When it comes time to choosing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, one of the most important questions to ask yourself is: How will I deploy it? Do I want an on-premise system or a cloud-based ERP? To fully understand the differences between these two deployment models, lets take a step back and note some key differences.
Cloud ERP – also described as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, is provided as a service that does not have to be managed or serviced by your company’s IT staff. With this type of software deployment, a company’s ERP software and its associated data/information are managed centrally (in the Internet “cloud”) by the software vendor and are accessed by users and customers using a web browser.
The cloud ERP provider hosts and maintains all of the IT infrastructures for you ensure the system is always running, that the data involved is secure and safe, and those product enhancements or upgrades are rolled out painlessly to your solution. Ultimately, this all allows your IT resources to focus on innovating and helping grow the business more effectively.
Cloud computing architecture is designed from the ground up for maximum network performance, meaning cloud ERP tools can deliver better performance and better application availability than traditional on-premise ERP systems. And finally, since cloud ERP offers no additional hardware, the deployment time is way less than on-premise systems. Your business doesn’t have to waste time procuring and installing IT infrastructure, instead, you can easily roll it out across multiple divisions.
Some of the top benefits of cloud-based ERP solutions include:
On-premise ERP solutions are installed locally on your company’s hardware and servers, then managed by your IT staff. They usually require a large upfront investment to purchase and manage the software and related hardware/facilities necessary to run it. Most people who prefer on-premise ERP tools like it because of the data security and control that comes with having the ERP system in the office. On-premise ERP software can also be customized much easier than cloud solutions, which offers a greater advantage for more niche companies in specific industries.
Some of the top benefits of on-premise ERP solutions include: