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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.

To find out more

Call us on 0208 303 3329 or email info@lakeview.co.uk

Or visit: www.lakeview.co.uk

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing, Lakeview

Technorati Tags: lakeview 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

OVERVIEW

Established in 1979, Esher-based baked products manufacturer The Cookie Man supplies supermarkets such as Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrison and Waitrose. It‟s a highly competitive industry, driven by a continual need to improve productivity, cut costs, and reduce wastage.

In late 2010, The Cookie Man responded by launching an initiative to drive manufacturing efficiency, greater visibility, control and lean processes on the manufacturing shop floor. To achieve this, the company decided that it would augment its Lakeview ERP system—with which it was otherwise delighted—with a specialist „add on‟ package focused upon providing detailed management and visibility for factory-centric operations.

“As an ERP system, Lakeview did everything we wanted,” says The Cookie Man‟s general manager Jayson Scheib. “But we needed to monitor manufacturing operations at a more granular level of detail in order to drive manufacturing performance higher.”

Download the full story about Cookie Man’s Manufacturing success working in partnership with Lakeview ERP and Mestec

CHALLENGE

And to try to get the desired level of visibility, the business had become reliant on a number of spreadsheets and paper-based systems, he explains. By 2010, Cookie Man had outgrown these dated methods which were onerous to manage, not to mention the frequent re-keying of data.

“We would spend hours entering data into paper forms, and then copying the information into the ERP system, checking records and trying to resolve conflicts and errors,” says Charles McIntosh, The Cookie Man‟s supply chain manager.

The business needed visibility of real-time shop-floor data to support lean activities to continue to drive cost out of the manufacturing process.

To read this case study in full

Visit: www.mestec.net/Download/TheCookieManCaseStudy.pdf

About Mestec’s Smart Box solution

A touch screen and barcode based factory focused solution, Mestec’s Manufacturing Smart Box system is designed to track, trace and report on key aspects of the entire production process … from goods receipt to despatch.

What’s more, the Mestec Manufacturing Smart Box has been designed from the ground up to complement existing ERP systems, and not to replace ERP functionality.

The Manufacturing Smart Box interface is a simple touch screen configured for a specific set of factory activities. Its simplicity means that minimal training is needed. Typically, the Mestec Manufacturing Smart Box system is specified, chosen and implemented by manufacturing management, and not the IT department.

The Manufacturing Smart Box is flexible and can be rapidly deployed into even complex and changing environments. This makes it ideal as an ERP companion, capturing key production information in real time whilst seamlessly interfacing to the corresponding company information systems.

With a typical payback of two months to one year, Mestec’s Manufacturing Smart Box systems are affordably-priced, and available on either a low-cost monthly subscription, or through one-time perpetual licences. And a typical initial improvement project delivers results in days or weeks, not months or years.

Visit: Mestec

Case study written by: Mestec

Technorati Tags: barcode solution, cookie man, manufacturing erp, manufacturing smart box system, mestec, smart box

Neville UK is the UK’s leading importer and manufacturer of light catering equipment for the Foodservice industry and Professional Caterers. The company has been going for nearly 40 years turning over around £6 million a year and employing 30 people. The company supplies their products through independent distributors to end users in the professional catering industry such as hotels and restaurants. The company has a very flat organisation structure that looks to IT for support and they have been Lakeview customers since 2000. They previously had a DOS-based bespoke system and a combination of the Y2K situation and a move to new premises prompted the company to invest in a next generation, more comprehensive ERP system from a company of substance.

Challenge
Neville are competing against very large horizontal and vertical integrators that have come into the marketplace and consequently have to be very responsive and flexible to compete effectively. They needed their computer system to be able to order and import products with greater flexibility and efficiency.

Dave Kibby is the Managing Director at Neville UK and has been involved with Lakeview since 2000, “Our quality of business process is going from strength to strength. The recently purchased MRP module is helping us with ordering and importing procedures for products-from a wide variety of countries with much variation in lead times.”

“One of the things that has kept the relationship so strong between Neville and Lakeview is their people and particularly their support team. I have made it my business to know all of the support team really well because if I have no ERP system, then Neville UK has no business.”

The Result

“The last modification we ordered arrived tested and worked perfectly two days earlier than scheduled. The Lakeview system provides uniformity with one platform for every function and it has improved the way that we do things. For instance, we now get our accounts straight from the system extremely quickly and painlessly.”

Kibby continued,” I think fundamentally Lakeview’s software is very good. From a functionality point of view, it is really feature-rich compared to other products in that price range. I think they have an understanding that they want to deliver outstanding customer service.”

Visit: Neville UK

Author: Angela Kennedy, Marketing, Lakeview Computers Ltd

Technorati Tags: neville uk

Doves Farm Foods finds flexible software solution through Lakeview …

Doves Farm Foods is a specialist supplier of organic, fair trade and gluten-free flour and foods to both retail and wholesale markets.
Since installing Lakeview’s solution for food and beverage companies, Doves has doubled its turnover.

The challenge

“We recognised the need for a modern, integrated management information solution that combined a comprehensive accounting package with full stock traceability. It also needed to scale with business growth. And, as a supplier of food ingredients and finished products, full stock traceability from receipt of each ingredient, through to batch manufacture to final distribution to end-customer was especially important,” says Malcolm Squires, Managing Director of Doves.

The results

In meeting the specific accounting requirements of the food supply industry, Lakeview’s flexible pricing approach delivered many further benefits. Doves’ previous accounting system required discounts to be set up on a product-by-product basis: With Lakeview, by contrast, common discounts can be input by product group.

“This was less problematic for large retailers carrying a restricted range, but Lakeview saves us considerable inputting time in the case of wholesale customers.” says Squires.

Similarly, before Lakeview, agreed pricing was set up as ‘list price less discount’, which become increasingly cumbersome as Doves moved to a system of net pricing with three quarters of its customers.

Lakeview’s ability to price in both formats not only saved time but presented accounting information in a customer-friendly format. And, with a support team providing a ‘prompt and highly responsive service’, Squires comments, “Lakeview provides us with a flexible and scalable accounting and manufacturing solution ideally geared to the needs of our business.”

Technorati Tags: case study, Doves Farm Foods, News