Single Centralised Data Model - Essay Example

Introduction Clarity system is a Relationship Management (CRM) and Management Information System (MIS) application, which enhances an effective and accountable way of running companies. The program saves the agony of spending so much time on quotations, documenting of invoices, delivery notes and running after orders. The clarity professional software does all this. Gregory Wilberforce (2005) Clients and supplier can also gather their information instantly. What happens is that price lists with the products and services supplied are populated into the program which effectively takes orders from quotation to invoiced work by simple clicks. The clarity works in a very interesting way; it generates quotations, verifies, compute all the orders, delivery notes, invoices on the PDF, word and even Excel formats. Quotations are normally worked out at jaw-dropping speed using powerful computation wizards which is compatible to almost all business sectors. Faraday & Howard (2003) The Excel/web Interface The function of the Excel spreadsheet in the systems clarity space is a hotly mooted debate. Undeniably the unfettered use of spreadsheets in a financial setting creates significant risks. The spreadsheet constitutes an infinite flexibility which is strength as good a weakness. Altered changes and calculation errors that are not authentic can easily undermine the integrity of a spreadsheet budget and the entire consolidated process. The harnessing of bigger characteristics of Excel enhances organisations to leverage the high investment that is already made in the spreadsheet bound processes. Gerald A.M (2006) Clarity advances the precepts by deploying the look and feel of excel. The excel/web interface enhances the acceleration and incorporation of clarity system which reduces training costs because the templates and reports can look like any other spreadsheet. It simplifies deployment of the application since users can access the system via a browser which is already on their desktop. The advantage of using web/excel as the basic user interface is that it's a universal language that has been integrated and used in most organisations. Gerald A.M (2006) Single Centralised Data Model The CPM programs are normally defined as closed loop process, where determining functionality from strategic objectives and long term plans are integrated operational budgets that are monitored, evaluated and reported against absolute results. For a dynamic environment like that one for a construction company, it is advisable that information is shared across the board by the most crucial functionalities and procedures so that there is no replication of data and integrity of information is guaranteed. The structural information such as cost centre account or product group should be consistent whenever observed in the CPM functional suite. However, clarity system supports this capability through a single centralized data model. Gregory Wilberforce (2005) This is in marked contrast to other suppliers that frequently have to 'stage' metadata in complex systems architectures in order to establish consistency across the CPM solution. Inefficiencies such as these impose unwelcome complexity and inevitably invite higher costs of maintenance. Unified Solution Clarity system enhances multi-user functions; many users can integrate with the system through a web based interface, whereas all CPM applications can be accessed through easy-to-use menu system. The modules and templates are also controlled and relayed to the central system. The clarity system offers solutions that address all Corporate Performance Management applications. Single instances of clarity is normally used for budgeting, planning, forecasting, reporting, score carding, consolidations, profitability analysis, sales analysis among many more functions. Open Architecture Clarity systems supports online analytical processing (OLAP) and in conjunction with relational databases like Essbase and Oracle clarity leverages the investments that users have already made in technology and people skills. In the event that an organisation deploys OLAP cubes using Essbase or Oracle, clarity plugs directly into these cubes, without alternating changes of the material. This supports the existing data models that can be deployed from existing data more effortlessly. Tobias J.K (2005) Clarity reads and writes data from both databases and an OLAP database, using a single template or report. This function confers profound advantages on clarity. CPM functional architecture is a constant equating act between holding myriad information in an OLAP cube and not holding enough. The capacity to choose the resultant database technology liberates clarity from the constraints of a suppliers fixed data model. Clarity is normally important to budget detailed headcount information within a relational table, where tables can easily be added and removed and easily maintained. Clarity supports this features that simultaneously update the relevant salary. Gregory Wilberforce (2005) Sage MMS Compared with Sage: Accurate Costing This software like clarity has the capability to built costs for each unit and also allocates proportionate and fixed cost/operating overhead to a run, based on an average number of units per run. The sage MMS re-calculate the rolled-up cost of the finished goods upon allocation Versatile Nominal ledger Analysis Flexible Nominal ledger evaluation: the stock functions can be summarized to a single line for each nominal account when posting to the Nominal Ledger to minimize the volumes of transactions. Easily Manage Multiple Bills of Materials: numerous versions of the BOM can be kept for future references. Only one person can edit or change a BOM at any one time. Flexible build options The systems do support assemblies that enhance choice in each case. Picking lists be allocated separately. Customised BOMs and Specials: Users can change individual items, include new items and also amend quantities of existing items. In the event of surplus material remaining users enter the quantity actually built. MMS do support situations where processed goods are build without allocating raw materials first for expednitute built. Sage MMS Reporting and Financial analysis Budget regulation. It effortlessly control combined departmental budget by making all the evaluations and functionality that can seen graphically and rolled down for personal evaluation of the underlying details. Evaluation Tools: the MMS sage contains evaluation codes that enhances one to cut information in any format that deems fit. Report Developer: Sage MMS has got over 300 report templates the encompases all modules within the system. With numerous range of documents that include credit letters and invoice layouts for daily functions, all this can be previewed and electronically mailed or printed out on a fax machine. Excel Embedded Like Clarity, sage MMS is excel integrated, this allows information from sage to be quickly and easily exported into an excel spreadsheet. Excel library functionality is supplied to enhance information to be extracted from MMS into excel for evaluation. Sample spreadsheets are supplied to profit and loss, Balance sheet and key performance indicators. It is easy to adjust these new spreadsheet to suit your own business. Gregory Wilberforce (2005) Sage MMS Document Manager. This facilitates easy documents creation; this includes statements, notes, invoices and quotes. This is effortlessly achieved through the integration of information held in sage MMS. Professional looking Document: Sage MMS document manager merges information with designs that include company logo and branding and produces professional documents that can be faxed or emailed. Intelligent Delivery: it supports electronic delivery of documents and thus reduces on the costs and save time. This is realised by enabling users to generate professional looking emails or faxes directly from MMS and thus saving time and eliminating unnecessary postage. Efficiency archiving: this program supports an efficient and easily accessible document archiving system. It takes only a few steps to track down information and thus reducing paper chasing an it increases clarity and saves time. Advantages: The clarity and professional's functionalities offer tailored solution which meet the client needs effectively. The system is quite easy and does almost everything needed, like handling quotations and estimates that result into more business generations. The system does not require an IT expert to handle and compute on it. Normally its formats are easy and familiar to those who have already used it. Its installation is a smooth one. Finally the system generate significant benefits in terms of specified customer documentation, electronic transfer of sales, paperwork to internal and external clients, integration with purchase and accounting program which improves on the quantity of estimates and the well running of a company. Faraday & Howard (2003) References: Faraday & Howard (2003) Development of CRM Solution: Clarity Professional Software; Harvard University Press. Gregory Wilberforce (2005) Achieving Effective Business Solution: Integrated Templates, MMS Sage and its Versatility. Hopkins University Press. Gerald A.M (2006) Modern Business Management Systems: Oxford University Press. Tobias J.K (2005) Integrating the Business platform: Customer centered Solutions, Leeds university press: Read More