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OpenWorld 2011 – It’s all getting quicker.

Kathy Wells — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:14:37 +0000

Tracy Bishop, product manager & former Oracle consultant

by Tracy Bishop, product manager and former Oracle consultant

My favourite new song over the Summer months was called Quicker by I Blame Coco. “Quicker” seems to be the theme of the moment. Apple are releasing iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S which promise faster performance. And the main message at Oracle OpenWorld 2011 was that everything can now be much, MUCH faster.

Exa-everything
This is the first time I’ve attended Openworld as a non-Oracle employee. It gave me a considerably different perspective. There was a great deal of focus on hardware and database aspects. “Exa-everything” was the darling of the show and managed to get a mention in most of the sessions I attended, even those which were Applications specific rather than technical.

Oracle Financials
As an accountant I was mainly interested in the applications side of things, especially Oracle financials. Most of what I heard here I had heard at previous conferences. There was a good high level session on “What’s next for financial management solutions at Oracle?”. This was an overview of the new things for each of the four financial product sets and included a presentation from Deloitte on their CFO survey. That implied there is lots to worry about in the global economy and most CFO’s feel they have squeezed and squeezed efficiencies and cost savings out of their organisations already. So…. would CFO’s be interested in the “do it quicker messages ?

Extreme BI
If they were, an interesting session was “Extreme BI: Real-Time Analytics with Oracle Exadata and Oracle Business Intelligence Apps”. I was intrigued by the title as Oracle have chopped and changed their message about real time versus datawarehouse reporting over the past few years. Could it be that we were to see a return to real time business intelligence? No – this was just a case of “quicker” in action. It showed how Exadata and its Exa cousins can really come into their own as a platform to create a very fast performing e-Business suite. It turns out that OBIEE has not moved to become a real time tool but if Exadata is used along with plenty of tuning, parallelism, etc., the improvement in performance can gives users the feel of real time. Of course there is a price tag and an organisation needs a big budget or needs to be big enough to generate a business case to show a return on investment over time. Maybe something for the CFOs of really big companies then, but it looks like more of the same for the rest.

Quick Hits Are What We Need Right Now
I am convinced though that there are still ways to squeeze the last drops of efficiency out of an organisation by using the information Oracle e-Business suite provides. This belief was reinforced at a session on the GRC products run jointly between Oracle and KPMG. Tactical reporting, rather than BI, on Oracle financials can reveal interesting trends and details to help find savings, e.g. by identifying where overpayments are occurring, finding fraud, early identification and correction of errors, etc. This may sound like small fry but based on KPMGs example, a company with a 5% profit margin losing $1million through overpayments and fraud would need to generate an additional $20million in sales to compensate. So, for me, quick and easy ways to get to that information and put it right will be the things to help CFOs and their accountants.

And, just to bring everything round in a circle…. the singer of the “Quicker” song i love so much is Coco Sumner, daughter of Sting, one of the headlining performers at OpenWorld this year.

If you attended, what are your impressions of OpenWorld this year? If you didn’t attend, what have you heard about the event that you found of interest? Please comment – I’m curious about your thoughts.

Author: Kathy Wells

High tech marketer with over 20 years experience and proven results. Always keeping it fresh as a social media geek and frequent early adopter. Strong customer relationship builder, driving tangible ROI our customers. Education includes: MBA in International Business, Masters of Arts in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication (in progress).

Do all signs point to an unorganized implementation of Order-to-Ship?

ryan.alford — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:00:37 +0000

It’s not an easy job. An optimized Order-to-Ship business process offers continual progress towards improved cost control and delivery performance.

However, there might be a few challenges in the systems, including:

Rework to correct data accuracy issues
Late shipments and setbacks in delivery performance
Increased customer complaints
Time spent on complaint resolution
Poor management of backorders
Inefficient order processing and fulfillment
Untimely invoicing
Diminished cash flow and sales margins

In an Aberdeen Research study called “Working Capital Optimization: Increase Cash Flow in the New Economy,” author Nari Viswanathan said that “Best-in-Class companies are 30% as likely as all others to use cash conversion metrics as part of their supply chain organization metrics. Companies that embed cash conversion metrics into the set of supply chain metrics are twice as likely to have reduced their cash conversion cycle over the past year (45% versus 21%). Some of the key metrics that have been adopted as part of the process are: Sales forecast accuracy, on-time shipping, on-time delivery, inventory turns, logistics costs as a percentage of sales, and gross profit margin.”

Achieving an on-time shipping and delivery system is an industry standard met by few. Using JD Edwards can get you on your way, but will only take you so far.

To read more, click here.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

The West is the Best!

ryan.alford — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:35:46 +0000

By Phil Walton

Quincy Ko will join InsightSoftware.com on Monday, June 28 as the company’s new sales executive for the northwest region (all the places in the West where it snows).

Quincy is based in Vancouver, Canada and comes with deep and varied experience in the Business Intelligence and ERP industries.

With experience in growing territories, short/long sales cycles, closing small/large deals, and his eye for the end-user experience, Quincy is the ideal addition to InsightSoftware. He understands our value proposition and the Insight opportunity.

Welcome to the team, Quincy!

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

JD Edwards Executive Luncheon in Greensboro, NC

ryan.alford — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:34:36 +0000

Bring your appetite and join InsightSoftware.com and brij for a sumptuous meal and great networking on June 23, 11:30-1:30. You will see why InsightSoftware.com is quickly becoming the reporting tool of choice within the JD Edwards community.

With Insight you truly revolutionize operational reporting throughout your organization. Insight supplies solutions for functional areas such as: Finance, Human Capital, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Project and Asset Management. Insight goes beyond mere reporting to drive productivity and profitability gains throughout your organization.

Leave with knowledge of the solutions that can help you optimize your business processes, all over lunch. We will treat you to lunch at the UNDERCURRENT restaurant . Click here to RSVP.

User Group meetings on the horizon:

Rocky Mountain User Group on June 10: http://bit.ly/diOd8T

JD Edwards Southeast Regional User Group in Atlanta, GA on June 17: http://bit.ly/9ewZJR

Eastern Canada Regional User Group on June 21 in Mississauga: http://bit.ly/9zCbOF

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

Forecast-to-Make: A Structurally Sound Process?

ryan.alford — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:47:24 +0000

Do you experience materials shortages and capacity constraints? It’s vital to increase productivity and information accuracy by proactively ensuring that key managers and users can access accurate and timely information to make sound, in-the-moment decisions.

Running a world-class operation starts with the necessity for at least 99 percent accuracy of Item Master data. For many, this is easier said than done. However, with the correct tools the accuracy of Item Master records, Bills of Material, and Routings can be assured.

Once this initial foundation is secured, then focus turns to proactively optimizing scheduling to maximize available capacity and ensure availability of raw materials. Again, although JD Edwards stores meaningful information in these areas, many struggle to access real-time actionable information that enables optimized processing. Finally, having a full grasp of manufacturing cost variances and their drivers can make the difference in driving increasingly lower costs and fewer surprises.

With the correct tools you can unlock the rich data stored in JD Edwards to ensure the following: manufacturing tactics are aligned with the corporate strategy; forecasted demand matches market requirements; manufacturing processes are tuned to meet forecasted demand; and that ongoing reduction of cost and variances is possible.

To read more, click here.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

JD Edwards Support Number Fades to Black

ryan.alford — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:27:11 +0000

On June 14, the JD Edwards support number (1-800-289-2999) will be disconnected and transitioned to the Oracle Support hotlines.

The new U.S. number is 800-223-1711. Otherwise, visit http://www.oracle.com/support/contact.html to find the Oracle Global Customer Support toll free number in your country.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

Capital Asset Management: Improving Equipment Up-time, Lowering Costs

ryan.alford — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:08:00 +0000

“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.” -Arthur Conan Doyle

In today’s economy, using an effective CAM solution can make or break a business. It’s the financial advantages that are of main concern. It’s the incentive of knowing how to save money by controlling costs associated with facilities, parts and labor. This trio of asset management key points is typically where the problems related to cost-effectiveness begin.

CAM is a sensitive formula that is successful when everything is funneled through a system that works efficiently. A core function of that formula – relevant to price control – is lowering maintenance costs. This is usually priority No. 1. This includes watching the following components: inventory and depreciation, scheduling of repair, logistics, utilization, monitoring (safety and tracking), total lifecycle, performance management, capital planning, and support.

To further control costs, it’s imperative that a software solution assist with increasing maintenance resource utilization. This relates to being aware of costs related to facilities, parts and labor. However, it’s also necessary to have a solution that helps improve equipment up-time. Having a working organization that creates a system that sets a standard for quality control will save dollars on a long-term basis.

To read more, click here.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

Lunch and Learn?

ryan.alford — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 22:24:39 +0000

InsightSoftware.com is hosting several “Lunch and Learn” events in the Maryland and Virginia areas. Discover how Insight is quickly becoming the reporting application of choice among the JD Edwards community.

Here’s the lineup:

Baltimore MD Lunch & Learn May 13th 2010 – http://events.linkedin.com/Lunch-Learn-Insight-Software-Brij/pub/306856

Tysons Corner Lunch & Learn May 12 2010 – http://events.linkedin.com/Tysons-Corner-Lunch-Learn-Insight/pub/306851

Richmond VA Lunch & Learn May 12th 2010 – http://events.linkedin.com/Richmond-Virginia-Lunch-Learn-Insight/pub/306846

We look forward to seeing you!

Are you interested in joining our LinkedIn group? Although we host this group for our customers, we also want new and interested participants to join.

Click the following link to register: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2555288.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

InsightSoftware.com Debuts its Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) Module for JD Edwards

ryan.alford — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:48:25 +0000

InsightSoftware.com, the leading provider of business process optimization software, announced the availability of Insight’s MRP module for JD Edwards. The MRP module brings added visibility to JD Edwards’ forecast and planning data.

“With better insight to information, customers can achieve more accurate forecasts and optimal planning of material and resources,” said Glenn Wirick, Director of Consulting Services at InsightSoftware.com. “Not only do our clients see a reduction in costs, but they gain improvements in delivery performance which leads to increased customer satisfaction.”

Insight software users control the information in their reports without having to rely on valuable IT resources. Enhancing access to relevant and meaningful MPS, MRP, DRP and CRP data puts the power of information into the hands of decision-makers. Insight’s interactive inquiries allow users to address material and capacity issues proactively, before they affect downstream processing. Understanding where inefficiencies and resource constraints occur allows for retooling of processes to increase profitability and enhance customer service.

Insight’s online inquiries enable reports to come to life. Simply click on summary level information to view the detailed data that make up a forecast, plan or bill of material. Comparisons across plants or product lines are a breeze with Insight. Pivot data to easily spot shortages and bottlenecks. Furthermore, charting and graphing functionality makes it easy to evaluate trends and understand short and long term capacity requirements. This ensures ongoing availability of material and labor resources.

To learn more about Insight’s MRP module, visit: www.InsightSoftware.com/jde/mrp.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.

Why can’t we all just Collaborate?

ryan.alford — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:48:08 +0000

Here are a few Collaborate events and free Webinars to keep on your radar:

InsightSoftware.com’s clients are invited to partake in free drinks at our beach cabana during Collaborate 2010 (shoes optional)

Join InsightSoftware.com during Wednesday evening’s beach party at the Mandalay Bay Beach from 6:30-8:30pm. We rented a private beach cabana, cabana No. 8 (next to the Surf Cafe) for our customers. We will have a complimentary drink cart for those that have our drink tickets. Please stop by our booth, No. 1419, in the Exhibition Hall to obtain your free tickets. A small token of our appreciation for you, our customers.

Don’t forget, we are giving away an Apple iPad. It’s a beauty. We are all drooling over it. Drop your business card off at our booth for your chance to win. It’s really just another bribe to see your smiling faces at our booth, No. 1419.

Attend one of our several 2010 Collaborate presentations for additional chances to enter-to-win:

Session 75850: Financial Reporting Within the Public Sector (with AMX International) – Monday, 4/19/10, 3:45-4:45 p.m., Room: Jasmine A
Session 76650: Health Checks for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne (with Titan Technologies) – Monday, 4/19/10, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Room: Mandalay Bay Ballroom 1
Session 74550: World FASTR Reports Done Funner, Faster & Easier (a Customer Presentation by Golden State Water) – Wednesday, 4/21/10, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Room: Jasmine F
Session 77180: Take the Pain Out of Budgeting (a customer presentation with Bal Seal Engineering) – Thursday, 4/22/10, 11:00-12:00 p.m., Room: Jasmine H
Session 4769: Transform Your Financial Statement Generator (FSG) Processes – Thursday, 4/22/10, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Room: Reef D

Free Public Webinars:

Get more from your JD Edwards Human Resources and Payroll investment

When: April 29, 10a-11a MT

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/239761578

Managing and paying your staff is one of the most important areas of your business. Stop spending time dumping sensitive data into Excel. Stop waiting weeks for custom reports. InsightSoftware.com’s Employee Lifecycle Solution provides powerful, simple, and secure access to essential human resource and payroll information, allowing you to be far more effective in much less time. This Webinar will provide you with an overview on how you can easily overcome challenges in validating your employee setup, benefit enrollment and payroll entries. You will see how real-time, online inquiries can help you be more efficient and answer questions quickly. For more information on InsightSoftware.com’s Employee Lifecycle solution, visit: www.mini.InsightSoftware.com/we/employee.

Transform your Financial Statement Generator (FSG) process with Insight

When: April 30, 10a-11a MT

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/234336394

Fast-track your Oracle FSGs in an Office 2007-style environment. Automatically check for reporting integrity issues. Transform boring report definitions into elegant interactive reports. Augment your reports with hundreds of new reporting features. Drill-down from any level to live transactions in a single click. Leave technical FSGs behind with a true end-user reporting solution.

Insight’s hassle-free solution:

15 minutes to install and configure before running your first report
Import FSGs in seconds
Instantly share reports with other users
Highly intuitive
Minimal training required
No additional IT infrastructure necessary

For more information on your free FSG integrity check, visit: www.InsightSoftware.com/fsgchecker.

Customer Training Webinar:

Enhance your Reports with Links and Drill Down Capabilities

When: April 15, 10a-11a MT

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/504735891

Improve your productivity and streamline your processes with Insight’s built-in drill-down functionality. The advantage of Insight’s online reports and inquiries is that you can click on a figure and drill-down and through to the live, originating transaction. This Webinar will give you some tips on making drill-downs more intuitive and easier for your users. In addition, you will learn how to create report links to other meaningful information including advanced linking capabilities. To view past, recorded presentations and register for upcoming sessions, visit us at www.InsightSoftware.com/webinars.

Author: ryan.alford

Ryan is the Internet Marketing Manager for InsightSoftware.com.