SaaS ERP

The economy is in shambles right now … you know that, I know that and the company pet probably even knows it.  Let’s face it there are solutions to change the system but they are out of our control.  The only option we really have is the choice of sitting back and crying over it or standing tall and trying to find the best possible way to still live our lives and pinch our pennies while we do it. 

Of course companies are feeling the pressure to continue expanding and becoming more efficient but also they are faced with the harsh reality that they just can not afford the tools necessary to do so.

Well I suppose we can focus on the subject at hand, enterprises which are purchasing ERP software.  Now that’s a great big chunk of money!  Answer me this – why would an organization purchase an entire system and spend thousands (some spend millions) on a system which they do not even know whether it will work the way they want it to or whether it will become a big waste of money.

SaaS helps to reduce the large-up front expenses associated with software purchases by offering less costly monthly pricing and reducing the investment on server hardware.  Any way to save a small amount of software is a great option.  One other option some vendors offer is like renting to own … kind of.  Talk with the vendor which you are working with to see if they will allow you to utilize their system as SaaS until the funds are available to purchase the entire system.  This is a great option because your organization will become familiar with the software that is available and can be making lists of all the items within the system which need to be updated once the system is purchased.

Also, a good option to investigate when purchasing an ERP system is making the commitment to the software provider and then purchasing the software one module at a time as the funds become available.  Obviously this may not be a feasible option if the organization is struggling significantly but if you are optimistic like every other American is trying to be, you’re hoping the economy is going to increase significantly and you will be able to purchase it in the very near future.

One of the more important features of thin-client scheduling software is the ability to access the system from anywhere. At one time, and as still exists in some manufacturing facilities, some scheduling systems were in a central location within a facility. The schedule could be posted as a series of documents stapled to a cork bulletin board near a timeclock. A more modern “system” could include a whiteboard with rows and columns taped onto it, the whole schedule drawn with a dry-erase marker in different colors. And schedulers who believe they’re really using their computer to its fullest potential might have a spreadsheet on a network drive, with everyone having access to that spreadsheet when they need to see it.

Real scheduling software systems are decidedly more flexible than this. A thin-client Scheduling software system will be web-based, able to run on a web browser on any computer regardless of the type of computer it is. The software will be located on a central server. If it’s run as Software as a Service (Saas), it’ll be located on a server owned by a third party and will still operate the same way at a lower cost.

What this means is that managers, schedulers, factory floor personnel and administrators can all access the same software from anywhere. This also includes accessing the software from other locations, possibly if the company has more than one facility of if someone is at a conference or other business trip. Different log-ons for the various levels means security where it’s needed, not exposing people to areas of the software they don’t need to be in. And through it all, it’s paperless while still being able to be printed as the need arises.

Flexibility. Security. Paperless. Lower overall cost. That’s probably just what your business needs.

With Software as a Service (Saas), Production Reporting is still not only a required feature of the software, it’s also likely a large part of what you’re trying to accomplish with the software. Many manufacturing managers begin looking at software packages as a method for keeping track of what’s going on within their facility. This could be raw materials inventory, tool and equipment tracking, scheduling of machinery and other resources, scrap and defect tracking, OEE, or any number of other possibilities.

Fortunately there are a number of reporting features a software developer can add to the software you use or subscribe to as a service. Simplest to develop are long lists of transactions, inventory lists, costs and the like. But as these get larger you may want to consider graphing and charting as a way to get a better handle on what the information means. At that point, trend charting can make things easier to see via pareto charts and 3D display methods.

Picking, shipping and inventory lists can also be generated using actual barcode fonts. If the barcode on the physical item isn’t any good, the barcode on the list can be used for the scan instead of the damaged barcode. New barcode labels can also be printed using these same barcode fonts to replace any that have been damaged during movement.

All of this can be accomplished through software located on a third-party server and subscribed to from your facility or other locations. All you need is the printer and correct paper and label types to print what you need. This makes using the software a little less expensive in the short-term, and still provide you with the information you’re looking for.