Visit the
SAP Small Business web site.
Scroll down the page and click the "View the Demo" link under the "Inventory and Operations" section. The demo will launch within your web browser. There are 4 tracks in the video. You only need to view Track 1: Introduction and Track 2: Automate the Order-to-Delivery Process. Answer the following questions after viewing the video:
1) Which departments within the company are integrated within the Order-to-Delivery process?
2) Which steps are included in the Order-to-Delivery process?
3) What factors would you consider when deciding whether ERP is suitable or not for a small business?
1) Sales and Warehouse departments are integrated within the Order to Delivery process.
2) Background: Salesman received the Purchase order from clients, should take a look if there are any special request such as "Same Day Delivery".
Here are the steps included in the Order-to-Delivery process:
a) Check up with the inventory data to confirm stock status (make sure the goods are in stock.) Otherwise, need to arrange shipment.
b) Create a sales order.
c) Warehouse will receive the order at the meantime.
d) Warehouse should double check the stock status and print out the pick up slips and delivery notes if there are no problems.
e) If goods are going to delivery, warehouse will closed the sales order status.
f) Salesman can send email to confirm clients the goods are delivered.
As this is a single system, all staffs can check the steps/ status (including delivery address) from sales to delivery in the system.
3) Please kindly find the following points that I would consider when deciding whether ERP is suitable to a small business or not.
a) Integrated single databaseAn integrated single database helps manage inventory in real time. The company is easier to control time management. Once the new information is entered by one process, it is also immediately available to other business processes. Suppose, for example, Sales and marketing, inventory manufacturing staff all see the same version of a sales order, as soon as it is entered into the system. As we need not to re-entry the data, less delay problems will be occur. And we no need to worry about the data missing by the human mistake.
b) User friendly Before we changed into ERP system, we are using different kinds of way/ systems to run our business. Such as network of disparate systems and spread-sheets. So, the major object we would focus on is an easy to use and customize ERP system. Being transit from old systems to a new system, staffs need to pick up it as soon as they can. Furthermore, the entire department is going to have the same version of the system, a user friendly system can help staff to check up the details straightforwardly. It also pushes decision making down to lower level staff. Coordinators can help salesman to answer client’s questions as all the information are shown in the system. That's the one of my main consideration.
c) Stable and scalable system to expand the businessWe can find that the SAP Business shown in the website, it application enables small businesses not only to streamline end-to-end operations, but also designed exclusively. For example, manages the order-to-pay cycle, including orders, receipts, and returns; automate the order to delivery process and creates material requirements planning scenarios. That is what businesses are looking for.
A new system reduces incompatible data by replacing traditional, disconnected information system. They standardize all the data and business processes. It adapts to changing business needs, efficient the business in a stable and affordable way. We've trebled in size without having to hire additional staff members. Thus, the business can be expanding.
d) Achieve profitable growth ERP system has management application that helps businesses to run their entire business. And they instantly obtain complete information with which to respond more quickly to market needs, and accelerate profitable growth.
As there is a clients-server networking, it helps salesman to handle clients request more quickly. On the other hand, it improves operating performance. For instance, clients who had a long-term business with us may have a credit payment terms. We can notice this when we set up a sales order. Partners can provision a new customers by connect to a Web interface, and using self-service functions to transfer information to us directly only causes 20 minutes. Since the implementation, business runs more smoothly, and we can serve customers faster and better.
In my option, ERP is needed to produce financial statements that fit the different reporting standards required by each country, (That’s why it implied a standard sign in the marketing.) which is one of its plus points. If we get this scalable system, we can help us raise our efficiency levels substantially.
