Extended Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is software that facilitates more efficient business processes in the finance, manufacturing, distribution, sales, and other core business areas.
Extended ERP includes other software and business processes. Integration with ERP is usually required to eliminate redundant information and processes. Software sold and supported as integrated may reduce ongoing maintenance costs.
Extended ERP systems with third-party software, often via vendor-supplied interfaces
Extended ERP components offer features such as:
- Customer Relations Management
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Product Data Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Data Mining
- E-Procurement/E-Commerce
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
When it comes to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), incorporating Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as part of your extended ERP solution can’t be overlooked. By seamlessly integrating CRM components with your ERP system, you’ll not only gain a holistic view of your customers’ needs and preferences but also improve communication and collaboration throughout your organization. With supply chain management deeply intertwined with CRM, it’s an essential factor in achieving a streamlined and efficient business operation. Here’s how Extended ERP can enhance your business by utilizing CRM and supply chain management to their full potential.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is a strategic approach that oversees the management and coordination of a product’s lifecycle, right from its ideation and development to its distribution, usage, maintenance, and eventual withdrawal or disposal from the market. It encompasses the product’s whole journey, beginning with design and innovation, production, and extending to include service and disposal. By employing PLM, businesses can effectively streamline processes, reduce redundancies, and increase efficiency, enabling them to deliver high-quality products to the market rapidly and cost-effectively.
PLM software may include design, regulation, manufacturing, distribution, and field service activities having to do with how a product changes over its life span. Depending on the industry, PLM software may cover more business processes or be restricted to design and engineering.
It fosters collaboration among different teams and departments within an organization, enhancing communication and enabling an integrated view of the product among all stakeholders. PLM is an essential tool for businesses, whether small or large, to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced, customer-driven marketplace.
Product Data Management (PDM)
PDM systems capture and manage product information, ensuring that information is delivered to users throughout the product lifecycle. File ownership, version control (check-in and check-out of files), revision management, and information status (ie In Progress/Generated/Pending Approval/Released) are all managed by the PDM system. Security and administrative functionality protect intellectual property rights through role management, project-based security as well as relevant access rights.
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
SCM may include software for planning and controlling any step in the manufacturing and distribution process, including tracking external companies’ handling of products. Many different processes are involved in this progression, which essentially deals with the coordination of supply chains within and among various businesses.
Many supply networks and channels are involved in the production and delivery of products and services. Before goods reach the customer, they go through a chain of processes that could include anything from operations management to logistics, procurement, IT, and warehousing. SCM can be defined as the integrated and efficient management of supply chain activities.
Data Mining
Data mining is a term from computer science. Sometimes it is also called Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD). Data mining is about finding new information in a lot of data. In many cases, data is stored so it can be used later.
For example, a store wants to save what has been bought. They want to do this to know how much they should buy themselves, to have enough to sell later. Saving this information makes a lot of data. The data is usually saved in a database. The reason why data is saved is called the first use.
Later, the same data can also be used to get other information that was not needed for the first use. The store might want to know now what kind of things people buy together when they buy at the store. (Many people who buy pasta also buy mushrooms for example.) That kind of information is in the data, and is useful, but was not the reason why the data was saved. This information is new and can be useful. It is a second use for the same data.
E-Procurement/E-Commerce
Extended ERP magnifies the brilliance of E-Commerce, seamlessly knitting together digital storefronts and backend processes. Unifying inventory, sales, and customer data, it cultivates an experience that’s fluid for both businesses and buyers. With extended ERP, E-Commerce transcends traditional boundaries, enabling real-time insights and comprehensive control over the online retail ecosystem. In a world ever more digital, it’s your key to staying ahead.
More and more businesses require an online presence to leverage new markets. The seamless integration of ERP systems to e-commerce websites via an API (Application Programming Interface) is becoming an essential requirement.
Integration Requirements
Depending on the industry and functionality requirements, extended ERP modules will require different degrees of integration. If the software is acquired in an integrated fashion, these costs are reduced. If extensive, these integration costs may continue to be an issue when anyone software area is upgraded by the original vendor. Extended ERP may include more software and processes depending on the industry served.
Extended ERP & Cyber Security – Growing Threats
IT systems – wherever they may be located – are at risk from unauthorised intrusion, theft, and sabotage. The more inter-connected a business is, the greater the exposure.
Geographic boundaries no longer exist and threats can come from the other side of the world in a split second. The weakest link in a company’s IT security is constantly on display – every second, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
More and more systems and devices are being integrated and connected via the Internet. IT security should, therefore, be integrated into all the systems involved.
Robust, integrated defence systems can enable a company’s IT systems to withstand cyberattacks and to safeguard against events such as system crashes, data loss, and unauthorised access.
It is essential to find a solution that supports the business and doesn’t stifle efficiency.
Cyber security has now become a discipline that is addressed at the senior management level, rather than just by IT departments. The nature of this threat creates a need for
both focus and resources in this field.
Intrusions through a company’s cybersecurity can quickly escalate, and it is, therefore, a good idea to include documentation of any integration with external parties in order to ensure a comprehensive and easily followed solution designed to counter any threats and attacks.
Omni ERP Accounting Software has a variety of methods available for automating and integrating with extended ERP functions.
