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Purchasing
Advice
Time
and Attendance Software
What
is time and attendance software?
Time and
Attendance software is a simple software application that
collects employee time data and stores it in a database. Through
the software application company management can track work
hours, benefits accrued, and administer payroll.
Do
I need a time and attendance solution?
“Buddy
punching” or “Time theft” which are the
practices of misreporting or over-reporting the amount of
time spend on the job are the most common cause companies
list as reasons for implementing a time and attendance solution.
Most companies find they need a time and attendance solution
when they are trying to track 20 or more employees work hours
and benefits.
Pricing?
A small
company can expect to pay under $1,500 for a standard time
and attendance solution. Larger organizations with over a
thousand employees can expect to pay $40,000 or higher.
Where
to buy?
Most Time
and Attendance vendors sell directly to large Tier 1 companies.
For small to mid size companies, time and attendance solutions
are typically purchased through a local authorized reseller.
Service
and Support?
Typically,
the time and attendance reseller or vendor provides after
sales service through the purchase of an annual support program.
It is always a good idea to make sure the vendor provides
your company with training manuals and any other documentation
related to the operating the system.
Point
of Sale Software
What
is Point of Sale?
A point
of sale system is a computerized system that enables businesses
to track sales, inventory, merchandising, and employee labor
. A typical point of sale system has the following components:
a computer, a monitor (or touch screen), software, receipt
printer, barcode scanner, and credit card terminal.
Do
I need a Point of Sale system?
Smaller
retail stores or restaurants with revenues of under $400,000
should consider using a less expensive solution like an ECR
(electronic cash register). If the sales of your business
are above $400,000 your business can gain considerable benefits
from implementing a point of sale solution.
Pricing?
While
the typical cash register will cost between $200 and $600,
computerized point of sale systems tend to be more expensive.
The cost of point of sale system can vary significantly depending
on the hardware/software configuration chosen. The typical
cost for a point of sale system is $2,500 to $5,000 per system
which includes hardware, software, and after sale support.
Where
to buy?
Most point
of sale vendors will sell directly to large Tier 1 companies.
For small to mid size companies, point of sale systems are
purchase through a local authorized reseller.
Service
and Support?
Typically,
the point of sale reseller or vendor provides after sales
service through the purchase of an annual support program.
It is always a good idea to make sure the vendor provides
your company with training manuals and any other documentation
related to the operating the system.
Enterprise
Resource Planning
What
is ERP Software?
Enterprise
Resource Planning Software (ERP) is a complete enterprise
wide business solution that attempts to integrate all departments
and functions within a company into a single computer based
application. An ERP solution typically consists of software
modules for business divisions such as marketing and sales,
field service, product design and development, production
and inventory control, procurement, distribution, industrial
facilities management, process design and development, manufacturing,
quality, human resources, finance and accounting, and information
services.
Do
I need an ERP system?
There
are several reasons why a company would consider purchasing
an ERP system. They include the integration of customer order
and financial information, to standardize and speed up the
manufacturing process, and reduce inventory levels. Often
companies need an ERP solution because they have many disparate
software solutions running varying aspects of the organization.
Pricing?
The typical
price tag for an ERP solution includes hardware, software,
professional services, training, and support. For a small
to mid size company the purchase price of a basic ERP system
can be as little as $10,000. For large Fortune 1000 companies,
the costs can be in the millions.
Where
to buy?
An ERP
solution for small to mid size companies can be purchased
directly from the software vendor but typically it is purchased
through a reseller. Large Fortune 1000 companies typically
purchase an ERP solution directly from the software vendor.
Service
and Support?
Employees
are often adverse to change in their daily work routines.
It is imperative that training be a focus when implementing
an ERP Solution. Companies implementing an ERP must not only
focus on changing software but also business processes that
will create better efficiencies. Training, service, and support
for an ERP system typically is provided by the software vendor
or an authorized reseller acting on their behalf.
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