http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/archives/Technology 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.New data from TEC shows that manufacturers are the biggest market segment for enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution vendors. Of nearly 4,500 ERP evaluation projects conducted in the last 6 months in TEC's online Evaluation Centers, manufacturing companies were in the top spot with 28%, with business services and consulting (17%) and wholesale and retail (12%) rounding out the top 3. Companies included in this report were small to midsized businesses with budgets between $250,000 and $500,000 (USD). For details, head over to the TEC Blog and read the full post.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/tec-research-shows-manufacturers-still-biggest-erp-shoppers-7027-1/6/1/2012 12:00:00 AM Savvy retailers know that it’s not enough to simply develop different retail channels. You need to make sure they all work together to deliver a seamless and satisfying customer experience. In his latest article, TEC analyst Philippe Reney shares four secrets to developing a successful cross-channel retailing strategyhttp://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/successful-cross%2Dchannel-retailing-4-concepts-to-master-7012-1/5/30/2012 12:00:00 AM The enterprise resource planning (ERP) market has grown to include new solutions and delivery models, adding software-a-a-service (SaaS) offerings to on-premise ERP solutions. This has prompted some companies to switch to more suitable solutions. But jumping into a “rip and replace” scenario can be trickier than installing ERP for the first time. These five steps for switching ERP vendors help ease the transition.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/five-steps-for-switching-erp-vendors-7008-1/5/29/2012 12:00:00 AM ERP for services solutions are changing the way professional services companies do business by combining powerful project- and resource-management tools with essential back-office functionality. Learn all about these solutions in TEC’s 2012 ERP for Services Buyer’s Guide. Plus get detailed product comparisons, a comprehensive vendor directory, customer success stories, and thought leadership from industry experts. Download your free PDF copy of TEC’s 2012 ERP for Services Buyer’s Guide.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/tecs-2012-erp-for-services-buyers-guide-6999-1/5/28/2012 12:00:00 AM Right now, there are two clear trends that will continue to shape business telephony into the next two years: Internet protocol (IP)-based communications and mobility. Download this concise executive brief to get an expert's take on voice over IP (VoIP), IPv6, converged networks, and more.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/future-tech-where-will-telephony-be-in-two-years-7003-1/5/26/2012 12:00:00 AM Business performance management (BPM) isn’t easy for service organizations. You need to measure things that are hard to quantify—like customer satisfaction. Today, TEC analyst Jorge García reviews "Metrics Maneuvers"—a handy BPM primer that walks service providers through the basics of designing and applying meaningful key performance indicators.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/better-performance-management-for-service-companies-6996-1/5/25/2012 12:00:00 AM Bamboo Rose—TradeStone Software's new global e-market community for retailers and suppliers—is helping the company shake up the retail software solutions landscape and win out over competitors like PTC. In today's featured article, TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic brings you the latest news from TradeStone's strong performance at Retail's BIG Show 2012.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/tradestone-software-presents-bamboo-rose-6986-1/5/23/2012 12:00:00 AM In today’s business climate, enterprise performance management (EPM) systems have risen from the status of “nice-to-have” to “must have” for midsize companies, particularly those that experienced substantial growth prior to the current economic downturn. This paper discusses some of the ways the new unpredictability of external market forces has escalated the value of precise internal forecasts and quick decision-making for these companies.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/key-to-rapid-response-for-today-s-successful-midsize-companies-6983-1/5/22/2012 12:00:00 AM If your legacy ERP system isn't getting the job done anymore, you need to do something about it—and fast. The first article in today's roundup will help you decide whether it's better replace it, or simply upgrade to the next version.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/thinking-about-a-new-erp-system-read-these-first-6978-1/5/21/2012 12:00:00 AM Enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) systems have become more accessible to midsize and smaller companies. Standard features have matured, and systems have become easier to deploy and use. But some companies are struggling to support legacy ERP solutions that haven’t kept pace with new technologies. If you’re looking to make the case for an upgrade, use this checklist to sell your management on a new ERP system.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/how-to-sell-management-on-a-new-erp-system-6982-1/5/19/2012 12:00:00 AM Want to know if your software implementer can deliver the goods? Ask their customers. But make sure they stick to the facts. In today's featured blog post, TEC's Aleksey Osintsev lists the ten things you should ask about in any reference check—and shows you how to do it in a way that ensures you get objective answers.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/10-tips-for-checking-your-software-implementer-s-references-6969-1/5/18/2012 12:00:00 AM Thinking about buying talent management software? Not so fast, says TEC analyst Sherry Fox. If you don’t have a solid talent management strategy in place first, you might be creating more problems than you’re solving. Learn how to tell if your company is ready for talent management—and how to choose the right solution—in today’s featured article.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/when-is-talent-management-really-right-for-your-business-6959-1/5/16/2012 12:00:00 AM CRM solutions can help small and midsize companies manage the myriad ways they interact with customers—from marketing to new and potential customers to improving their customer support. These solutions integrate new social and collaboration tools, making it easier to connect with customers, and are available via the cloud, making CRM more affordable for smaller companies. Know all the reasons you need a CRM solution.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/how-to-sell-management-on-a-new-crm-solution-6955-1/5/15/2012 12:00:00 AM Since launching its first Web-based workflow application in 1996, business process management (BPM) software vendor W4 has evolved to provide a full-feature BPM suite to (mostly) midmarket companies in (mostly) Europe and North America. Find out what W4 is up to today, and what it's got in store for the future, in today's vendor spotlight report from TEC analyst Jorge García.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/vendor-spotlight-w4-6943-1/5/14/2012 12:00:00 AM Midsize companies in most global markets are currently in a major cycle of enterprise resource planning (ERP) replacement driven by economic conditions and operating requirements. Despite the buzz about the cloud, companies are cautious in adopting cloud ERP. This briefing focuses on the current ERP cloud computing landscape from the perspective of midsize customers who have deployed cloud-based ERP when replacing legacy solutions. http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/an-oracle-accelerate-for-midsize-companies-briefing-6947-1/5/12/2012 12:00:00 AM Ever feel like the vendors are in control of your software selection project? You’re not wrong. You might evaluate new solutions once every five years—or less—but vendors sell their solutions to companies every day. Today TEC analyst Aleksey Osintsev explains what gives vendors their edge, and reveals four things you can do to level the playing field.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/an-amateur-software-buyer-s-guide-to-outplaying-vendors-6936-1/5/11/2012 12:00:00 AM With the right business metrics, you can accurately measure—and improve—business performance. But according to TEC analyst Jorge García, it's easy to use the wrong metrics by mistake. And that can be fatal to your business. In his latest article, Jorge tells you how to avoid common pitfalls, and build successful business metrics.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/make-sure-metrics-don-t-kill-your-business-6930-1/5/9/2012 12:00:00 AM Newly available software platforms known as governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) technologies can help your business stay on top of the myriad procedures, tasks, and behaviors that bear upon compliance. This paper discusses the drivers behind the growing awareness of GRC information technology, introduces the elements of an effective automated GRC system, and suggests a low-risk, high-impact approach to launching GRC automation.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/achieving-efficient-governance-risk-and-compliance-grc-through-process-and-automation-6929-1/5/8/2012 12:00:00 AM With just 27 employees, Virginia-based open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor xTuple is holding its own against the likes of Netsuite, Microsoft, and even SAP! In today's in-depth interview, xTuple CEO Ned Lilly tells TEC principal analyst P.J. Jakovljevic what's behind the company's success, and what the xTuple team has in store for the future.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/what-s-up-with-xtuple%2D%2Dand-open-source-erp-6923-1/5/7/2012 12:00:00 AM CRM solutions can help small and midsize companies manage the myriad ways they interact with customers—from marketing to new and potential customers to improving their customer support. These solutions integrate new social and collaboration tools, making it easier to connect with customers, and are available via the cloud, making CRM more affordable for smaller companies. Know all the reasons you need a CRM solution.http://www.technologyevaluation.com/research/newsletters/how-to-sell-management-on-a-new-crm-solution-6926-1/5/5/2012 12:00:00 AM