Abstract: The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, regulated, and in a permanent state of change. Customers demand instant attention, while suppliers require comprehensive leading edge services with regard to their products. Regulatory authorities require that the industry keep up to date with regulations, following them to the letter. Competitors are always inventing new ways to gain market share, while e-business presents new opportunities and challenges. All the while the pressure to reduce prices and to shorten order cycles is high. Pharmaceutical wholesalers comprise the lifeline within the pharmaceutical industry, providing continuity of supply and facilities for storage. They also offer a range of supporting services, such as information technology systems and product withdrawal notifications, which form an essential part of the total healthcare package. These companies and institutions all operate in an environment where speed and efficiency may mean the difference between life and death. However, the industry has a number of specific requirements that are critical for achieving success in the distribution sector.

Abstract: 5-Year ASP Contract for Internet Healthcare Software Awarded to Healthcare Systems & Solutions.

Abstract: Increasingly complex regulatory requirements in the health care industry have intensified pressures on health systems to assure compliance and operational governance while maximizing business performance. This study draws on a survey conducted by Healthcare IT News and Healthcare Finance News to share strategies that will improve governance, compliance, and business performance across today’s health care organization.

Abstract: ERP vendors are making their way into the retail market by bundling, acquiring point solutions or partnering strategically to embed retail-specific functions within their suites. Like in all other enterprise applications markets, eventually, albeit not any time soon, the retail market too will come to a showdown between the pure retail vendors and the enterprise application vendors (e.g., Oracle, SAP, Lawson, PeopleSoft, SSA Global, Geac, Intentia, etc.), which have been striving to natively embed more retail-specific capability into their products.

Abstract: Customers and vendors do not always see eye to eye as illustrated in the following horror stories about how customers have been treated by vendors. The vendors did the opposite of selling; they pushed these companies away.

Abstract: Infor and IFS, two upper mid-market, stalwart vendors, were the first to respond to our questions-and-answers series directed at software application vendors. Based on our questions, these two vendors share their views on market trends, platform approaches, and mid-market issues.

Abstract: There are two types of extract transform and load (ETL) vendors. Business intelligence (BI) vendors integrate ETL functionality into their overall BI framework, while best-of-breed data integration vendors, who provide enhanced ETL functionality, have an increased focus on data cleansing and integrity.

Abstract: When all enterprise vendors go for ERP and like solutions to help improve the business of small, midsize, and large aerospace and defense (A&D); engineer-to-order (ETO); contract manufacturing; maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO); and like project-oriented manufacturing companies they may face the need to meet government contract requirements.

Abstract: This article talks about recent and expected FDA regulations and how RFID can help meet those requirements while improving supply chain performance.

Abstract: Learn how IT asset tracking tools helped Allina Hospitals and Clinics monitor 2,700 computers on and off their network without having to invest in additional infrastructure. This case study shows how their security system enabled this leading health care provider to go from a 30 percent tracking record to an almost perfect record for its growing inventory of laptops and electronic health records.

Abstract: Like many health care providers, Wisconsin (US)-based Aurora faces pressures to improve care quality, while monitoring its bottom line. Asset optimization remains elusive for most such enterprises, but Aurora devised a plan to use a centralized service management call center to facilitate service requests, and dispatch resources. Aurora was thereby able to attain higher efficiency, and still strengthen service levels.

Abstract: Application vendors find themselves in a precarious situation where, concurrently with dismal revenue inflow, there is a need for bigger investment in the development of their products. Vendors unable to keep abreast of technology demands of a vertically focused solution that provides tangible returns in ever-smaller project chunks are in a danger of becoming has-beens.

Abstract: In continuing our first-time ever questions-and-answers series for software applications vendors, Infor and IFS, two upper mid-market, stalwart vendors, express their views on market trends, platform approaches, and mid-market issues.

Abstract: Smaller manufacturing enterprises are often more comfortable dealing with a vendor of a size and corporate culture similar to theirs. Examples of these markets can be e.g., fresh meats, dairy producers, Tier 2/3 automotive suppliers, etc. Some of these thriving Boutique Vendors will actually be conglomerates of smaller divisions or vendors with a common owner. These might even be a current mid-range vendor who specializes in a series of smaller markets or even a sub-segment of a Big Five vendor

Abstract: While the ongoing consolidation frenzy is by no means the end of smaller vendors, the number of survivors will certainly be only a few dozen. Amid these ongoing seismic consolidation tremors, smaller application vendors are left with few choices: going private under a wealthy financial backer’s wing that is also committed to invest in the acquired technology, or snatching some prominent mid-market players within its market segment.

Abstract: With increased competition, deregulation, globalization, and mergers & acquisition activity, enterprise software buyers realize that product architecture plays a key role in how quickly vendors can implement, maintain, expand/customize, and integrate their products. Many in the enterprise applications vendors' community recognize that these are unmet realities and are attempting to offer solutions that will deal with them. While it is not practical to look at every strategy and every vendor's nuance, this note looks at some important examples representing distinct strategic approaches.

Abstract: Application vendors are focusing on their install base as their primary source of revenue while cutting costs to provide profitability. Most vendors will tell you that they are both new account and customer oriented, and some have struck this balance. But the vast majority have been worshipping at the Wall Street idol of new accounts for so long that the reality is, they have a new account business model.

Abstract: Within the warehouse management system (WMS) market, which is still the main breadwinning offering for most of the SCE vendors, most products are functionally on par with mere nuances in ease of configuration or industry focus to differentiate the winner. ERP vendors have taken advantage of this unfavorable perception for WMS specialists to in the very least shore up their huge install bases, if not compete for some