http://www.technologyevaluation.comTechnology Evaluation Centers - News Analysis and Research. Technology Evaluation Centers Inc. (TEC) is the impartial advocate for end users and purchasers of enterprise software solutions. It has aided IT professionals with software selection since 1993.Copyright 2012 Technologyevaluation.com. All rights reserved.FinancialForce.com, the offspring of an established best-of-breed provider of accounting and project-based applications and a cloud computing pioneer, aims to help companies align finance, sales, and service for profitable growth through its accounting, billing, and professional services automation (PSA) applications. Tom Brennan, FinancialForce.com’s vice president of product marketing, discusses the company’s successes.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/assessing-financialforce%2ecom-s-early-years-33287/5/18/2012 4:20:00 PM TradeStone’s merchandise lifecycle management (MLM) platform unifies the design, sourcing, ordering, and delivery of private-label and branded goods, allowing fashion, apparel, footwear, and accessories retailers to leverage a “single version of the truth.” The company’s latest innovation, Bamboo Rose, is a global e-market community for retailers and suppliers who want to exchange ideas and product information before they buy.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/tradestone-software-presents-bamboo-rose-27024/5/11/2012 4:26:00 PM Many organizations realize that developing and managing talented employees is integral to the success of their business. But how do you know whether your company is ready for talent management? And if so, how do you go about actually managing your talent? In this article, TEC human capital management (HCM) analyst Sherry Fox answers these questions and outlines an approach to an effective talent management initiative.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/when-is-talent-management-really-right-for-your-business-27018/5/11/2012 10:03:00 AM So you’ve determined that you need to develop a succession planning strategy in anticipation of the retirement of key personnel. Now what? How do you identify and select the employees for development and who do you need to involve in the process? In her latest article, TEC human capital management (HCM) analyst Sherry Fox outlines key considerations and four essential steps to a successful succession planning initiative. http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/4-steps-to-successful-succession-development-planning-26977/5/2/2012 1:17:00 PM Patchwork maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) systems can cost large airlines millions in duplicated effort, extra inventory, and delays. But with round-the-clock schedules to maintain, few airlines can afford to upgrade to an integrated MRO solution any time soon. Today TEC Analyst Philippe Reney looks at two ways airlines can improve their MRO capabilities without a complete IT overhaul.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/how-airlines-can-stop-getting-murdered-by-maintenance-costs-26968/5/1/2012 9:23:00 AM You may be wondering how the open-source ERP vendor xTuple operating with a workforce of only 27 can compete on the same stage with the software giants. Find out how as TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic looks at xTuple’s current ERP offerings and commercial editions, and speaks with xTuple CEO Ned Lilly on the vendor’s social capabilities, product development focus, market and competitive landscape, and future outlook.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/what-s-up-with-xtuple-and-open-source-erp-26964/4/30/2012 10:56:00 AM Succession planning is not a new concept—so why are so many companies not actively planning for the replacement of key positions, and risk losing valuable expert knowledge and skills with the imminent retirement of their leaders? Part of the problem may lie in not being well versed in the topic. TEC human resources (HR) analyst Sherry Fox addresses some FAQ so you can see the value of succession planning for your organization.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/why-your-organization-needs-succession-planning-26949/4/25/2012 11:58:00 AM Companies today are challenged to maintain their data safe and secure from hackers and others with unauthorized access. In his article, TEC business intelligence (BI) analyst Jorge García looks the risks and issues that companies face with securing their data, the importance and advantages of data security, and outlines a path that companies can follow to achieve data security as part of an overall data governance initiative.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/the-path-to-healthy-data-governance-through-data-security-26944/4/24/2012 11:17:00 AM The retailing paradigm is shifting from connecting, beyond engaging, to inspiring customers. Epicor Retail software solutions are responding to this market trend through mobility, enhancing customer engagement, and multichannel retailing. TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic sits down with Epicor’s director of product marketing, retail software, to discuss how Epicor Retail sets itself apart from the competition.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/epicor-retail-behind-the-counter-26943/4/24/2012 11:03:00 AM Today, TEC Research Analyst Gabriel Gheorghiu focuses on business process simulation software provider Lanner Group. Gabriel looks at Lanner's history, products, and market position—and explains the pros and cons of using software to simulate your business processes.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/business-process-simulation-technology-from-lanner-26937/4/20/2012 11:19:00 AM If you’re planning to purchase a learning management system (LMS), or upgrade your existing one, you’d better know about SCORM and AICC. Learn why it’s critical to understand e-learning standards before you buy—or you may end up with an LMS that’s both ineffective and inflexible.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-e%2dlearning-technology-standards-before-selecting-an-lms-26934/4/19/2012 1:25:00 PM Moving away from the relentless acquisitions of the past, Infor is waking up to a brand new day, marked by innovative product development that will change the way work is done. TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic looks at how the vendor has become a formidable opponent to SAP and Oracle, and examines all the components of Infor10, a new generation of enterprise software that allows the seamless execution of business processes.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/waking-up-to-a-new-day-at-infor-26919/4/16/2012 2:58:00 PM Logility, a global provider of collaborative supply chain software solutions, is relatively small, but its functional scope (from planning to execution) and depth of expertise is on par with or stronger than that of its competitors for the markets it serves. TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic gives an overview of Logility’s capabilities and interviews Logility’s vice president of marketing, Karen Bursa.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/logility-supply-chain-innovator-and-workhorse-26912/4/13/2012 4:47:00 PM Social media is adding new value to cloud-based supply chain management for companies of all sizes. Internal social media (via Intranet) and external sites like Facebook and Twitter are being increasingly used in a new, flexible supply chain cycle. Read this article to learn how two very different companies are taking advantage of the unique contribution social media can make to the dynamic supply and demand loop.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/social-media-in-your-supply-chain-keeps-everyone-in-the-loop-26900/4/11/2012 4:09:00 PM Mobile devices are the workstation of the future—the new normal. Today’s organizations need to support mobile devices, whether this means adapting current enterprise solutions or evaluating new enterprise solutions. But this presents new security challenges. Read this article to discover how information technology (IT) departments can collaborate with end users to find a balance between control and access.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/secure-mobile-erp-is-it-possible-26889/4/10/2012 1:34:00 PM The Dassault Systèmes vision is to enable everyone—from product designers, engineers, and suppliers to end users and their respective communities—to create, share, and experience the three-dimensional virtual world, thereby maximizing the value of their intellectual property and digital assets. In this article, TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic reports on the 3D design tools he recently saw demoed, how they enable collaboration, and their application to manufacturing and other sectors.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/dassault-syst-mes-expanding-product-development-and-the-3d-experience-26878/4/4/2012 3:58:00 PM As organizations get larger and expand into new markets and territories they may find it more difficult to meet their talent management needs. Outsourcing is one option, but is your organization ready to hand over its entire recruitment process to an RPO provider? TEC analyst Sherry Fox looks at some factors to consider when working with an RPO and what your company can do to reap the benefits of recruitment outsourcing. http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/thinking-of-outsourcing-your-entire-recruitment-process-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-26857/3/28/2012 10:55:00 AM Educational institutions are being driven by new technologies and changing student demographics to dramatically change the way they deliver their services. And growth in enrolment requires the proper management of student information, curricula, finances, and human resources. TEC product manager Rahim Kaba reviews TEC market data for a glimpse into the types of enterprise software systems that educational institutions are considering, and the top functional priorities they seek.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/a-portrait-of-the-enterprise-software-user-in-the-education-industry-26840/3/21/2012 2:45:00 PM What does BPM have to do with CRM? Sword Ciboodle can tell you. The vendor delivers process-based customer interaction solutions to contact centers to improve the customer experience by improving customer-facing processes. TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic reviews the vendor’s key offerings and sits down with Ciboodle’s VP of product and market strategy to discuss the company’s challenges, strategies, and technologies.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/sword-ciboodle-one-more-bpm%2dcentric-crm-provider-26835/3/20/2012 10:50:00 AM Organizations today need to handle and manage increasingly large volumes of data in various formats and coming from disparate sources. Though the benefits to be gained from analysis of such big data are immense, so are the inherent challenges, including need for rapid analysis. In his article, TEC BI analyst Jorge García discusses how in-memory analytics helps address these challenges and reap the benefits hidden in big data.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/articles/role-of-in%2dmemory-analytics-in-big-data-analysis-26794/3/16/2012 4:07:00 PM