Modern ERP Systems Overview

Modern ERP

• Modern ERP systems are advanced business systems.
• They include selection, implementation, and use of today's advanced business systems.
• This is a second edition of these materials

IT Infrastructure for ERP

• Early ERP systems were mainframe-based.
• Later systems in the 1990s were client-server based.
• Thick client architecture involves locally installed applications on the client.
• Thin client architecture uses a light read-only OS on the client, with applications on a server.

Three-Tier Architecture

• Three-tier architecture separates applications into three layers for scalability and maintainability.
• Presentation tier is the user interface layer. This includes web browsers, mobile apps. Examples include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React/Angular.
• Application tier (logic tier) is the middle layer that contains the business logic of applications. It processes requests from the presentation tier and communicates with the data tier.
• Data tier is responsible for data storage and management. Includes database interactions, retrieval, storage, and manipulation. Examples are MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Oracle.

Benefits of Three-Tier Architecture

• Separation of concerns allows for independent development, management, and scaling of each layer.
• Scalability allows scaling different tiers based on need, such as adding more servers to the application tier.
• Maintainability allows changes in one tier to not affect others for easier maintenance.
• Flexibility allows the use of different technologies for each layer.

ERP Interface

• The graphical user interface (GUI) of ERP software can be a customizable dashboard for specific users or groups.
• Possible elements of the GUI include business process activity information (based on production/logistics), tasks/reminders/notifications, calendars/scheduling, messaging (email, instant messaging, telephone traffic), and official communications from designated sources.

SAS Portal

• SAS is a command-driven software package used for statistical analysis and data visualization.
• It is exclusively for Windows operating systems.
• Includes a dashboard for overall net profit margin, operational costs vs budget, and customer turnover.

Back Office/Front Office

• Back office is software for core ERP (Human Resources, Financials, and Operations).
• Front office software integrates with customers and suppliers for supply chain & customer relationship management.
• Bolt-ons are additional features, components, and services that enhance base products or systems.

Back Office vs Front Office Software

• Back office software focuses on internal operations and administration. Front office software focuses on customer interactions and sales.
• Back office users are typically finance, HR, and operations teams. Front office users are sales teams and customer service reps.
• Front office software is visible to customers; back office is typically not.
• Front office impacts customer satisfaction and revenue. Back office impacts efficiency and internal processes.

Relational Database Terminology

• Tables are relations in the ERP system.
• Fields are attributes within the tables (columns).
• Records are instances within the tables (rows).
• Each table has a primary key for unique identification (usually some sort of code).

Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD)

• ERDs show relationships between tables (rules of how tables relate to each other).
• One-to-one relationship: One record in one table is related to only one record in another.
• One-to-many relationship: One record in one table is related to many records in another.
• Many-to-many relationship: Many records in one table are related to many records in another.

Relational Database Example

• Shows tables and columns for publishers and authors (relationships illustrated).
• Tables and forms appear on screens.

Database Query and Manipulation

• Queries are questions posed to the database, often using menus (queries can be customized).
• Structured Query Language (SQL) is used to query databases. SQL has simple queries (returning data without changes) and update queries (changing records in database).
• Data manipulation refers to inserting, updating, or deleting rows in tables.

Configure vs. Customize ERP

• Configuration involves setting options which determine processes in ERP (reporting relations, options for how processes work, auditing, and org structures).
• Customization involves changing the software code (expensive and time-consuming), useful for unique competitive advantages, customization is less often used.
• Vanilla software is in its original, unmodified state.

Configuration vs. Customization (Features)

• Configuration adjusts existing settings, customization modifies or extends functionality. Configuration generally requires less technical expertise, often requires programming skills. Configuration is typically quicker to implement, customization is more time-consuming. Configuration is limited to provided options, customization significantly changes behavior.