ERP Data Loading Choices - Is "Free" Really Free?
By: Steve Dosier , Regional Sales Manager at More4apps
In the dynamic landscape of enterprise resource planning (ERP), data quality is a critical aspect that can either fuel or hinder organizational success.
In this article, we explore the challenges and obstacles that lead to poor ERP data quality along with the choices that organizations have to solve the problem.
What’s the challenge?
Finance, Accounting, and Technology professionals know that enterprise data quality issues cost money. According to Gartner, “Every year, poor data quality costs organizations an average of $12.9 million. Apart from the immediate impact on revenue, over the long-term, poor-quality data increases the complexity of data ecosystems and leads to poor decision making.”
The term data quality refers to the trustworthiness of data, which includes the completeness, accuracy, consistency, availability, validity, integrity, security, and timeliness of the data. Data quality is the primary concern when it comes to ERP systems.
Organizations rely on their ERP systems to be their single source of truth in which to store critical data. They are increasing their dependence on data analytics and business intelligence to design, plan, budget, and run their business. We live in the era of data-driven decision-making. Use the wrong data, and they don’t stand a chance in today’s competitive, just-in-time markets.
What are the obstacles?
To achieve exacting standards of data quality, organizations must start by loading their data accurately, completely, and promptly. Why is this so challenging? The mountainous volume of data, lightspeed pace, interdependency of data, and complexity of available data loading tools inhibit the process.
As an example, ERP systems like Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) provide cumbersome data entry forms that take multiple keystrokes and mouse clicks to navigate and one must drill down several screen levels just to enter simple data. The process is no fun and inclined to disengage employees.
In addition, these ERP systems offer data-loading solutions that are inflexible, not user-friendly, sensitive to system upgrades and require expensive technical support. Given the obstacles, organizations still need to load substantial amounts of daily transactional data, migrate data from disparate systems, and manage master data.
If employees do not have data loading options that empower them, they suffer from reduced engagement in their work causing them to delay the process and make mistakes. The end result: poor data quality, bad decisions, and poor business results.
What are the choices?
Proper data loading is the first and most critical step in the effort to maintain data quality. Whether you’re a small company or a large enterprise with more complex data processing needs, you will need efficient options to help you sort and load all of your data. Improve the data loading experience and data quality also improves.
Our experts explored three Oracle EBS data entry solutions in our recent whitepaper, ‘Data Loading: What Are the Choices?’. This whitepaper summarizes their findings so you can discover the most suitable solution for your company’s needs.
Free Oracle EBS Data Loading Tools
One of Oracle’s free tools is Oracle EBS Web Application Desktop Integrator (Web ADI). Web ADI allows you to perform data entry tasks in familiar programs like Microsoft Word and Excel.
Since the Oracle EBS application includes this tool, organizations don’t need to download additional software to take advantage of it. Additionally, the Oracle EBS server manages the software and has its security features already integrated.
However, as with Oracle itself, Web ADI has its limitations. It doesn’t improve the Oracle EBS data-loading interface and isn’t always user-friendly, especially for those without technical expertise.
The mechanism is prone to glitches, especially when there are patches and upgrades to Oracle EBS, Excel, or Windows. Data entry will be delayed, and technical teams will be devoted to solving the problems. Is “free” really free?
?? Click the link to read the blog to see how Oracle EBS customers were unable to use Oracle Web ADI after a Windows update.
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Custom Developed Data Loading Tools
Those who have extremely specific data processing needs can develop custom coding and SQL scripts for Oracle. This solution will require highly technical teams to ensure Oracle EBS data loading requirements are met.
Custom development is time-consuming and requires coding updates for every Oracle EBS data load patch and upgrade. This knowledge can be lost if someone from the technical team leaves the business. The cost of software support is often neglected when computing the total cost of ownership.
Custom software is also prone to glitches when there are patches and upgrades. Technical resources will be devoted to resolving the problems. At an average salary of approximately $80,000 per year for a SQL Programmer (according to ZipRecruiter), there will be a cost to resolve problems and provide support. Again, is “free” really free?
Third-party Apps
The final option for businesses looking to streamline their Oracle EBS data-loading process is third-party tools offered by companies like DataLoader and More4apps.
There are price options associated with each of these solutions so we know they aren’t free but, how do they stack up in terms of total investment and results? Again, our recent whitepaper, ‘Data Loading: What Are the Choices?’ summarizes our expert findings.
What should you do?
Compared to other solutions, the More4apps EBS Toolbox is the only program that allows you to use Oracle’s full functionality within a familiar interface like Microsoft Excel.
More than forty-five powerful tools are available that sync with the latest versions of Microsoft and Excel and simplify the Oracle EBS data loading processes.
There are four key areas where More4apps provides an advantage in the data upload process:
Interested in learning more about Oracle EBS data loading solutions? Read our free whitepaper or contact Morere4apps today.
Additional Resources
About the Author
Steve Dosier, Regional Sales Manager at More4apps
Steve is fascinated by the unique mission, accomplishments, and culture of More4Apps clients. He sees the world from their perspective and invests time up front to explore and understand their goals. This insight allows him to understand their needs and, along with his team, build a foundation on which to help them create successful outcomes.
Steve builds high levels of engagement with employees, customers, and partners by creating a supportive team environment. He enjoys engaging with all levels, from front-line employees to C-suite executives. Steve loves to learn as well as to teach. He is skilled at making complex issues easy to understand and loves to share his knowledge with others. His mission is to enable people and organizations to achieve, create, and invent that which makes everyone’s lives better.
Steve lives in Huntington Beach, CA, with his wife Amy and twin daughters. He’s a “sports dad” and enjoys watching his daughters compete in gymnastics, crew, and swimming. He and his family love the ocean and enjoy all that the beach has to offer. Steve loves deep-sea fishing and sharing his catch with family and friends.