Enterprise Resource Planning Software Vendor Profiles
Selected Suppliers of Enterprise Resource Planning Software (In alphabetical order)
ABAS Software
ABAS Software AG, led by CEO Werner Strub, has more than 2,300 customers worldwide. The company was founded in 1980. The core competence of ABAS is its flexible ERP and e-business software, collectively known as ABAS Business Software, which is designed for midsize companies with up to 1,000 employees. The ABAS ERP product provides a multifaceted optimization and use potential, which can lead to an increase in productivity, improvement of transparency and service, increase in competitive strength, and cost savings. ABAS ERP includes a range of functions designed for production companies, whether in a single unit, series, or job lot production. The company targets manufacturers in the area of discrete production, as well as in the processing industry.
CDC Software
Founded in 2002, CDC Software offers multiple delivery options for its products, including on-premise, hosted, cloud-based SaaS, or blended-hybrid deployment offerings. CDC Software’s ERP products include Ross Enterprise, e-M-POWER, and Envision X. Other products include CDC Factory, manufacturing operations management and enterprise manufacturing intelligence for the plant floor; CDC Supply Chain, demand, order, warehouse, and transportation management; CDC TradeBeam, SaaS global trade management; CDC e-Commerce, an electronic commerce platform for customers’ online sales; CDC Platinum HRM, human resources, payroll, and benefits management tailored for the Chinese market; Pivotal CRM; and CDC Respond, a complaint and feedback management system. With 2009 revenues of $204 million, CDC Software is headed by CEO Peter Yip. The company delivers industry-specific solutions to 10,000 customers worldwide within the manufacturing, food and beverage, business services, distribution, transportation, retail, government, real estate, financial services, healthcare, and not-for-profit industries.
Cincom Systems
Cincom Systems was started in 1968 and is led by founder Tom Nies. Cincom provides software and services to improve business operations and customer communications. The company’s ERP package is called Cincom CONTROL:2010. Unlike traditional ERP systems, Cincom CONTROL:2010 provides real-time facts about operations so manufacturing business leaders can make decisions and quickly implement actions regarding key business metrics such as overall cost control and margin, inventory management, working capital optimization, risk mitigation, and process improvement. The Cincom CONTROL:2010 package helps with enterprise management, financial management, program management, project manufacturing, and demand management software, as well as enterprise compliance and quality management software. Cincom CONTROL:2010’s target market is complex manufacturers conducting the most complicated project-based work such as engineer- , made- , or design-to-order work. In fact, 75% of the company’s customers are in the aerospace and defense industry. Cincom is privately held.
Consona Corp.
Consona provides ERP software and services for companies of all sizes. Formed in 2007 (formerly M2M Holdings), it serves more than 4,500 customers across a variety of industries. Made2Manage, the predecessor company, was founded in 1994. Headed by CEO Jeff Tognoni, Consona delivers software and services to companies ranging from small businesses to Global 2000 enterprises. Consona’s manufacturing ERP software and services are matched closely with specific customer needs. Noted for their ease of use, fast navigation, tailored views, and tight security, Consona’s ERP software applications deliver functionality designed to make users’ jobs easier. With comprehensive manufacturing ERP functionality and support, Consona ERP products support the needs of a wide range of manufacturing companies. In 2010, Consona acquired open-source and cloud ERP provider Compiere Inc., giving Consona its first cloud-ready ERP solution.
Epicor Software Corp.
Epicor, founded in 1984, is a global leader delivering business software products to manufacturing and other industries. With 20,000 customers in more than 150 countries, Epicor provides integrated ERP software that enables companies to drive increased efficiency and improve profitability. The company had revenues of more than $400 million in 2009 under the leadership of CEO George Klaus. Epicor provides an ERP solution that supports the manufacturing process, from planning and procurement to job costing, scheduling, production, financials, and more. The company’s products go beyond traditional ERP, encompassing customer relationship management, business intelligence, and e-commerce. Epicor manufacturing products manage complex requirements such as configure-to-order, as well as repetitive requirements such as make-to-stock, offering versatility that supports a mixed-mode manufacturing environment.
Exact
Exact was formed in 1984 and is led by CEO Martijn Janmaat. Today, Exact has more than 100,000 customers worldwide. In 2009, the company’s revenues amounted to €232.5 million. Exact’s shop-floor ERP offering is called Exact JobBOSS, which is designed specifically for job shops as well as custom, high-tech manufacturing shops. Its job-based system gives management visibility and control across all key business functions. JobBOSS operates in more than 4,400 job shops around the world. It is a fully integrated, Windows-based system that provides a complete job shop product suite, including quoting, scheduling, job tracking, costing, purchasing, inventory, shop floor, data collection, quality, performance metrics, CRM, and integrated accounting. Because all information is located in one data source, users only need to enter information once.
IFS
IFS, founded in 1983, has more than 2,000 customers at more than 7,000 sites worldwide. Led by CEO Alastair Sorbie, IFS reported net revenue of SKr 2.6 billion in 2009. IFS delivers software to make enterprises agile through four core strategic processes: service and asset management, manufacturing, supply chain, and projects. IFS develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications, a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology. The company provides software solutions that serve manufacturing, project-based, and asset-intensive industries. IFS Applications is based on actual business processes. Companies can reconfigure the software on the fly, enabling them to adapt quickly to changing market conditions. Because IFS Applications is component-based, users can deploy the functionality they require and implement it step-by-step, therefore adding new components as their business changes or expands. IFS Applications is based on an open design using industry standards, enabling it to integrate with other enterprise software.
Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions, founded in 2002, is a privately held software company that specializes in enterprise software. Under the leadership of CEO Jim Schaper, the company’s revenues are approximately $2 billion annually. Infor has more than 70,000 customers worldwide. Infor ERP software provides functional visibility across the enterprise. From production management software for manufacturing to comprehensive value stream mapping, Infor ERP products provide tools that manufacturers need to help turn their organizations into lean operations. Infor ERP is designed for highly complex products made from distinct parts and components or goods made by blending a variety of ingredients. The software helps users reduce operational costs, gain better visibility, make faster decisions, and deliver the right product at the right time. Infor ERP provides manufacturing intelligence software to keep organizations lean and agile.
IQMS
Founded in 1989, IQMS is a privately held company, led by CEO Randy Flamm, that designs, develops, and supports ERP software for the manufacturing industry. IQMS provides customers with an ERP software product that has all the functionality required to efficiently manage and improve business processes. The company’s flagship product, EnterpriseIQ, is capable of handling all manufacturing and financial needs without requiring third-party interfaces, which makes it easier to use, maintain, and implement. With a user base of approximately 500, IQMS serves the automotive, medical, consumer products, and packaging industries.
Lawson Software
Lawson Software, founded in 1975, is the third-largest publicly traded enterprise software company. Under the leadership of CEO Harry Debes, the company serves nearly 4,000 customers in 40 countries worldwide and reported revenues of $736 million during its 2010 fiscal year. Lawson provides enterprise software systems for financial management, supply chain management, business performance management, manufacturing operations, asset management, and business intelligence, as well as software systems focusing on human resources (human capital) management. The company takes an industry-specific approach to its business, providing industry-tailored software for customers in manufacturing and distribution, heavy equipment sales and rental, consumer products (primarily fashion and food-and-beverage), healthcare, public sector (U.S.), and services industries. Lawson employs approximately 3,700 people worldwide.
Microsoft
Microsoft, founded in 1975, is led by CEO Steven Ballmer. In 2010, the company had total revenues of more than $18 billion. In the ERP market, Microsoft offers Dynamics ERP, which automates and streamlines financial, business intelligence, and supply chain operations. Microsoft Dynamics ERP provides these capabilities to organizations with only a few employees or those spread across the world, from companies with just one server to operations tied in with the home-office enterprise ERP standard. With Microsoft Dynamics ERP, manufacturers can accomplish mission-critical tasks such as reducing the cost of doing business and improving customer service by connecting and streamlining the entire supply chain; simplifying compliance and planning by making comprehensive, current financial reporting available to all employees; and looking deeper into key performance factors to pinpoint efficiencies and identify potential issues.
NetSuite
NetSuite Inc., founded in 1998 and headed by Zach Nelson, is a vendor of cloud computing-based business management software suites. NetSuite enables companies to manage core business operations in a single system, which includes ERP and other business software. NetSuite Financials provides comprehensive financial/ERP capabilities that integrate with its users’ broader back-office, sales, and service processes. NetSuite’s patent-pending “real-time dashboard” ERP technology provides an easy-to-use view into up-to-date, role-specific business information.
Oracle
Oracle provides a comprehensive portfolio of integrated ERP applications as part of the Oracle E-Business Suite and as PeopleSoft Enterprise and JD Edwards Enterprise One. Oracle’s ERP offerings are modular, open, and integrated solutions that span channel revenue management, financial management, procurement, manufacturing, asset lifecycle management, human capital management, and enterprise project portfolio management. Oracle’s ERP customers range from large Fortune 500 to midsize companies. Oracle serves 370,000 customers globally across a wide range of industries, including aerospace and defense, communications, engineering and construction, financial services, health sciences, insurance, oil and gas, retail, tax, and utilities. Founded in 1977, Oracle’s annual revenue for fiscal year 2010 was $26.8 billion. Oracle’s CEO is Lawrence J. Ellison.
Plex Systems
Since 1995, Plex has been a provider of online software for the manufacturing enterprise and is the developer of Plex Online, an SaaS-based product. Its fully integrated, on-demand software solutions have resulted in a near 100% customer retention and solution implementation success rate. Plex Systems serves a global cross-section of manufacturing industries (OEMs and suppliers), particularly automotive, medical device, food and beverage manufacturing and processing, and aerospace and defense companies. Plex Online offers features for virtually every department within a manufacturing company, including manufacturing operations management and quality management systems for the shop floor, customer relationship management for sales and marketing, supply chain management for procurement, and enterprise resource planning for finance and management. Plex Online’s fully integrated model delivers a “shop floor to top floor” view of a manufacturer’s operations. Plex Systems, headed by CEO Mark Symonds, is a privately held company. In 2009, recurring revenue grew 31% over 2008, and total revenue grew 14%.
QAD
Founded in 1979, QAD provides enterprise applications for global manufacturing companies specializing in automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial, and life science products. QAD applications provide functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers, and partners. QAD Enterprise Applications is an integrated suite of software solutions optimized for global manufactured-products companies. Tailored to improve manufacturing and supply chain process visibility across multiple industries and vertical markets, QAD Enterprise Applications enables individuals working in either single plants or globally distributed organizations to control all aspects of their businesses. QAD has annual revenues of $215 million and is headed by CEO Karl Lopker. With more than 5,500 licensees, the company focuses on consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, life sciences, automotive, industrial, and high-technology market segments.
Sage Group
Founded more than 30 years ago, Sage delivers scalable and customizable business software. Sage North America, part of The Sage Group, a U.K.-based software company, provides a variety of business management applications for small and midsize companies, such as those focused on accounting, customer relationship management, not-for-profit and government management, human resources and fixed asset management, and contact management applications. The company also offers industry-specific applications for customers in fields such as construction, real estate, and healthcare. The company’s 2009 revenues totaled more than $917 million. It has more than 3 million North American business customers; its global client base tops 6 million. Sage manufacturing solutions help businesses plan, schedule, execute, monitor, and analyze the entire manufacturing process. Sage provides products for make-to-stock manufacturers, make-to-order job shops, and batch-driven chemical manufacturers. The CEO of Sage is Paul Walker.
SAP
Founded in 1972, SAP AG is the world’s largest business software company. Its 2009 revenues were more than €10.6 billion. The company has more than 95,000 customers in over 120 countries. Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe are co-CEOs. SAP has three segments — product, consulting, and training. Its products cover standard business applications and technologies, as well as specific industry applications. Its product portfolio consists of SAP Business Suite software for large organizations and international corporations; SAP Business All-in-One software, including the SAP Business ByDesign SaaS product and the SAP Business One application, which address the needs of small businesses and midsize companies; the SAP BusinessObjects portfolio, which covers a variety of demands from small to large companies; SAP products for sustainability to help organizations’ sustainability initiatives; and the SAP NetWeaver technology platform, which integrates information and business processes across diverse technologies and organizational structures.
SYSPRO
SYSPRO, headed by CEO Phil Duff, was founded in 1978. The company offers a fully integrated business software ERP product that provides control over the planning and management of all facets of business, including accounting, operations, manufacturing, and distribution in a variety of industries. In 2009, SYSPRO’s worldwide revenues were $61.2 million. More than 14,500 licensed companies in over 60 countries use SYSPRO. With one of the highest customer retention rates in the industry, SYSPRO is one of the few mid-market business application vendors focused on developing a single-source solution. This focus ensures that there is one installation and no complex integrations or requirements to install multiple modules. SYSPRO software is designed for manufacturing and distribution organizations.
(Editor’s Note: This select list of Enterprise Resource Planning Software suppliers is based on market research reports, analyst reports, and company information.)