SyteLine is a visually stunning and functionally sophisticated ERP software offering. With the ease of “personalization” of forms and IDO’s personalization that it offers, all without modifying the underlying source code, it’s quite easy to be “…blinded by the light…” and either forget or simply not be aware of some functionality that brings a tear to the eye of olde time Symix alumni. Here are just a few of the “Did you know?” kind of topics:

Did you know?

•    That learning to use “Filter in Place” is one of the most important skills to master to effectively and efficiently use SyteLine?
•    That “Filter in Place” is not the only way to filter a collection? “Filter by Query” or the query form (i.e. “Items Query”) offers more sophistication and ease of use (ever tried to filter on a field buried on another tab?) than “Filter in Place”. Additionally, these filters can be saved and used again and again without having to build the entire syntax over.
•    That you can export an entire collection to a CSV-Excel compatible file without changing the default record cap?
•    You can print any form or collection in SyteLine – even if no report exists (not cut and paste). In addition, there are some formatting and data content choices available. The report may not be of “presentation” quality, but can provide a “quick and dirty” method of getting information. Also, if you need to describe a report requirement to your friendly IT department, it can provide them with the source the information you need (we all know they “speak” some kind of strange dialect – at least when they want too!).
•    That a form may be personalized to filter on opening – take the examples of a Customer Service associate responsible for a certain user type or a planner that only needs to review certain item masters.
•    That drop-down lists can be filtered for certain characteristics, sorted in different sequences or have additional data displayed – without changing the underlying source code? “The number and name does me no good unless I know where the Ship To (or Vendor, etc.) is …?”
•    That reports printed to PDF can be reprinted, emailed or locally stored even after the initial printing and that many SyteLine customers rarely print hard-copies reports directly from SyteLine?

With the Godlan consulting team having an average of over 20 years consulting experience in a wide range of industries, there are many more “best practice” and other “nuggets” readily available.

Finally, let me close by saying that before you take advantage of the great tools, shortcuts and capabilities in SyteLine – be absolutely sure that the following basics are in force at your organization. I’m sure you ERP veterans know these by heart, but they are always worth repeating:

1.    Accurate inventory balances (and locations – doesn’t do Operations much good to know that they’ve got it if they can’t find it!).
2.    Bills of Manufacturing that reflect the reality of not only the material required to build an item, but how long it takes to build it as well.
3.    Establish and maintain accurate lead-times.
4.    Maintaining accurate and realistic due dates for purchased items, jobs, and yes – customer orders (can’t forget that nothing happens without that order!).
5.    Keeping all those order quantities accurate – close PO lines where 10 were ordered, but only 9 will ever be received (tolerance factors help, but these must be monitored daily), CO lines when you shipped 9 out of 10 (and that’s all they need), and jobs or production schedule releases that will never have the total quantity released completed.
6.    And finally and possibly the most important – That Management Support and Will to Enforce the Required Policies and Procedures to make all this possible.

NO ERP system will give you reliable, accurate information, regardless of sophistication of the software nor the data collected and analyzed – without these “building blocks” inculcated into your corporate culture.

The Godlan Team is here to help you achieve the results you need!