vector, bitmap, font, or other type.

On that note, X5 comes with tons of new stock resources. It has up to 10,000 clip art images, thousands of stock photos, and more than a thousand fonts. It has 350 design templates, including close to 50 percent that are brand new and some others that are pulled from older releases. It also includes 2,000 vehicle templates, including several of the newer car models, for users who design decals for vehicles.

The value of the extra content alone more than covers the cost of the application.

New Additions

PowerTRACE has received some great improvements—mostly in the quality of the images. The application inside CorelDRAW allows users to convert bitmap images into vector images. The benefit of a vector image over, say, a scanned drawing is that vector can be infinitely enlarged since it does not use pixels. An image originally the size of a pencil can be blown up as large as a building.

In X5, PowerTRACE is much more accurate in terms of color, much more fine in its ability to pick up on details, and much sharper, which helps keep images looking clean. It also keeps its old features, such as the ability to remove specific colors, merge colors, and so on. I found it to be much more accurate than the previous version.

The addition of SWiSH miniMAX2 is also a great move on Corel’s part and allows users to create Flash animations for Web sites. Although the third-party application is a bit behind Adobe Flash in terms of what it can do, it still has its place in the design world and is popular for its ease of use. Users who do not particularly have much knowledge in Flash should be able to create what they need in the application, thanks to several tools and prerendered features. Creating a button, for example, or a feature to fade text in and out, is as simple as clicking the option on the menu.

PhotoPAINT, where users can edit images and work with bitmap graphics, has only received a few new additions, although several of the tools mentioned above do apply to it. One of the key additions is better synchronization with CorelDRAW. If a user wants to edit an image, it will jump directly to PhotoPAINT, and once the image has been saved and closed, it will update in CorelDRAW. It also has a better objects docker that works more efficiently in groups. It also still has support for RAW images and adds support for several new camera models.

I was also glad to see that CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 still includes one of my personal favorites—Concept Share. This allows users to upload their designs and images to a Web-based workspace, and a friend or client can then view the image and tag comments and suggestions to specific areas of it. This is a great tool for freelancers and professionals alike, since it allows them to get quick suggestions on their work before they move forward.

Line Tools

There are several new drawing tools. The new B-Spline tool is similar to a vector pen and allows users to create point-by-point drawings that can be edited as the user goes. The new Intelligent Lines allow lines to lock onto objects and other lines, and allow the user to drag and move it while the line sticks to its root object. There is also a new list of brushes that automatically create strokes that resemble paint brushes, or various images.

Rounded corners have received a bit of work also. When a user rounds out the corners of boxes or other objects, they can now enlarge or shrink the image without losing the accurate measurements—an important feature for users who work with precise measurements, such as billboard designers or even those working in areas of print design.

There are also new improvements to the mesh tool, which allows the user to create realistic shading gradients for objects while working in vector. It makes a wireframe where a user can see their basic design, and the newest edition has better support for transparencies.

Attention to Color

The main application, CorelDRAW has also received quite a bit of work, and colors are a key component of the new additions. Color management, in particular, has been completely redone in X5. The tools for selecting colors, and using colors that match properly on a color wheel, have been fine tuned for both professionals and novice users. This helps users select professional-looking colors for their images and both automatic and manual features are included for doing so.

Color proofing for print has also been redone a bit. Users can instantly proof colors in CorelDRAW X5 and it will show on screen how the colors will look in print using different color formats. The user can also export a soft proof that will let them preview how the image will look once printed, before they go and pay for an expensive print.

A new document palette shows every color used in the current design. Each time a user adds a new color to their design, it will appear in the palette. The user can also save the palette to use in other designs. Designers are aware of the value of this—keeping colors in sync and using only a handful of them are often key components to good design. The ability to save the palettes also comes in handy if a user does a second design for the same company, since they can quickly use all the same colors.

The ability to output to any media is a key component in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5. In addition to using various image files, the user can also create HTML for Web sites, as well as Web graphics that support transparency. There is also support for Adobe CS4 and PDF file formats.

Price: $499
Web site: www.corel.com

SOURCE

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/30609/ SOURCE