| ERP has been touted as some magic bullet that will | | | | what they need, and get current accurate |
| cure all of the ills of a company, and marketers are | | | | information. You can build them access pages that will |
| selling ERP solutions at huge prices. | | | | allow them get the information they need, and only |
| But, in fact, ERP is not all that magic. It simply says | | | | the info that they need. No peeking into anybody |
| that enterprises should attempt to integrate all of | | | | else's backyard. |
| their business information into a single database, so | | | | Setting up an ERP system also should be approached |
| that all employees, vendors and customers are | | | | in an incremental manner. There is no need to build |
| getting their information from the same source. A | | | | out a complete enterprise wide computer program |
| simple enough concept, and one that your business | | | | with all of the bells and whistles in place. In fact, this |
| could begin to utilize right away. | | | | may be the wrong way to proceed. Much better to |
| Admittedly, not all users of such a system have | | | | attack the elements of your information system that |
| access to the same degrees of information. | | | | are in the worst shape first. As long as you have an |
| Customers, for example, are interested in the status | | | | overall integration plan in mind, everything should |
| of their orders, not in your P&L for the quarter. And, | | | | move toward a common goal. |
| in fact, customers have no need to see P&L data, | | | | You will also find that your accounting system may |
| even though that data may reside in the database. In | | | | be the toughest part of the integration process. |
| other words, different users will have different views | | | | Many accounting systems, including the world |
| of the data, BUT THEY ALL WILL BE LOOKING AT | | | | renowned QuickBooks, are not very friendly about |
| THE SAME SOURCE. | | | | sharing their databases with outside users. And they |
| There are several ways to accomplish this, but | | | | don't like outside influences adding to their databases |
| locating your database servers on an internet | | | | either. This may mean that a change in your |
| attached machine is a good first step. Then various | | | | accounting package may be necessary; a somewhat |
| organizational units of your business, and some | | | | daunting prospect, but it should by no means become |
| customers and vendors, will all be able to access | | | | a deterrent to moving forward. |