SBM4203: Management Information System Report and ERP System Analysis

This report examines the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems within a retail business context. It begins by outlining the benefits and drawbacks of ERP systems, emphasizing their role in optimizing business processes and providing accurate information. The report then justifies the need for ERP upgrades, particularly in companies similar to TUMI, highlighting the potential for improved financial performance and resource efficiency. A comparative analysis of top ERP brands for SMEs is conducted, including Oracle NetSuite, Acumatica, and SAP Business One. The analysis includes a detailed comparison based on various functionalities, such as multi-currency support, document management, and customer relationship management. Finally, the report recommends AccountMate ERP as a feasible solution for the organization, suggesting it aligns well with the company's operational needs and financial goals.

Running head: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
Management Information System
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................2
1. ERP System and Its Pros and Cons:........................................................................................2
2. Stating the reason why the company should have upgraded with ERP:......................................3
3. Listing the top 10 brands that offer ERP system to SMEs:.........................................................4
4. Conducting a comparative analysis between the Top 10 ERP system:.......................................5
5. Stating which brand is feasible for the organization leaving SAP:.............................................8
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................8
References and Bibliography...........................................................................................................9

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Introduction:
The main purpose of the assessment is to analyze a business which has operations in
retail business with appropriate customer base. The company is planning to incorporate ERP
system in the business in order to improve the operational structure of the business more
effectively. The assessment would be discussing the benefits and limitations associated with
implementation of ERP system and why the business should implement the same in the business
(Al-Ghofaili and Al-Mashari 2014). In addition to this, the assessment would be identifying top
companies which offer ERP solutions and make comparative analysis between the products so
that the best option can be selected by the management of the company. The assessment would
be conducting a cost benefit analysis for appropriate analysis of the brands which are available to
the management of the company.
Discussion:
1. ERP System and Its Pros and Cons:
In a business environment, the role of technology plays a vital role as there are instances
of changes in market preferences and immense competition in the market for which businesses
needs to have technological advancements in order to survive in the market (Ekman, Thilenius
and Windahl 2014). In most of the businesses, one or more technology is being used for handling
the operations, data processing and formulation of reports. One of such technology which is
popularly used by businesses is Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) for handling
different areas of operations of the business and also for the purpose of processing information
(Shen, Chen, and Wang 2016). The ERP System is a system which appropriately integrates all
the functions of the business and handles different areas of operations of the business such as
sales, marketing, logistics, production and several other activities. The benefits which can be
identified for implementing the ERP system are listed below in details:
 One of the major advantages of ERP system is that the system optimizes the business
process and provides accurate and timely access to reliable information of the business.
 The application of ERP system effectively eliminates unnecessary operations and data of
the business.

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 In addition to this, one of the major advantage of ERP system ensures that there is a
reduction of time and costs of litigation (Sadrzadehrafiei et al. 2013). The application of
ERP system ensures that the processing time of the data which is used by the business is
lower. This ensures that proper efficiency is maintained in the operations of the business.
 The module f ERP system enters same real time database which is another advantage as
there is no duplicate records and there is proper process of information of the business.
There is also an advantage which can be related in terms of customer services because the
response time of the business becomes more effective.
The disadvantages which can be identified regarding the ERP system incorporation in
business are listed below:
 The major disadvantage which is associated with the ERP system is related to the cost
factor and even the ERP consultants are very expensive.
 Any resistance between departments related to sharing of information can cause conflicts
and reduce the efficiency of ERP system.
 The system is very complicated in nature and can be considered to be difficult for use.
 The application and success of the software depends on the skills and education of the
employees who are handling the software
2. Stating the reason why the company should have upgraded with ERP:
There are specific reasons which indicate that the organization should upgraded with their
ERP system. The adequate ERP system allows the organization to reduce the excess wastage of
their resources, which is essential for improving their current financial performance. The
company has similar capital and infrastructure as TUMI organisation, which can eventually help
in generating high level of income from investment. In addition, the sale, marketing, finance, and
HRM is similar to the operations of TUMI organisation, where the organisation needs to improve
their financial performance by using adequate ERP system. Grochla and Szyperski (2018) stated
that companies not using the ERP system mainly faces relevant problems in improving their
inventory level, which blocks the essential capital. The company has a similar capital and
management structure, which resembles with the TUMI organisation that indicates similar
problems would be faced by the management, while conducting the relevant operations. In
addition, the financial planning conducted in excel spreadsheet would also reduce the lead time

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to prepare the report. Therefore, it is essential for the organisation to implement an effective ERP
system in their operations for improving the level of income and reduce excess wastage of
resources.
3. Listing the top 10 brands that offer ERP system to SMEs:
The top ten brands that offer ERP system to SMEs are depicted as follows.
1. Oracle NetSuite OneWorld
2. Acumatica
3. Syspro
4. AccountMate
5. Cougar Mountain Denali Summit
6. Open Systems Traverse
7. SAP Business One Professional
8. Epicor ERP
9. Sage 300
10. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations Enterprise Edition

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4. Conducting a comparative analysis between the Top 10 ERP system:
Analysis Oracle
NetSuite
OneWorld
Acumatica Syspr
o
AccountMate Cougar
Mountai
n Denali
Summit
Open
Systems
Traverse
SAP
Business
One
Professional
Epicor
ERP
Sage
300
Microsoft
Dynamics
365 for
Multicurrenc
y
Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Document
Management
Present Present Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Present Present
Expense
Reporting/
Management
Present Present Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Present Present
Point-of-Sale
(POS)
Present Nil Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Nil Present
LIFO Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Nil Present Present Nil
FIFO Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Integrates
with Crystal
Reports
Present Nil Presen
t
Present Present Nil Present Present Present Nil
Integrates
with F9
Nil Nil Presen
t
Present Nil Nil Present Present Present Nil
Fixed Assets Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present

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Sales & Use
Taxes
Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Human
Resources
(HR)
Nil Nil Nil Present Nil Present Present Present Present Nil
Customer
Relationship
Management
(CRM)
Present Present Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Present Nil
Project
Management
(PM)
Present Present Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Present Nil
Materials
Requirement
Processing
(MRP)
Present Nil Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Nil Nil
Supply Chain
Management
(SCM)
Present Present Presen
t
Present Nil Nil Present Present Present Nil
Business
Intelligence
(BI)
Present Nil Presen
t
Present Nil Present Present Present Present Present
Kitting Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Nil
NonProfit
Version
Present Nil Nil Present Present Present Present Nil Nil Nil

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Distribution
Vertical
Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Present Nil
Warehousing
Vertical
Present Present Presen
t
Present Present Present Present Present Nil Nil
Construction
Vertical
Nil Nil Nil Present Present Present Present Nil Nil Nil
The above table provides a comparative analysis of the 10 top ERP system, which can help in identifying the most viable
system, which can be used by SMEs to improve their current operations. In addition, from the evaluation, it is detected that
AccountMate has the highest level of activities, which could support all the relevant operations of the SMEs. The ERPS system
depicted in the above table provide is specified for certain operations of the business, which can be used by the SMEs for improving
the operations and minimize the relevant cost of acquiring high cost systems. Darnton and Giacoletto (2018) mentioned that with the
help ERP system companies are able to improve their operational ability by reducing the wastage of essential resource and maximize
the overall income from their operations. On the other hand, Wildavsky (2018) criticized that due to the high cost involved in the
maintenance of an ERP system small companies are not able to afford them, which could improve their operational capability.

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5. Stating which brand is feasible for the organization leaving SAP:
The organization could you AccountMate ERP system instead of SAP to support their
operations in the long run. The overall capital and infrastructure conditions of the organisation is
similar to TUMI, where the company is mainly able to generate high level of income from
operations and reduce any kind of excessive expenses from operations. Moreover, the use of
AccountMate ERP system would allow the organisation to reduce the inventory level, warehouse
space, days sales outstanding and increase sales volume. Hence, the organisation after using the
AccountMate ERP system could improve their operations and generate higher profitability in the
long run.
Conclusion:
The overall assessment mainly evaluates the need of an appropriate ERP system, which
could allow SMEs to minimize the level of expense and improve their current financial
performance. The comparative analysis conducted for the 10 top ERP system has provided an
insight on the overall system that could be used by SMEs for improve their performance and
reduce the blockage of essential capital. Therefore, from the relevant valuation it can be detected
that the use of AccountMate ERP system can allow the company to improve their performance
and reduce any kind of the non-productive activities from the operations.

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References and Bibliography
Al-Emran, M., Mezhuyev, V., Kamaludin, A. and Shaalan, K., 2018. The impact of knowledge
management processes on information systems: A systematic review. International Journal of
Information Management, 43, pp.173-187.
Al-Ghofaili, A.A. and Al-Mashari, M.A., 2014, August. ERP system adoption traditional ERP
systems vs. cloud-based ERP systems. In Fourth edition of the International Conference on the
Innovative Computing Technology (INTECH 2014) (pp. 135-139). IEEE.
Au.pcmag.com. 2019. The Best ERP Software. [online] PCMag Australia. Available at:
https://au.pcmag.com/cloud-services-1/43756/the-best-erp-software [Accessed 28 Apr. 2019].
Darnton, G. and Giacoletto, S., 2018. Information in the Enterprise: it's more than technology.
Durotriges Press.
Ekman, P., Thilenius, P. and Windahl, T., 2014. Extending the ERP system: considering the
business relationship portfolio. Business Process Management Journal, 20(3), pp.480-501.
Grochla, E. and Szyperski, N. eds., 2018. Information systems and organizational structure.
Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Land, F., 2018. Social aspects of information systems. In Management Information Systems: The
Technology Challenge(pp. 11-57). Routledge.
North, K. and Kumta, G., 2018. Knowledge management: Value creation through organizational
learning. Springer.
Piercy, N.F. ed., 2018. Management information systems: the technology challenge (Vol. 40).
Routledge.
Sadrzadehrafiei, S., Chofreh, A.G., Hosseini, N.K. and Sulaiman, R., 2013. The benefits of
enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementation in dry food packaging
industry. Procedia Technology, 11, pp.220-226.

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Shen, Y.C., Chen, P.S. and Wang, C.H., 2016. A study of enterprise resource planning (ERP)
system performance measurement using the quantitative balanced scorecard
approach. Computers in Industry, 75, pp.127-139.
Wildavsky, A., 2018. Policy analysis is what information systems are not. In The art and craft of
policy analysis (pp. 7-23). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.