If you’ve been considering an enterprise resource planning solution, you’ve probably heard about Oracle JD Edwards (and more specifically, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne), but how do you know if JDE EnterpriseOne is the right fit for your organization? Not to worry—we have you covered.
This article will explain what enterprise resource planning is in general, as well as provide you an overview of the JD Edwards solution. Read on to learn more!
What is JD Edwards EnterpriseOne?
Oracle’s JD Edwards EnterpriseOne is a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution that provides ERP applications and tools for finance, human resources, distribution, consumer goods, and manufacturing sectors.
It’s designed for all types of businesses—small, midsized, and large—and it’s compatible with Linux, AIX, Microsoft Windows, IBM, and the Oracle Mobile Platform. Some of its primary features include financial management, CRM, project management, manufacturing, supply chain planning and logistics, reporting, and business intelligence.
What is Enterprise Resource Planning?
Enterprise resource planning (also called “ERP”) refers to a software suite that organizations use to manage day-to-day business activities, including supply chain, procurement, project management, compliance and more. Connecting a variety of business processes—as well as the flow of data between them—an ERP system functions as the foundation of your organization, providing a single source of truth for your company’s data.
With ERPs performing such a vitally important business process, it’s no wonder that there are a wide variety of solutions on the market today. In fact, a report from Allied Market Research states that the global ERP market will reach $41.69 billion by 2020. ERPs really got their start in the late 1970s, when JD Edwards, formerly only JD Edwards World, got its name by building accounting ERP tools for IBM minicomputers.
Today, JD Edwards has moved beyond run-of-the-mill accounting software, offering a comprehensive enterprise solution that helps organizations from all sizes and industries manage every aspect of their companies’ business.
What Is JD Edwards Software Used For?
JD Edwards is a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for organizations of all sizes and industries. The solution offers a suite of integrated applications for financial management, supply chain management, manufacturing, human resources, and customer relationship management. The JD Edwards solution streamlines business processes and improves operational efficiency.
JD Edwards ERP allows businesses to manage their finances effectively with an array of features, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, and cash management.
These features help organizations streamline their supply chain management processes, from procurement and inventory management, to order management and logistics, resulting in improved visibility across the supply chain and more efficient resource management.
JDE software is also highly-regarded for its ability to manage manufacturing operations. Businesses can plan, schedule, and execute production activities, including material requirements planning, capacity planning, and shop floor control, all in one software suite.
JD Edwards EnterpriseOne gives organizations real-time visibility into manufacturing operations, enabling them to quickly make informed decisions and respond to constantly evolving market conditions.
Breakdown of the Big Four JDE Modules
The JD Edwards ERP system is home to a variety of different JD Edwards EnterpriseOne tools and applications to meet the needs of any business, regardless of size, location, or industry.
And, while Oracle JD Edwards ERP solutions are widely used across many industries, there are a few main modules that take the cake when it comes to the ERP popularity contest.
Here are the “big four” JDE modules you need to know about:
Financial Management
The JDE Financial Management module is instrumental in not only providing a solid foundation for your financial reporting and processing functions but also helps to streamline day-to-day financial operations and simplify financial reporting requirements.
The JDE Financials module allows companies to:
- Manage accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) more efficiently
- Update and maintain more accurate general ledger (GL) data
- Manage fixed assets (i.e., tax depreciation schedules, etc.)
Distribution
The main function of the JD Edwards Distribution module is managing key procure-to-pay processes. This module helps companies improve transactions, enhance customer-facing interactions, manage inventory more efficiently, and streamline order-to-cash business processes.
The Distribution module also includes a few key sub-modules that help further streamline business processes: Warehousing, Advanced Warehousing, and Transportation
With the JDE Distribution module, users can:
- Monitor purchasing and keep track of purchase orders (POs)
- Manage contracts and schedule agreements with vendors
- Stay up-to-date with inbound and outbound logistics
- Manage sales orders, requisitions, and overall demand
- Monitor Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transactions and third-party barcoding software (DSI/RF Smart)
Manufacturing
The JDE Manufacturing module plays a major role in helping companies streamline the development, production, and distribution of their products. This solution provides integrated manufacturing and engineering functions to not only reduce costs and overall use of resources but also improve employee and system productivity.
JDE Manufacturing software gives users the ability to:
- Differentiate “Make to Stock” vs. “Make to Order” products
- Manage and optimize shop floor procedures
- Keep track of Bill of Materials (BOMs)
- Monitor Materials Requirements Planning (MRP), Demand Resource Planning (DRP), and Capacity Planning
- Oversee day-to-day product and materials routing, manufacturing, and cost accounting processes
Human Capital Management (HCM)
The JD Edwards HCM solution provides top-of-the-line functionality to help streamline and manage your human resource tasks, including payroll, recruiting, time tracking, compliance, and more.
The JDE HCM module not only automates key tasks throughout your HR department, but it also helps you attract talent, assess performance, and manage compliance from one integrated system.
JDE Human Capital Management solutions help you:
- Manage benefits, compensation, and payroll
- Monitor employee and manager self-service (ESS/MSS)
- Build employee schedules and keep track of timesheets
Other JD Edwards Modules
The JD Edwards EnterpriseOne software suite recognizes that each business has unique requirements for its ERP systems. Therefore, it does not provide any blanket solutions. Instead, the suite offers a diverse range of application modules that cater to various processes, such as:
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Supply Chain Execution – Logistics
- Supply Management – Procurement
- Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM)
- Real Estate and Construction
- Agribusiness (Agriculture ERP Software)
- Customer Relationship Management
- Apparel/Attribute Management
- Project Management
- Order Management
What Kind of Companies Use JDE?
The JD Edwards ERP system was designed for demand-driven environments where employees wear many hats, people with multiple responsibilities that require visibility into an entire business process.
For example, an employee who quotes a process may also need to take an order, check credit, and approve invoices. A single, integrated database like the Oracle JD Edwards ERP system gives them the latest information to make informed decisions quickly and improve functionality across applications.
JD Edwards has functionalities for different business units in a wide variety of industries, including:
Benefits of JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Products
Thousands of companies around the world have chosen JD Edwards, gaining both immediate and long-term value. Here’s a breakdown of some of the benefits you can expect from deploying JD Edwards EnterpriseOne software across your entire enterprise…
JD Edwards Software Is Flexible and Scalable
A flexible and scalable solution, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne software can grow with your business due to its underlying architecture. The JD Edwards system permits you a choice of database, operating systems, and hardware, allowing you to build and expand your IT solution to meet your business needs.
Increase Profits and Productivity
If you’re taking advantage of all its features, JD Edwards can reduce operating expenses and boost profitability by increasing employee productivity, with features like drag-and-drop customization for user navigation to help improve business process flows.
Regular Updates and Upgrades
Oracle is continuously evolving JD Edwards to meet a wide variety of business needs better. By responding to the needs of its users with regular updates and upgrades, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne stays competitive among other intuitive ERP solutions on the market.
Mobility
Today’s workforce is everywhere. And with that need in mind, Oracle has expanded its JD Edwards mobile enterprise applications portfolio to include more than 85 out-of-the-box mobile applications.
These applications are compatible with both iOS and Android and are free for the user of the desktop application (or can be purchased from Oracle as a bundle).
Key Considerations in Choosing JDE Software
Plan for employee training:
When considering the switch to a new JDE system or set of modules, it’s important to build a plan to keep your employees up to speed every step of the way.
From proper documentation to software development training and the navigation of system complexities, your employees need to know 1) what to do and 2) how to do it properly for your entire organization to succeed.
Assess integrations carefully:
Planning for and managing complex integrations is often a challenge, especially for underprepared or understaffed teams. Before beginning your JD Edwards project, you must consider the key integrations you will need and plan accordingly.
Consider security roles and permissions:
Keeping your data secure is crucial, but oftentimes setting up security roles and managing permissions can be complicated. In order to get the most out of your JD Edwards software, it’s important to consider security as one of your top priorities when switching systems or integrating new modules.
Get help from the experts:
When it comes to deploying the JD Edwards system or modules in your organization, getting help from experts (like our JDE consultants) can be critical to your success. JD Edwards ERP software experts take care of the most complicated steps so you don’t have to.
Making the Most of Your JDE Software
After you’ve researched and decided that JDE software is the right choice for your organization, the next step is implementing it. To make sure you get the most out of your investment in JDE, it’s important to partner with an IT consultant with JD Edwards experience.
The right partner can help you implement your software and ensure your employees get up to speed quickly (and help you avoid any potholes on the way). And, luckily for you, this is where our team at Surety Systems comes in to help!
Our senior-level JD Edwards consultants have just the expertise you need to help with any type of project from deployment to optimization. And, we’ve included a sample profile of one of our top-notch JD Edwards consultants to give you a better idea of what to expect when partnering with us…
Surety Senior JD Edwards Software Consultant
- 25+ years of experience with JD Edwards ERP software
- Served as a JD Edwards Project Manager for the past ~15 years
- Excels with the JD Edwards Financial and Distribution modules; Well-versed in the JD Edwards Manufacturing suite
- Led/managed multiple JD Edwards upgrades, integrations, and acquisitions
- Certified JD Edwards Project/Program Manager
Contact us today to learn more and get started!
Questions about JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
How is JD Edwards EnterpriseOne different from other ERP systems?
JD Edwards has a range of features, along with user-defined dashboards and workflow configuration, that provide a great deal of flexibility for all JD Edwards customers. Additionally, JDE offers deployment options; it can be deployed on-premise or via the cloud.
What is the technical architecture of JD Edwards EnterpriseOne?
JD Edwards EnterpriseOne utilizes Configurable Network Computing (CNC). CNC is a proprietary language that enables a programmable JDE application to operate on multiple platforms.
How can Surety Systems help with JD Edwards EnterpriseOne deployment?
Surety can provide senior-level JD Edwards integration consultants to assist with any EnterpriseOne project requests you have.
