Get started

Get started

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.

• Essentials of EDI in supply chain management

  Electronic data interchange (EDI) applies to many different business aspects. Learn three ways EDI has streamlined supply chain management. Continue Reading

• ERP finance module

  The ERP finance module is the software component that handles the main accounting and financial management functions of an ERP system. Continue Reading

• What is ERP? Guide to enterprise resource planning software

  ERP, or enterprise resource planning, is modular software designed to integrate the main functions of an organization's business processes into a unified system. Continue Reading

• SaaS ERP

  SaaS ERP is a type of cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that runs on the vendor's or cloud provider's servers, is sold through subscription and delivered as a service over the internet. Continue Reading

• material requirements planning (MRP)

  Material requirements planning (MRP) is a system for calculating the materials and components needed to manufacture a product. It consists of three primary steps: taking inventory of the materials and components on hand, identifying which additional... Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • ERP finance module
  • What is ERP? Guide to enterprise resource planning software
  • SaaS ERP
  • material requirements planning (MRP)

  • cloud ERP
  • process manufacturing
  • voice design
  • financial analytics

  View All Definitions

• MRP vs. ERP: Understanding the difference

  Did you know today's ERP systems evolved from yesterday's MRP systems? Learn the differences between MRP and ERP, including their functions, applications and benefits.Continue Reading

• Choose the best ERP implementation partner: 7 key questions

  Learn which questions CIOs, IT administrators and others involved in an ERP implementation project should ask when they are evaluating and interviewing a partner.Continue Reading

• cloud ERP

  Cloud ERP is a type of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that runs on a provider's cloud computing platform, rather than on premises in an enterprise's own data center.Continue Reading

• process manufacturing

  Process manufacturing is a production method that creates goods by combining supplies, ingredients or raw materials using a formula or recipe.Continue Reading

• voice design

  Voice design is the process of planning and mapping all the possible interactions that might occur between a voice assistant and an end user.Continue Reading

• Top 7 manufacturing challenges for 2020

  Growing supply chain complexity, emerging next-gen technologies and other compelling forces will continue to challenge the manufacturing sector. Here's a look at what's ahead for 2020.Continue Reading

• financial analytics

  Financial analytics is the creation of ad hoc analysis to answer specific business questions and forecast possible future financial scenarios.Continue Reading

• What is supply chain management (SCM) and why is it important?

  Supply chain management (SCM) is the broad range of activities required to plan, control and execute a product's flow from materials to production to distribution in the most economical way possible.Continue Reading

• Financial business analytics transforms numbers into gold

  AI-driven business analytics provides finance departments with the tools to exercise more influence over corporate strategy, but only with the right skills and training.Continue Reading

• Transportation Management System (TMS)

  A transportation management system (TMS) is specialized software for planning, executing and optimizing the shipment of goods.Continue Reading

• Supply Chain Planning (SCP)

  Supply chain planning (SCP) is the process of anticipating the demand for products and planning their materials and components, production, marketing, distribution and sale.Continue Reading

• logistics

  Logistics is the process of planning and executing the efficient transportation and storage of goods from the point of origin to the point of consumption.Continue Reading

• strategic sourcing

  Strategic sourcing is an approach to supply chain management that formalizes the way information is gathered and used so that an organization can leverage its consolidated purchasing power to find the best possible values in the marketplace.Continue Reading

• Test your grasp of process manufacturing concepts

  Process manufacturing is used to create and supply items around the world. Test your knowledge about which kinds of products and how they are made.Continue Reading

• 4 ways to use blockchain in the supply chain

  As blockchain technology enters its 11th year, its use in the supply chain is burgeoning. Here are some of the areas that are garnering the most interest.Continue Reading

• Introduction to supply chain management software of 2019

  Discover the functions of supply chain management software and learn how SCM software helps companies manage the complex demands of today's customers.Continue Reading

• How to find the top 3 values using the Excel LARGE function

  Finding the second- and third-largest revenue numbers is far more difficult than finding the largest. That's where the LARGE function comes to the rescue.Continue Reading

• order to cash (OTC or O2C)

  Order to cash (OTC or O2C) is a set of business processes that involve receiving and fulfilling customer requests for goods or services.Continue Reading

• 7 steps to implementing blockchain in the supply chain

  If your organization believes blockchain will bring greater visibility to the supply chain, first understand the critical steps needed to enable a successful implementation.Continue Reading

• right to repair (electronics)

  Right to repair is the legal concept that allows consumers to repair the products they buy, or choose their own service providers instead of going through the manufacturer.Continue Reading

• 8 features all enterprise SaaS applications must have

  Slick UIs and fast setup make great first impressions, but enterprise managers know they're the tip of the iceberg. SaaS features like interoperability are the real foundation.Continue Reading

• Digital finance technologies at epicenter of CFO transformations

  Technologies like AI, analytics, bots, big data and blockchain could transform the finance function into a valued strategic partner for companywide digital transformation.Continue Reading

• order management

  Order management is the administration of business processes related to orders for goods or services.Continue Reading

• CFOs could benefit from digital technologies in finance

  Find out why emerging digital technologies like chatbots, blockchain, AI and machine learning are not only beneficial to finance, but can also serve as useful tools for the CFO.Continue Reading

• Key considerations in global supply chain management

  Globalization adds geopolitical and cybersecurity risks to the already daunting challenges of supply chain management. Read how the experts deal with them.Continue Reading

• Bullwhip Effect

  The bullwhip effect is a supply chain phenomenon describing how small fluctuations in demand at the retail level can cause progressively larger fluctuations in demand at the wholesale, distributor, manufacturer and raw material supplier levels.Continue Reading

• overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)

  Overall equipment effectiveness is a measure of manufacturing operations performance and productivity, expressed in a percentage.Continue Reading

• 7 supply chain management key terms you need to know

  Consumers are demanding greater visibility, but how do you give it them? We're starting with a list of supply chain management basic terms that you should be aware of.Continue Reading

• Mating season for SaaS financials and business processes

  Integrating SaaS financials with business processes like HR, CRM and supply chains can immediately provide companies with valuable insights in a centralized location.Continue Reading

• cost of goods sold (COGS)

  Cost of goods sold (COGS) is the total of the costs directly attributable to producing goods. It includes material and labor costs but not indirect costs such as sales, marketing and distribution. In accounting, it is a standard item in the expense ...Continue Reading

• Words to go: Industry 4.0 basics

  We've compiled a list of the key terms used to describe the fourth industrial revolution, as well as some of the technologies that are driving the vision forward.Continue Reading

• budgeting, planning and forecasting (BP&F)

  Budgeting, planning and forecasting (BP&F) is a three-step strategic planning process for determining and detailing an organization's long- and short-term financial goals.Continue Reading

• supply chain sustainability (SCS)

  Supply chain sustainability (SCS) is a holistic view of supply chain processes, logistics and technologies that affect the environmental, social, economic and legal aspects of a supply chain's components. Typically, sustainability initiatives ...Continue Reading

• Supply chain software poses security risks

  Poor internal security procedures and a lack of compliance protocols -- especially for small suppliers -- can introduce cybersecurity threats into global supply chains.Continue Reading

• Smart factory may hinge on identifying needed skills

  One expert says flexibility is more important than specific skills. But tell that to the manufacturer that needed a full stack developer and Oracle database architect.Continue Reading

• Process management team can be bridge between IT, business

  Process automation efforts, such as chatbots and predictive modeling, are more likely to succeed if you have a clear understanding of operational levels and team roles.Continue Reading

• service supply chain

  The service supply chain is the part of the supply chain dedicated to providing service on products.Continue Reading

• Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse aiding analytics developers

  Early adopters of Oracle's new AI-based, partly self-managing data warehouse say it can free up time to develop value-adding enterprise applications, workflows and analytics.Continue Reading

• GE and others head to factory of the future vision with Oracle

  Four manufacturing companies explain how Oracle IoT technology has helped them move forward with Industry 4.0 pursuits, including cloud ERP and industrial IoT.Continue Reading

• Demand Planning

  Demand planning is the process of forecasting the demand for a product or service so it can be produced and delivered more efficiently and to the satisfaction of customers.Continue Reading

• Digital finance transformation lets CFOs shift focus to value

  In a podcast from the MIT Sloan CFO Summit, Ash Noah of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants explains how digital technology is helping finance to polish a value lens that guides the business.Continue Reading

• Why is supplier segmentation key to supplier relationship management?

  Your customer relies on your supply chain to work well, so that means you need effective supplier relationship management. Here's information to help you create it.Continue Reading

• computer-aided software engineering (CASE)

  Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) describes a broad set of labor-saving tools used in software development.Continue Reading

• Cloud is key to linking digital manufacturing technologies

  Traditional manufacturing systems often can't handle new customer demands, so manufacturers are building smart factories that use cloud-enabled next-gen technologies.Continue Reading

• procure to pay (P2P)

  Procure to pay is the process of requisitioning, purchasing, receiving, paying for and accounting for goods and services.Continue Reading

• two-tier ERP

  Two-tier ERP is a technology strategy taken by large, multinational enterprises that uses tier 1 ERP for financials and other core common processes at the corporate level and tier 2 ERP for divisions, subsidiaries and smaller locations of the ...Continue Reading

• Postmodern ERP strategy hinges on data integration

  Analysts walk you through the data integration strategies behind a postmodern ERP approach, while a semiconductor company explains how it undertook this type of project.Continue Reading

• digital core

  Digital core is the technology platforms and applications that allow organizations to transform into digital businesses and meet the new needs of the digital economy.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between logistics and supply chain management?

  Logistics is part of supply chain management, but the two terms are often used synonymously. Here's a quick explanation of how these two are different.Continue Reading

• product as a service

  Product as a service is the concept of selling the services and outcomes a product can provide rather than the product itself.Continue Reading

• asset performance management (APM)

  Asset performance management (APM) is both a strategy and a set of software tools for tracking and managing the health of an organization's physical assets.Continue Reading

• financial planning and analysis (FP&A)

  Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is the budgeting, forecasting and analytical processes that support an organization's financial health and business strategy.Continue Reading

• What are some best practices for crafting a supply chain technology strategy?

  Supply chain managers have a tough job and face many challenges. Technology can help but must also be approached with return on investment top of mind. Here are three tips that can help.Continue Reading

• Supply chain blockchain is quickly taking hold

  The pieces needed to create supply chain blockchain networks are emerging. But blockchain won't fix all the problems that supply chains face, such as theft and data accuracy.Continue Reading

• 3PL (third-party logistics)

  A 3PL (third-party logistics) provider offers outsourced logistics services, which encompass anything that involves management of one or more facets of procurement and fulfillment activities.Continue Reading

• Kaizen (continuous improvement)

  Kaizen is an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap major improvements.Continue Reading

• virtual commissioning

  Virtual commissioning is the practice of using 3D technology to create a simulation model of a manufacturing plant so that proposed changes and upgrades can be tested before they are implemented to the actual plant.Continue Reading

• Get to Industry 4.0 with a smart factory roadmap

  Creating a smart factory needn't require starting from scratch. Here's advice on how you can create connectivity with the industrial machines you do have.Continue Reading

• lean manufacturing (lean production)

  Lean manufacturing is a methodology that focuses on minimizing waste within manufacturing systems while simultaneously maximizing productivity.Continue Reading

• Planning for supply chain risk assessment and mitigation

  Natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and unacceptable social or environmental practices can endanger supply chains, but the right tools can mitigate the risks.Continue Reading

• supplier relationship management (SRM)

  Supplier relationship management (SRM) is the systematic approach of assessing suppliers' contributions and influence on success, determining tactics to maximize suppliers' performance and developing the strategic approach for executing on these ...Continue Reading

• GS1

  GS1 is a global, not-for-profit association that maintains standards for barcodes and RFID tags and for supply chain messaging such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).Continue Reading

• Supply chain risk management tools vary from generic to niche

  Specialized supply chain monitoring and risk tools exist, but you're more likely to use an assortment of general-purpose analytics, financial and GRC applications.Continue Reading

• bill of materials (BOM)

  A bill of materials (BOM) is a comprehensive inventory of the raw materials, assemblies, subassemblies, parts and components, as well as the quantities of each, needed to manufacture a product.Continue Reading

• GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network)

  GDSN (Global Data Synchronization Network) is an internet-based network that enables trading partners to exchange product-identification data in a standardized way in real time.Continue Reading

• smart factory

  A smart factory is a highly digitized and connected production facility that relies on smart manufacturing.Continue Reading

• sales and operations planning (S&OP)

  Sales and operations planning (S&OP) is a process for better matching a manufacturer's supply with demand by having the sales department collaborate with operations to create a single production plan.Continue Reading

• Key factors to consider before moving to SaaS-based ERP

  Cloud benefits extend way beyond IT infrastructure and labor costs. SaaS may be where ERP is ultimately headed, but it's not all upside, and halfway measures may be best.Continue Reading

• Hybrid ERP demands process integration, easy data access

  SaaS apps can strengthen areas where ERP is weak, but to ensure the combo adds value, both sides must communicate seamlessly at the business-process, messaging and data levels.Continue Reading

• working capital

  Working capital is the difference between a business's current assets and current liabilities.Continue Reading

• What should companies know about sustainability software?

  Sustainability is composed of social, environmental and economic pillars. That's why technologies focused on this market address different needs. Here's a narrow glimpse.Continue Reading

• Why craft beer makers are tapping into ERP for craft brewery software

  As with other process manufacturers, ERP software can help craft breweries maintain quality, while better managing growth and unexpected success. Here's a look.Continue Reading

• voice user interface (VUI)

  Voice user interface (VUI) is speech recognition technology that allows people to interact with a computer, smartphone or other device through voice commands. Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, Google's Assistant and Microsoft's Cortana are prime ...Continue Reading

• logistics management

  Logistics management is the governance of supply chain management functions that helps organizations plan, manage and implement processes to move and store goods.Continue Reading

• How can manufacturers begin an Industry 4.0 roadmap?

  Are you driving toward the next industrial revolution? Industry 4.0 will transform the manufacturing landscape, according to experts. Here's how to get ready.Continue Reading

• enterprise asset management (EAM)

  Enterprise asset management (EAM) is the process of managing the lifecycle of physical assets to maximize their use; save money; improve quality and efficiency; and safeguard health, safety and the environment.Continue Reading

• warehouse management system (WMS)

  A warehouse management system (WMS) is software and processes that allow organizations to control and administer warehouse operations from the time goods or materials enter a warehouse until they move out.Continue Reading

• Industry 4.0

  Industry 4.0, which refers to the fourth industrial revolution, is the cyber-physical transformation of manufacturing.Continue Reading

• Selecting SaaS accounting software need not be intimidating

  There's an accounting software package for every size of business and type of industry, but the selection process can be complicated. Here's how to cut to the chase.Continue Reading

• Open Platform Communications (OPC)

  Open Platform Communications (OPC) is an interoperability standard for the secure exchange of industrial automation data.Continue Reading

• Cloud-based accounting software can be hub of tailored 'ERP'

  Users explain why they chose their cloud core financial system and the thought process that goes into adding applications for key functions, like procurement, HR and case management.Continue Reading

• ANSI/ISA-95

  ANSI/ISA-95, more commonly referred to as ISA-95, is an international standard for enterprise and control systems integration developed for manufacturers.Continue Reading

• Why combining an EAM system with IoT means faster insight

  IoT technology is the next big thing in enterprise asset management and can help companies get richer insight more quickly. Here's a look at the promise -- and the challenges.Continue Reading

• value stream mapping

  Value stream mapping is a Toyota lean manufacturing visualization tool for documenting all the processes that are required to bring a product to market.Continue Reading

• manufacturing execution system (MES)

  A manufacturing execution system (MES) is an information system that connects, monitors and controls complex manufacturing systems and data flows on the factory floor.Continue Reading

• SaaS financial software proves to be right-size ERP replacement

  A SaaS analytics vendor itself, Market6 decided the cloud technology enabled it to add the revenue recognition and financial management features it needed, without ERP.Continue Reading

• What are some elements of sustainable product design?

  With waste from electronics, plastics and other materials growing at a frightening rate, manufacturers can help address the problem with sustainable product design efforts.Continue Reading

• How will self-driving vehicles affect the environment?

  Autonomous vehicles are on track to change logistics forever. Some believe that might be a good thing for the environment.Continue Reading

• inventory management

  Inventory management is the supervision of non-capitalized assets (inventory) and stock items. A component of supply chain management, inventory management supervises the flow of goods from manufacturers to warehouses and from these facilities to ...Continue Reading

• supply chain analytics

  Supply chain analytics is the application of analytics to supply chain data to improve forecasting and efficiency and be more responsive to customer needs.Continue Reading

• IQMS

  IQMS introduced one of its newest services, WebIQ, in August 2016. WebIQ runs on HTML5 and JavaScript and essentially recreates EnterpriseIQ's user interface, allowing users to access EnterpriseIQ anywhere on any device, the vendor claims.Continue Reading

• Epicor Software Corp.

  Epicor Software Corp. is a global business software vendor that sells ERP and other software to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises.Continue Reading

• IFS AB

  IFS AB (Industrial and Financial Systems) is an ERP software vendor that specializes in asset-intensive, project-centric industries, such as manufacturing and distribution.Continue Reading

• Sage Group plc

  Sage Group plc is a global enterprise software vendor. Its portfolio of business software includes accounting, ERP, payroll, customer relationship management (CRM) and human capital management (HCM).Continue Reading

• SYSPRO

  SYSPRO is a vendor that specializes in providing ERP and other integrated business software to midsize manufacturers and distributors.Continue Reading