Cloud-based ERP: a Look at QAD

For companies with facilities in multiple locations, cloud-based ERP systems seem like a logical choice to meet their planning needs. Unlike “standard” systems that are restricted to the local network of a single facility, these cloud-based programs have the ability to coordinate functions across multiple production, transportation, and administrative locations.

One of the most well-known cloud-based ERP programs is QAD. This program, and the company that sells it, was formed in 1979, and it has updated its version of ERP software periodically since then. QAD Cloud ERP, formerly known as QAD On Demand, is a recent addition to this new line-up of software.

Avoid Costly Computer Servers

The cloud-based platform of this ERP program can be a big advantage to some companies. Before this innovation, companies with facilities in multiple locations had to build and maintain a costly computer system infrastructure in order to keep all of their facilities operating in sync with each other. In many cases, computer specialists were added to the staff just to keep these servers working and able to network with each other. That meant not only a large upfront investment, but also a substantial ongoing cost to maintain the investment.

Communicate Instantaneously

With cloud-based ERP software, the need for a large investment in specialized equipment has become obsolete. The version from QAD makes changes to production schedules instantaneously accessible to almost any location in the world. (2) Last minute orders received in New York, for example, can be scheduled to the production queue in Shanghai within minutes. Alterations to production orders are easily transmitted and implemented on the factory floor despite the fact that the production facility and the management group are thousands of miles and a dozen time zones apart.

As a company grows and changes, it’s important that their ERP software changes with them. Fortunately, it’s much easier to upgrade, change, and merge software systems in a cloud-based format. Instead of data being stored on servers located in a physical space within a company, cloud-based programs store data in multiple locations. In the event of a merger, companies can combine their databases onto the QAD ERP cloud. The software will have access to all of the data from both companies' old and new production facilities. It is no longer necessary to spend weeks setting up an integrated computer system when a new facility is established. The cloud-based software allows connection with the company software and databases simply by logging into the QAD program.

Concerns

While there are some concerns over the security of cloud-based ERP, it is possible to overcome these worries with proper cybersecurity precautions. For many companies, this is a very small concern, but it is a manageable one.

Cloud-Based QAD software can be a boon to companies that need to control their production and supply chains across multiple facilities. This technology makes them easier to control, cheaper to manage, and makes data easier for everyone to access.