| ign="center"> | | | | single client. Business Intelligence software is designed |
| With the rise of the internet and the amount of data | | | | to assist in the analysis of data, often including costing, |
| produced around the world each day, managing a | | | | efficiency management and predicting of trends. |
| business has become potentially very complex. | | | | These software packages typically focus on the data |
| Naturally, however, as data collection abilities have | | | | from the company in question. Competitive Intelligence |
| increased, methods of processing the vast | | | | software, on the other hand, focuses more on external |
| accumulation of data have also improved. | | | | factors. Enterprise Resource Planning software was |
| There are several classifications of such software, | | | | initially developed from MRP or Manufacturing |
| some having significant crossover in their functionality. It | | | | Resource Planning from industry sectors. It took the |
| is also common practice to integrate multiple | | | | ideas implemented and then applied them to a larger |
| management assistants together, either via a single | | | | section of business. ERP software packages typically |
| program suite which has many utilities, such as | | | | assist in the management of manufacturing, distribution, |
| Microsoft Dynamics, or by integrating a combination of | | | | inventory, accounting, sales, quality management and |
| different pieces of software to gain functionality that a | | | | human resources for a company. This aggregation of |
| single suite may not be able to offer. | | | | data can produce a very streamlined decision making |
| The level of software and the cost of implementation | | | | process. |
| can vary greatly depending on the software used and | | | | The biggest driving factors for using an amalgamation |
| the size and distribution of the company. A general | | | | of several smaller products rather than using a single |
| costing rule for an ERP system is twice the user | | | | solution are, as previously mentioned, the potential for |
| license fee, but for larger companies with multiple | | | | added functionality and also the lower cost of |
| location installations, three to five times the cost of the | | | | implementation. Many of the all inclusive packages |
| user license fee is common. | | | | come with hefty price tags, since you pay for a lot of |
| Some of the most common types of software include; | | | | functionality you may not need or use. Picking up a |
| CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, | | | | package consisting of several products more tailored |
| BI (Business Intelligence) software, CI (Competitive | | | | to your current business needs can help cut some of |
| Intelligence) software and ERP (Enterprise Resource | | | | the costs down. As with all investments however, |
| Planning) software. Customer Relationship | | | | it’s worth considering what your business needs |
| Management software typically provides a way to | | | | are carefully and, more specifically, what your business |
| keep track of clients, including work logs, contact | | | | needs are likely to be in the future. If in any doubt, |
| details, costing data and more. This becomes | | | | there are many companies who offer consultation |
| especially important when businesses begin to have a | | | | services and would be more than happy to help you |
| large number of clients or many people working on a | | | | find a system suited to your business. |