How an ERP Database Is Shared Across Different Business Departments
An ERP system integrates all pieces of information that are generated and needed by different departments within a company in a single ERP database. This integration is necessary because all of those departments, in spite of their autonomy, carry out tasks and activities that are interrelated with different activities across different departments. These activities rely on pieces of information that are constantly generated by those departments. The integrated information is thus shared across different departments to ensure their efficiency and carrying out their tasks. To understand more about how this database is shared, here are several important things that you should know.
Because an ERP system integrates all pieces of information generated by different departments in a company, it uses only one ERP database. Whenever a specific department in the company needs a specific piece of information to carry out its task, it will retrieve the needed information from this database. This database may use MySQL or any other common database management platforms. Because a database platform can only be understood by a database expert, an ERP system includes not only a database in the system but also an application that allows the reading of the database more easily.
As explained above, the raw ERP database, which can only be read by a database expert, needs to be translated using an application that is more user-friendly to allow the information stored in the database to be retrieved and read easily by the company staff. Although this application retrieves data from a single database, it uses multiple interfaces that are tailored for the convenience of the different departments that use it. For example, the company’s accountant who needs to enter specific transactions into General Ledger will see a specific interface that is different from the one seen by sales professionals who need to retrieve sales data.
The ERP database of a company must be stored in a particular mode of storage. This mode of storage can be located in a closed environment within the company, in a data center that is managed by the company, or in the cloud. The database that is located in a closed environment that is not connected to the external network is considered very secure and virtually immune to a data breach; however, because it is located in a closed environment, it cannot be accessed by anyone outside the business compound, even if they are privileged to do so. The trend that is growing today is to store the database in the cloud, which makes it accessible to everyone with a privilege regardless of where they are physically located. The ever-increasing reliability of cloud security allows companies to use the cloud securely and safely without worrying about a data breach.
An ERP system consists of an ERP database and ERP software. The software may be based only on one platform or may also be cross-platform. A single-platform application, say, a Windows application, can only be used by users who use that particular platform, i.e. a Windows PC. Lately, a cross-platform application is more preferred because it can be used by using all devices regardless of their operating systems.
- One Database
Because an ERP system integrates all pieces of information generated by different departments in a company, it uses only one ERP database. Whenever a specific department in the company needs a specific piece of information to carry out its task, it will retrieve the needed information from this database. This database may use MySQL or any other common database management platforms. Because a database platform can only be understood by a database expert, an ERP system includes not only a database in the system but also an application that allows the reading of the database more easily.
- Multiple Interfaces
As explained above, the raw ERP database, which can only be read by a database expert, needs to be translated using an application that is more user-friendly to allow the information stored in the database to be retrieved and read easily by the company staff. Although this application retrieves data from a single database, it uses multiple interfaces that are tailored for the convenience of the different departments that use it. For example, the company’s accountant who needs to enter specific transactions into General Ledger will see a specific interface that is different from the one seen by sales professionals who need to retrieve sales data.
- Storage
The ERP database of a company must be stored in a particular mode of storage. This mode of storage can be located in a closed environment within the company, in a data center that is managed by the company, or in the cloud. The database that is located in a closed environment that is not connected to the external network is considered very secure and virtually immune to a data breach; however, because it is located in a closed environment, it cannot be accessed by anyone outside the business compound, even if they are privileged to do so. The trend that is growing today is to store the database in the cloud, which makes it accessible to everyone with a privilege regardless of where they are physically located. The ever-increasing reliability of cloud security allows companies to use the cloud securely and safely without worrying about a data breach.
- Platform
An ERP system consists of an ERP database and ERP software. The software may be based only on one platform or may also be cross-platform. A single-platform application, say, a Windows application, can only be used by users who use that particular platform, i.e. a Windows PC. Lately, a cross-platform application is more preferred because it can be used by using all devices regardless of their operating systems.
