The following forces and information technology (IT) trends will continue to shape 2013:

1. Cloud Computing
While cloud computing is becoming mainstream, hybrid cloud–on-premises configurations (a.k.a., “software plus services” and “connected services”) remains the reality for cloud integration and federated cross-cloud security issues. Organizations are increasingly looking to hybrid cloud architectures as a way to have a more dynamic computing architecture over time. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s what TEC analysts have to say about some of the more significant enterprise software developments of 2012.

Aleksey Osintsev, TEC Research Analyst, on cloud ERP:
For the ERP software space, 2012 was a year of extensive appraisal of the suitability of cloud-based ERP software to the manufacturing industry. The software-as-a-service (SaaS) concept is being clarified, and lessons are being learned by manufacturing companies around the globe. New vendors are offering various cloud-only ERP solutions for manufacturing, while many traditional vendors have developed cloud or SaaS versions of their existing applications, or new cloud systems that parallel the older on-premise ones. Even more significantly, manufacturers are giving cloud deployment serious consideration as part of their IT strategy for the future.

From what I saw during 2012, businesses are starting to realize that perhaps they should not be lemmings in following the crowd to the cloud. Read the rest of this entry »

In late November 2012, Dassault Systèmes, a world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital mock up (DMU), and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, announced the latest release of its 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Dassault Systèmes provides individuals and businesses with a set of software tools to create so-called “virtual universes” to imagine and create sustainable innovations and transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. The company’s collaborative solutions foster social innovation and aim to expand possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. Dassault Systèmes has more than 150,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries.

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I am pleased to announce that Glovia International’s G2 enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution is now TEC Certified and available for online evaluation of ERP for discrete manufacturing solutions in TEC’s ERP Evaluation Center.

Glovia has more than 30 years of experience developing its solution to meet the needs of discrete manufacturers. And, based on the data evaluated by Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC), G2 is one of the more robust discrete manufacturing solutions on the market. G2 supports multiple currencies, languages, and locations.

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In the final days of 2012, xTuple, a commercial open source enterprise resource planning (ERP) company that works with a global community of tens of thousands of professional users, reported its second consecutive record quarter of sales for 2012. Due to a surge of new customers in manufacturing and distribution, revenue was reportedly up 74 percent over the third quarter last year—and sales in the first three quarters of 2012 were up 59 percent overall from the same time period in 2011.

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Simulation has become an integral part of the engineering software market. When we talk about return on investment (ROI) from simulation software implementation, cost and time savings are two easy and accurate measures. Relevance of simulation has increased and is expected to further penetrate into micro-vertical industry solutions due to the positive short- and long-term benefits realized by end users. Read the rest of this entry »

I am very excited to be joining Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) as senior analyst, supply chain management.

TEC’s decision-support engine, robust feature/function models, and rich database of vendor capabilities enable TEC clients to realize faster time-to-value in software decisions.  Watching the evolution of how clients use software advisory firms, and, then, starting up my own analyst firm, has persuaded me more strongly than ever of the value of such an online capability for software evaluation. Read the rest of this entry »

In anticipation of the upcoming NRF 2013 event, Epicor has announced that specialty retailer A.C. Moore has selected and implemented Epicor Retail Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to strengthen customer relations and support future loyalty and reward initiatives. With 141 stores along the US East Coast, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc., in addition to offering traditional craft products, is well-known for its selection of scrapbooking, jewelry, floral, yarn, art supplies, children’s craft kits and educational toys, and ready-made frames and custom framing.

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We are pleased to announce that QlikTech’s QlikView, version 11, is now part of TEC’s certified business intelligence (BI) applications family of products, and available for evaluation online in the Business Intelligence and Data Management Evaluation Center.
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Oracle’s attempt to tackle the customer experience cloud market has been advanced with the new acquisition of cloud-based marketing automation solutions provider Eloqua. Oracle expects to achieve an extensive product, which will help companies market, sell, and support their customers. The solution should be able to offer multi-channel and personalized client interactions. Read the rest of this entry »

I am pleased to announce that Sunrise Technologies’ Apparel & Footwear Template (AFT) for Microsoft Dynamics AX is now TEC Certified, and available for online evaluation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for fashion industries in TEC’s ERP Evaluation Center.

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Epicor software has announced that the Crescent Electric Company selected the Epicor Eclipse wholesale distribution enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to “advance operations to the next level of excellence,” said Martin Burbridge, president and CEO of Crescent Electric. Read the rest of this entry »

On December 13, 2012, Sage North America announced the availability of Sage 500 ERP 2013 (formerly Sage ERP MAS 500). The product’s new features and enhancements, and new mobile and cloud services, aim to help midsize customers increase productivity, simplify processes, and reduce costs across their business.

Enterprises can now save time navigating processes with Visual Process Flows, which demonstrate the steps of a process in visual terms, while also including links to the various tasks along the way. Visual Process Flows were originally developed for the top of the range Sage ERP X3 product, but are now a common component in all Sage’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions.

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In late November 2012, at the time of the Autodesk University 2012 conference, Autodesk, the leader in cloud-based design and engineering software, and INDYCAR, the auto racing sanctioning body behind popular racing events such as the Indianapolis 500, have signed a three-year technology partnership. INDYCAR already employs Autodesk’s desktop-based software within its operations for a variety of important functions. For example, the organization uses AutoCAD software to create detailed garage layouts before each event, which helps improve the logistics of load-in and load-out at venues.

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iCIMS and SkillSurvey announced their partnership yesterday. iCIMS aims to advance its talent acquisition solution by offering its clients access to the behavioral, Web-based reference-checking software developed SkillSurvey. Read the rest of this entry »