Differences Between Small and Big Vendors of Global ERP Solutions : The Many Reasons Why Smaller global ERP vendors with Limited Profit Margin Have Been Able to Survive Increasing Competition and Compete with the Big Players in the ERP Industry  

ERP Vendors

Differences Between Small and Big Vendors of Global ERP Solutions

While many global ERP solutions essentially share the same features, especially the ones that are implemented and delivered to customers by the giant ERP software companies, many of these global ERP software systems provided by smaller vendors naturally have intrinsic differences in the types of applications or data conversion modules they may adopt. This does not necessarily mean a difference in quality level, as many of the successful medium, or even small size global ERP system vendor companies are still able to compete with bigger players and maintain loyal customer audiences from around the globe, thanks to their reputation deriving by a long history of technological development, multiple and diverse market strategies, and expertise in following the evolution of global industrial processes over the decades. Within this context, we cannot fail to mention other significant factors to consider, such as their successful adaptation to the technological evolution in the computer and internet technology sectors, and successfully maintaining up-to-date with the latest innovative technologies entering the market at a progressive rate.

Among this group of smaller players, we can mention as an example American Software Inc. The latter is a very important example, because this was actually one of the first companies to combine manufacturing solutions and related applications with Internet technology, intended for enterprise operations directed to further the manufacturing industry. It was founded in 1970, therefore before Microsoft, which was formed in 1975. This is a revealing comparison, since it demonstrates how even a small company and vendor of manufacturing software can rise above in the Internet technology/ ERP industry and in the global free market arena vis-à-vis a giant competitor possessing greater profit margin and bigger resource capital (like Microsoft, SAP, or Oracle and PeopleSoft), regardless of the fact that the two have been founded only a few years apart and have both been highly active in the industry since the years predating the Internet technology revolution.

Similarly, EPICOR, founded in 1984, is another company which has endured the hardships of heightened competition in a market more progressively saturated with too many products and software solutions. In comparison with the Unicode Group, founded in 1987 by a team of top professionals from the computer and software industry representing individuals from the biggest computer and software companies (Xerox, Apple), and expanded over time to include the collaboration of other giants like Microsoft, Metaphor, RLG, NeXT, and Sun Microsystems, EPICOR is another example of a vendor of global ERP solutions which, like American software Inc. has done exceptionally well in keeping its head above the surface in the global international market, even with limited resource and market potential.

This is due to several factors: Its many years of experience in the IT industry and the development of global ERP systems, a high degree of competence and professional expertise regarding the evolution of global industrialism; the regular integration of innovative features and new technologies into its products; its constant focus on customer relations and the improvement of customer support and technical training - for which the company has won numerous international awards and industry certifications; and its development of innovative market strategies necessary to promote global penetration into foreign markets and expand its reach to attract the most diverse and multiple customer audiences from different industries.

Written by :

tracey boxer