In terms of any organisation's information technology, infrastructure management is the management of essential operation components within systems, networks and storage - such as policies, processes, equipment, data, human resources and external contacts - for better overall effectiveness.
Keith Fenner, strategic sales director of Softline ACCPAC, says the most relevant managed services today are ERP, CRM and office automation.
Infrastructure management seeks to enhance the flow of information throughout an information system to make it as efficient as possible. It also plays a role in guaranteeing interoperability among organisational and external entities.
Infrastructure management is fundamental to a company making the strategic viability of adopting a Web-based model debatable.
The adoption of a managed service model is usually very simple. Its success relies on ensuring the managed services provider has tested and certified the delivery of the software through the data centre. This is not an onerous task for a technology solution such as Accpac's ERP and CRM solution sets, as its architecture allows for simple service delivery via a data centre with efficient bandwidth use.
Fenner believes a Web-based managed service makes sense for geographically spread operations wishing to centralise its IT function. The management of a WAN for instance (when taking uptime, viruses, VOIP and office automation solutions into consideration), is vastly complex and could possibly be better provided by an expert company.
"Businesses are generally not keen on taking on the overhead of managing WANs and being responsible for service delivery of multiple business applications to different branch offices. When the costs of managing a WAN - taking manpower, hardware and bandwidth into account - become prohibitive and focus a business away from its core competencies, managed services are the answer," explains Fenner.
The bottom line is that a well-managed service solution provides all the applications and integration a business requires, as well as constant access to these applications. Fenner warns that adopting Web-based managed services also requires ensuring the supply of necessary business applications to the end user is made under the terms of a service level agreement for measurement of performance.
"Using application service providers, an alternate form of managed services presented businesses with several challenges in terms of multi-tenancy applications. The integration of various applications became very difficult because of the shared environment. Managed services remove these barriers and give a simple cost comparison that any business can understand," concludes Fenner.
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Softline ACCPAC is a global provider of business management applications, including accounting, CRM, warehouse management and HR to the mid range market. Its solutions are delivered to 130 countries exclusively through its network of over 5 500 solution providers worldwide and 130 throughout Africa. Softline ACCPAC's product line includes: Accpac CRM, ACCPAC ERP, Accpac Business Analysis Suite, ACCPAC Warehouse Management System, Accpac RMS and ACCPAC Insight.
Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions to small, medium and large sized companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997. Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in South Africa and Australia.
Focused on the development of accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions, Softline has a 16-year track-record as a market leader. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline's leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group's product offerings provide Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions.
In November 2003, Softline was acquired by Sage Group, an established FTSE 100 company. The group includes market-leading businesses throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large sized business community.
Softline has a solid track-record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Sage
The Sage Group, an established FTSE 100 company, is a leading supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and services to 5.2 million small and medium-sized clients worldwide. With over 13 000 employees, the Sage Group comprises market-leading businesses throughout Europe, United Kingdom, North America, South Africa and Australia. Its products and services are sold through a global network of 23 000 reseller partners, 40 000 accountants as well as directly to clients from Sage companies throughout the world. For the financial year ending 30 September 2006, the group's revenue grew by 22% to lb935.6 million and the operating profit rose by 18% to lb235.8 million.
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