Infosys | Microsoft

While almost everyone is having only "Cloud-enabling" of ERP at top of their mind, i am personally seeing a trend which is what we can say "gamification" of the "serious" ERPs. For the uninitiated, Gamification is (as per wikipedia) the use of game design techniques and mechanics to solve problems and engage audiences. Gamification works by making technology more engaging, by encouraging users to engage in desired behaviors, by showing a path to mastery and autonomy, and by taking advantage of humans' psychological predisposition to engage in gaming. The technique can encourage people to perform chores that they ordinarily consider boring. Can we do something for ERP as well in this areas?

Continue reading "Gamification of the ERP" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "When MS Dynamics AX 2009 system maintenance went wrong" »

Posted by Pankaj Kant at 4:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hi All,as promised in my previous blog where I shared  challenges in getting fiscal printer  integrated  with Ax2009 SP1  I will continue to share another challenge which we  faced during our First Ax2009 rollout in Eastern Europe  This  was related to statutory  Invoicing & reporting .Once we had come out of the hurdles of  Fiscal Printer integration, immediate challenge was related to the Statutory Invoicing   on Fiscal Printer and VAT registers reporting.

Continue reading " The learning's from Ax2009 Rollout in Eastern Europe (Part-2)" »

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Continue reading "The learning's from AX 2009 Rollout in Eastern Europe (Part-1)" »

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As described in my previous blog, Microsoft CRM 360 Virtual Summit provides the opportunity to learn how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and industry-specific CRM solutions can improve your business by increasing customer retention and ROI. The virtual summit has seen more than 8000 visits from over 100 countries in the month of May!

Have you visited Infosys booth at the CRM 360 virtual summit? If not, it's not late yet!

Continue reading "Microsoft CRM 360 Virtual Summit - Did you miss it?" »

Posted by Dinesh Mohan at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Starting May 17th, Microsoft's CRM 360 Virtual event kicks off. This summit provides the opportunity to learn how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and industry-specific CRM solutions can improve your business by increasing customer retention and ROI, straight from experts in your field.

Continue reading "Infosys at Microsoft's CRM 360 Virtual Summit" »

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Continue reading "Impressions from Convergence 2011" »

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Continue reading "Infosys Microsoft Dynamics Team at Convergence 2011 - a Microsoft Dynamics event" »

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This blog is in the series of blogs around the "Smart" user interface and how the expectations from the users have been maturing over time.

I firmly believe that the Maslow's hierarchy of needs is very much applicable in the world of IT and software solutions as well. The only difference is that we are talking about "user needs" from "IT" perspective instead of "psychological" as proposed by the theory. The users till date have been able to meet their Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging and Esteem needs. What they need now is the movement to the next level of "Self-Actualization" (and i can assure you this is level which beats itself as a certain level is achieved and we start looking at the next best).

Continue reading "Time is "RIPE" for a new way of designing 'Smart' user interface " »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had blogged around this topic earlier where i had exposed a thought which i think is very important from the 'user perspective'. you can check out the post at "When will my ERP experience be 'smarter'... the Time Sensitive Paradigm"

In a recent meeting with a CIO of a large company operating in telecom domain, a very important point came up. The users in the organization has an ERP being used for handling all financial, invoicing, customer and vendor management, sales, purchasing, billing, etc. The organization was looking at adding a new feature in the product to support the relationships with the suppliers (a.k.a. Supplier Management System). From a SI perspective there are multiple solutions which are best-of-breed, additional modules from ERP provider and also there were add-ons from 3rd parties. However, none of these were striking a chord with the users.

Continue reading "Taking ahead the thought of "Sensitivity of User Interface " in packages" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are number of posts around the year end musings and the predictions for the next year. I thought of not penning down my thoughts this time; though i did the same last year (you can check that out here). This is so as even as we predict there is always an element of a "game-changing idea" or a "trend" coming up in the New Year which will make all these predictions run for shelter.

So, why this post! I thought of looking from the perspective of users of ERP systems - our clients. These are the people who will ultimately reap benefits from the ERP implementation though there will be some difficulties in the process. Any change would bring in some adjustments, additional learning and differentiated focus within the organization. However, it is the sweet success after this entire struggle that gives the strength during the challenging journey.

Continue reading "When will my ERP experience be 'smarter'... the Time Sensitive Paradigm!" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Library Functionality for Media Processing" »

Posted by Dayanand Gaikwad at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While working on EXIST framework as highlighted in my post (Defining the Application Portfolio using the "EXIST" framework ) and a subsequent post around trying to clear some myth and misconceptions in next post (As you sow, so shall you reap: Effective Application Portfolio with 'Cloud Inclusivity'); i was thinking of highlighting some live examples from public sources which support this model.

Since i found a lot of them, my thoughts actually went in another direction where i tried to answer a simple question - "Why is there so much of competition between on-premise and SaaS models?" .You search the web with keywords 'SaaS' & 'On Premise" and there would be prescriptive solutions and comparisons between the two deployment options and each trying to outdo the other. Is this needed?

Continue reading "Application Portfolio Management - Have you chosen the right mode of transportation for your organization journey?" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Library Functionality for a Service Unit" »

Posted by Dayanand Gaikwad at 5:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Library Functionality in ERP" »

Posted by Dayanand Gaikwad at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On July 1, 2010 -  i had put forth a blog titled - Defining the Application Portfolio using the "EXIST" framework  which looked at a 'holistic' approach to choosing the 'right' applications for the enterprise. There were several comments and offline discussions which led me to post a follow up blog on the topic. Before going into this blog in detail you may want to check the original blog on this subject. And needless to say, i would look forward to your thoughts and opinions as this subject in itself is a lot debated one and there are no 'correct' answers as yet.

Continue reading "As you sow, so shall you reap: Effective Application Portfolio with 'Cloud Inclusivity'" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Connecting the Dots: Sizing & Percentage Fitment for Package Applications - A Perspective" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Can package application based implementations be sized just like the way an ADM work can be? Is it feasible to use FP estimation methodology  for package implementations? These are some of the question I have been trying to get an answer for in a quest to identify a mechanism to effectively size package applications in general and MS Dynamics apps in particular.

Over the past few weeks, I have come across multiple mechanisms. On one hand, there are the standardized methodologies based on FP which do not directly fit in this space given that we are talking of a large base of functionalities/features already available in the package even before we start thinking about the client requirements. On the other hand, there are SME developed mechanisms/tools, of which most seem to be derived with effort spent as the key basis of sizing.

Continue reading "Challenges in Sizing Package Application Based Implementations" »

Posted by Amol Gupta at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

What do companies in diverse industries such as manufacturing, real estate, recruitment and asset management have in common?

All of them have Line of Business (LoB) applications to help them achieve strategic competitive advantage. However, several of these disparate legacy applications have evolved over the years and they do not leverage latest technological advancements, while being increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain.

Continue reading "The need for a business applications framework" »

Posted by Raghavendra Ramdas at 4:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As the wise-men saying goes - "Do not put all your eggs in one basket" - it is prudent to diversify the application portfolio like the investment portfolio to reduce the risk arising due to dependence on one technology, vendor, consultants and architecture model. The reason why investments are diversified is the element of uncertainty and the risk of assuming that everything will go well with the investment I choose. Besides that there is an element of individual financial goal and the outcome (duration, amount, and criticality) which drive the instrument (along with its associated risk or lack of it).

Continue reading "Defining the Application Portfolio using the "EXIST" framework" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Microsoft has recently announced announced a new connector that accelerates two-tier enterprise resource planning (ERP) deployments between Microsoft Dynamics AX and SAP Business Suite. Check the press release here.

Continue reading "Two-Tier ERP for the new business" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Enterprise Applications (Especially ERP packages) are meant to be rich in functionality and address a wide range of business processes addressing multiple business needs across an organization. The user set typically includes a core group of key users having a wide span of influence as well as control.  In addition, there are a large number of end users whose span of reference to the enterprise application is generally limited to their specific area of responsibility.

The overall appeal of the rich features and depth in functionality typically impresses the IT team as well as the core group of key users who would eventually have a view into the full system. On the other hand, for users at the other end of the spectrum like for example a warehouse receiver, the new system just means a change in the way he goes about doing his routine job of receiving shipments. From his perspective, does it make sense to be exposed to the actual package?

Going by Pareto principle, majority of the features/functionalities of the application would end up being used by just a bunch of people. Taking the application of this principle even further with respect to enterprise applications, majority of the daily transactions would be usually enabled by just using a limited set of features in an implemented package solution.

Continue reading "When Less is More in Case of Enterprise Applications" »

Posted by Amol Gupta at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is not a blog around a sermon on how we need to live as humans. I came across this quote today morning in a mail forwarded from a friend of mine who herself has 1 blackberry, 1 iPhone, an iPad, a laptop, a desktop at home and a desktop in office…and maybe more - that I do not know; what an irony!

However, most important point is that this triggered my thoughts around what we do in business day in and day out. Some of the thoughts here are disconnected and since I am myself not clear of the ‘right’ way; you will find certain level of cross movements.

Continue reading "Simplicity is an acquired taste. Mankind, left free, instinctively complicates life." »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Actors: Consultant (Jerry) and Client (Tom)

The Conversation:

Tom: So now that you know my needs; can you tell me what is the percentage fitment for the product you are recommending?

Jerry: Well, this depends on how you see it; but I can assure you it’s a good fitment. Nothing will meet your needs out of the box.

Tom: Can you be more specific? What is the fitment in percentage terms – 40%, 60% or 80%

Jerry: Ok, let me get back to you on this by tomorrow

Jerry lists out all requirements and puts them in an excel sheet; gives a fitment of – ‘Out of Box’, ‘Customization’, ‘Not Applicable’ to each requirement line. And yes, here is the pivot with number of requirements in each bracket. Ready for next day

Jerry: Good Morning Tom; here is the analysis. As I had mentioned yesterday you have a 70% fitment; 20% will be met with customization and 10% are not possible with the product. Net-Net a good 70% fitment is what I see here.

Tom: Hmmn. Looks ok to me. Let’s discuss the statement of work.

Jerry: Sure, Drinks anyone??

Continue reading "Percentage Fitment Anomaly – Gosh! Did I just over-sell/under-sell the product to my client?" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

This is probably my last post in this year and I feel like sharing my thoughts together at one go.

Yet another year is about to come to an end. Many would like to forget this year as one of the nightmare - job cuts, stagnation, closing businesses, struggling bottom lines, insecurity and unexpected falls. While several things may have gone wrong; there were some very thought through and meticulous business moves that will change the business paradigm in near future.

Continue reading "MMIX > MMX - The King is dead; long live the King (Year end musing on IT providers space)" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Many of the CRM solutions are tied towards relationship management but it is not essentially towards managing a customer. This is where XRM comes into play and X could be an employee, patient, Investor, Partner, or anything.  A typical CRM solution will have the lead to opportunity life cycle but in XRM it will vary depending on whom are you managing.  In short, XRM means extended Relationship management.

The CRM products that are flexible and allow the re-use of the below features will qualify as the XRM product. This is where Microsoft Dynamics CRM scores over its competitors.

1.       UI --> User interface is created by default in the dynamics framework. This can be easily modified and extended using .NET and Silverlight.

2.       Event-Driven --> Microsoft dynamics provides the handle for all the events that cab triggered though batch, integration or through user interface.

3.       Entity-based --> New entities can be created and the relationship can be established between these entities.

4.       Workflow --> User can manage the work flow through a user interface or a new work flow can also be published by the developer.

5.       Security --> Object-based and role-based security model provides the high flexibility to adopt the security requirements of any new processes and/or a new organization structure.

Posted by Manoj Jajoo at 8:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Dynamics Unbound - The ‘Clouds’ in ‘Azure’ Sky" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Recently, I came across an interesting IT strategy of using the ERP solely as the processing engine keeping it largely independent of the end-user UI needs, the presentation layer and business specific customizations if any. The whole idea was to insulate the end users from any impact of future changes in the IT strategy of the organization in terms of changing the technology platform and/or the ERP vendor.

The strategy basically translates into having a common future proof platform for the end-users leveraging the core ERP functions such as GL/AR/AP etc. and incorporating  business logic level extensions in a client specific “Logic Layer”. The presentation layer is largely independent of the package except where it cannot be totally avoided.

Continue reading "Can ERP be a “Plug and Play” Replaceable Engine?" »

Posted by Amol Gupta at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Life is never too simple! And who can know this better than consultants. Consultants have their own reasons to follow an approach for achieving a business need using any COTS solutions. However, in my personal experience I feel that any packages product should be used with utmost care and be modified after following some standard principles. There would be lot of pressure from some members of the client team to customize the product so that it has look and feel of the previous application and which lead to reduction of training needs. On the other hand, the IT teams would like to keep it simple to reduce the upgrade costs and the pains associated with it along with recurring cost of maintenance. The aim is to reduce the overall TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and the APM(Associated Pain of Management). Well the second acronym is my brainchild.

Continue reading "Defining solution in ERP: Ten Commandments - Thy shall not falter on them!" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sometimes the inspiration for an idea is a ‘baby matter’. At least that is what inspired me for this post. There was  a post from Scott Anthony in Innovation Insights section of HBR titled Procter & Gamble and the Beauty of Small by Wins 

Continue reading "Nano- Innovation : Is this the key to Mid-Markets?" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Recently while working on a solution for a client, I realized how important the Green house gas reporting has become for global organizations within a short span of time.  Typically, systems are put in place to increase efficiency/enhance ROI and eventually reduce cost.  With the legal and compliance requirements getting stringent post developments like Kyoto Protocol, global organizations have started noticing the financial costs w.r.t.to green house gas reporting. Although this might be insignificant in comparison to any other cost, solutions addressing the Greenhouse reporting requirements are catching the attention of organizations.

Other than the important driver of meeting compliance, one key factor that appears to me as a very significant reason for organizations taking seriously into GHG reporting is the prospect of trading Carbon Credits which is possible only if there is adequate traceability into the data for the GHG emitted or for that matter not emitted by a particular organization.

Continue reading "The green colored ERP !" »

Posted by Amol Gupta at 4:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is a simplistic approach of relating an ERP implementation to constructing a bridge (under Build, Operate and Transfer basis by a private contractor) due to the inherent nature of activities being the same in both the scenarios.

The making of a bridge entails site inspection to ground preparation to blueprinting ending with construction where there are tests in the intervening duration to ensure that this is safe and can serve the intended purpose without risking the lives of the users who are going to use this to go from Point A to Point B. The work is not limited to only bridge but also entails making approach roads and giving a complete end to end solution to the commuter needs.

Continue reading "Understanding an ERP implementation – Bridge Analogy" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From the complex setups/data entry forms for end users in the past to the modern day simplistic UI, the ERP applications have come a long way. Today, every organization wants a robust ERP with an easy-to-use user interface that encourage greater end-user adoption and acceptance. One of the major reasons for failure of an ERP implementation has been lack of user adoption. And there is nothing wrong with it. Everyone wants a simple approach to most complex of problems, especially when it comes to conducting day to day business transactions. Its all about getting the right data at the right place at the right time in the right format to meet the right needs.

Continue reading "And it happens in a ‘snap’" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today the buzz world in IT segment is “hosting” and “SaaS” where the clients can convert their CAPEX into OPEX and can use the application on a ‘pay as you use’ basis. Every vendor and service provider is joining the bandwagon to provide these services. The market segment for hosted services is huge, as the market says and there are sufficient buyers of the same. However, the segment, the type, the service, the criticality, the business type and the long term plan should be considered before weighing this option. Though it is a quick solution to implement, the acceptance of the processes, scalability and fitment is sometimes in question. It is widely known that plain-vanilla hosting is a low-margin, commodity business and unless you are the product company, you would not do it! The concept of S+S (Software + Service) as propagated by Microsoft takes a step beyond SaaS to describe the importance of System Integrators and ISVs in this emerging (if not already emerged) ecosystem.

Continue reading "If everything could be hosted!" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

What is the optimum limit to which we should customize an “off the shelf” product to meet the client’s need?

Microsoft Dynamics products have been positioned as more of a framework with “optimal” business processes built into the products rather than “hard-coding” all the business best practices that had been the selling pointy for most of the established ERP in the market. When Microsoft Dynamics brand was launched in market, the idea was to enable companies bring their processes into the system rather than following what is already provided by the product.

There are always people commenting on this positively or negatively, and both are right!

Continue reading "The “framework” conundrum in ERP/CRM" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 5:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

In recent discussions with some of the IT heads and managers during new business possibilities, I realized that the way they conceive IT as a function in the organization has changed over the years. The IT honchos are now fully agreeing to the KISS (Keep It Straight & Simple) principle and have realized that bringing in greater complexity actually prevents the way organizations would like to respond in an environment needing “flexible” responses. This does not mean that robustness and scalability is not in their mind. However, right now it has moved from realm of “pure technology” based solutions to one that can help solve business problems and are acceptable to people who are going to use this.

Continue reading "A “Dynamic” twist in ERP/CRM" »

Posted by Sachin Bery at 4:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)