ERP systems' various elements

should align with business

needs
ERP allows companies to connect business activities across departments, ensuring that all
employees are working with the same data and within the same processes. As idyllic as that
sounds, the reality is that implementation of ERP software is a daunting task and often goes
awry.

ERP systems are complex and often comprised of the following components: finance, human
capital management, purchasing and procurement, business intelligence and customer
relationship management.

On top of these core modules, ERP software suites can also manage the supply chain, warehouse
and inventory, as well as one-off projects and professional services.

Ultimately, figuring out how your company works is the first step in determining which ERP
system is right for your organization. The same can be said for the vendor and how it will work
with you. On top of tech support, the vendor's product roadmap, how the vendor shares that plan
with clients and the projected success are things that should align with the company.

ERP is a multifaceted topic, and even the top systems are often difficult to parse out and
categorize. If companies can select the right system and vendor, implementation is more likely to
go smoothly. This guide will help you determine your enterprise's needs and core objectives and
the key features to look at when making an ERP software selection. And the product roundup of
the top options on the market will help pair all of those details with the ERP software suite that
fits best.
The campus LAN switch market has evolved considerably in the last 20 years. During
most of that time, organizations were limited to using proprietary switching features that
ran only on the vendor's hardware.

But times have changed. Today, organizations can choose from a multitude of network
edge switch options from both traditional and open switch vendors.

As switch and configuration requirements continue to increase, vendors are providing

expanded capabilities in their campus edge switch products. Many campus LAN switch
vendors offer features such as Gigabit Ethernet edge ports, four-pair Power over
Ethernet (PoE) for powering IoT devices and support for Wi-Fi 6 access points.

With open networking switches, organizations can select their software from an OS
developer and the hardware the OS will run on from a device vendor. Open switches
offer numerous benefits, including feature sets that often can be customized to meet an
organization's specific needs. Some vendors offer both traditional and open networking
switches.

Before selecting a LAN edge switch, it's important to assess the organization's needs.
What kind of connectivity is required? Does the network need comprehensive PoE
levels that enable VoIP ports, for example, to connect to every switch?

This buyer's guide examines key considerations for evaluating LAN edge switches and
the capabilities these products offer. A roundup of products from both commercial and
open networking LAN switch vendors provides an in-depth look at each vendor's family
of switches and their functionality.