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With a massive take up of iPad users, it makes a brilliant and more intuitive device for Enterprise Resource planning to be a success. That’s why we took our own ERP solution mobile (LV ERP for iPad).

Developing Enterprise Resource Planning for iPad makes good business sense when so many executives are using them to drive better sales, presentations or manage real time reporting. Whilst Lakeview ERP already boasts a web app and mobile version for desktop and mobile use, LV ERP for the iPad comes with unique features that take enterprise resource planning into a more intuitive environment as it is easy to use, more comfortable than a smart phone and not as bulky as a laptop.

According to Forrester’s Global Tech Market Outlook, Apple is expected to sell $10 billion worth of iPads to business customers in 2012, representing a 68% increase over 2011.

Source: Forrester Research

In the demo below you will see Lakeview’s ‘LV ERP’ app for the iPad in use. Watch and see how easy it is to navigate and manage your day to day business processes from within the app.

Related links
Download: LV ERP for iPad [iTunes download]
Book a demo : To see LV ERP in action

Author: Angela Kennedy

Technorati Tags: erp for ipad, LV ERP, mobile ERP

For our customers and prospects alike we promote and support a ‘Bespoke as standard’ ethos. This is our guarantee that all modifications to the software are included into the core product ‘as standard’.

How do we do this?

This is managed by having a single set of source code, by designing solutions as generic as possible and by switching features on by means of control flags.

The ‘Bespoke as standard’ commitment enables easy upgrades to the latest version of your Lakeview (LV or LM) software and to take advantage of new features as they are released.

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing, Lakeview

Technorati Tags: lakeview erp

We believe our business proposition is absolutely unique amongst suppliers of ERP software.

We are one of a few independent software authors directly supplying ERP systems to UK based SME businesses.

Lakeview has been providing business software solutions to UK SME’s for over 25 years, and understands the needs of both customers and the demands of trading from within the UK.

Our passion is to deliver excellent business software with an outstanding level of service. When customers contact us with a ‘how do I do this?’ or ‘what am I doing wrong?’ question, we don’t turn them away, or suggest spending on training or consulting. We take the time to find a solution and our customers constantly comment favourably on our service and often recommend us to others.

Introducing LV: Lakeview’s latest ERP product

Built using the latest, proven Microsoft technologies LV is proving to be the feature rich business software solution that Lakeview is renowned for.

LV ERP can be deployed

• On premise
• In The Cloud
• Or on any mobile device or tablet

LV also boasts

1. An App that allows you to create and update transactions as well as enquire across the system.
2. A full set of API’s for business and database interfaces enabling web shops and third party products to be easily integrated in real time.

In summary

Lakeview provide end-to-end software solutions to UK SME’s: Delivering solutions that are second to none in terms of features, support and technology and offered with an unwavering level of service.

Our largest source of customer acquisition comes from existing customer recommendations, together with previous Lakeview users moving company and introducing us. This speaks volumes…

Visit and download

More about LV: www.lakeview.co.uk/lv

Download LV to your mobile: iTunes App Store

LV on YouTube: http://youtu.be/daVj_SLYdtM

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO, Lakeview

Technorati Tags: ERP on your mobile, LV ERP, mobile ERP

In today’s technology driven world, it is no longer necessary to incur the expense and inefficiency of booking days for an external Accountant or Auditor to visit to ‘check your books’ or provide Management or Year End accounts.

With Lakeview’s LV ERP system we provide a very quick, simple and cost effective solution to enable your Accountant or Auditor to connect remotely.

Using any device with a web browser your Accountant or Auditor can visit a specific URL to gain direct access to your system via a secure login.

This comes without the need to buy any additional software (although they will count as an additional user on the system). There is no need for expensive Terminal Server or Citrix licenses or any additional software to be purchased by your Accountant.

The LV Web Browser provides access to your system regardless of whether it resides on your premises or in The Cloud.

Your Accountant simply signs in to our LV system with a user-id and password that restricts access to other areas of the system, and as directed by yourself.

Your Accountant can use any web browser, e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and are not restricted to Internet Explorer as is often the way these days!

The data accessed is viewed in real-time as the connection is to the live database.

This low cost, at any time access to your systems would undoubtedly be of benefit to both you and your Accountants.

The best way to see how ‘LV’ ERP‘ can help your business is to a talk with a Lakeview consultant on 0208 303 3329.

About Lakeview

Lakeview are authors of ERP solutions providing outstanding levels of customer service to UK SME’s for over 25 years

To find out more

> Visit: www.lakeview.co.uk.

> Contact Lakeview at: info@lakeview.co.uk

> Visit iTunes to download and trial ‘LV ERP’ on your mobile

> Or download our LV brochure to read more on LV ERP for mobile

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO, Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: cloud erp, erp on premise, LV ERP, mobile ERP

Lakeview are pleased to announce a rental model for its latest ERP product ‘LV ERP‘.

Renting software or Software as a Service (SaaS) is often bundled and confused with Cloud Computing. Whilst the two naturally fit together, we believe many businesses may prefer to rent their software whilst keeping the systems on-premise within the business domain and control.

Flexibility of determining usage, on a month by month basis

Lakeview offers a fixed price on a per user per month basis, with the right to use ‘LV ERP’ with maintenance, support and upgrades included.

This gives you the flexibility to increase or decrease the number of users easily and aligned against business changes.

This can also include any add on Lakeview modules and potentially third party applications supplied by ourselves.

The option to rent, either on premise or via The Cloud provides a low cost entry point rather than having to pre purchase licenses, and an option we are seeing increased demand for in these uncertain economic conditions.

The benefits of renting your next ERP solution with Lakeview include:

1. Low cost of entry and ownership
2. No need for an in house IT team
3. Flexibility of determining usage
4. Anytime, anywhere access
5. Industry specific solutions

About Lakeview

Lakeview are authors of ERP solutions providing outstanding levels of customer service to UK SME’s for over 25 years.

To find out more

Please contact us by email: info@lakeview.co.uk

Or visit our LV ERP product page here: www.lakeview.co.uk/lv

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO, Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: cloud erp, erp on rent, mobile ERP, rent erp, saas erp

You maybe aware that Sage has announced termination of support for Sage Line 100 on September 30th 2012. This means no further development of the product beyond that date, no new releases and no changes for any taxation or legal requirements. This effectively renders the product unusable the next time there is a legal or fiscal change.

We have heard instances of Sage resellers not informing their customers and other resellers claiming they can support and develop Line 100 past this date (they can’t.)

Here at Lakeview our approach to product life cycles is very different to Sage and just about every other ERP author. Put simply we do not end life products and we do not force customers into buying an upgrade. Line 200 is sold as a natural evolution from Line 100 but in fact is a new piece of software. This is the opportunity for you to consider alternates.

Our Lakeview LM product has been providing customer with accounting and ERP functionality for over 25 years (longer than Line 100 has been in existence!) LM is still supported and developed with many of our customers still happily running their business very effectively on LM.

Two years ago we launched our LV product range which offers the rich functionality within LM plus all the latest Microsoft, Internet, Apple and mobile technologies. An increasing number of LM customers have taken the smooth upgrade path to LV based on their own decision and business benefits. Equally many Sage customers have migrated to Lakeview as the cost and disruption of moving to us is comparable or indeed less than moving to Line 200 but with much more benefits.

Lakeview LV also offers a fully functional mobile version that can work on any smart phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, netbook, in fact any device that can connect to the Internet! This enables remote sales teams, executives and remote employees to access the system anytime anywhere.

As a UK author we also offer a completely unique proposition known as ‘Bespoke As Standard’. This means that we will modify the software to meet any needs that are specific to your business and we will guarantee that it will be included in the standard product. This enables a very smooth and painless upgrade to future releases – to our knowledge; nobody else in the UK offers this!

To find out more

Visit our website, download our LV App from iTunes or our LV brochure here.

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO of Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: alternative to sage, good alternative to sage, sage erp, sage line 100, sage line 100 end, sage replacement

Following on from George’s previous blog post we bring you the final in this two part series:

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Whilst all good finance departments should have a pro-active credit control process, the responsibility for good cash management should extend to other areas of the business.

1. Avoiding Customer Disappointment:  Customer dissatisfaction of the product or service provided accounts for up to 70 per cent of all delayed payments.  Overselling and under-delivering will not only impact your immediate cash flow, it will also affect your ability for repeat business.  Overselling can be over-emphasising your product’s characteristics, but equally by not delivering on time and in full.  To avoid customer disappointment, you should ensure your sales team have the correct knowledge of your products.  Your sales team should know the lead times for production and shipping or have access to this information whilst out of the office.

2. Integrating Sales and Invoicing Processes:  Your sales team should be in regular contact with customers.  This provides an excellent opportunity to discuss any overdue invoices and the reason for delays in payment before new orders are accepted.  The sales team should always have up to date financial and operational information available before meeting with a customer.  This can include current debts, past payment history, current outstanding orders, and expected delivery dates, delays to deliveries, shipping schedules, current price lists and lead times.  Mobile software solutions are available which can provide live financial and operating data for members of the sales team.

3. Aligning Commission Schemes with Business Objectives:  Commission schemes should ensure there is a claw back of commission from sales teams where debts remain unpaid.  Additionally, you could consider schemes which defer commission payments where credit terms are agreed as exceeding your target level.  Once a sale is made, the responsibility for the sale should not be solely the responsibility of the finance department and incentivising the sales team should assist with ensuring cash is collected.

4. More than just Sales and Finance:  Your procurement department should not be appraised based solely on cost savings especially if these are the result of deterioration in credit terms or through bulk buying from your suppliers.  You should be able to monitor any savings made by your procurement department, improvements made to credit terms and stock levels.  Confidence in your business processes and systems will enable you to run a “Just enough” approach to procurement, stock holdings and order processing.  Additionally, you should ensure there are Service Level Agreements for Customer Services especially where these are an important USP for the business.

 5. Communicating Internally:  Once again, the importance of good internal communication cannot be ignored.  You should ensure your departments are not working isolated. Department heads should be aware of potential new business as a large new order will impact current production times, future lead times, resources planning, logistics, finance and most importantly cash flow!

Author: George McDonough, Finance Director of Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: erp finance, finance, George McDonough, managing debt

The finance function is ultimately responsible for ensuring the financial health of the business.  In the current economic climate, with restricted lending from high street banks, limited economic growth and cost pressures reducing operating profits, controlling the working capital of a business is becoming more critical.

Customers who pay slowly often do so as a means to support their own working capital and it is always a difficult subject to chase for payment.  However, it is important to remember your terms of business and that you have only incurred costs and used the working capital of the company until you receive payment from your customer.

George McDonough, FD, Lakeview Computers Ltd

To reduce the chances of a customer compromising your cash flow it is important to ensure your credit control processes are streamlined and automated where possible.  This can be achieved by:

1.     Using Technology.  Sending invoices by email will help reduce the time it takes for invoices to be processed and will provide a trail.  Invoices cannot ‘get lost in the post’ and you will know if an email has not been delivered!  Additionally, encouraging customers to pay by BACS will prevent cheques from being lost and taking additional time to clear the banking system.

2.    Ensuring Customers have received your invoice.  Your credit control processes should be sufficient to check customers have a copy of the invoice and that the invoice has been processed for payment.  It is better to be aware of any queries a customer has with approving the invoice before it is overdue.

3.    Understanding your Customer:  Regular credit checks should be performed to ensure your customer is able to pay for the goods you are supplying.  This should be factored into your credit control processes and the credit terms you are willing to provide.  You should ensure you are aware of the customers who consistently exceed their credit terms, dispute invoices and generally pay late.

4.    Enforcing your terms of business:  Your customers have probably signed up to your terms of business and you should ensure these are enforced.  A customer may have a reason for payment to be late, but consistent late payment will require action.  Ensure you have a good dialogue with customers and that they are aware their account will be placed “on stop”, the consequences of this and also how they can make payment.

5.    Communicating internally:  All your employees should have an understanding of the credit control procedures.  Existing customers should have credit limits and credit terms that are adhered to, and sales should only be accepted where the customer has the ability to pay.  Before you receive payment from your customer, the sale has cost you time and money and has used up your resources which could be better spent elsewhere.  Accounts which have been placed on ‘stop’ should be communicated within your organisation.

Stay tuned!

This is the first of two blog posts by George McDonough focused on making debt collection a company wide concern. The next in this series is due for publication next week.

Author: George McDonough, Finance Director of Lakeview Computers Ltd