In Kronke, Chapter 8, we learned that it’s important to have the right system in place, such as SAP to help your sales organization become more efficient.  We learned briefly that cloud-based systems, such as Salesforce.com can offer some benefits, not only with sales, but with CRM capabilites as well. This article talks about how cloud computing for direct to consumer sales should be carefully considered when searching for the right system.

http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/warehouse/look-cloud-computing-dtc-operations-16032015/

1) When talking about cloud based systems, the examples of companies using them that are usually given are smaller companies. Do you think that with the right long term IT strategy a large organization would take the leap to a cloud based system?

2) Do you think that cloud based systems could replace systems such as SAP?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2015/02/25/how-technology-can-fix-the-b2b-sales-process/

In today’s world, it is very difficult for B2B buyers to find the right match to give their business to due to an overload of data and a variety of vendors to choose from all with the same generic messages to target their clients. The internet has done nothing to change this B2B buying experience other than making it easier to research companies. The sales process is not personalized, and the buyer is forced to speak with many different vendors all with the same agenda and sales pitch. At times this can put the buyer to sleep. It is very difficult to narrow down a large vendor list, the companies with the most money almost always get the sale due to marketing efforts regardless if they can do the best job or not, and nothing is personalized for the buyer as the same sales decks are used over and over in order to target the masses. Technology has the ability to change this by going beyond the basic marketing techniques and making the buying experience more personable. Buyers should star t utilizing technology to seek out vendors who can go beyond the basic qualifiers and put them on a path to buy rather than feel overwhelmed with too much information and be just another contract on the books.

1. What can vendors due to make the buyer feel like more than just another contract on the books in a B2B transaction?

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2897610/enernoc-powers-up-bpm-to-automate-a-core-business-process.html?nsdr=true

This article talks about an energy company that uses specific business process to help companies manage their energy usage. They use  energy intelligence software to obtain information about their energy usage.

1. Do you think that EnerNOC business process is strategically  built in a way that will make them successful?

2. Do you think the combination of the software system that manages company’s usage and the  relationships made between EnerNOC make this successful?

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-improves-inventory-time-by-30-using-dataspans-passive-rfid-technology-and-nears-completion-of-its-agency-wide-rfid-based-asset-inventory-management-solution-300051672.html

DataSpan implemented a RFID system for NASA to help them more efficiently manage their inventory with the reduction of their support staff.  It says that this will improve their inventory time by 30% and allow them to still remain efficient even with fewer employees.  NASA is very happy with the results which exceeded even their lofty expectations.

1.  Do you believe more companies with attempt to implement RFID systems to help with their inventory? Why or why not?

2.  Do you believe that the success of the RFID system for NASA will make other companies think about reducing their support staffs as well?

3.  Are you comfortable with NASA using an RFID system with all of their classified and top secret information and inventory? Does the system increase the possibility of a breach?

http://searchsap.techtarget.com/feature/Enterasys-taps-Coupa-for-SAP-purchase-order-workflow

This article discusses how Enterasys, a company that provides services and equipment for wired and wireless networks, recognized a need to streamline their procurement process. Enterasys did their research on various software packages and decided that Coupa, a cloud based software, provided the versatility necessary to fulfill their needs.

1.  Will more companies be as successful as Enterasys with switching from the legacy systems to cloud based software for procurement purposes.

2.  What type of assistance is necessary for companies to make the right choices when choosing the appropriate software for procurement?

3.  Will the issue with security, which is mentioned in this article, hinder businesses from jumping on the “bandwagon” in relation to cloud based procurement software?

Today, information systems are essential for businesses who would like to stay competitive within their markets. According to this article, IT has the potential to completely transform the supply side of business and to flatten organizational hierarchies. Those businesses that have adapted and embraced IT innovation have seen tremendous growth, as they are able to cut costs by effectively managing their information systems. However, unlike product innovation, IT innovation can take months, sometimes years to implement entirely throughout a company. For example, e-selling can be hard to undertake, as it requires the integration of many departments in the system, and is often very complex and difficult for larger IT companies to manage. While it can be difficult to manage, implementation of a new IT system should be seen as an innovative process. Through the process, companies learn about their system and use it to create a competitive advantage above the competition.

1. Why hasn’t it become easier to implement a new IT system company-wide with all of the advances we’ve seen in technology in recent years?

2. Do you think it is possible for companies to survive nowadays without having some sort of information system in place?

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/7032.html

http://www.erpsoftwareblog.com/2015/02/study-finds-companies-struggle-erp-system-selection/

Successfully implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can be extremely expensive and time consuming. To make matters worse, the selection of an ERP system comes with many variables. This article/study was posted on the “ERP Software Blog” and it depicts the struggles that companies face when trying to select the correct ERP system. One of the main issues that companies run into is that they cannot predict whether the ERP system will still be useful to them five or ten years from now. Due to the high cost and time spent on implementation, companies should aim to retain their ERP system for at least a ten year time frame. The article also stated that 77% of companies who were interested in investing in an ERP system wanted the system to be completely implemented within six months. Of that 77%, 41% wanted the system implemented within three months. The last point that stood out to me was that 19% of all ERP users wanted a change in system because the one that they were currently using was too expensive for their needs. This article showed me that although ERP systems are helpful, they can be hard to predict, and challenging to implement.

As technology evolves, will the time that it takes to implement an ERP system ever successfully meet the six month time frame that most companies want?

To avoid implementing a system that isn’t useful, what internal questions should companies address when planning an ERP implementation?

Do you think that consulting a business solutions firm such as The Resource Group will help guide your selection correctly?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2015/01/27/five-catalysts-accelerating-cloud-erp-growth-in-2015/

With the technology we have today ERP are becoming updated along with it. Cloud ERP are more popular than a normal ERP because of the use of smartphones and other smart devices. This article explains the 5 reasons why cloud ERP are becoming more popular. It states that SaaS (software as a service) solutions will more than double the traditional ERP to 78 billion and that the traditional ERP will decline by 30%, traditional ERP has been declining since 2013. Hybrid ERP save up to 6 times to cost of capital investment for a company cumulatively over 5 years. Therefore it is a better investment for a company to have a Hybrid ERP. It also goes on to talk about how crucial mobility is to help with more complex manufacturer’s supply chain, distribution, selling and service channels. This also brings back BYOD and whether or not employees will be able to use the Cloud ERP on their own devices.

1. Do you think providing employees with smartphone with access to the Cloud ERP system will help with business processes?

2. Do you think that Cloud ERP will help with customer satisfaction overall?

3. Will Cloud ERP completely wipe out a Traditional ERP? and Why?

http://www.erpnews.net/676/rfid-based-real-time-tracking-systems-hospitals/

ERP is becoming a common term among businesses for good reason. Ultimately, ERP allows business to operate more effectively and efficiently. Hospitals usually lagging in efficiency are starting their leap into the technological advances, which have created great value for an array of industries including, (industrials, retail, services, etc). However, can these ERP programs creating efficiency for hospitals actually create greater risks to the public? The system referenced in the article (Real Time Location Systems or RFID) uses radio frequencies to locate tools or patients within a facility. These locators can save material costs, time, and possibly create patient turnover efficiencies to help treat more patients, how could anyone not implement these systems. Other than costs; some points for discussion are how will these radio frequencies interact with the technologies in the hospital. Will these technologies open avenues for hackers or create possible danger. How will health care professionals react to essentially being tracked for every step they take throughout the day? ERP fundamentally creates efficiencies in all businesses; however, the healthcare industry has higher risks with life or death situations and standards of care versus transactions.

1.   Would efficiencies created by implementing the RFID system out way possible risks
2.  Would you implement the RFID program as the CEO of a health system?
3.  Overall how does the advancement of technology in health care increase/decrease the patient experience?

http://www.informationweek.com/software/information-management/inside-avons-failed-order-management-project/d/d-id/1113100

Avon began an ERP project to implement a SAP based order management system, which was intended to go global. The project was piloted in Canada, but Avon decided against a global implementation after the software project went wrong. The new site that was launched in Canada combined SAP ERP and CRM applications with a front-end system built on IBM WebSphere e-commerce software. This new system caused Avon’s sales representatives many problems. The new mobile ERP system was suppose to allow sales reps to use the website as an easy and more efficient way to accept orders, reserve inventory, and communicate with other business units. However, they had difficulties logging into the new website and accepting orders on it.  This caused Avon to lose as many as 16,000 representatives across Canada. SAP was the main vendor in this project, but SAP only worked on the ERP and CRM applications. Avon used SAP as the back-end engine for order entry, but Avon used IBM WebSphere e-commerce software for the web front end.

1) Who do you think is to blame for this ERP failure- Avon, SAP, IBM WebSphere, the sales representatives, or a combination?

2) Chapter 7 talks about five recommendations that provide an understanding of some of the challenges involved in implementing enterprise systems: 1) Secure executive sponsorship, 2) Get help from outside experts, 3) Thoroughly train users, 4) Take a multidisciplinary approach to implementations, 5) Look beyond ERP. Which of these recommendations do you think Avon failed to do?