ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning has gained popularity all around the world and ERP systems are the backbone of any modern organization. But ERP systems are not just restricted to large organizations and they’re also used within the small industries. Small scale industries, as per the definition, have less than ten thousand employees and they require ERP systems that can manage the small volume of business. In other words ERP does not need to be confined to big and reputed businesses only.

In Malaysia, too, many small scale businesses have ERP systems. They have developed their own ERP system and although there are many similarities and differences between these two systems, there are also some major differences. The government of Malaysia has taken a lot of time in determining the future course of organisation charting and it’s because of this exact same reason that the government is attempting to develop its own ERP system. There are two different types of ERP system – ERP based on Microsoft Windows platform and ERP based on the Java platform. But the choice between both of these systems depends upon the local scenario of the organization or the requirement of the company.

Microsoft Windows ERP software has been widely acclaimed and is used by almost all large and medium scale companies across the world. Though many companies have switched to Windows since it provides better compatibility with many third party applications and so on. Many experts believe if ERP software is to be used by the small businesses, then it would be better to use open source ERP applications which has many benefits such as multi-tenancy, open development environment, higher scalability, minimal cost, access to new extensions and so forth. However, the users of these open source ERP software must be certain about the licensing agreement, they can’t just run the system without any consent or other legal obligation. Even though there are lots of advantages of using such open source ERP applications, it’s expensive compared to Microsoft Windows ERP program.

The second option is to use either Blackberry software or Apple iPhone based smartphones for accessing the ERP system from a remote location. This can easily be achieved by employing a telecommuting staff who will act as an intermediary between the organization and the ERP software. This manner, many benefits are obtained by the company concerning cost saving, decrease in time and travel, productivity improvement, availability of latest software upgrades etc.. However, you can’t afford to employ such employees whose fees will be three times more than the expense of a Windows ERP software.

Another alternative available for many companies is to use web enabled ERP software that’s not installed in the computer system on the local level. A number of companies have made their web portals in a bid to enhance the online image of the corporation. In cases like this, the system needs to be obtained from remote locations and may be operated from either a laptop or mobile device. Such systems need a whole lot of customization and so the cost will be bit higher. However, it is going to supply you with all the basic features of a traditional ERP system without the high costs and without compromising on the required functionality. All the modern ERP packages include several other features that make them attractive to many companies.

There is another choice available to organizations if they want to save money and yet can receive all the required characteristics of ERP software. In cases like this, they can decide to use Windows servers for ERP system or hosted applications from third party vendors. This will allow them to use their current network infrastructure for accessing the ERP software with no excess expenditure.

Even if you’re planning to purchase ERP software from third party vendors, you need to make certain that the expense of implementation is minimal. This is one aspect where many companies get into trouble. When they buy the software, they think it will be installed in their whole infrastructure with no additional costs. In fact, many companies find out to their cost disadvantage later when they have to spend a lot on ERP hardware, software and other maintenance expenses. So, before buying any software from vendors, make certain that you don’t fall into this snare.

Enterprise resource planning software is an integral part of any company today. If your company is still running without one, now is the right time to equip yourself with you. As a business person, you want to weigh the advantages that have an ERP system against the expense of implementation. If you think that the complete cost of implementing an ERP is lower than the cost of buying the software, you should definitely buy one for your company.

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Liquefied natural gas (LNG) price has been fluctuating in Asia recently. It shows a downward trend over the past two-three months. The recent price rise is due to the increasing demand in China and other Asian countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Over consumption in these countries is expected to double in the coming years.

There are lots of factors that influence natural gas demand and cost including climate, supply and demand in the oil market, geo-supply, and politics. Geo-supply refers to the paths whereby natural gas is transported; there are two main routes through which natural gas is delivered in the world, the trans-boundary paths and the inland routes. The high cost of LPG in India is due to the high quantity of consumption in China.

The price of LPG in Indonesia is affected by the transport infrastructure in the region. The price of LPG in India can also be influenced by the political atmosphere in different countries. Natural gas is transported via pipelines in the US and in several countries in Europe. The purchase price of LPG also depends on the transit time. In Asia, the transport infrastructure is undergoing renovation and new pipelines have been built so that the transfer of natural gas becomes easier.

In China, the government is encouraging the growth of domestic production to meet the rising demand for natural gas. The purchase price of LPG is expected to rise as the domestic production grows. Natural gas supplies around the globe will also be affected by the political and geothermic factors in a variety of countries.

The Cost of natural gas in Britain is Influenced by the Rising demand in countries like Ireland, Poland, Malta, Spain, Lesbos, Greece, Norway and others. In Europe, there are plans to construct a liquefied natural gas terminal in order to increase the transfer of LPG between nations. There are many proposals for LPG contracts in Europe. The most important of these is the terminal provided by E.ON Plc, the world’s largest producer of LPG.

The purchase price of natural gas may be impacted by the weather. For instance, during winter, the demand for heating and cooking is a lot greater than normal. This increased demand triggers the purchase price of LPG to go up, making it more expensive than before. Similarly, during summers, the demand for heating is lower than usual. A LPG plant can generate lots of electricity, causing an increase in the purchase price of natural gas delivery.

It must be noted that the purchase price of natural gas in the UK is affected by political events and other external factors. The price of gas will decrease when the authorities of any country is taking a significant policy decision such as reducing the carbon dioxide reduction or introducing a new clean energy source. Likewise an increasingly tight supply of oil will reduce the purchase price of natural gas in the UK. Natural gas prices have decreased by about 20 percent in the past couple of years. It’s expected that this trend will continue for the next few years.

Natural gas has a very low price compared to other fossil fuels, mainly because it is a domestic commodity. It is delivered from well sites and involves very low risk. On the other hand, oil has a very large price because it is transported on a massive scale and involves very substantial risk. It’s believed that the price of natural gas will decrease substantially in the next few years.

One reason why natural gases have a low price is that it comes from a national resource. Liquefied natural gas is produced by using a special sort of pressurized water in a power condenser device. Unlike other kinds of gas, it doesn’t have to undergo any complex processing before it can enter the marketplace. This means that the price of liquefied natural is significantly less than other kinds of natural gas.

Another reason why liquified natural gas has a low cost is that it is a highly efficient fuel. A barrel of natural gas can supply the UK with enough energy for around one year. In comparison, petroleum diesel, which can be used for powering vehicles costs much more. Bio-fuels like vegetable oil can also be used alternatively. Even though it’s a lot more expensive than gas from mines, it’s a cleaner fuel.

It can be assumed that future costs of liquefied natural gas will follow similar trends as other fossil fuels. If current prices are anything to go by, we can expect a price of around $2 per liter in the future. This may sound like a huge fall but compared to other commodity gas prices, it’s actually very profitable. In addition, it is a green fuel that does not damage the environment.