| According to leading manufacturing journalist Thomas | | | | example, must generate either regular or accrual |
| R. Cutler in the current issue of Accounting Software | | | | entries (accrual entries represent entries that are |
| 411, “Few ERP (enterprise resource planning) | | | | preset for reversal in future periods). There must be |
| systems offer a product which is simple enough for | | | | automatic correcting entry and manual correcting |
| small companies, yet complex enough to manage | | | | entry capability as well as standard recurring entries, |
| multinational corporations with numerous companies | | | | skeleton recurring entries, formula for cost allocation, |
| and divisions. The accounting modules must offer a | | | | and auto offset capabilities. Some ERP systems do |
| complete financial package which is fully integrated | | | | not offer automatic reversing entry and manual |
| with the other enterprise modules.” | | | | reversing entry capability. Perhaps of greatest |
| According to Rebecca Gill, vice-president of | | | | importance is the capacity for an unlimited number of |
| Technology Group International, “Few ERP | | | | budgets. Budgets must be created from actuals, |
| product lines provide an easy to use financial reporter | | | | from other budgets, or by applying multipliers to a |
| designed to help organizations effortlessly produce | | | | group of accounts. A number of curve smoothing |
| financial data direct from the ERP system.” | | | | methodologies should be applicable. |
| Financial reporters should be able to: | | | | According to Cutler, “The demands for an |
| • Automatically export all selected ERP financial | | | | integrated midrange accounting ERP system are as |
| information into Microsoft Excel templates. | | | | rigorous as those for Fortune 500 companies; finding |
| • Give users the ability to quickly improve the | | | | ERP solutions that provide the same functionality and |
| presentation of financial data and take advantage of | | | | a viable price point is not a simple solution. Using the |
| all the rich functional capabilities offered within | | | | features detailed above creates a checklist of sorts |
| Microsoft Excel. | | | | which can be a good starting point to determine the |
| • Easily filter financial reports by any business | | | | efficacy of any potential new ERP system.” |
| segment, such as department, cost center, division, | | | | The article can be read at |
| or company. | | | | Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, |
| • Simplify financial consolidation review and | | | | Technology Group International is a proven |
| comparisons. | | | | technology leader delivering Tier 1 application |
| • Provide significant flexibility by allowing users to | | | | software functionality at a price performance level |
| produce financial reports that span any time period | | | | that can be readily accepted by organizations of all |
| such as a prior reporting period, quarter, or year. | | | | sizes. Specializing in software systems for small and |
| • Allow users to easily sort individual report cells | | | | mid-market manufacturing and distribution companies, |
| to display period, year to date (YTD), or budget | | | | TGI’s integrated Enterprise Series software suite |
| information to compare and contrast actual vs. | | | | is a complete business process management solution. |
| budgeted financial data. | | | | The product offering includes Enterprise Resources |
| • Allow users to easily sort individual report cells | | | | Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Resource Planning |
| by any General Ledger account number or by a | | | | (MRP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Warehouse |
| specific range of general ledger accounts. | | | | Management System (WMS), Advanced Planning and |
| • Allow users to quickly manipulate large amounts | | | | Scheduling (APS), Decision Support System (DSS), |
| of general ledger data within Microsoft Excel pivot | | | | Business Intelligence, Manufacturing Execution System |
| tables. | | | | (MES), and eCommerce. TGI implements, maintains, |
| There are many types of financial entries required, | | | | enhances, and supports its packaged distribution and |
| yet not all ERP systems are effective in providing | | | | manufacturing software solutions directly and via its |
| these types of transactions. Manual entries, for | | | | channel partners. |