Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are software packages composed of several modules, such as human resources, sales, finance and production, providing cross-organization integration of data through embedded business processes. These software packages can be customized to cater for the specific needs of an organization. During the 1990s ERP systems became the de-facto standard for replacement of legacy systems in large, and particularly multi-national companies [Parr and Shanks 2000].
As large manufacturing organizations became more comfortable as their manufacturing resource planning (MRP) systems matured, software vendors started to define the next generation of these complex, multi-faceted application suites. Ultimately, MRP systems combined with all of the peripheral organizational disciplines to arrive at an application structure that became known as Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP.
Commonly, these ERP systems focus on the movement of enterprise data within the transaction structure of a given organization, but come up short when addressing the needs of data collection and on-demand printed output. Typically, at some point in an ERP implementation planning exercise, output management and label printing are addressed. In many cases an ERP vendor may not provide for on-line, real-time data collection and label printing, but might recommend a third party vendor with a "middleware" solution that can be implemented to bridge the gap between data collection functions and the core ERP functions. In more extreme cases the ERP vendor may not address data collection at all, leaving it totally in the hands of the customer. Regardless of which situation might arise, Datamax will work closely with the ERP or middleware vendor of your choice to insure that the right Datamax printer is identified for any given labeling application that you might identify, and that all connectivity issues are addressed and resolved to insure trouble-free label printing from within your ERP application environment.
Many organizations have started to migrate to Extensible Markup Language (XML) as a business-to-business communications method at an application infrastructure level. Application and database developer, Oracle, has long been a proponent of the XML standard and has chosen XML as a standardized language for sending data to thermal label printers. The Datamax/Oracle section of our website contains information that will help you understand how the Datamax XML parsing firmware will allow you to directly connect Datamax printers (without any additional middleware) to Oracle’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Mobile Supply Chain Applications (MSCA) under Oracle releases which include TCP/IP printer communications mode (11i10 or later).
The Datamax white paper titled "Datamax Printers and SAP" will also help you better understand the options available for "general label" printing within SAP. Additionally, SAP AG has developed a Datamax printer device type (LB_DMX) for use with SAP R/3 installations (SAPnote 490295).
Datamax has established relationships with a number of middleware companies that can help you address your ERP labeling needs. For more information on these companies, refer to the Datamax Software Resource Directory.
REFERENCES
Parr, A., Shanks, G., Darke, P. (1999). "Identification of Necessary Factors for Successful Implementation of ERP Systems". New Information Technologies In Organizational Processes - Field Studies And Theoretical Reflections On The Future Of Work, Kluwer Academic Publishers, chapter 8, 99-119.
