Cloud
DATASCOPE has adopted SYSPRO’s Cloud First focus. The future of ERP systems, and by extension, WMS systems, is undoubtedly cloud-based. As such DATASCOPE worked hard on our Microsoft Azure solution. This has been released, and all internal software testing and demonstrations are run on Azure. The speed and stability are remarkable and we will support any client in their move to Azure.
With increasing pressure on organizations to reduce costs, improve productivity and drive growth by connecting to the world in new ways, Cloud computing’s mobile, scalable and accessible nature, providing synchronized information any place, any time, is a technology game-changer, and has become a permanent feature of today’s business landscape.
Some of the benefits of cloud computing are as follows:
Scalability – Cloud allows a company to implement DATASCOPE WMS in one location and then easily roll out the software to new locations. Also, in the traditional costing module the software value is calculated on a sliding scale, meaning that small sites can be difficult to justify if these sites are selected in the earlier stages of the rollout. Cloud allows a small site to benefit from DATASCOPE WMS.
Stability – One of the key aspects of a successful implementation is a robust IT server infrastructure. Performance issues on a SQL database can cause data issues on site. When these issues occur in traditional IT environments it is often difficult, and time-consuming to find the server issues and upgrade the hardware and software. In a cloud environment, the infrastructure is typically configured optimally to start with, and adding processing power is easy. Our experience shows that in some traditional IT environments we battle with the on-site IT Manager when infrastructure becomes a constraint. Often this relates to configuration settings that the on-site IT team finds hard to accept. We are then forced to bring in a senior IT consultant to prove that the infrastructure is failing. Cloud seldom has these issues.
Mobility – Cloud drives an “access from anywhere” mentality. This is growing substantially in today’s world. Some 30 years ago it was understood that you would need to be at the office or at home to take a telephone call. Today it is expected that you have a cell phone and can respond anytime. Why wouldn’t your access to key work systems be any different. In the future it will be expected that your staff can transact from anywhere and review data from anywhere. This is increasing with the concept of “data-driven organizations” where all meetings are run based on analyzing data to ensure that decisions are substantiated.
Cost Effectiveness – Besides a more scalable cost environment, the costs of managing effective internal IT server infrastructure are high. Often a company attempts to purchase lower-cost equipment not realizing that a single warehouse stoppage of four hours costs a substantial amount to the business. In today’s world where IT systems are not “nice to haves” but absolutely core to the operation of the business, IT has become an involved and advanced business need. To expect an internal IT team to deliver robust server infrastructure that does not allow for downtime is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
Security – We have some knowledge of the increasing risk of cyber-attacks. Effective security of databases on-site or off-site is becoming harder and harder to ensure. Advanced cloud servers such as Microsoft Azure platforms offer advanced security which is often safer than on premise infrastructure.