Consultant's Corner
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by Brooks Nelson |
| It seems that everywhere you go these days “the Cloud” is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The promise of smaller capital expenditures and user-based operating costs is particularly appealing in an economy that has shown to be inconsistent, at best. Because utilizing software as a service can be so heavily dependent on the constrictions of your internet connection, moving your ERP to a hosted environment might not be feasible quite yet. However, there are some ways that you can bridge that gap to the cloud while still managing Expandable that is deployed on your network. |
| One of the benefits of SaaS (Software as a Service) is the ability to access your ERP remotely; and if you have multiple locations this is more or less a necessity. By implementing CITRIX on your network, you can optimize the quality with which you are able to access the Expandable software that resides at your location through a web browser. Your remote users will experience less latency and better functionality because Expandable will be accessible from any computer, delivered securely through the internet. |
| Another upside to hosted software is apparent when it comes time for an upgrade. Since the ERP is not installed locally, changes and maintenance are performed in the background by the hosting company without affecting your network. However, because every business’ system is different an upgrade to Expandable usually requires a few adjustments to be made to the local network. One solution our firm devised was to create a testing environment that allowed our engineers to make sure things were “just right” before making the cut-over to the newest version of Expandable. |
| Perhaps one of the most important aspects associated with a cloud solution, apparent to any business owner, is that the responsibility of security and business continuity is transferred to the software provider. Your organization can enjoy enterprise level security and not have to worry about the various threats to your operation. To deliver a comparable level of comfort and protection we recommend implementing a solution that not only takes a back-up every 15 minutes, but also enables the software to be activated in a virtualized server in as little as 45 minutes. |
| Since a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the health of your infrastructure is critical in ensuring that your company remains operational and productive. One option that provides comprehensive support while at the same time translates the operational sort of expense of the cloud is to engage an IT firm that offers unlimited service for a fixed monthly rate. The flat rate encourages and rewards proactive maintenance on part of the IT company. While the unlimited support is much like having an in-house IT person, but with the skill set of an entire team and without the burden of keeping someone on staff. |
| The advent of new technology can provide your business with the edge it needs to accelerate past the competition. And since payroll is always one of a business’s biggest expenses, examining opportunities to enhance productivity is worth the time that it takes. After all, a few small changes in your operations can mean exponential increases in returns on your investments in staff and technology. |
| About Brooks Nelson |
Brooks Nelson develops partnerships for an Orange County, CA based IT firm that specializes in enhancing the efficiency of their clients' infrastructure. Since 2002, TechMD has been helping companies to streamline their networks and increase productivity. Unlike many IT support firms who bill hourly, TechMD's IT 2.0 business model offers unlimited service for a flat monthly rate in order to provide the benefits of an in-house IT person with the skill sets of an entire team. To learn more about TechMD's simply smarter approach to managing your infrastructure visit www.techmd.com or contact:
brooks@techmd.com
714.619.8017 |
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