OMB software companies? Dennis, thanks about that. I was assuming that private equity and venture capital were basically the same thing, but they're not.
Sorting out dates Thanks everyone, we should do this more often. There must be every possible solution to sorting out funny dates here.
One final point, going right back to Richard's first post. He's quite right: Text to Columns does work. I could have sworn it didn't when I tried it, but maybe I forgot to switch to MDY.
Thanks for putting me right, fellas. I guess if you have data and there are people in more than one location who want to access it, why not host it on the web via SaaS?
One of the best adverts for the SaaS approach is salesforce.com. Being salesmen, they've got some nice videos.
Small point: the pricing argument confused me for a long time. There's no pricing model which says that on-premises software must be charged up-front, and SaaS software pay as you go. I used to install an on-premises package which we rented.
question on response times I've always assumed that SAAS really only applies to back office-type applications where response time is not vital.
For example, if I had a customer on the phone and was taking down their order, I assume that with a SAAS application over broadband the software would be just too slow.
No, Sage tell me it's Audit_Journal. I agree that on the face of it the detail record would seem to be the right one, but Sage wasn't written with detail and header records - just detail records. That's why they don't have a proper screen for purchase invoice entry. If you want to analyse one invoice to two GL accounts you have to enter two invoices.
It's pretty confusing. They've got 4 tables called Audit_Journal, Audit_Split, Audit_Header and Audit_History - all virtually identical!
I think it's because Sage was originally an accounting shoe-box system and they've had to bend it a lot over the years.
what about the Purchase Ledger table? JC, hi Thanks for that. Does the fact that you've left out the PURCHASE_LEDGER table mean that it is impossible to join it in without additional programming?
I've been fiddling around with right-outer joins and things but can't get it to work.
Are there any professional journals on Stock Control? David, thanks for that. I have googled Orlicki, Possl and Wight, and found a book on MRP by Orlicky. But what I would like to know is: are there any professional or academic journals where I can find discussions of stock control? It is, after all, a highly theoretical subject.
When I started in industry years ago the accountants seemed to take a big interest in stock and there was plenty of discussion about it . I may be doing people like CIMA a disservice, but nowadays I get the impression that the accountants have simply lost contact with what's going in the world of stock and inventory.
Certainly, most of the packages I see from the accounting software vendors seem to be stuck in a time warp.
For example, take re-ordering. Most packages are still using fixed min and max re-order levels in the product record. This made sense in pre-computer days, but with the ERP system recording the sales figures, obviously the computer should now be used to dynamically re-adjust min and max. I've been raising this point with accounting software vendors for the last 15 years but none of them seem able to understand what I'm talking about.
Who are the experts in stock control theory these days and where can I find them?
response to points David, Agreed I should have said "accounting software developers" but I think it was fairly clear from the context who I meant.
John, I accept the point that delivery dates are about the future and therefore often soft. They are estimates only and there to help the stock controller, not take over their job. On your specific points:
- enter the delivery date at order entry time because there should be one on the customer's order.
- I'd be looking for a flag in the customer record as to whether this customer accepts part-ship. But I'd still project the stock forward.
- the package should have a "reserve" facility for an order you know is coming but haven't received yet.
Obviously, yes, it is possible to write your own report to reproduce the Anagram screen. But the fact that the Exchequer, Opera, MMS (and Access!) designers aren't even thinking about projecting stock balances forward is a worry. What else have they left out?
The point is that on this site readers ask for advice about which package is best for stock control and we automatically assume that an accounting package is the answer. Perhaps this is just wrong in principle - we should be referring them to software suppliers who deal full-time with stock control, not as a sideline to accounting ledgers.
My answers
Big Daddy
Yes, I've just tried www.geac.com and been redirected to Infor. It looks like Infor is aiming to become the Big Daddy of legacy software.
OMB software companies?
Dennis, thanks about that. I was assuming that private equity and venture capital were basically the same thing, but they're not.
What's an OMB software company, please?
Sorting out dates
Thanks everyone, we should do this more often. There must be every possible solution to sorting out funny dates here.
One final point, going right back to Richard's first post. He's quite right: Text to Columns does work. I could have sworn it didn't when I tried it, but maybe I forgot to switch to MDY.
Thanks for putting me right, fellas.
I guess if you have data and there are people in more than one location who want to access it, why not host it on the web via SaaS?
One of the best adverts for the SaaS approach is salesforce.com. Being salesmen, they've got some nice videos.
Small point: the pricing argument confused me for a long time. There's no pricing model which says that on-premises software must be charged up-front, and SaaS software pay as you go. I used to install an on-premises package which we rented.
question on response times
I've always assumed that SAAS really only applies to back office-type applications where response time is not vital.
For example, if I had a customer on the phone and was taking down their order, I assume that with a SAAS application over broadband the software would be just too slow.
Is this correct?
Good thinking!
Stephen, many thanks for these tips. I have now revised the tutorial to include them.
no, it's Audit Journal
Hi JC
No, Sage tell me it's Audit_Journal. I agree that on the face of it the detail record would seem to be the right one, but Sage wasn't written with detail and header records - just detail records. That's why they don't have a proper screen for purchase invoice entry. If you want to analyse one invoice to two GL accounts you have to enter two invoices.
It's pretty confusing. They've got 4 tables called Audit_Journal, Audit_Split, Audit_Header and Audit_History - all virtually identical!
I think it's because Sage was originally an accounting shoe-box system and they've had to bend it a lot over the years.
what about the Purchase Ledger table?
JC, hi
Thanks for that. Does the fact that you've left out the PURCHASE_LEDGER table mean that it is impossible to join it in without additional programming?
I've been fiddling around with right-outer joins and things but can't get it to work.
Are there any professional journals on Stock Control?
David, thanks for that. I have googled Orlicki, Possl and Wight, and found a book on MRP by Orlicky. But what I would like to know is: are there any professional or academic journals where I can find discussions of stock control? It is, after all, a highly theoretical subject.
When I started in industry years ago the accountants seemed to take a big interest in stock and there was plenty of discussion about it . I may be doing people like CIMA a disservice, but nowadays I get the impression that the accountants have simply lost contact with what's going in the world of stock and inventory.
Certainly, most of the packages I see from the accounting software vendors seem to be stuck in a time warp.
For example, take re-ordering. Most packages are still using fixed min and max re-order levels in the product record. This made sense in pre-computer days, but with the ERP system recording the sales figures, obviously the computer should now be used to dynamically re-adjust min and max. I've been raising this point with accounting software vendors for the last 15 years but none of them seem able to understand what I'm talking about.
Who are the experts in stock control theory these days and where can I find them?
response to points
David,
Agreed I should have said "accounting software developers" but I think it was fairly clear from the context who I meant.
John, I accept the point that delivery dates are about the future and therefore often soft. They are estimates only and there to help the stock controller, not take over their job. On your specific points:
- enter the delivery date at order entry time because there should be one on the customer's order.
- I'd be looking for a flag in the customer record as to whether this customer accepts part-ship. But I'd still project the stock forward.
- the package should have a "reserve" facility for an order you know is coming but haven't received yet.
Obviously, yes, it is possible to write your own report to reproduce the Anagram screen. But the fact that the Exchequer, Opera, MMS (and Access!) designers aren't even thinking about projecting stock balances forward is a worry. What else have they left out?
The point is that on this site readers ask for advice about which package is best for stock control and we automatically assume that an accounting package is the answer. Perhaps this is just wrong in principle - we should be referring them to software suppliers who deal full-time with stock control, not as a sideline to accounting ledgers.