ERP & CRM FAQs

An ERP software improves the way businesses take orders, manufacture goods, ship products and bill customers for goods. An ERP system is often referred to as a back-office software. From an operations’ perspective, it takes a customer order and provides a software road map for automating the different steps along the path to fulfilling that order, with minimal manual efforts. When a customer service representative enters an order into the ERP system, he/she has all the information necessary to complete the order, such as the customer’s credit rating and order history from the finance module, the company’s inventory levels from the warehouse module and the shipping dock’s trucking schedule from the logistics module. Users in these different departments could also view the same information and update it as necessary. When the order is processed in one department, it is automatically routed via the ERP system to the next department. To find out where the order is at any given point, users simply need to log into the ERP system and track it. The order process moves through the organization in an organized way and customers get their orders faster. An ERP software applies this same process to the other major business processes as well, such as managing employee benefits in HR, generating financial reports and customer’s credit rating in finance and monitoring product inventory levels at the warehouse. In other words, it would help you make decisions by answering questions such as: Did the customer pay for the last order yet? Could the new order be shipped on time? And so on.

An ERP deployment project depends on the number of modules to be implemented and requirements to be fulfilled. ERP implementations typically get delayed due to failure in understanding two factors, “Must have” and “Nice to have” aspects. Companies that aim to deploy an ERP software often struggle between identifying and prioritizing the “Must have” and “Nice to have” aspects. Implementation time is reduced if a company is decisive in what they want implemented.
Focus Softnet has been successful in implementing an ERP application within 90 days with the help of proven best practices, clarity in requirements and expert teams.

Yes. Focus Softnet has been successful in providing integrations with 3rd party applications as well as through external modules (customer specific business interface). It is a fact that the integration requirements are not uniform as the solution and the architecture of each product that is to be integrated varies.
Focus Softnet performs in-depth business process study of the application to be integrated and designs the connectors that enable the flow of data. We have technical know-how and expertise to handle simple to complex integrations.

1. Integrate financial information: As the CEO tries to understand the company’s overall performance, he/she may need to look at reports from various departments to get the true picture, and the information may vary from each department, giving conflicting results. Finance has its own set of revenue numbers, Sales have their own version; different business units may each have their own versions of how much they contributed to revenue. FOCUS ERP creates a single version of actual data from each department that cannot be questioned because everyone is using the same system.
2. Integrate customer order information: An ERP system tracks customer orders from start to end, right from the time a customer service representative receives the order, to the loading dock from where the merchandise is shipped, covering financial transactions and invoices as well. By having access to this critical information in a single software, companies could track orders more easily and manage manufacturing, inventory and shipping operations across different locations simultaneously.
3. Standardize and speed up manufacturing processes: — ERP systems are equipped with standard features to automate manufacturing processes. Standardizing these processes and using a single, integrated computer system saves time, increases productivity and reduces headcount. Focus Softnet’s ERP solutions are designed to be used by both discrete as well as process manufacturing companies.
4. Reduce inventory: an ERP software helps manufacturing operations run more smoothly and improves visibility of the order fulfillment process within the company. This leads to reduced inventories of raw material (work-in-progress inventory) and helps users to better plan deliveries to customers, reducing the finished good inventory at the warehouses and shipping docks.
5. Standardize HR Information - In companies with multiple business units, the HR department may not have a unified, simple method to track employees time and to communicate with them about benefits and services. With Focus Softnet’s ERP solution, all the standard and client specific HR issues could be addressed as it could implement any complex/customized procedures and induct multiple business validations.

To put it honestly, no ERP could be a fit 100% for a any business or company. Nevertheless, the customizations available through external modules integration called Application Programming interfaces (APIs) enable Focus Softnet’s ERP systems to fit snugly into your business operations.
Focus Softnet conducts a detailed study of client requirements to determine the necessary customizations to be deployed within our ERP system. We perform these reviews to offer a complete solution which would enable our clients to run their business without having to drastically change their standard operating procedures.

Focus Softnet’s ERP solutions are designed to meet the requirements of medium to large-sized enterprises. We offer the most cost-effective solutions with the quickest ROI in the industry. The cost of our ERP software depends on several variables, such as the number of divisions it would serve, total modules to be installed, number of users and locations, the quantity of integration that would be required with existing systems and data migrations.
The cost of an ERP application could be divided into 4 important segments: a) Product Costs b) Licensing c) Implementation Costs d) Customization costs.
The Total Cost of Ownership depends on the above-mentioned factors.

ROI normally varies from client to client with reference to their business activities and implementation success. However, from the study of the current scenario of our client base, the typical ROI period is twelve to eighteen months.

ERP software implementation is complex, multifaceted undertakings. So, even the best of deployment plans is bound to encounter some unexpected expenses along the way. Following are the most common latent costs associated with ERP implementation and how Focus Softnet addresses these concerns: 1. Training: Employee training is a costly affair for businesses as employees or users require to spend a lot of time learning how to handle a set of processes using the new software system. Focus Softnet addresses this concern in a unique way. We include the training cost in the Project Cost, thereby avoiding surprises for our clients. We utilize Business Process Study methodology, which provides a bird’s eye view of the business requirements, licenses, training, customizations and time needed for implementation. Thereby removing training from list of hidden cost list. 2. Integration: ERP testing and integration with a 3rd-party application is not part of the ERP implementation cost. It is always considered an additional expense as there is no standard/generic procedure for integrating a 3rd-party application since the database structure and the ERP software designing is unique for every business. We offer connectors specially designed as per the clients’ needs to link the ERP system with the existing 3rd-party applications and achieve integration between them. 3. Customization: Deploying business-specific features requires customization. This process needs to be accomplished through detailed analysis and dedicated resources. With us, the customization process is handled efficiently by the on-site implementation team, using GUI TOOLS. Our highly experienced technical staff take care of complex customizations without charging exorbitantly high fees. 4. Data conversion: Moving corporate information related to customers, suppliers, product designs and other data from old systems to the new ERP database require financial implications. Focus Softnet takes this as an additional requirement and the costs incurred are calculated on a case-by-case basis. The cost depends on the number of years’ data to be imported and the volume of information. Our data conversion fee is highly competitive, perhaps the lowest in the industry. 5. Implementation:Implementation is sometimes a continuous process due to improper ERP requirement planning or lack of built-in utilities in the system or upfront requirement for adding/customizing features. In these instances, clients are charged with additional costs for the extra time consumed to complete the implementation process. Focus Softnet ensures on-time implementation and prevents burdening the clients with unnecessary expenses. Also, our ERP systems have a built-in-tool, which helps implementation consultants to do real-time customizations after understanding the requirements. 6. Others:You need to ensure that the ERP technology you want to get implemented is scalable and easily supports multiple dealership locations, else it would lead you to spend extra shortly. Also request that on-going maintenance charges, support fees and license expenses do not increase during the initial term of the agreement.

An ideal ERP system has the potential to instill a set of best practices for performing various duties across all the departments of your company, including finance, sales, manufacturing, warehouse and others. But to get the most, you need people inside your company to adopt the work methods outlined in the software. When people from different departments, using ERP system, do not agree that the work methods embedded in the new software are better than the ones they currently use, they tend to resist using the software or would want the IT department to change it to match the ways they currently do things. This is where ERP projects break down. Sometimes, when the vendor is not provided with complete information and they are unable to understand the business process of the client, they fail to replicate the same in the ERP. Missing information from clients related to their business requirements is responsible for the failure. Proper coordination, requirements gathering, scrutiny of requirements by the clients’ top/decision making management team and planning of the projects prevent misunderstandings and failures.

Stage 1 - Proposal: The responsibility of Focus Softnet starts from the time when our prospective customer is interested in implementing our software and willing to receive a commercial proposal. To achieve this, we conduct a bird’s eye view study of the business requirements and other factors, which would affect the cost of the project. The proposal is then submitted for review with all the indications where the cost might go up due to defined reasons. Stage 2 - Business Process Study: We conduct a detailed study by interviewing users from different departments indicated by the customers (users interviewed include both decision-makers and non-decision makers). A standard input questionnaire is shared with all users for understanding their requirements. We also collect information related to the reports that these users frequently need to generate and the attributes used for creating them. After interviewing, our consultants collect all the relevant documents, which are used in the process to understand the business operations and requirements of each department. Our team summarizes the collected information and prepares a detailed report that includes documentation flow, authorization flow, requirements by each module, reporting criteria for each department and business rules. This collated document gives an overview of the proposed implementation. Implementation Planning: Once the BPS (Business Process Study) is reviewed and authorized by the ERP steering committee, the implementation schedule is designed. A detailed implementation plan is created, which includes the number of hours and days required to accomplish the whole project bifurcated by each module. Customizations: Upon the approval of BPS, Focus Softnet would submit a document detailing the necessary customizations specified by the authorized users of the client. A special report including customization requirement and the reason for it would be presented to the client. Once this is accepted, our development team would submit the time frame they need for development, testing/debugging and integrating the ERP. Deliverables Report: Before starting the implementation, Focus Softnet would submit the deliverables report indicating the things to be delivered to the client to accomplish the project. It includes software applications, licenses, training, customization, integration and data import. Requirements Report: Before starting the implementation, we would also submit the requirements reports indicating the things which are required from the client to accomplish the task. This includes department-wise identification of decision-making users, list of users, payments, IT support, functional support and resources. Stage 3 - Implementation: •Implementation execution as per schedule •Delivery of customizations as per the plan •Integrations as per plan •Configuration of authorization flow •Stage-wise approvals •Stage 4 testing •User configuration •Training •Going live

When you sign SLA, Focus Softnet offers all the software updates free of cost, which can be easily updated. Our clients get complete instructions about the updates and things-to-do online, through email or by electronic format. Apart from releasing updates, we also release new versions of ERP software with advanced functionalities. Our ERP software is available in both earlier and latest version at a differential cost. We assure data compatibility between versions.

Focus ERP software is not an e-commerce application in itself. But the system provides access to its database for both reporting and accepting orders from the website through its API. It supports suppliers by providing inventory and order lists and customers by acceptance and reporting of Sales Order Status.

Yes. Our ERP solutions are equipped with the multi-location facilities and these systems work on WAN or LAN, or they can be partly on LAN and partly on WAN. Please request for a technical fact sheet to know more about multi-locations and technologies used/required.

A CRM system helps you recognize customers and prospects, understand their preferences, anticipate their needs and respond to their requests quickly and effectively. It enables you to track, organize and consolidate the interactions between your employees and your current and prospective customers.

A CRM software could benefit your business in the following by: • Boosting customer satisfaction. • Increasing customer retention • Reducing marketing costs • Anticipating customer needs and preferences • Increasing operating efficiencies • Improving targeted marketing efforts of customers and prospects • Accelerating customer support Implementing a CRM software at your company would result in improved productivity. With your employees performing with more efficiency, they would be able to reach out to more prospects and close more sales, boosting profitability and reducing operational costs.

The core modules of a CRM software are: • Telemarketing • Campaign Management • Marketing • Sales • Service Desk

A CRM software could benefit a small business by consolidating customer data into a single system. As your business expands, it would become difficult to keep a record of all transactions manually. Through their automated features, CRM tools allow you to manage your customer interactions more efficiently, so you have more time to concentrate on your core service or product.

As the name suggests, on-premise CRM solutions are applications that run on computers installed within the premises of the company. Both the data and servers are stored inside the premises of the company instead of a remote location. This approach was highly popular till 2005. Various agencies still prefer on-premise CRM to ensure data security and control. Since 2005, with the development of web-based tools, data became accessible through the internet and could be more easily displayed on a Web Browser. This paved the way for cloud-based CRM software. Cloud based CRM systems are hosted in the premises of the service provider and are accessed by users via the internet. Users pay for these CRM solutions based on the subscription model. Cloud-based CRM solutions have become popular as they do not require the companies to invest in purchasing and maintaining the IT hardware. Another major advantage is the fact that the subscription cost is just a small fraction of the actual cost of the software. At Focus Softnet, we provide CRM solutions both on-premise as well as cloud-based systems.

Yes. CentraHub CRM can be integrated with ERP and the information stored in these two systems can be exchanged.

Yes. CentraHub CRM can be integrated with Outlook and all the contacts can be imported from it to CRM and vice versa.

Yes. The CentraHub CRM platform enables you to operate your business on the move and remain connected. With an intuitive interface that is suitable for use on your 3.5-inch mobile phone screen, CentraHub CRM allows you to manage multiple business operations while you are away from the office premises and access the benefits of the new features.

Yes. CentraHub CRM can be accessed from anywhere. Also, CentraHub CRM is a browser-independent, database-independent and platform-independent system. • Browser independent: Can run on all browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Opera etc). • Database Independent: Is compatible with most of the common RDBMS like MSSQL, Oracle and MySQL. • Platform Independent: can run on different types of platforms. (Windows, Mac OS, Linux etc.)

CentraHub CRM provides a quick, easy and intuitive user-interface. All attributes are organized logically and linearly. We have invested a lot of time in researching and improving the usability of the product. Also, our technical support is available online for any clarification and training.

Yes. CentraHub CRM is highly customizable. From fields to modules, it can be customized at every level. CentraHub CRM supports customization of fields, page layouts, search layouts, list views, user-level security, reports, label names, etc.

The factors for comparing CRM software majorly depend on what you are looking for. It can depend on the objectives of your company, type of software you prefer, size of the business, built-in features and also the availability of customization. Here is a list of some of the factors of comparison: • Blend / Integration with existing systems and software • Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) • Availability of innovative features • Scalability and security • Customization • Software’s capability of reporting and analytics • Data Quality Control • Import and Export of Data • Mobility of the software: Can be used anywhere CentraHub CRM is one Package with all the above mentioned features.

Yes. CentraHub CRM can be integrated with Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn while allowing you to import contacts from all these social networking sites.