Software vendors like to promise utopia if you purchase their software, but we’d like to know what it’s really like to live with the business software you use every day. Click here to sound off in our latest reader’s poll.

Manhattan Associates, RedPrairie Corporation, and JDA Software are all renowned supply chain management (SCM) vendors who have long been slugging it out for a bigger slice of the SCM pie. After watching them go at it for years, we’re ready to make some fearless predictions on what the future holds for each of them.

Finding the right BI solution for your company’s needs is often a daunting task. Here’s a handy guide to evaluating Web-based BI solutions that not only tells you what to look for, but also gives you a high-level view of major Web-based BI vendors.

And now for the question of the day: Which software solution can middle managers use to make good, fast business decisions? You guessed it: BI. Click here to learn how BI can be a middle manager’s most powerful business tool.

Does that make sense to you? Of course not. That’s because buzzwords are getting in your way.

Learn the top 10 buzzwords used by enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors—and how to make sense of them—in Are ERP Software Vendors Messing with Your Head?

In other news, principal TEC analyst P.J. Jakovljevic says “many companies do not have a strong link between sales, operations, and finance departments, and this chasm can lead to…” What? What will it lead to? (Find out)

“Our current ERP system could not communicate effectively with the different systems in the other facilities,” said Mike Anstey, IT manager, Flakeboard. So Mike did something about it (full disclosure: TEC helped).

In breaking news: Dassault Systèmes acquires IBM PLM. TEC Analyst Kurt Yu analyzes how this latest industry shakeup really shakes out.

And here’s a clear, concise white paper I thought you should read before doing anything rash: Criteria for Selecting a Business Intelligence, Reporting, and Analysis Solution. Title says it all.

Thanks for reading today’s TEC Newsletter—please let me know if you’ve got questions or comments about anything that strikes you as interesting, contentious, or just plain odd. Have a great day.

I’ve always wondered about the best way to manage pricing and promotion in retailing. Is it an art? Is it a science? Can software play a key role? All these questions and more are answered in today’s feature blog post.

Vertical integration? Come again? Before you type it into Wikipedia, read today’s second feature blog post to find out how vertical integration can help you gain control over your supply chain, and how you can benefit from bringing your supply chain activities in-house.

So how do you go about measuring and analyzing this customer chatter?

Try “opinion mining.” Never heard of it? Neither have I. A few enterprising business intelligence (BI) vendors have, though, and they’re now making it possible for you to find out what your customers are thinking. Learn more in The Intelligence of Social Media.

Need more intelligence? Learn about (among other things) the five requirements of a scalable data warehouse strategy, in Bye-bye to the Old BI: BI for Midsized Companies.

Oh, and one last thing before I head off for the weekend: TEC's principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic weighs in on BigMachines, a provider of inventive configure, price, and quote (CPQ)/quote-to-order (Q2O) solutions. Get the dirt, in BigMachines: Getting Bigger and Better – Part 1.

That’s why this Ohio (US)-based leader in professional photography and lighting equipment hired TEC. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how TEC helped F.J. Westcott cut through the vendor blah-blah—and impartially identify, prioritize, and evaluate its ERP requirements.

I thought this made for interesting reading—and I think you will too: it’s a comprehensive ERP Systems Buyer’s Guide, including cost and vendor considerations, and top buying advice directly from buyers like you.

And now for the riddle of the day: When a customer receives two phone calls from your company, how many people is your company really talking to? Hint: maybe It’s the Time to Master Your Master Data.

Making a mid-market BI solution a success in your organization comes down to knowing which tactics to employ, and how to approach them intelligently. Today’s feature white paper lays out the five most critical things you can do that will guarantee a successful BI deployment.

BI isn’t just for big corporations any more. In today’s second feature white paper learn why businesses of all sizes stand to benefit from the insight into operations and customers a BI solution offers.

Today’s feature white paper offers you an in-depth look at regulatory compliance issues—including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)—and how they impact small businesses.

Interested in learning the success secrets of high-performing finance teams? You’ll find them in today’s second feature white paper.

A Tale of a Few Good SCM Players – Part 1 focuses on Manhattan Associates, a supply chain maintenance (SCM) vendor that for years could do no wrong—until recently, that is, when the company’s revenues started to decline and some competitors came up very fast from behind.

In Part 2, read about the rising fortunes of Manhattan Associates’ two fiercest competitors, RedPrairie Corporation and JDA Software, and find out why these vendors are trending up while Manhattan Associates seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

In Part 3, learn about the current dynamics in the retail sector, as well as what’s driving JDA Software’s ongoing resurgence.

The User’s Undying Quest for Exploring and Discovering Info – Part 1 looks at the differences—and some subtle similarities—between industry giant SAP and up-and-coming vendor Endeca Technologies.

In Part 2, learn how SAP is adapting to the “new fundamentals” for the future of enterprise applications—like “business technology”—a pervasive technology increasingly being managed outside the direct control of IT departments.

In Part 3, SAP’s new BusinessObjects Explorer is looked at, including its traits and areas for improvement—especially in terms of the user experience.

If you’re a supplier to the oil and gas industry and you’re using older software, check out today’s feature white paper. You’ll learn what to look for in a modern enterprise software solution—one that will help you adapt to a more competitive market and open up new revenue streams for your company.

Studies have shown that groups make better decisions than individuals when it comes to selecting enterprise software. In today’s second feature blog post, learn how to make group decision-making not just an effective process, but an efficient one as well.

Today’s second feature blog post offers you a handy roadmap for successful software selection that comes from a rather off-beat perspective. You’ll see what we mean when you get there.

With the high-cost of ERP updates and modifications, did you ever wonder what other companies are investing in terms of money, time, and effort to keep their ERP systems up to date? Find out in today’s feature white paper.

Capital markets can turn on a dime, and investment banks and equity traders must be able to keep pace. In today’s feature white paper, learn how CRM technology can help capital-markets firms streamline investment activities, increase brokerage trade volume, and meet compliance requirements.

Creating a successful customer experience is a fundamental goal of any CRM process. But how do you create the seamless value chain that serves as the foundation of that successful experience? Find out in today’s second feature white paper.

Today’s feature blog post looks at how companies producing a limited variety of complex products (such as auto manufacturers) differ in their approach to PLM from fashion companies that produce a large variety of comparatively simple products.

If you’re planning to attend next week’s PLM Boot Camp ’09 virtual conference, today’s second feature blog post offers you three tips for making the two-day event a richer and more rewarding experience.

Enterprise incentive management (EIM) and enterprise compensation management (ECM) sound very similar and are related to one another—but they are not the same. Confusing? You bet. In today’s feature blog post, learn the difference between EIM and ECM before you come back with the wrong compensation solution for your organization’s needs.

If you’re a small or midsized wholesale distributor, today’s feature guide will help you through the entire software selection cycle—from needs analysis and budget planning through software selection and implementation.

Despite the fact that entire books and training programs have been devoted to lean supply chain practices, there are a few simple steps you can take to lean down your company’s supply chain. In today’s feature article, learn what these nine simple measures are, and how they can help your company enjoy the efficiencies and financial benefits of a lean supply chain.

Wholesale distributors are facing a number of serious business challenges. In today’s feature white paper, discover how wholesale distributors of all sizes are addressing these challenges by implementing specialized ERP solutions.

How can you minimize the total cost of technical support for your enterprise applications? Today’s feature article answers that question as it explores the three main types of costs— direct, indirect, and opportunity—associated with purchasing enterprise software.

Increasingly, midsized companies are outsourcing the management of their ERP systems. Today’s feature white paper offers you a comprehensive guide to selecting an ERP outsourcing partner, and looks at the factors involved in making the process a success.

The way user rights and securities are set can make an ERP system efficient—or turn it into a model for inefficiency. In today’s second feature blog post, learn about the 10 most common mistakes to avoid when you’re setting user rights and securities for your ERP system.

While many manufacturers have adopted lean production techniques, fewer are employing lean improvement methods. Today’s feature white paper will introduce you to the background, benefits, and approaches to lean improvement—and why lean improvement tactics can provide large returns with little upfront investment.

Historically, electric utilities have employed different best-of-breed solutions for their Generation, Transmission, and Distribution units—but that’s all changing. Today’s second feature blog post looks at how the major vendors are all jockeying to be the first to develop a solid integrated solution for the electric utilities industry.

Check out today’s feature white paper for a look at the economic, environmental, and regulatory issues facing United States (US) power utilities—particularly in light of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

LMSs and learning content management systems (LCMSs) sound quite similar and are related to each other—but they’re definitely not the same. Today’s feature blog post will make you understand the differences between them before you shop for any kind of learning management solution.

In today’s feature white paper, find out how smart companies are using LMSs to reduce costs, manage resources more effectively, and meet ever-increasing regulatory compliance requirements.

With the globalization of business, more and more companies are training partners, suppliers, and customers. In today’s second feature white paper, learn how LMSs are playing a key role in the process.

Project management methodology can be applied to new product development such as ERP implementation; the manufacturing of custom and assemble-to-order products; even internal company changes like reducing product costs and eliminating supplier bottlenecks. Find out more about the versatility of project management in today’s feature blog post.

Today’s second feature blog post looks at the “P’ in PLM, and shows you how the PLM methodology is being applied to more and more products—including services and retail.

For ETO and project–based manufacturers, success lies not in spending more time looking at the numbers, but looking at the right numbers instead. In today’s feature white paper, learn about key performance indicators (KPIs) designed especially for ETO manufacturers, and the software solutions that can deliver them.

Most CRM programs involve a great solution but a bad implementation plan—resulting in a negative experience for all parties concerned. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In today’s feature article, you’ll learn how implementing a four-step approach to creating an effective and attainable CRM vision will serve as the foundation for true CRM success.

You’ve done everything you can think of to pump up sales, but have you considered optimizing territory alignments to improve sales productivity and strengthen customer relationships? It works—and today’s feature white paper shows you how.

For a look at the three evolutionary phases of SaaS and cloud computing adoption, read Mega-vendors Warming Up to the Cloud - Part 1.

To learn about the apparent opportunities and accompanying challenges—and painstaking soul-searching exercises—that SaaS vendors face in their endeavors, check out Part 2.

Find out about SaaS initiatives by tier 1 vendors, including Oracle and SAP in Part 3.

Read about SaaS vendor Progress Software’s current on-demand offerings, as well as the company’s Seven Keys to SaaS Success in Part 4.

Also today, in our feature white paper you’ll learn how SaaS can significantly drive down your IT infrastructure costs.

Learn about the special needs of mixed-mode manufacturers, and the emergence of mixed-mode ERP software solutions to address those needs, in today’s feature article.

Today’s feature white paper looks at consolidation in the ERP market, and how this can impact your company’s approach to selecting a new ERP system.

Today, customers demand information—and satisfaction—via a number of different channels: telephone, Internet, retail kiosks, instant messaging, text messaging, and e-mail. In today’s feature article, find out how a service resolution management (SRM) solution can help get your customers the right information at the right time, through whatever channels the customer chooses.

To find out how you can implement a CRM solution that your salespeople will actually want to use—one that truly fits their needs—check out today’s feature white paper.

In today’s second feature article, learn how PLM can manage product innovation by increasing productivity, facilitating healthy collaboration, reducing time-to-market, and preserving product knowledge.

Undoubtedly it’s happened to your organization: the project that started with such high expectations turns out to be a dud. In today’s feature white paper, learn how PLM—and value-based portfolio management in particular—can help you significantly improve your odds of successfully developing and introducing new products to market.

As your supply chain becomes more complex, the potential for problems and breakdowns increases. In today’s second feature article, learn how transportation management systems (TMSs) have become the glue of the supply chain—designed to help you deal with the ever-increasing complexities of manufacturing and distribution in the global marketplace.

The complexity of inbound logistics makes it an error-prone process. Today’s feature white paper shows you how a partner performance management program can dramatically reduce the number and impact of inbound-logistics problems, while giving your organization a key competitive advantage.

For a look at where the future of HR lies, check out today’s feature article. You’ll discover why tactical HR is steadily evolving into strategic human capital management (HCM).

Considering that the bulk of the workforce in the not-too-distant future will be composed of "generation Y", it pays to know how to attract and manage “the young and the restless.” Find out in today’s feature white paper.

In today’s feature article, learn how consumer packaged goods (CPGs) makers can use a true demand-focused strategy to synchronize supply and drive out unwanted costs and inefficiencies.

If you’re a manufacturer, the right response management strategy can help you reduce customer erosion, improve margins, and lower inventory costs as much as 50 percent. Find out how in today’s feature white paper.

Businesses are attracted to enterprise asset management (EAM) software and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMSs) because they deliver the kind of real and tangible savings you can take right to the bank. But where does one end and the other begin, and which one is right for your organization? Find out in today’s feature article.

In today’s feature white paper, learn how applying “lean” principles to maintenance can transform it from a cost center into a profit center.

Today’s second feature blog post lays out six key warning signs that tell you it’s time to start thinking about replacing your current accounting system.

When your business outgrows a basic accounting system like QuickBooks, what’s the best thing to do next? Find out in today feature white paper.

Maybe you’ve said it yourself: there must be a better way to deal with excess and obsolete inventory than with high-overhead marketing promotions, rebates, and complete inventory write-offs. Happily, there is, and you can learn all about it in today’s feature article.

Is your warehouse management system (WMS) helping your business expand—or stifling its growth? Today’s feature white paper lays out the nine telltale signs you should consider replacing your current WMS.

If your physical inventory doesn’t match the numbers in your inventory management system, cycle counting may be just what the doctor ordered. In today’s second feature white paper, learn why cycle counting can increase the accuracy of your real-time inventory data.

Also in this edition is the TEC Certification Report for Bluebee, a Web-based ERP solution for large and midsized manufacturers.13 Things a Customer Can Do to Avoid an ERP Implementation Failure

Thirteen is your lucky number if you want to make sure your ERP implementation is a huge success—and you end up looking like a hero.

A Guide to Selecting Process ERP Software

Selecting process ERP software can be a tricky business. Here’s a guide to making sure your process ERP selection is on target, on time, and on budget.

Why Enterprise Application Search Is Crucial to Your ERP System

With so much information being stored within enterprise software applications these days, it’s important to understand the two main approaches to searching for data within your company’s ERP system.

How Kelly Moore Paints Simplified Its ERP Software Evaluation and Selection

Discover how America’s largest employee-owned paint company used TEC’s services to simplify and shorten its ERP selection process.

State of the MES Software Marketplace

Get up to speed on the state of the market for manufacturing execution systems (MES) in this informative guide from TEC and Flexware Innovation.

Drawing a loose parallel with manufacturing, today’s feature article takes a close-up look at the mining industry. Learn about the workings of a mining company’s major departments, the benefits an ERP system can bring to the organization, and the functionality an ERP system must have in order to support mining’s special needs and requirements.

What are the major trends driving discrete manufacturing and what steps can you take to ensure your manufacturing business survives well into the future? Find out in today’s feature white paper.

Today’s feature article looks at the major trends in supply chain management (SCM), including the continued movement away from vertical towards horizontal supply chains, and the emergence of the virtual corporation, where the firm’s capabilities and systems are merged with those of its suppliers.

If you’re a manufacturer, would you like to be able to make twice as many products with twice as much quality, at half the cost, with half the labor and space, and with a fraction of the normal work-in-process inventory? It’s possible through lean manufacturing, as you’ll discover in today’s feature white paper.

For a look at the major modules that comprise a process ERP solution—as well as an analyst’s overview of the top five TEC-certified process ERP solutions—check out today’s second feature blog post.

Today’s feature white paper looks at the unique requirements of process manufacturers, and describes the functionality an ERP solution should have in order to qualify as a true process ERP solution.

If you’re interested in automating your warehouse operations, a warehouse management system (WMS) might seem like the obvious choice. But you may actually be far better off by extending your ERP distribution capabilities instead. Find out why in today’s feature article.

With literally dozens of distribution systems available today, how do you go about finding the one that’s just right for your business? Today’s feature white paper shows you.

Today’s second feature article examines the monumental shift in the way manufacturers produce and distribute their products as a result of globalization. It also looks at how enterprise resource planning (ERP) for distributors and supply chain management (SCM) have emerged to help manufacturers cope with this radically altered business environment.

For an introduction to the next generation of ERP systems—built on a service-oriented architecture (SOA) platform and promising a new era of visibility and connectedness—check out today’s feature white paper.

The line separating business performance management (BPM) from operational business intelligence (OBI) is fuzzy in many peoples’ minds. Learn what each solution is all about, what sets them apart, and which one is right for your organization, in today’s feature article.

Are you interested in BI, but lack a clear picture of exactly what it is—and what it does? Today’s feature white paper cuts through the myths, buzzwords, and confusion surrounding BI to give you the straight story on this powerful business software solution.

An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is designed to give you visibility into your organization, but if you’re a manufacturer, that visibility can all too easily turn into tunnel vision. Today’s feature article looks at how your ERP system can develop blind spots, and what you can do to prevent that from happening.

With your ERP system essential to your company’s daily operations, it’s crucial that ERP upgrades are handled properly. Today’s feature white paper shows you how to get ERP upgrades right—with minimal pain—by developing a long-term strategy and a comprehensive tactical plan.

Also in this issue: we’re pleased to provide an update to an article published in our last Newsletter—see One Vendor’s Exploit of Marrying Infrastructure with Selling and Fulfillment Applications.

With an explosive annual growth rate of more than 20 percent, retail is seen by many as India’s most exciting and dynamic business sector. In today’s feature article, learn about the opportunities—and challenges—for retail solution providers and supply chain vendors in the world’s second-most populous country.

In today’s feature white paper, you’ll discover business community management (BCM), a comprehensive approach to supply chain communication that allows you to integrate the technology, business processes, and communications of your entire business community to give you end-to-end supply chain visibility.

In the never-ending quest to create more efficient supply chains, the industry is applying new approaches, technologies, and methodologies. In today’s second feature article, find out how third-party logistics providers (3PL), radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, and attribute-based demand planning are all helping to slash supply chain costs—and increase customer satisfaction.

Achieving supply chain visibility—the number-one challenge facing supply chain professionals today—is trickier than it appears. In today’s feature white paper, learn the secret of true supply chain success, and why visibility is the first vital step.

In today’s feature white paper, read about a software solution that helps medical device manufacturers speed product development, and increase the effectiveness of their sales and marketing initiatives.

For a look at the special needs of process manufacturers, and what enterprise resource planning (ERP) software vendors are doing to satisfy those needs, check out today’s feature article.

Some software solutions have a crystal-clear profile, ERP for services is much harder to pin down—but what kind of ”services” does it refer to? Is it intended for project- or transaction-based service companies—or both? How does ERP for services differ from project portfolio management (PPM) for professional services automation (PSA) and which is best for your company? Find the answers to these questions and more in today’s feature article.

Today’s feature white paper gives you a step-by-step guide to choosing and implementing the ERP system that will best fit your company’s needs. From determining your goals and system requirements, to evaluating the vendor landscape, to integrating your new ERP system into your existing business, you’ll find out about it here.

The PLM landscape is broadening to include smaller companies in industries ranging from consumer packaged goods, to fashion, to retail and services, and beyond. To learn more about the latest trends in PLM, read today's second feature blog post.

With so much interest in PLM solutions these days, we thought it might be helpful to cover off the ABCs of PLM for you in a trio of blog posts. For an overview of what the "P" in PLM means, click here; for what the "L" means, click here; and for what the "M" is all about, click here.

TEC's ebestmatch™ is a tool that allows you to quickly compare enterprise software solutions side by side, down to the minutest level of detail. In today’s second feature blog post, get the skinny on the new, faster, and more user-friendly version of this industry-leading software decision support system (DSS). You’ll also get a link to a free ebestmatch™ trial.

Given how tricky software selection can be, we thought you’d want to see the set of software selection best practices we’ve developed through the years. You can find these best practices—designed to help ensure a successful software selection process—in today’s feature white paper.

To learn why mobile customer relationship management (CRM) can make your field sales reps more efficient and productive than regular CRM, check out today’s feature white paper.

The right hosted CRM solution can help your company cut operating costs and increase profitability, but which one do you choose from the staggering number available? Today’s second feature white paper will help you figure it out.

If you’re struggling to optimize your supply chain in the face of rising customer demands and shrinking margins, here’s a helpful review of supply chain basics—along with a look at what you can do to maximize efficiency along the chain.

With your supply chain being such a critical part of your business, shouldn’t someone be making certain that your core financial systems support a lean, efficient, and globalized supply chain infrastructure? As you’ll discover in today’s feature white paper, that’s a job your chief financial officer (CFO) should be performing.

Today’s feature article looks at the four most certain ways to ruin your ERP implementation process. Make sure you don’t commit these common implementation sins, and your ERP project is likely to end up doing just fine.

If you’re interested in an ERP solution, you’ll quickly discover that the seas of ERP are vast, and navigating through the current market is not simple. Today’s feature white paper provides you with the 10 most important questions to ask when you’re evaluating and interviewing ERP vendors.

Today’s feature case study looks at a South American manufacturing conglomerate’s quest for an ERP solution, and how the company was able to find the right solution in about half the usual time by taking advantage of TEC’s software selection methodology.

Does it make sense to outsource all your IT application projects to the same country? Today’s second feature blog post compares spreading around your IT application projects to developing a mixed investment portfolio—you have to balance the rewards with potential risks.

While outsourcing has become a highly successful strategy for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), there are still plenty of ways to go wrong. Today’s feature white paper looks at seven common pitfalls to avoid when outsourcing manufacturing processes.

If you’d like to take a look at the basics of learning management systems, check out today’s feature blog post. You’ll learn exactly what an LMS is, and the different benefits it can bring to your organization.

Did you realize that an LMS can be an effective line of defense against potential lawsuits and non-compliance problems? Read today’s second feature blog post to find out how an LMS can not only train and motivate your employees, but also keep your organization out of trouble.

In today’s feature case study, find out how the right LMS helped a chain of US fitness centers increase revenue, streamline performance management, and raise employee satisfaction.

Long research and development (R&D) and approval cycles are a serious problem for pharmaceutical companies—costing them money, delaying product releases, and reducing the number of new products they can bring to market. Today’s feature blog post looks at how the right software solution can help resolve these issues by shortening these often extremely lengthy cycles.

Mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures have been known to produce results far below expectations. Today’s feature white paper examines why failure happens, and how to prevent it by following best practices in successful acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures preparedness.

If you’re interested in the benefits of ERP, or if you have to justify the purchase of an ERP system, today’s second feature article will come in handy. It looks at the complete list of quantifiable ERP benefits, including reductions in inventory, labor, and material costs; and improved accounting controls, customer service, and sales.

Calculating the value of a technology investment only makes sense if your ROI calculations are quantified—and if they fall directly within the context of your organization’s business objectives and priorities. Otherwise, as today’s feature white paper shows, the "benefits" of a technology investment may be far more imaginary than real.

Here’s a handy reference guide to give you insight into the accounting features and functions currently available for small to medium businesses (SMBs). It will help you determine which accounting features your organization needs—or doesn't need.

If part of your reason for getting an ERP system is to control costs, you’ll want to make sure the implementation is as cost-effective as possible. Today’s feature white paper shows you how partnering with a value added reseller (VAR) can help you lower your ERP implementation costs.

So you want to bring down your supply chain costs, and you’ve done all the cost-cutting you can think of. What’s left? Better inventory management processes and practices. In today’s second feature blog post, find out how dealing with your inventory in smarter ways can also save you money.

In today’s feature white paper, find out how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and contract manufacturers (CMs) can manage supply chain changes in a way that is profitable for both.

Today’s feature report spotlights Agresso, an ERP vendor that loves to take on the big guys. Agresso claims to have beaten tier-one vendors Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP, and to have won over $50 million (USD) against SAP in 61 separate deals. Now that's spunk!

Since your company essentially runs off its ERP system, you’d better get it right when it comes to upgrades. Fortunately for you, today’s feature white paper will walk you through the whole process, offering practical advice and best practices for planning, managing, and executing all your ERP system upgrades..

With web-enabled technology, business intelligence, and supply chain management becoming integral parts of the manufacturing environment, discrete enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications are very different from what they used to be. In today’s feature article, learn about the current trends and how to select a discrete ERP system for your needs.

Today’s feature white paper examines the seven trends that are producing the greatest stress and change in discrete manufacturing, an industry that has undergone seismic shifts in recent years.

Since it’s no longer what you own, but what you know that counts, the knowledge and experience of your staff can be the difference in your company’s success. So how can you use IT to successfully acquire, manage, and optimize your company’s human capital? Find out in today’s second feature article.

Onboarding is much more than orientation, and can be your key to more competent, loyal, satisfied, and productive employees. Check out today’s feature white paper for the skinny on employee onboarding, including its background, benefits, and best practices.

It’s become almost gospel that Microsoft software is easy to adopt, brings unparalleled brand power, and virtually guarantees you technical support forever. This is the conventional wisdom at the heart of the case for having an all-Microsoft office. But is it as true as it appears to be? For some surprising answers to that question, check out today’s second feature blog post.

Today’s feature white paper examines some of the issues surrounding automation of the application lifecycle for ERP systems.

For a list of the ten easiest ways to kill a software selection project, check out today’s second feature blog post. If you can manage to avoid all these common blunders, you’ll have gone a very long way towards making sure your selection process ends up a success.

Today’s feature white paper also takes a look at why IT projects fail, and discovers that 84% are cancelled, significantly delayed, or go over budget. Click here to find out how your IT project can be in the remaining 16% that come in on-budget and on-time.

Finding video that demonstrates how a software solution works—and what the interface(s) look like to a user—can be like hunting for that old needle in a haystack. Today’s second blog post asks why this should be so, and finds that two of the world’s largest software vendors actually do make it possible for you to see their solutions in action online.

You may have heard that information lifecycle management (ILM) is the most amazing invention since the wheel. That’s the breathless hype, anyway—but where exactly does the truth lie? Find out in today’s feature white paper.

Today’s feature article looks at both the similarities and differences between BI and business process management (BPM)—and provides an analysis of the trends and vendor choices in both of these growing market segments.

For a look at how new, less complex, more user-friendly BI applications are putting powerful BI tools in the hands of more and more company employees, check out today’s feature white paper.

Also today, we introduce a new blog post category that focuses on issues and opportunities in sales and marketing. Check out the inaugural posting: it’s from one of our TEC VPs and looks at the search for the elusive "perfect lead".

As today’s feature blog post makes clear: CRM is more than a software application; it’s a way of interacting with—and engaging—your customers. But there’s more you need to know to make CRM work for you. Click here to find out.

A CRM solution is supposed to help your salespeople sell more, but some actually have the opposite effect. Today’s feature white paper shows you how to choose a CRM solution that will help your salespeople bring more money through the front door, not drive it away.

Learning management systems (LMS) can not only train your employees, they can also help keep your organization out of trouble. Today’s second feature blog post shows how an LMS can help keep your company in line with compliance requirements, and provide a layer of protection if you’re ever charged with non-compliance.

In good times or bad, you have to keep good talent if you expect to succeed. Today’s white paper looks at how integrated learning and performance management is essential to an effective talent management strategy.

The US has a longstanding love affair with Japanese cars and consumer products, but when it comes to software, Americans give Japanese vendors the cold shoulder instead. Today’s feature blog post looks at that curious situation, and also at the efforts Japanese planning and scheduling vendor, Asprova, is making to gain a real foothold in the US market.

Today's feature white paper offers tips and guidelines to help make sure that if you're a process manufacturer, you end up with a process ERP solution, not one designed for discrete manufacturers.

Not having a formal policy in place to protect company assets, data, and intellectual property means you’re flying by the seat of your pants—perhaps towards financial loss, embarrassment, and with certain types of non-compliance, even jail time. To prevent bad things from happening, check out today’s second feature blog post for a plan for getting your information security under control.

Today’s feature white paper explores the main strategies financial institutions are adopting in response to security attacks, and looks at emerging new security technologies.

Now here’s a different pair of ECMs and EIMs—this time enterprise compensation management (ECM) and enterprise incentive management (EIM). Learn what sets these two HR solutions apart, and what they have in common, in today’s second feature blog post.

Today’s feature white paper will show you how to choose and implement an enterprise content management solution—one your employees will find easy to use.

Health care providers have been notoriously slow to implement electronic medical records (EMR), but many are now taking the plunge. Today’s second feature article offers a road map to a successful EMR implementation—one that should help you avoid most of the pitfalls.

For a look at how technology can help health plan providers employ consistent "best-selling" practices with every prospect at every touch point, check out today’s feature white paper.

One of the biggest problems with BI is that many people don’t understand it, while others wrongly believe they do. To set it all straight, here’s a straightforward guide to BI that will explain the ins and outs of BI to you, and how it transforms data into information, information into decisions, and decisions into action.

Today’s feature white paper shows you how to realize the full potential of your BI investment. Find out how getting your people to trust and use the information that BI delivers can be the secret to getting the results you’re looking for.

Today’s feature article lays out the basics of BPM so you can understand exactly what makes it tick, and how it can help your organization optimize performance and formulate winning strategies.

Today’s feature white paper looks at how unified BPM, along with predictive analytics, will play an increasingly important role in shaping strategic and tactical planning and decision-making.

Now that PLM is branching out to small and mid-sized businesses, what’s the best way to approach a PLM solution for your company? All-at-once or with a phased implementation? From a big PLM vendor or small? Find out in today’s second feature blog post.

In today’s feature white paper, find out how combining ERP and PLM is enabling manufacturers to enhance their product development process and build a powerful competitive edge.

Today’s feature white paper shows how the right enterprise asset management (EAM) solution can ramp up your level of corporate social responsibility—and your bottom line—through greater efficiencies of resource usage and increases in productivity.

Today’s feature blog post looks at how companies can reduce their environmental impact by rethinking their technology infrastructure, production techniques, and management practices.

If the ever-increasing need for speed and agility is best accomplished with a project-centric business model, what approach should management take to transition from a process-oriented to a project-oriented operation? Find out in today’s second feature article.

Today’s feature white paper looks at how the application of formalized risk management can improve the project management decision-making process, and effectively reduce risk exposure.

In today’s feature article, learn how BI innovations in the search space, software as a sevice (SaaS), and real-time analytics are revolutionizing the way small and medium-sized businesses are analyzing and interpreting their data..

Find out how advances in BI software are making it easier than ever for small and mid-sized compaanies to take advantage of a BI solution—and how the latest BI solutions are more powerful, graphical, and intuitive than before. It's in today's feature white paper.

Like any other business strategy, outsourcing has both an upside and a downside. Today’s second feature blog post gives you a quick look at outsourcing’s basic pros and cons.

Today’s feature white paper examines how financial institutions can manage the risks of outsourcing while still enjoying its financial benefits.

Yes, you can help save the planet and cut your company’s costs at the same time, and here are five quick and easy ways to do it.

Take enterprise asset management (EAM), combine with green initiatives, and you can get less waste, more efficient use of resources, and decreased emissions. Find out more in today’s feature white paper.

If you’re a smaller organization looking for a dependable, web-based ERP system that promises a simple deployment at an affordable price—all backed by a rock-solid Oracle-based backbone— check out today’s feature blog post. Your ship’s finally come in.

Replacing your ERP system can seem like a difficult and painful process, but done right, it can open up unlimited business opportunities. Today’s feature white paper lays out eleven key criteria to make sure you get an ERP system that will help you achieve your business goals now—and years into the future.

Today’s second feature blog post offers a broad list of suggestions on how to green your supply chain. For every step along the way—from product development through to manufacturing, logistics, and distribution—you’ll find ways to conduct your business in a greener, more environmentally- friendly way.

With the explosion of electronic communication, keeping track of company e-mails has become a complex task. Today’s feature article looks at how to manage the overflow of e-mails—with particular focus on the logistical and legal aspects.

In today’s feature case study, find out how a leading manufacturer of computer parts used a document management system (DMS) to automate workflows and increase work efficiency by a whopping 80 percent.

The word “green” these days is everywhere—especially in business. But how do you know which businesses are genuinely concerned about the environment, and which only appear to be? Today’s feature article looks at how some companies are the real thing when it comes to green initiatives, while others are in it only for the optics.

Today’s feature white paper looks at how a green-centric assset management solution can help your company create a healthier environment—and a fatter bottom line.

Here’s a guide to selecting HR software that lays out all the steps in such a sensible, clear, and straightforward manner, you’ll find it almost impossible go wrong.

Just about everything you know about human resources outsourcing (HRO) is going to change. In today’s feature white paper, discover the 5 core technologies that will be ushering in the exciting new world of HRO.

If you’ve seen the TEC Certified Vendor logo on your travels through our site, you may have wondered exactly what it means—and why you should care. It turns out that theTEC Certified logo is your assurance of the authenticity and accuracy of a lot of key information supplied directly by the vendor(s). Find out more here.

Learn how you can save money, gain a competitive advantage, and fuel business productivity with the right business management software. It’s in today’s feature white paper.

Now that you’ve decided a BI solution makes sense for your business, today's feature article explains what a contemporary BI solution consists of, and how each of the different elements in a BI solution works to strengthen your strategic planning and decision-making processes.

If you’re running an Oracle or Siebel solution, and want to know how to effectively and easily plan, design, build, and deploy customized BI dashboards, check out today’s feature white paper.

Today’s second feature article examines the European Union’s WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive that requires electronics manufacturers of member states to manage and pay for electrical and electronics waste recycling. The obligations placed on manufacturers are significant, but as you’ll discover, some prospective business service providers are waiting for the legislation and market to mature before offering their solutions.

Today’s feature white paper offers you a guide to greening your data center: everything from reducing cooling requirements, to increasing system efficiencies, to reducing power consumption.

How can a famous 12-step program designed to get people to swear off alcohol serve as a model for the ERP selection process? Simple. All you have to do is some judicious word substitutions, and bingo—you’re sober, you're in business, and your ERP software does what it’s supposed to. See why it works here.

Today's feature white paper offers you a guide to improving your planning, budgeting, and forecasting. Find out how aligning planning best practices with the right software can result in more accurate plans, more timely forecasts, and more effective decision-making.

Today’s feature white paper looks at PLM in retail, footwear, and apparel—and how automating a specification development process can reduce time-to-market and product costs, while increasing product quality and operational efficiencies.

Combining process industry-oriented PLM capabilities with process manufacturing-oriented enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities can help alleviate many of the challenges facing process manufacturers. Learn more in today’s feature blog post.

Today’s feature white paper looks at a new approach to driving sales productivity: sales enablement. Find out why optimizing the interaction between the salesperson and the customer can be the key to doing more business and making more money.

For a look at CRM basics—including the benefits and potential risks of deploying a CRM solution—check out today’s feature blog post.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV has long been a hit with small businesses and the lower end of the midsized market. With the recent release of Dynamics NAV 2009, today’s feature blog post looks at the history and functionality of this popular ERP solution.

Today’s feature white paper offers you a guide to improving your planning, budgeting, and forecasting . Find out how aligning planning best practices with the right software can result in more accurate plans, more timely forecasts, and more effective decsion-making.

Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP enables manufacturers to support both lean and traditional manufacturing practices in a single system. Today’s second feature article looks at kanbans and their application within this popular ERP solution.

In today’s feature white paper, find out how the principles, practices, and philosophy of lean manufacturing can be applied to creating a less wasteful, more efficient, and more profitable supply chain.

It goes without saying that conducting effective research is vital to a successful software selection process. For some tips and helpful advice on how to best approach researching enterprise software solutions, check out today’s second feature blog post.

For part II of our feature article on managing customer returns and RMAs with Microsoft Dynamics AX, click here.

Today’s second feature blog post looks at how a group of prominent IT organizations have banded together to focus on reducing the use of hazardous materials, optimizing energy efficiency, and promoting recycling.

In today’s feature white paper, you’ll learn how Microsoft Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 in combination with FalconStor Virtual Tape Library (VTL) can provide full data protection coverage for your business.

Managing employee compensation is one thing, managing talent is quite another. Today’s feature article simplifies one of the biggest challenges in HR today: recruiting and retaining skilled employees.

The promise of enterprise information management (EIM) was born forty years ago. But only now is the capability of managing critical business information, at an enterprise level, on the verge of becoming a reality. Find out more about EIM and what it can do for your organization, in today’s feature white paper.

Today’s feature blog post lays out ten best practices for reducing inventory costs through better inventory management. You can think of them as the “ten commandments” of inventory cost reduction.

So you’ve concluded you need a CRM solution. But you’re hearing conflicting messages from your ERP provider and the CRM vendors you’re talking to. How do you best integrate CRM with your ERP? Today’s feature white paper will show you.

In today’s second feature blog post, discover an innovative new inventory optimization program that can help you quickly free up cash, and reduce the impact of the current global credit crunch on your company’s supply chain.

Today’s feature white paper shows you how implementing transportation management best practices can help you manage your supply chain more profitably—and give you a key competitive edge.

Omnify may not be a name you’ve heard much about, but if you’re in the high-tech, medical, or defense sectors, or if you manufacture electronic or electromechanical devices, it’s a PLM solution vendor you should keep your eye on. Learn why in today’s feature article.

Reusing designs of existing parts or assemblies for new projects can help you build products faster and cheaper. In today’s white paper, you’ll find out how to overcome the challenges of optimizing design reuse.

While at one time PLM dealt only with manufactured goods, the definition of “product” has been expanded to include merchandise and services as well. In today’s second feature blog post, find out why PLM isn’t just for manufacturers any more.

Today’s feature white paper looks at component event management. Find out how this strategy is designed to resolve the disconnect between the lifecycle of electronic products and the lifecycle of the electronic components they contain.

Purchasing an EMR system can be a daunting task, and requires a considerable amount of forethought. Today’s second feature blog post looks at the major considerations that go into the selection of an EMR system, whether it’s for a large hospital or a small private practice.

For a look at how advances in business intelligence are helping hospitals improve their decision-making in the face of a number of external pressures, check out today’s feature white paper.

Ever notice how the toxic personalities in an organization—otherwise known as the office jerks—can cause an IT project to go south in appalling and disastrous ways? Well, here’s a lighthearted guide to dealing with office jerks during the software selection process, and how you can emerge—hopefully—with your sanity intact, and with a software system that actually works.

Whether to deploy and manage your ERP system in house, or outsource all or part of it is a question many mid-market companies are asking. Here’s a guide to ERP outsourcing that will help you determine which outsourcing model, if any, is the right one for you.

Virtually every company wants more customers, and most look to CRM as a key tool in winning and retaining new business. But what elements should a CRM solution have to make it truly successful? Today’s feature white paper lays it out for you.

With the recent, well-publicized outbreaks of salmonella and e.Coli, food safety has become an issue very much in the public eye. Today’s second feature blog post looks at the current state of food safety procedures, and how a few different software solutions can help to prevent outbreaks from occurring in the first place.

Data centers are notoriously power-hungry installations, and an excellent place for your company to go green. It may be a challenge to accomplish, but the bottom-line business and environmental benefits make greening your data center more than worth it. Find out more in today’s feature white paper.

In today’s second feature white paper, learn how enterprise asset management (EAM) can lead your company to green success through creating less waste, reducing resource use, decreasing emissions—and making more money.

Here’s a guide to ERP solutions specially designed for small and midsized businesses. You’ll get current information about the vendors, features and benefits, costs, and current state of the market—plus a checklist of key questions to ask before you buy an ERP solution.

For insight into the current state of financial lending, from both the banks’ and the SEC’s point of view, read today’s feature blog post.

Finally, we’d like to know if outsourcing your entire accounting department at a cost savings of 20 to 40 percent is an idea that appeals to you. Click here to go to our survey question of the day.

Managing bills of materials (BOMs) might appear on the surface to be a simple task, but in fact, just the opposite is true. For a look at the range of complexities involved in managing BOMs in a modern, globalized manufacturing environment, check out today’s feature blog post.

When IBM provided a free online PLM diagnostic tool, over 600 manufacturers worldwide used it to create a customized analysis of their PLM processes and practices. Now you can see the results, and benefit from the insights these companies gained, to help you set your own strategic PLM course. It’s all in today’s feature white paper.

For many companies, their call center is the only point of contact most customers have with the organization. And that means your call center has to get it right, or you run the risk of losing customers. In today’s feature blog post, you’ll find out how one company set up its call center to make sure its customers always walked away feeling satisfied.

Congratulations! You’ve done a great job of growing your business, and now you’re focused on increasing sales and reducing costs. Here’s how to get the benefits of CRM while maximizing your return on investment (ROI), and minimizing your total cost of ownership (TCO).

For an admittedly unscientific, but rather interesting look at the relationship between the size of an ERP vendor and the “greenness” of their offerings, check out today’s feature blog post. It turns out that when it comes to ERP vendors and things green, size does really seem to matter.

For a look at the essentials of a modern process ERP solution, including case studies from a variety of process manufacturing industries, check out today’s feature white paper.

Today’s feature blog post offers you an overview of VoIP architecture, network structure, software, and costs—plus links to 10 white papers that will guide you to the right VoIP system and help you get the most from your investment.

Today’s feature white paper is a convenient comparison guide to 8 of the most popular VoIP telephone handsets—including a breakdown of features, functions, and costs.

Continuing along the green theme, today’s second feature blog post examines a number of green initiatives designed to make IT projects and data centers more environmentally friendly. It also shows you how to relate green practices to IT project management.

Finally, today’s feature white paper shows you how on-demand solutions can help small to medium manufacturers compete and win in an extremely challenging and highly-competitive business environment.

Is criticism of US car-makers justified or is it a bad rap? Is it possible that the US consumer is more to blame than the Big Three automakers for the mess the US auto industry finds itself in? One of our senior TEC analysts weighs in on the subject in today’s second feature blog post.

Data centers are notorious for being first-class energy hogs, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Today’s feature white paper shows you how can green your data centers—and improve your bottom line at the same time.

Getting senior management buy-in for a new HR software system can be a difficult task, especially in times of recession. Today’s feature white paper shows you how to build a persuasive, detailed, and successful business case for a new HR system.

Today’s feature article looks at the move away from traditional HR towards strategic human capital management, which strives to build a better organization by aligning HR systems with organizational missions and strategy.

Having trouble distinguishing between operational business intelligence and business performance management (BPM)? You’re not alone—it can be quite confusing. Today’s second feature article helps out by looking at the major differences between the two.

The best BI solution in the world won’t do much for you if the implementation is botched. Today’s feature white paper shows you how to make sure your BI solution is successfully integrated into the daily management of your operations.

In a weak economy, manufacturers serving the big-box retail giants can end up getting caught in a vicious squeeze. Here’s a look at the major difficulties facing the manufacturing and retail distribution industry, as well some of the ways in which the industry can fight back.

Today’s feature white paper offers you a guided tour through workflow automation, also known as business process management (BPM), including a look at several key BPM vendors.

How you define an ERP system is going to have a large impact on the ERP system you end up with. Here, then, are ten different ERP definitions for you to mull over and to see which one(s) resonate for you, along with a chance to win a prize for providing a definition of exactly what you think ERP is.

For a comprehensive guide to process ERP, including a revealing “under-the-covers” look at a process ERP solution, check out today’s feature white paper.

If you’re looking for a training method that stimulates and engages your employees, and keeps them focused and involved in the learning process, discovery learning could be right up your alley. Find out more about this powerful instructional approach in today’s feature white paper.

Find out how the right LMS system can prevent you from running afoul of the law and compliance regulations, and keep you from paying out large fines and legal settlements. It’s in today’s feature blog post.

Along with the New Year, of course, come resolutions—and here are 6 IT resolutions you can’t afford NOT to make in 2009!

Finally, here’s a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit that examines the challenges—and opportunities—that face midsize manufacturers.

For a good overview of the history, basics, and applications of lean manufacturing, check out today’s feature white paper. Find out how you can make twice as much product with twice the quality, at half the cost, with half the labor and space, and with a fraction of the normal work-in-process inventory.

Since lean principles work so well on the manufacturing shop floor, why not use them to increase efficiencies, reduce waste, and cut costs in the front office as well? Today’s second feature article shows you how to go about it.

With IT professionals forced in recent years to do more with fewer resources, many are turning to the “lean principle” to run a more efficient, more productive operation. Today’s feature blog post looks at how lean can be applied to both existing ERP systems and new ERP projects.

Before you begin implementing Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007, here’s a guide to walk you through the key feature areas, highlighting additions and improvements to portal, search, content management, business forms and integration, and business intelligence (BI)

An estimated $73 billion will be spent this year on knowledge management (KM) software in the US alone. What are companies getting for their money? Find out, along with what’s new and available from one of the leading KM software vendors—in today’s second feature blog post.

Today’s feature white paper looks at the modern business environment, and how you can use technology to grow and develop your business in ways you never could before.