ERP implementation helps online sales grow

A report recently released by Codestone found that clothing manufacturer Mulberry increased online sales by 99 percent in the first 10 weeks of 2010 following the implementation of ERP solution. The company believes other organizations that implement ERP solutions can experience similar results and save money in other ways as well.

Codestone implemented its ERP solution in October 2009 and has seen improvements throughout its planning operations with the unnamed solution. Investing in the streamlining of its warehouse planning has improved efficiency throughout the organization and has allowed workers more time to handle other projects. Like most other trends in information technology, ERP solutions allow companies a faster way of handling business-critical tasks.

The company expects its year-on-year sales figures to continue their climb as it finds news ways of encouraging efficiency with the ERP solutions and other software it implements - especially as it opens new stores and show rooms throughout Western Europe and Asia.

According to V.K. Bansal, an ERP implementation expert, many companies struggle with ERP because of new trends in software development, especially SaaS. The employees using these products rarely approach changes in software with an open mind, but Bansal encourages IT workers not to take this resistance into account.

Companies turn to application development for advertising

It took marketing and advertising agencies some time to master online advertising; some industries still haven't figured out the best way to earn money from online ads. However, as smartphone use becomes more prevalent, many companies have recently turned to mobility solutions to gain new advertising revenue, according to All About Symbian.

Many companies, like Pepsi and Red Bull, have spent countless hours on application development in hopes of creating a program for users to enjoy that also exposes them to advertisements. The news provider reports Pepsi created Finger Football, a smartphone application designed to leverage the World Cup hype into cheap advertising.

The app is essentially a base-level hand-held soccer game for users to enjoy while on a train or waiting at the doctor's office. Pepsi has scattered its logo throughout the game to drive users to buy the product. The app is free to download and was fairly cheap for Pepsi to create, according to the news provider.

As more Americans begin to use smartphones, these apps will likely become even more common. Nielsen recently reported more than half of American adults will own smartphones by Christmas 2011 as new mobile devices become even easier to use.

 A report recently released by Accenture found the medical industry to among the fastest in terms of cloud computing adoption, according to InformationWeek. With the need for sophisticated software quickly growing for healthcare providers, many have decided outsourcing the management and support tasks is the best way to save money while doing so.

The survey found more than 33 percent of IT decision makers told Accenture they currently use SaaS applications in their daily IT operations. While many reported they implemented them to save money, they have found SaaS as capable as on-premise software with a far greater upfront required to use the software. Furthermore, 73 percent of respondents report they will outsource IT operations they plan to purchase at some point in 2010.

Most hospitals have hastened their adoption of various IT systems as part of an effort to comply with a federal mandate handed down by President Barack Obama earlier this year, which required all medical records to be electronic by 2014.

As hospitals begin this implementation, the University of California San Diego Extension School recently reported healthcare IT is among the fastest-growing job markets for recent graduates.

Microsoft quick to fix holes in Sharepoint 2010

Earlier this month, Microsoft released a security update aimed at patching holes in SharePoint 2010, the ECM solution the company released in June, according to ChannelWeb.

SharePoint 2010 has received substantial praise since its release, as companies develop new applications and solutions to improve their operations using SharePoint. However, organizations still using SharePoint 2007 recently reported a series of security issues to Microsoft, which forced the company to include the patches in its weekly updates.

The most dangerous flaw addressed by Microsoft's security release allowed cyber criminals to install malware in the device and access SharePoint files. For most organizations, this is problematic for two reasons. Firstly, their files can be made public or altered, which results in data loss and other dangers. Secondly, most organizations using ECM solutions such as SharePoint have compliance responsibilities. Data loss is among the most frequently punished violations by regulatory authorities in the U.S.

With the improvements, SharePoint can continue its role as a valuable resource for most organizations. The Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League reported they used SharePoint 2010 to create an application, which has made their scouting department more efficient.

Popularity of mobility solutions forces development of Microsoft OS

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently announced the development of Windows Mobile 6.5, a mobile operating system designed specifically for use on enterprise mobile phones, according to PC World. Ballmer also announced a Windows 7-based OS for mobile phones to go along with Windows Phone 7, which is currently in development. Ballmer expects to release the company's first mobile phone at some point next year.

With the creation of its own operating system, Microsoft hopes to boost the use of its own mobility solutions. Rumors productivity suite Office being developed into a mobile application may be among the biggest developments for smartphone use in recent years.

"In the next six months we will release a new embedded OS called Windows Embedded Handheld, based on Windows Mobile 6.5 technologies ... [and] in the second half of 2011, we will release a version of Windows Embedded Handheld based on Windows Phone 7 technology," Ballmer said, according to PC World.

Organizations that do not leverage mobility soon may struggle to compete with their rivals that do. According to American Banker, several major banks within the United States have not taken advantage of the rise in mobility by developing applications for smartphone use.

Experts question banks' failure to use mobility solutions

According to American Banker, a series of new applications for banking have been released by third parties, while banks fail to leverage growing smartphone use into further business, Risk.net relays.

While some leading banks have developed their own mobility solutions to help customers check balances and transfer funds on the go, several leading financial institutions in the U.S. have struggled. Among those that have successfully implemented the applications are Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

However, JP Morgan Chase, the second largest bank by total deposits in the U.S., does not have a free application for mobile banking. A third-party developer created a program for use on the Android, but it costs $2.50 per download. Furthermore, it is not available on the iPhone or BlackBerry. Banks in Europe have failed to capitalize on the trend as well, with executives on both continents citing security concerns as the primary reason for their hesitance.

A report recently issued by Nielsen found 50 percent of American adults will own smartphones by Christmas 2011, as their capability becomes more necessary and their cost drops.