Cloud Computing Basics

A multitude of technological improvements are implemented each year in the computer business and with the fast speed of progress it is useful to thoroughly examine technologies that are becoming somewhat popular with the passage of time. One such comparably recent computer related development, cloud computing, has been on the up rise for a several years and gives a noteworthy number of plus points for consumers and businesses of all sizes. Renowned as cloud computing due to its reliance on the online 'cloud', similar to any other technology or service, it too has its share of weak points.

Cloud computing is a service that lets computer consumers to lower capital expenses on hardware, software and other supporting systems and gives these services, along with storage capability, online. For instance, if you manage a organization immensely reliant on personal promotion, cloud computer related services can supply you a comparatively low-cost substitute to acquiring and enhancing steeply priced software and hardware. It has an adequate selection of packages beneficial for organizations of all sizes and includes features like, analytics and forecasting. The user is billed on a regular, per user basis. Another in style cloud computer application is SAP for a significant range of business applications including Enterprise Resource Management.

The services supplied by cloud computer organizations consist of the management of security and data, and reasonable maintenance expenditure. Even though negligible for small sized organizations, the maintenance of hardware and software, and the extra strain of an IT unit can all add up to build up expenses. Cloud computers decrease many of these expenses and the superior services keep introducing updates and enhancements to their services, keeping up with industry trends. Rates can also be anticipated to fall considerably as the cloud computer gradually secures acceptance with various consumers and firms.

Being a comparably recent technology, cloud computers need to realize a variety of issues and hardships. One of the core problems is that of interoperability, with unlike platforms and operating systems being made by every cloud service provider. This means that individuals may need to handle difficulties transferring present data onto a different, opposing system or changing to a improved service with a separate platform. The other challenge is one of dependability and transparency linked to storage of central and often secretive information. In spite of this worry, a reasonable number of profitable multinational firms have made up their minds to utilize services.

A substantial number of the developments taking place at present consist of middleware or a procedure to connect to and run all these services through one fundamental area. This would incorporate logging into and speedily accessing data from different cloud computer services cumulatively. To provide some direction and structure to the prospect of cloud computer, consortiums and other groups, are also forming guidelines and best practices. However, several industry analysts believe that crafting specifications at such an basic stage may perhaps reduce the pace of momentum and new ideas.

Other issues like network or connectivity failure are also a most important concern, especially in countries where Internet service providers do not always promise round the clock up time. In such circumstances firms would be unequipped to secure main data and would instead have to count on the more regular hardware to function seamlessly. This would defeat the objective of changing to a cloud computer platform in the first place as it would be unable to take advantage of the core incentive of smaller infrastructure expenses.

The prospect of cloud computers appears positive on the whole and the fact that several firms are subscribing to these service is sufficient evidence that cloud computing is indeed a workable technology. With a noteworthy number of, inexpensive payment choices and good quality services easily accessible, both individuals and firms stand to profit considerably from this innovative tool.

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Know More about SaaS & Cloud Computing Sales

Software as a Service or SaaS had almost lost its existence during the dotcom simmer in the year 2001. The dotcom bubble destroyed SaaS but it still managed to regain its importance and identity since then. The idea of subscription based software development took the world by the storm. As it encouraged hosted delivery and reduced the infrastructural overheads for different small and mid-sized companies, it became hugely popular. But many companies could not actually make use of this concept, because the Internet bandwidth was not up to the mark to cater to the success of SaaS deliverance. Furthermore, some software sellers were not keen on adjusting their price models as an all-money-up-front approach suited them the most. The licensing of the Subscription-based software was based on deferred revenue collection. It took some time for sellers to switch to a SaaS pricing model.

The big players in the software development arena first ignored and ridiculed the subscription-based approach of SaaS & cloud computing sales. Companies like Microsoft, Oracle and SAP later they had to act in accordance with the changing demands of the global market. The recent recession further affected the companies negatively by narrowing the company's resources even more. This forced them to opt for SaaS mode of software licensing. Companies are keen to implement a SaaS subscription-based software development model because they have to make alterations to their plans due to mounting IT budget constraints. There are many firms who are constantly trying to take their hardware and software maintenance expenses to SaaS.

The subscription-based licensing model as observed by market analysts is a lucrative and cost-efficient option. The benefits of this alternative can be availed with monthly or quarterly fee which makes it easier for companies. Additionally, there are just no overheads related to software and hardware, which makes it a lot easier for small companies as well. Low upfront cost, subscription-based software development can help companies to develop newer applications without having to invest humongous amounts. According to a recent survey, the adoption of SaaS and cloud computing technology is done by more than 11% of the US government organizations. The percentage of all the users who are opting for SaaS pricing model is expected to increase manifolds in the next few year.

Amongst some of the most important things that you should do before selling a product is to conduct a relevant pre sales research about the product you are selling. This type of work will help you to find out about your potential customers. One must also set a goal of how many units you aim to sell, this can be a short term or a long term goal. It is essential for companies to opt for the right implementation provider before finalizing a service provider. The SaaS application development provider must have adequate experience of handling data security and scalability. Basic deployment and execution is vital to the success of the client company.

Microsoft Azure and Amazon's services are a few examples of SaaS & cloud computing sales. Companies like, Amazon, eBay, etc. have managed to hold on to people's faith in online business. The hesitation and fear of dealing with online stores has diminished considerably, now days. The most important concept that we have to understand about network marketing is that one has to have proper pre sales research done to become a leader in his/ her specific market. This helps to generate people's trust in one thereby trusting what one is marketing.

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Integration - SAP Business One

Cloud computing is triggering a stunning shift in how businesses operate. Modern SaaS applications for marketing, HR, and ERP are allowing companies to accelerate operations and engage more intimately with their customers thanks to heretofore unseen heroes in their ranks.

In the course of just a few years, this new generation of social/mobile SaaS applications with built-in analytics is redefining mission-critical business priorities while erasing the traditional distinctions between front-office and back-office activities.

These changes are essential for companies striving to remake themselves into smarter and faster-paced organizations that can move in lockstep with customers’ rapidly shifting requirements. And at the center of these dramatic transformations are SaaS applications that are easier to procure and install, that are upgraded more frequently, and that mirror the work styles of today’s businesspeople as well as consumers.

Until just a few years ago, CEOs would tell me that while they were eager to move functions such as marketing and HR to the cloud, they were planning to keep all mission-critical systems on-premises for reasons of security and risk management.

At the time, that was a perfectly rational and well-considered strategy. Marketing, HR, and sometimes ERP were seen as vital but not mission-critical processes that could serve as test cases for the new cloud computing model. If all went well, the business would gain some savings and other benefits. If there was a problem with the new approach, no production systems would be involved.

But since then, many CEOs have dramatically changed their outlook about the cloud and how widely it can and should be deployed within their businesses—and with very few exceptions, those executives are becoming much more bullish on the cloud. So in 2015, I predict we’ll see some profound manifestations of that revised C-suite outlook, particularly in these four areas:

1. The rise of the end-to-end cloud. The sweeping successes many businesses have experienced with marketing clouds and HCM clouds are causing CEOs to take a fresh look at moving all of their business processes—not just the ones traditionally thought of as non-“mission-critical”—to the cloud.
2. Redefining “mission critical.” As modern SaaS application suites for HCM and marketing have generated huge new levels of business value via their enhanced capabilities and social/mobile optimization, CEOs are reclassifying marketing and HCM as mission-critical because of their specific and quantifiable links to revenue, customer engagement, and strategic execution.
3. Driving transformation. CEOs are embracing the cloud as a primary lever for end-to-end business transformation both internally and externally. Inside the company, CEOs realize that SaaS apps can be deployed enterprisewide rather than in isolated pockets, and externally, marketing cloud applications are transforming how companies connect with buyers, execute transactions, and develop long-lasting two-way engagements with them.
4. Unleashing financial insights. The venerable world of ERP is shifting rapidly from a complex back-office realm run by a small set of specialists who created a history book of financial information into a forward-looking tool for strategic analysis and opportunity.

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What about the testing process of an extension running against a new release of SAP Business One?

When we start to consider all of potential impacts you may decide that you are going to need to introduce some level of governance to control which extensions you deploy in your SAP Business One Cloud landscape. There is no right or wrong answer in how strict or otherwise you want to be in deciding the level of control, the trade off is between flexibility and cost/efficiency in running a SAP Business One Cloud. Ultimately it is for each partner to decide what is the best policy for their cloud however in order to try to create some guidelines you may want to consider the following aspects for your policy:

• Decide what type of extensions you are willing to consider deploying in your landscape, e.g. only SAP Business One Cloud certified add-ons, add-ons for lightweight deployment or compatible add-ons(I make no mention here of SBO Script add-ons as these designed specifically to avoid many of the deployment pitfalls we face in the lifecycle management and resource consumption of an extension)
• Define the categories you want for extensions and decide on the pricing of each band, e.g.:
  • Level 1 extensions - Up to 150MB RAM consumption per user
  • Level 2 extensions - From 150MB - 500MB consumption per user
  • Level 3 extensions - More than 500MB consumption per user
• Decide how a customer, consultant, sales person etc. can request the deployment of a new extension to the SAP Business One Cloud landscape.
• Collect information from the provider regarding compatibility with cloud, cloud commercial agreements (e.g. subscription pricing) etc.
• Ensure that your are satisfied with the development approach taken for extension updates, compatibility with new releases of SAP Business One etc.
• Define your own testing procedure for each new extension, to include:
  • Deployment
  • Operation
  • Resource consumption
  • Compliance with your cloud infrastructure (interaction with the resources in your cloud landscape - especially important if an extension has not been adapted for the cloud fully and doesn’t conform to the SAP Business One Cloud guidelines for extensions.)
• Based on the outcome of your testing use the metrics to classify your extension into levels you have decided on.
• Publish the pricing to your sales team so that they can quote effectively for new customers.

I’m sure that you will think of many other things and that your approach and policies will evolve and change over time, as your experience of running customers in the cloud grows. This post isn’t meant to be an “must do” list of working with SAP Business One Extensions, it is instead meant to provide some food for thought when you start working with them.

We are work with partners all the time to share best practice for different aspects of SAP Business One Cloud landscapes, so if you have any thoughts on the above or any related topic please let us know.

How to Optimize Business Processes

Businesses cannot thrive and grow without efficient business processes in place. From recruiting and hiring employees to sales, marketing, accounting, and managing computer networks, virtually every business function requires a series of processes. The process of business ensure that all related tasks are documented and well organized. In theory, those responsible for carrying out a given process will know exactly what to do and when. However, business methods are not necessarily efficient. Business method optimization seeks to make business method as efficient as possible.

Why Optimize Business Processes?
Some business methods start out efficient but become less efficient over time. For example, as rules and regulations change, you may add tasks to a process in order to comply with the new regulation (Source: "Optimizing business processes", InfoWorld). However, some existing tasks may no longer be required due to the change. Did you remove those tasks from the process? Likewise, changing one process may affect another process, resulting in unnecessary duplication or tasks that no longer need to be done. If secondary processes are not updated, inefficiency is the result.

Inefficient business processes can result in:
. Unnecessary delays
. Mistakes
. Employee frustration
. Customer dissatisfaction
. Accidents
. Wasted time
. Unnecessary use of resources
. Duplication
. Unnecessary costs

How to Optimize Business Processes
Businesses cannot afford to waste time, money, and resources. They cannot afford the risks of errors and accidents, employee frustration, and unsatisfied customers. In order to address these problems, improve productivity, and streamline operations, business method must be evaluated and optimized on a regular basis (Source: "What Are the Best Tips for Business Process Optimization?", wiseGEEK). One approach to business method optimization consists of just three steps: identify, analyze, and automate.

1. Identify - Identify the process that needs to be optimized. Break down the process into its most basic components. What are the individual tasks that need to be done to complete the activity? What is the activity's desired outcome? When does the activity begin and end? Who is involved in this activity? Which deliverables, reports, or information is generated or required as part of this process? Are any secondary processes likely to be affected by your changes?

2. Analyze - After identifying the components of a process, the next step is to rethink the process. Look at all of its parts in search of inefficiencies. Ask yourself "what if?" and "why?" and think of ways to reduce waste. For example, "What if we generated PDF copies instead of paper ones?" or "Why are we generating three paper copies for each order?"

3. Automate - As you fine tune the process of business, explore solutions designed to automate it. For example, business management solutions exist for any number of business method such as invoicing and accounts payable (Source: "Process Tracking System for Accounts Payable (PTS-AP) for SAP Finance", Dolphin). Automation can ensure that the workflow is carried out consistently as well as do so more efficiently. Whether automating accounts receivable, invoicing, or any other process, business process automation can deliver substantial cost savings, risk management benefits, and cash-flow improvements.

Seeking for a trustworthy SAP provider that provides Sap Business One Cloud for your company? Contact Alenu IT today at +(65) 6884 5030 or email to connect@alenu-it.com. A SAP article by www.dougleschan.com

An Overview of SAP R-3 - What Exactly is It?

SAP R/3? What in the world is that? Well if you are asking those particular questions right now then you are not alone. Many people when they first hear those set of letters wonder the same thing. SAP R/3 actually is the previous name of the enterprise planning software which is produced by SAP AG located in Germany. The current name of this software is now SAP ERP.

The very first version of the SAP enterprise software consisted of a financial Accounting type of program known as R/1. The combination of the three letters consisting of S-A-P was ultimately replaced with the R/2 at the close of 1970. SAP R/2 was software produced for a mainframe computer system and usually operated on systems such as the IBM S-390 Enterprise mainframe computer. This software package proved to be extremely versatile and functioned flawlessly during the 80's and the early 90's.

These software modules were especially popular with the larger European companies which real time applications with multiple capabilities. It was not long before the successes of the initial software prompt the SAP Ag Company to expand its products and thus it brought out the SAP R/3 which was fully multiple platforms capable. This new software operated on various platforms such as Microsoft Windows and the ever popular UNIX systems. From 1992 onward SAP dominated the business application market on up to 2002.

The real beauty associated with the SAP R/3 software is that it is created to function as distinct modules that effectively provided support for many of the organizational function often found in today's modern businesses. These functions ranged from Finances and Control, Human Resources, Materials Management Branch, Sales & Distribution, as well as the Production Planning department.

Each module was created to handles only specific business orientated tasks however all the modules were ultimately linked to each other. As an example, billing department could issue an invoice which would be directed to the accounting division and would appear in those sections accounts receivable.

Combined with the excellent multi-powered S-390 Mainframe computer this system represented the ultimate software for business management. It could effectively be cross platformed without any sort of data lose at all. In other words you could easily use the Mainframe as your central processing equipment and safely import various data from your individual servers regardless of the platform that they were using.The various SAP specialized modules are programmed for coordination within certain business segments such as retail or utility purposes.

Unfortunately in order to utilize all of these impressive features one would have to pay dearly for the associated license fees. The goal of SAP when it comes to their software development is that they want to provide a much more efficient product for the corporation than would be possible for them to actual attempt to create on their own.

The structure of the SAP R/3 has been programmed by using the proprietary language commonly known as Advanced Business Applications Programming or simply ABAP. This is a forth generation programming language which provides a powerful subset of programs capable of providing complete functions for management and analyzes.
Although all the modules were fabricated to perform together each and every one can function solo.
Much could be written on this software package however due to the various Custom configurations that could be established it would take many pages to provide a mere scratching of the surface. To better understand this package you should sit down with a representative and tell them what your company really needs in the way of enterprise solutions.

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