date: Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:10:16 -0500
from: "Don Cavaiani" <dcavaiani@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
subject: SOA/Web Services ???
My CEO would like me to demystify what the Microsoft/Epicor SOA ERP
suite has to offer - especially what's new or different in comparison
to our current System i/BPCS/Lansa for the WEB environment/infrastructure.
Over the years, I've learned that CEO's ask for things, and 80% they don't really know what they're asking for.
If you haven't done so, it might be in your interest to understand what his perception of the Microsoft/Epicor offering is, and what piqued his interest. Where'd he hear about it? Does he know of a shop that's implemented this offering? What's his business rationale for thinking this might be worth your time (and his money) to investigate? What holes do you need to plug in your current implementation that only a replacement with a different product can cure?
If you have an idea of his expectations from this new system v. the limitations of your current systems, then you can do a quick and dirty feature analysis. Completely ignore the technology, and look purely at what your current system has, in terms of features. If possible, include the current functions that have customization-- any customized features may mean extra work when implementing a new solution.
Once you have that list, you can do some research pretty easily on the web and look at some case studies, etc that have the kind of feature information you're looking for. You'll be able to determine what Epicor offers, and how it stacks up against the current system, and if it would have to be customized to meet your needs. (Customization is expensive-- I doubt that Epicor gives you the source code.)
Also, what might be the costliest part of completely switching over to this technology (ball park numbers)?
This is a replacement of at least part of your current system.
I wouldn't even bother with that until you know what that part is.
-Ed
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