Technical Requirements Features and Functions
Presale Information: This information lists information not tied to specific accounting applications that may be of interest to users before they make their final purchase decision.
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Client Operating System
Client Operating System: There are any number of operating systems available today, and there are two methods by which users can select an appropriate operating system. Select the accounting system first, and then purchase an operating system compatible with the accounting system. Or, select your hardware first, and then select an accounting system compatible with your hardware. This is one of the features where an input value of "9" would be appropriate. This particular system has two purposes. First it indicates the operating system for LAN-based accounting systems where there is but one operating system throughout the entire network. Second, it identifies the operating system supported for the client or workstation side of a client/server accounting system where the two might be different.
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Server Operating System
Server Operating System: The other half of a client/server accounting system is the operating system supported at the server level. This question lists a number of server platforms that might be supported in a client/server operating environment.
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Database
Databases Supported: Given the fact that many companies prefer certain databases due to individual preferences, the size of their network, their past expertise, or other factors, the database a system supports may be one of the make or break decisions. If a product does not support a specific database, the user will not be interested in looking at that product further, regardless of how close the system matches the user's needs in all other respects.
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Programming Language
Programming Language: As in the previous question, the language in which an accounting system is written my be very important to a potential user, particularly if they have already developed an expertise in one particular language. Rather than having to learn a new language, users should be able to see their options for the programs which support their preferred language.
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Client/Server Structure
Client/Server Structure Supported: The basic distinction between some client/server systems is whether they are two, three tier or n-tier. Two tier systems support processing at the server as well as the workstation, while three tier systems typically separate the database from the applications and place them on their own servers. Some people prefer a two tier system while others prefer a three tier system. An n-tier system allows users to define where processing for specific operations will occur. While this is the most complex arrangement from the point of view of system management, n-tier processing is the most scaleable, allowing users to define which server will be assigned the task of processing specific tasks.
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Client/Server Options
Other Client/Server Options:Recent changes in client/server computing has added other options to the mix. Fat/Thin Clients refers to the load carried by the server vs. the workstation. Fat clients carry a significant data processing load, while thin clients are analogous to dumb terminals where it is possible to operate without a hard drive. In addition, some software vendors have even developed their thin client structures to the point where the desktop contains no more than an Internet browser, and that is the communications channel to the accounting applications. The browser concept reduces the cost and complexity of setting up desktops, and enables organizations to support a single common access methodology, regardless of whether users are in a headquarters building or on the road accessing the system via the Internet.
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Wireless Device Access
Supports Wireless Device Access: While many products can access the core accounting applications via the Internet and a browser, there are other ways that are becoming just as important. This question lists some of those alternative access options.
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Wireless Access Functionality
Wireless Access Functionality: If a user can access their accounting applications via a wireless device, the real question then is which applications they can access and that is the nature of this question.
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Web-enabled Employee-facing Applications
Supports Web-Enabled Employee Facing Applications: Many accounting systems give users access to some or all of the system. This question lists some of those access options regardless of how the applications can be accessed (browser or wireless).
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Microsoft Compliance
Microsoft Compliance: Since Microsoft is such a huge influence on all markets, this question tries to determine how closely the vendor's product complies with some of the standards set by Microsoft and/or Microsoft products.
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Specific Application Support
Specific Application Support: As users are trying to decide which accounting systems they should be examining in more detail, they may have difficulty defining specific requirements, or we might not list all of their requirements in detail, or at all for that matter. This question is designed to assist users define in very general terms the functional areas in which they have an interest. By listing just the functional areas, they might look on this list as a quick and dirty needs definition, and that may be sufficient. Consultants may utilize the same approach when sitting down with a client for the first time. Rather than trying to get their client to immediately launch into a detailed needs definition, they might ask the client to list just the broad areas in which they have an interest. Once this broad needs definition has been utilized to identify products that offer the widest set of functions, the user and/or consultant may then restrict the detailed analysis to only those products.
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Manufacturing Application Support
Manufacturing Application Support: Manufacturing and light assembly can be thought of as a subset of a broad-based functional needs definition like the previous question. Since there are a number of functional areas within manufacturing and assembly, we have chosen to segregate them into their own set of questions.
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EDI Functionality
EDI Functions Supported: EDI as a form of electronic commerce has been around for some years. While it is slowly being replaced by the Internet as a means of communicating in a business to business environment, its importance will remain for several years, if not longer. This question identifies some of the more common form of electronic communication via EDI.
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Inter/Intranet Functionality
Inter/Intranet Functions Supported: Obviously the Internet and Intranet are one of the fastest growing segments of commerce today. This question tries to identify many of the functional areas where the Internet or Intranet would assist organizations serve their customers more effectively and reduce processing costs at the same time. This list is not exhaustive. Other capabilities have been listed in the Order Entry section of the questionnaire.
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Customer-facing Portal
Supports Customer Facing Portal: A portal is no more than an entry point for access to an accounting system. In this case a customer facing portal is an Internet Web page that allows users to access specific functions within the accounting system. The question lists some of the applications customers can access. In some respects the portal can be thought of as a common point of entry for all customers but one that gives users the ability to customize the portal to grant access to specific functions depending upon the customer.
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OLAP Functionality
OLAP Functions Supported: On Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) is a term used to describe the ability of a product to support sophisticated multi-dimensional queries using either a third-party application and a vendor-supplied data dictionary, or the automatic transfer of data to an OLAP database such as Essbase, or through a vendor supplied OLAP tool or application.
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Technology Features and Functions
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