Integration Platform as a Service (IPAAS)?
What is IPAAS? Integration platform as a service is essentially a cloud integration tool. It allows one to map and transform data between systems.
For example, one could use the same IPAAS software to map data from your e-commerce platform, CRM system and payroll system to your ERP software.
Let's go over pros and cons as well as other options.
Pros:
One can map data between systems with no or low code.
The IPASS may have pre-built templates or complete pre-built solutions for your applications.
One can gain efficiencies by using one tool.
IPASS pricing may be offered at various tiers to support various company sizing.
Cons:
IPASS can be expensive for smaller businesses. It would be wise to shop around.
Fees are typically recurring (monthly, annually, etc.)
May have data throughput limitations which can be addressed by paying for higher-tier service.
Not as a flexible as a custom developed solution.
What are the alternatives?
1. Built-in integrations. This is the ideal solution as the integration is built-in and may be already included in the software's subscription costs. An example of this is the built in integration with banks in Business Central or Business Central's Shopify Connector. As long as the integration is well designed and executed, there is no need to go elsewhere.
2. Custom integrations - a developer can write a custom integration with each platform. This has its own set of pros and cons:
Pros:
No or low recurring fees.
Almost any scenario can be addressed through code.
Cons:
If software providers make changes to their applications, the integration may require updates.
Higher up-front development costs.
Will require more testing and debugging than a pre-built and tested solution.
Changes will likely require development.
A custom integration may make sense when integrating to one or two systems when the cost of development and maintenance is significantly lower than IPASS costed over a five-year period.
In summary, one should look at all available options, to determine which is ideal for your application.
1. Built-in integrations
2. IPAAS
3. Custom integrations
The above is also the sequence I would recommend in selecting a solution. If there is a built-in integration, I would utilize that. If a built in integration is not present or is insufficient for the desired outcome, I would look at existing IPAAS solutions that have built-in templates or pre-built solutions and price shop. If pricing is not acceptable, then I would look at developing a custom integration and price compare.
The Value of ERP Software
ERP projects can require a significant investment in terms of software costs, implementation costs and your employee's time. Undertaking an ERP project can be exciting and full of promise.
The prospect of moving onto a modern platform that is fully integrated and can spare employees from tedious and repetitive tasks. It can make them more efficient, leading to getting more done and high morale.
Business process and the software can be aligned and in harmony, perhaps for the first time in that company's history.
The undertaking of an ERP project often brings into fruition open discussion regarding processes, problems, and solutions, old and new. It can expose weaknesses, flaws and open the door to handling them, increasing efficiency, security and outcomes. This open discussion increases communication between the team, and perhaps it may be the first time they really communicated!
The value of the software is based on how well it supports the business, the employees and facilitates the delivery of products and services. Configured properly, with the staff well-trained, with appropriate processes, it provides a foundation on which the company can expand.
The software in itself will not cause an organization that is disorganized to suddenly become organized. It will not turn an undisciplined team into a disciplined one. It is not a magical cure-all. Years ago, I recall walking into an IT director's office and there was a literal mound of paper on her desk. One could stand on that mound and throw pitches at elevation if one wanted to. The software did nothing to relieve that mound.
There is no replacement for competent, organized and well-trained staff. However, the software can enforce rules, prevent errors, support the business processes and increase speed of delivery of products and services.
As human memory is fallible, it can serve as a backup to one's memory through notes, reminders and tasks.
It can provide data to employee's efficiently, quickly so actions can be taken swiftly and customer demands can be satisfied.
It can assist purchasers and manufacturers with planning, ensuring product is obtained in time to meet customer demands.
It can provide timely reports to management and executives, who can review the data and make sound decisions based on that data.
It is a vital tool, used pragmatically, that can greatly enhance the operations, finance and reporting of any organization.
This is the value of ERP Software.
Business Central and AI Future Imaginings
I usually write about existing features and functions, but I thought it might be fun and stimulating to stretch my imagination a bit and postulate future ideas for Copilot and Business Central.
Margie, a sales order processor arrives to work in the morning and logs into BC. Copilot prioritizes her workload for the day and displays them on screen. Based on the ship date and inventory levels, all orders ready to ship today are listed. Margie reviews and only takes action on exceptions. She knows customer ACME has an urgent order and she wants to ensure the warehouse manager gets the order out today.
Margie speaks "Copilot, please let Earl know that order 5765 must go out today."
Copilot responds, "Earl has been notified that order 5765 must go out today." and is placed on Earl's to do list in BC and Outlook Calendar.
Copilot knows that Margie sends out email notifications at the beginning of the week to her customers for upcoming shipments. Copilot prompts, "Margie, would you like me to send email notifications for this weeks' shipments?"
Margie responds "Yes."
Copilot responds, "Done."
Earl, Warehouse Manager. logs in to BC and Copilot lists the orders that are ready to ship for the day. The manager only deals with exceptions and flags a few shipments on hold as he just got a call about a problem about a particular product and accepts the rest.
Copilot prompts ,"Would you like me to create Shipments and Warehouse Picks?".
"Yes," says Earl.
Copilot responds with, "Shipments and Picks have been created. Would you like to see them?"
Earl responds affirmatively.
Copilot displays the list of shipments on screen. Copilot assigns the picks to the available pickers in the warehouse.
The pickers pick the product, registering them on their barcode scanners and physically move the product to the shipping stations. The shipper scans the barcode on the pick ticket and proceeds to scan the items ensuring all ordered items are verified. The shipper processes the shipment, calculating freight and posts the shipment. The packing list prints and the product is loaded onto a truck and shipped to the customer.
Copilot automatically emails customers of their upcoming shipment along with the tracking number.
Copilot prompts Joyce in accounting, "Orders have been shipped, would you like to review them prior to posting?"
Joyce reviews the orders on screen and is satisfied and speaks, "Copilot, please invoice the orders".
Copilot invoices the orders and emails them to the customers.
Copilot ran the Requisition Worksheet early in the morning before anyone arrived. When the purchaser, John, arrives, Copilot greets with, "Good morning John. Your requisition worksheet is ready. Would you like to review?"
John reviews, makes a few edits and accepts the plan. Purchase orders are created.
Copilot displays purchase orders expected to be received today along with sales orders that could be fulfilled by the newly arriving inventory. This information is also shared with Margie in Sales and Earl, in the warehouse.
It's near the end of a very productive day and Copilot sends an end of day progress report to the operations manager and key executives summarizing sales, revenue and expenses. The executive team is very satisfied with the days results and go home with high morale.
Business Central Testing Tools
Business Central now has a page scripting tool which allows you to record your steps when testing. Here are some potential use cases.
Creating multiple documents such as sales orders, purchase orders, etc. Once recorded, you can press play and create additional documents quickly. This is very useful in cases where you want to create a number of documents.
Recording a testing session and saving the script. You can then pass it to a developer who imports the script, runs it, sees the error fixes it, runs the script to confirm and reports it complete. The tester can run the script and confirm the issue is resolved.
Recording a multi-step test which involves creating and posting multiple transactions. For example, creating a sales order, releasing it, creating a warehouse shipment, creating a pick and registering it and shipping the order.
Our latest video shows you how to use this tool. Click here.
Business Central - Analyzing your Data with Copilot
You can now analyze your data in Business Central using plain, simple English. Watch our latest video to find out how.
Business Central and AI
With version 24 of Business Central, CoPilot is built-in. Best of all CoPilot is aware of your data in Business Central.
Our latest video shows how to use this new and exciting feature.
A Fresh Start with Business Central
We recently upgraded one of our clients from a very old version of NAV to Business Central. Part of our process in upgrading are to hold design meetings where old customizations are identified as no longer needed or applicable. Many features that were absent in the old version were now present in the latest version. Business has changed as well and prior customizations were no longer applicable and therefore could be discarded.
In this particular instance, we were able to discard 90% of the customizations, leading to a clean new system.
Because of the structure of Business Central in the cloud, customizations are no longer limiting factors to apply automatic updates and upgrades. This is due to customizations are now able to be installed or uninstalled at will in a packages called extensions. You can think of an extension as an app that can be installed or uninstalled.
Cleaning out the garage or the closet can be a liberating experience. Throwing stuff away can be therapeutic. The same could be said with ERP software. Throwing out outdated solutions and processes and embracing efficient processes can be a lifechanging experience and when the technology is designed to facilitate this, well, that’s a marvel of engineering.
A client guided by a competent partner to make the appropriate design decisions regarding the direction of one’s ERP system will lead to a superior system, configured and tailored specifically to that business.