You’ve probably noticed a lot of talk about the cloud lately. Cloud technology started with simple applications like photo storage, but lately enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors have been rolling out updated, cloud versions of their software. New cloud-based ERP systems are arriving on the business scene as well.

This transformation in the enterprise resource planning software market is exciting but it can also be confusing. How do you know which system is best for you? Can you find a solution that has proven functionality for your industry but also takes advantage of cloud computing capabilities? What happens when technology changes again?

To answer those questions, lets take a look at what you can expect to see now and over the next few years in cloud-based ERP systems.

1. Accessible and flexible business intelligence.

While mining and reporting on big data in the past was limited by how much computing power you had, today, many of those technology-based limitations go away with cloud computing. Computing power continues to grow exponentially while prices fall. Using a hosted server means that you have access to greater computing power than you might be able to afford on your own. That means that you can turn massive amounts of data into actionable reports, but you won’t have to get standard, one-size-fits-all reports since the analytics can be customized and mobile.

2. Greater use of mobile solutions.

Mobile access is a natural extension of cloud computing. Everywhere, in every application, and on every device is not an option; it is built in. Web-based portals have opened up access to smart phones for business data and applications. Now, many ERP systems have open architectures to allow a vast array of mobile applications. This allows a simple way to implement ERP customization without major investments. The trend is for companies to stick with standard functionality and only customize where it offers a business advantage.

3. Improved customer portals and CRM.

Greater accessibility has opened the door for improved customer and user interactions. Social media platforms can be integrated directly with the ERP. It also enables user-centric applications and screens rather than requiring one interface to suit every user.

4. Loosely coupled, but integrated modules.

Some enterprise resource planning systems have done this right for years. These ERP systems have a core financial package surrounded by modules that extend the functionality to areas like inventory, manufacturing, sales, and more. This strategy now is being followed industry-wide and is supported by cloud and mobile solutions. Integration between modules and third-party solutions is more critical than ever, which is why ERP vendors use Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to allow more direct access to ERP data.

Cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning from PositiveVision

We are pleased to offer cloud-based ERP systems that can either be hosted by a third party or kept on your premises.

SYSPRO is our most mobile ERP offering and is designed for manufacturers and distributors. This system has a wide range of proven functionality and features, and supports current trends. SYSPRO is based on cloud technology and can be accessed from anywhere with Espresso, SYSPRO’s mobile solution. This software has much of the latest that cloud technology has to offer including:

1. Business intelligence is provided by SYSPRO’s Enterprise Reporting and Analysis module. Using this system, you can effectively analyze and report on all of the data in the SYSPRO database. You can access your information directly from Microsoft Excel or Word without having to transfer data. Dashboards are available on a desktop or on a mobile device.
2. SYSPRO Espresso is a mobile solution that provides access to your business processes and data on the go, as easily as if you were in your office. It enables you to use applications that will work anywhere, anytime, on any popular device, providing real-time and secure access to key business information and transactions.
3. Users can personalize their own application user interface just by dragging and dropping different screen components. Customers can use their mobile devices to place orders, check stock availability, and more.
4. SYSPRO is committed to using the latest Microsoft-based technology. Its Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) allows SYSPRO and third-party applications to work seamlessly with the SYSPRO data. SYSPRO Espresso uses a standard architecture that supports a variety of applications from barcode scanning to GPS locators.

Learn more about SYSPRO’s future-looking features and architecture by downloading the SYSPRO product brochure.

If you are interested in finding out more about cloud-based ERP, contact PositiveVision. We can help you navigate through your options and find the right one for your business.