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Top 3 Popular IT Business Solutions for SMEs

During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, business leaders began to actively explore new IT solutions to improve business processes in their companies.

Managed cloud services that mean outsourcing IT infrastructure and SaaS solutions have become especially popular over the recent period. They lead to positive change for companies of all sizes, such as:

Cloud Services
  • Overall efficiency. Improving the business processes of the company.
  • Security. Data is stored in a data center with a multi-level access control system and backup.
  • Savings on equipment. There is no need to purchase and update server hardware, as well as the minimum requirements for the devices on which users use the SaaS applications.
  • Possibility of saving on internal IT staff.
  • Mobility. Access to software from any device, as well as the lack of territorial binding.

Below are some of the most popular IT solutions that companies have used in recent years:

1. SaaS ERP Software

SaaS ERP is one of the forms of using ERP Software (Enterprise Resource Planning) when an ERP system is installed not locally on an organization’s server or a user’s computer, but in the data center of an ERP provider. End-users of the company gain access to SaaS ERP and fill it with their data via the Internet.

ERP SaaS solution does not require initial investments, as SaaS (software as a service) is a subscription service based on monthly payments.

A state-of-the-art SaaS ERP solution, such as erpWizard, allows a company to integrate all of its business modules into one software system and provides ongoing maintenance and updates to keep the system up to date.

2. eCommerce and Online Marketplaces

Now, everyone is used to shopping online. Companies have realized that to increase sales and attract more customers, they need to not only operate their own online store but also expand sales channels, through online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Alibaba.com and the list goes on.

In today’s e-commerce software market, there are many platforms for building an online store. The most popular e-commerce platforms for building an online store are:

3. EDI Web Service and EDI Fully Managed Services

The use of EDI technology is already standard business practice. Electronic communication with trading partners via EDI is faster, cheaper, and more reliable than exchanging commercial information via paper or email. That is why EDI remains one of the most demanded IT services in the business.

Web EDI is one of the most popular solutions among small and medium-sized companies for the exchange of business documents with a trading partner in electronic form.

This EDI service does not require signing a contract, and you can start exchanging documents with your business partner within an hour.

EDI Web Services

Find out more about EDI Web Service here

The second most popular EDI service is a fully managed EDI service. This EDI translation and communication services for companies of all sizes and industries. All EDI file conversions are performed on our end, thus, you do not need to install software or hardware on your premises or hire any in-house EDI specialists.

Find out more about Fully manages EDI Service here

Integration Services

Integration of software systems is the unification of different systems and applications into a single environment for the constant exchange of data between systems.

The purpose of the integration is that the data that the user enters into one system is automatically transferred to another. For example – integration of ERP with an online store, or EDI integration with ERP.

If you are interested in systems integration, contact us for a free consultation.

Our company is a successful system integrator. Using our unique Magic xpi integration platform, we carry out integration projects of any complexity.

Contact us for a free consultation.

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Definition of business and tech term

We compiled a short list of business technology terms that are useful to keep on hand when looking for software solutions for your business or when speaking with an IT Service Provider. Because, sometimes a short and simple definition is all you need, and that’s exactly what we have here.

‘BUSINESS CONTINUITY’ Terms

Business Continuity: Set of activities to ensure an organization can respond to a crisis or disaster in a timely manner in order to continue business operations as usual
Business Continuity Solution: A software solution implemented at an organization to ensure continuous, secure data backup as well as quick restoration of data (to its former state) if a disaster or crisis strikes
Disaster/Crisis: Any event that has the power to disrupt an organization’s activities
Downtime: A period of time that a company’s system is unavailable (or has failed to perform its normal functions)
Data Backup: The process of taking a secure copy of a person or company’s data files and storing it on an external medium or device for future use in case of disaster
Off-site Backup: The backing up and storing of data to a place a distance away from a company’s physical location
VM: Virtual Machine; an imitation of a physical computer; basically, a VM allows you to run other operating systems within your current OS

 

Virtualization = The creation of a virtual version of an operating system, network, server, storage, device, etc.

Restoration: The process of returning a company to its normal operations by repairing hardware & recovering data from the business’ backup methods;

 

File Restore = recovery of specific files] [Bare Metal Restore = restoration of complete VM from “bare metal” (without previously installed software or OS)]

RTO: Recovery Time Objective; a parameter in disaster recovery used to calculate the duration of time within which a business must be restored back to normal before the disruption seriously impedes business operations
RPO: Recovery Point Objective; a parameter in disaster recovery used to calculate the point in time that can pass during a disruption before the quantity of data lost during that period is greater than the company’s max allowable threshold

‘CLOUD’ Terms

Cloud Computing: A means of storing & processing a company’s data. Rather than housing the data on a customer’s servers (on-site), it is housed in a network of servers in a secure Data Centre; therefore the data is accessed remotely (over the Internet)

 

Knowing the difference between ‘SaaS’ and ‘Cloud Computing’

Public Cloud: Multi-tenant environment; this form of cloud computing relies entirely on a Service Provider; all services (servers, data storage and applications) are delivered via the Internet
Private Cloud: Single-tenant environment or “cloud computing at home”; it is a cloud computing platform that is implemented within the company’s firewall, giving them greater control over the data and its security; has same features as a public cloud
Hybrid Cloud: An integrated cloud service (combination of private and public clouds) where some applications or resources are provided and managed on-premises and others externally (in a public cloud)
On-Premise: Traditional way of delivering IT services; when a company chooses to have their own server room to host all their IT equipment, that is typically managed by their own in-house IT staff (can also be managed by an outsourced IT team)
Off-Premise: (Or off-premise hosting environment); delivering IT services off-site, where IT services are managed by a Third Party Provider and servers and hardware is leased by this provider
Data Centre: A secure facility that houses servers and telecommunications equipment. When speaking about “cloud hosting”, these Data Centers are the homes of these cloud services
SaaS: Software as a Service; This is a software distribution model where an application is provided to a customer on a subscription basis, as the software is hosted by the Service Provider and is not owned by the customer. Typically, the software application is provided over a network (Internet)
Managed Hosting: When a Service Provider leases servers and required associated hardware to a customer. It is monitored and maintained by the Service Provider and all hardware is at the provider’s facility
Application Hosting: When a business moves their software to an off-premise hosting environment (usually to the cloud)

If you have any terms you’d like us to add to the list, simply leave us a comment in the section below!

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panic and fear_software upgradesWe’ve seen many companies go through software transformations. Either they are upgrading their current system or implementing an entirely new and improved solution. Either way, when employees hear that their current system is changing, they panic, before they even get a chance to see or try the new system. Unfortunately, this happens all too often and can cause implementation projects to take longer than originally planned. The users are of course an important and necessary part to any software implementation process. Without their open-mindedness and willingness to learn the new system, this project can either fail or be a major headache for everyone involved.

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halloween_special-1Implementing a new software solution can be quite ‘spooky’ for many business executives. Some would choose to work with outdated systems rather than upgrade to a fully integrated and efficient solution, even if they know it can improve their business processes. Why is this so?

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Today’s infographic is one created by Socius, offering a great informative guide to the basics of what you need to know about ERP solutions in the cloud.

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In this article, I would like to address the issue of implementing a new business software solution within a small and mid-size enterprise. This is an important topic and concern raised by executives and owners of SMEs, who are thinking of upgrading or converting their existing software systems. We see this quite often as there are always changes in industry regulations and business partners’ requirements as well as businesses looking to improve their processes and rules.

integrationAs many executives have gone through long and painful software systems’ implementations in the past, I understand that their questions and concerns are quite valid. This is why I would like to shed some light on approaches and tips to consider when making a decision, in order to avoid the complexities and high expenses that come with a migration to a new software program (or ERP) to run the enterprise. Read more

“Canadians are online, but Canadian businesses aren’t there. The result is Canadian consumers are buying online from the U.S. and other countries”

Anita Bezeau, Assistant VP, Information & Communication Technology Solutions at the BDC

Nowadays, consumers are not only shopping in malls and stores. Many of them shop or even just browse online, from their home computers, laptops, tablets and even mobile phones. However, as online shopping is gaining popularity, Canadian businesses are falling behind.

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This post was updated to reflect current trends and information.

To maintain a strong position in a highly competitive market, SMEs need tools to ensure the optimum improvement of their business processes. As such, small and medium-sized manufacturing and distribution enterprises are no exception.

Managers nowadays are too busy with the requirements of their daily managerial duties that they don’t take the time to question the effectiveness of their business processes. This, in turn, prevents these managers to come up with better alternatives that can enhance productivity and performance, and miss out on an opportunity to achieve a real improvement in business processes.

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Systems Integration



Due to our high-level expertise and experience in software integrations, we offer Systems Integration services. Our team works with companies’ CEO and their IT teams to integrate their management systems to reduce the disconnect between multiple individual systems. Consequently, they reduce manual data entry.