Ether NDE chose Lakeview’s Cloud based ERP product ‘LV’ to bring all their business data into the one place and produce management reports easily and in real-time.  By opting for the Lakeview SAAS model it has allowed Ether NDE to have a fully integrated system at a fixed monthly cost without the need for investment in new hardware.

Ether NDE were experiencing difficulties with business data being held in spreadsheets. The implementation of Lakeview’s LV will bring all their business data together, and provide management reporting tools in real-time, which will promote better decision making.  By having a fully integrated system with financials it has also reduced the external costs associated with bookkeepers and accountants.

About Ether NDE
Ether NDE design and repair electrical probes and meters at its factory and office premises based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire with an international client base. Ether NDE in addition to their own products also represents selected international manufacturers of electromagnetic test equipment and accessories.

VISIT: www.ethernde.com

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing

Technorati Tags: cloud erp, ether NDE, saas

Power Travellers is the latest new business win for Lakeview, boasting a unique market presence within the travel goods industry with products that allow you to charge mobile devices using solar energy.

About Power Travellers

Powertraveller Ltd is dedicated to designing, developing and manufacturing award-winning portable chargers for all your mobile devices.

Because we’re passionate about the products we sell, here at Powertraveller™ we design, develop and test to destruction our products to ensure that you get the best deal on the market and for the right price.

Visit: https://powertraveller.com

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing

Technorati Tags: LV ERP

That is the ERP dilemma .. or is it?

ERP (enterprise resource planning) software is commonplace throughout many industries, and there is always risk associated with buying and implementing a new solution. Changing your ERP system will undoubtedly affect multiple people, groups, stakeholders, and your core business processes, leaving you in a dilemma, choosing between a bespoke or standard ERP solution.

“Should we go for an ‘off the shelf’ solution? One that will have been created for our industry with specific modules added on but requires us to change our business processes?  Or should we look at a tailored solution because we like our specialised business processes?”

Choosing the right software solution for your business will take time.  Your selection criteria will see you scrutinise ‘off the shelf’ solutions and the more ‘tailored made’ ones.

The pros and cons

But what if you could have both?

A bespoke ERP solution with some industry standard functionality built in?

Wouldn’t it be good if you could take all the positives of both these approaches with none of the negatives?  Surely that’s possible?

With Lakeview, it is indeed possible:  I hear you say “how”.

How can you have an ERP solution capable of being tailored to the business model offer the same affordability and ease of implementation that comes with an off the shelf solution?

And, how can an off the shelf ERP solution be implemented into a business and still be upgradable?

The answer is… cleverly designed ERP software. Software designed using modern technologies, and that allows for third party integrations, upgrades and add-on modules, and built on a platform with specific industry needs in mind.

To find out more

Call Lakeview ERP on: 0845 388 3329 or email us at info@lakeview.co.uk

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing, Lakeview ERP

Technorati Tags: Choosing ERP, erp, ERP types, which ERP

Many Sales Managers or Directors create sales forecast information by collating spreadsheets received from their sales team. Not only is this a slow and labour intensive process, but it is also immediately out of date, open to re-keying errors and is owned locally.

Within Lakeview’s LV ERP system your sales team will manage their prospects, leads and opportunities (within the CRM module).  As MD, you will require easy access to sales information plus any analytic reports from anywhere and undoubtedly from within a web browser / Web Client.

With LV ERP you have the ability to:

1. Review your sales pipeline and forecasts in real-time and from anywhere.
2. Drive more effective sales meetings as you no longer require physical team meet ups.
3. Review your sales analytic reports with the team on-the-fly and remotely.

Lakeview’s LV Web Client allows anyone authorised to view the system on any device via any web browser. This allows you and your sales team to update, query or review sales data from anywhere in the world and at any time‚ keeping you in control.

LV CRM module facilitates proactive sales & prospect meetings

Use your sales team meetings to update the CRM system there and then (on-the-fly) and remove the need to make  individual forecast updates after the meeting.

With LV CRM your sales team will update both leads and opportunities once they’ve finished meeting a prospect or customer.

Using an iPad, smart phone or laptop your sales team can access LV ERP and update the system with:

• Meeting notes
• Deal values
• Convert leads to opportunities
• Convert opportunities to orders
• Convert prospects to customers

LV CRM supports electronic document management

Once satisfied with your sales forecast you can email a PDF of the report to whoever needs it, or save it for your next Board meeting pack.

LV ERP facilitates remote working at no extra cost

There is no need to purchase any Terminal Server or Citrix type software to be able to remote connect to LV ERP and no help needed from expensive external IT consultants.

Any new transactions or updates are automatically made to the LV ERP system wherever it resides in the world, or in The Cloud, so there is no rekeying and all data is viewed in real-time.

This is how sales teams and leaders should be functioning in the 21^st Century in order to provide a competitive edge, win more business, manage costs and provide excellent service.

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.

——————————

Visit iTunes to download LV ERP to your mobile device

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

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO, Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: CRM, ERP CRM, LV 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 or call on us on 0208 303 3329.

> 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 call on 0208 303 3329.

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

Many sales teams still operate paper-based processes with an order pad that requires re-keying in data when back at the office. This is clearly a very inefficient use of time, and can lead to lost business and customer service issues when data is not entered correctly or in time.

In today’s business world it’s imperative that the sales person has all the latest information to hand when with a customer or prospect and be able to close business there and then. Lakeview’s ‘LV’ ERP system can be operated via any mobile device whether it is a smart phone, tablet, laptop or an inexpensive net book and provides online access to your business data.

Using LV ERP your sales team can enter quotes or orders directly into the system, print documents onsite or email them to whoever needs them. They can check accounts, prices and the latest stock levels, and can access any menu options that are available to them in the Office.

Mobile App

If your sales team uses iPhones, iPads or Android devices then there is a dedicated LV App for each of these platforms.

For Apple users

Click here to download a functioning version of LV free of charge using demo data.   http://t.co/B66gW4Zx

There is no need to purchase any Terminal Server or Citrix type software, and no help needed from expensive external IT consultants.

———————–

To find out more

Contact Lakeview at: info@lakeview.co.uk or call on 0208 303 3329.

Visit iTunes to download LV ERP to your mobile device

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

About Lakeview

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

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO, Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: apple erp, erp app, LV, LV ERP, mobile ERP

In today’s high technology world it is now common place to find employees working from home.

From an IT perspective this can be an expensive and often frustrating experience for the home worker. Terminal Server licenses have to be procured and the connection itself can be unstable or slow with the laptop operating system, and the network software adding a burden at both ends.

Lakeview’s ‘LV’ ERP solution makes it easier than ever for companies to offer a ‘working from home’ option. Any laptop or indeed low cost net book can be connected to the full functionality ERP system via any web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox etc.)

There is no need to purchase any Terminal Server or Citrix type software, and no help needed from expensive external IT consultants.

Any new transactions or updates are automatically made to the LV system wherever it resides in the world, or in The Cloud, ensuring all data is viewed in real-time.

This is how home offices should be functioning in the 21st Century in order to provide competitive edge, manage costs and provide excellent service.

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

Contact Lakeview at: info@lakeview.co.uk or call 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.

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO of Lakeview Computers

Technorati Tags: business software, erp, LV, mobile ERP, remote, remote working, web erp

There is much excitement and coverage of Cloud Computing, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Multi-tenancy architecture in the IT marketplace.

Cloud Computing means using multiple server computers via a digital network, as though they were one computer. Often, the services available are considered part of Cloud Computing.

Cloud Computing differs from the classic client-server model by providing applications from a server that are executed and managed by a client’s web browser, with no installed client version of an application required.
The term “software as a service” (SaaS) is sometimes used to describe application programs offered through cloud computing. A common shorthand for a provided cloud computing service (or even an aggregation of all existing cloud services) is “The Cloud”.
Any computer or web-friendly device connected to the Internet may access the same pool of computing power, applications, and files in a cloud-computing environment on a remote server.

Multi-tenancy refers to a principle in software architecture where a single instance of the software runs on a server, serving multiple client organizations (tenants). Multi-tenancy is contrasted with a multi-instance architecture where separate software instances (or hardware systems) are set up for different client organizations. With a multi-tenant architecture, a software application is designed to virtually partition its data and configuration, and each client organization works with a customized virtual application instance.

The costs of re-designing applications for Multi-tenancy can be significant, especially for software vendors who continue to offer an on-premises single tenant version of their product. They end up being forced to support two distinct products with all the resulting costs.

The vast majority of SaaS solutions are based on a multi-tenant architecture. With this model, a single version of the application, with a single configuration (hardware, network, operating system), is used for all customers (“tenants”).

To support scalability, the application is installed on multiple machines (called horizontal scaling). In some cases, a second version of the application is set up to offer a select group of customers with access to pre-release versions of the applications (e.g., a beta version) for testing purposes. This is contrasted with traditional software, where multiple physical copies of the software—each potentially of a different version, with a potentially different configuration, and oftentimes customized—are installed across various customer sites.

While an exception rather the norm, some SaaS solutions do not use multi-tenancy, or use other mechanisms—such as virtualization—to cost-effectively manage a large number of customers in place of multi-tenancy. Whether multi-tenancy is a necessary component for software-as-a-service is a topic of controversy.

Lakeview provides ERP solutions that can be deployed on premise, or in The Cloud, as a service and fully supports multi-tenancy.

TO FIND OUT MORE

Email us at info@lakeview.co.uk or call on 0208 303 3329.

Author: Mark Greatrex, CEO of Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: cloud computing, cloud erp, saas

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

Please email us on info@lakeview.co.uk or call us on 0845 388 3329.

Alternatively

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