Recently I have been exposed to a big debate on an ERP LinkedIn forum around the use of descriptions in the industry such as customizing, personalizing, tailoring, and configuring. Is this just marketing semantics, or are there very real differences in the meaning of these phrases and the implications of using these phrases when describing, or more to the point, promoting an ERP system?

Working in SYSPRO, I know we pride ourselves on the fact that our ERP system is, and I quote: “highly flexible and customizable”, that we are known as the "go-to" solution because of this, but I think it is important to unpack what we mean by these phrases and what the consumer understands by these phrases. If we are to be responsible in ensuring that what our customers see and understand they are getting, is in actual fact exactly what they are getting, then I don’t think we can use the excuse “I can only be responsible for what I say. I cannot be responsible for what you understand”.

Learning how to use an ERP system is not always that easy but it can be significantly simplified with an understanding of the needs of the learner. Just like we do when developing new solutions in our ERP, when developing learning material, a critical question to ask is “Does the learning meet the target audience’s learning style and preferences?” The individually driven and theoretically based objectives of traditional teaching methods need to catch up with our modern connected world by embracing collaboration through social media technologies and adapting to the learning styles and characteristics of younger generations (Generation Y and the Millennial Generation or Generation Z).

My daughter is studying earthquakes in social science at the moment. While I was helping her to study for a test, I was struck by the similarities between the geographic impact of an earthquake and the business impact of information spreading on social media.

Earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale, with an earthquake of 0 to 2 magnitude being imperceptible. From 2 to 4, people start to detect the sensation and objects may rattle. By 5, everyone will feel the quake, and poorly constructed buildings can be damaged.

On my previous post, I blogged about how Einstein’s Theory of Relativity inspired the SYSPRO USA go-to-market campaign 'S=MC²'; where S = SYSPRO ERP, M = Material and C² refers to Cost and Cash. This is about using amazing technology to get back to basics. Managing your assets and material, managing costs through efficiencies and visibility and managing the most important business resource there is – your funding and cash.

Einstein also inspired us when we named SYSPRO’s latest Quantum Architecture offering. In the Theory of Quantum Mechanics, Einstein attempts to explain the behavior of matter and its interactions with energy. SYSPRO’s Quantum Architecture attempts to resolve the behavior of your business and how your business interacts with technology and organization energy - the people and processes in your business.