Visual South Insights

Early in my career, someone shared a piece of wisdom that resonates deeply: “There isn’t anything more expensive than cheap ERP.” Over time, I’ve seen the truth in this statement. The top companies view their ERP system as a strategic asset and invest accordingly. Like sophisticated equipment on the shop floor, an ERP system requires regular maintenance, training, and updates to perform at its best. Neglecting these aspects can lead to suboptimal performance and missed opportunities.

What does CPQ stand for?

The software industry has no shortage of three-letter acronyms, so let’s get right to answering the question.  CPQ stands for configure, price, quote.  More specifically, CPQ is a category of software that helps enable the business processes of configuring, pricing, and quoting a product or service.

Integrations expand the possibilities in your Infor ERP system

Infor ERP is a comprehensive and technologically sound enterprise resource planning solution that’s tailored toward manufacturing. A large part of the reason Infor offers such a comprehensive system is due to its ability to seamlessly integrate with third-party platforms software using APIs (application programming interfaces).

Knowing when you might need Infor Consulting Services

If you have a Tier 1 Infor manufacturing ERP application, like Infor LN or Infor M3, using Infor Consulting Services (ICS) may make perfect sense. Infor has a large and experienced team that provides implementation and consulting services for what is often a global deployment of these applications.

Manufacturers need integrated service management

Many project based, engineer to order, and capital equipment manufacturers make the mistake of not prioritizing the service division of the business. The ramifications of this mistake are huge—organizations end up lacking the ability to generate higher margin activities, increase customer satisfaction, and differentiate their offerings to the market. But by prioritizing your service division and having an integrated service management software, your business will experience a multitude of benefits.

When looking for a new ERP solution, most companies are seeking to fix areas of the business that are struggling. Some companies may not have an ERP and want to move away from spreadsheets and QuickBooks. Others have an ERP that is not performing in a manner that meets the organization’s needs.

What does consulting mean?

We find that many of our prospects and customers may not understand what consulting means and how it can be applied to their situation.

Infor vs. SAP

SAP is arguably the most recognized name in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and it is ranked number one in ERP revenue. Its ERP product is designed to serve the Tier 1 market. The best way to define the Tier 1 market is to think in terms of a Fortune 1000 company. The revenue of a company that makes this list is defined in billions, not millions. In 2020, the company that ranked last on the list was PC Connection, with revenue of $2.85 billion.

What is CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine)?

Infor SyteLine ERP software (also known as Infor CloudSuite Industrial or CSI when deployed in the Amazon cloud) is Infor’s ERP offering for small and medium-sized manufacturers and distributors.

What does it consist of?

An ERP implementation in the manufacturing industry typically consists of two companies—the company that provides implementation services and the company that procures them—working together to successfully bring the ERP implementation live.