Part of the “DevOps for ERP” series

Whether or not you believe in the value that DevOps can offer to a business – and there’s already plenty of evidence to show that it can deliver major benefits – there’s no doubt that more and more companies are starting to wonder why they haven’t extended this approach to their ERP systems.

Not so long ago, I regularly had to explain what agile and DevOps meant, but nowadays, people come to us asking how we can help them adopt these approaches.

So why the change? Transformation is the key. It’s a word that’s a bit overused by my colleagues in the marketing world, in my opinion. But with the move to cloud, the constant emergence of new technologies, and growing pressure on businesses to innovate and increase competitiveness, real changes are happening that IT teams simply have to respond to.

Perhaps unlike in years gone by, ERP teams are not immune to this trend. As “systems of engagement” like websites and mobile apps change faster than ever, the “systems of record” that often power them need to keep pace. Otherwise the whole business slows down.

Unfortunately, the ERP development processes most people have been familiar with throughout their careers – the “waterfall” method most often still in use today ­– tend to suffer from a slow pace of change. This can be explained by the concern that changing things in ERP systems has traditionally come with a high chance of failure (an unacceptable outcome for business-critical systems).

DevOps, on the other hand, supports application delivery in shorter, more frequent cycles where quality is embedded from the start of the process, and risk is substantially reduced.

Great, I hear you say; let’s do it! However, even the most enthusiastic organizations cannot implement DevOps in ERP systems in exactly the same way as they’ve done for other applications. The fundamental requirements for DevOps are the same – I covered some of them here­ – but the practicalities are different, not least because standard DevOps tools aren’t capable of doing the job. What’s more, the DevOps experts don’t necessarily understand what’s needed in ERP, while the ERP experts may never have heard of DevOps!

What is the practical reality if companies do adopt DevOps for ERP?

Related Posts:

DevOps Foundation Certification: Key Benefits

TaaS and DevOps: A Perfect Match

Higher-quality development

Delivering software at high speed requires a robust development process that combines clear business requirements and constant feedback. DevOps mandates that ownership of quality “shifts left” and is embedded from the very start of the process. This way, most (and ideally all) problems can be identified long before they get to live production systems (where the disruption caused and associated cost to fix are much greater).

In practice, this means we need to ensure that nothing leaves development without being fully quality-checked. Working practices like daily stand-up sessions, mandatory peer reviews of code, and a set of universal coding standards might not seem revolutionary for some IT teams, but they are new ideas for many ERP professionals. They’re only part of the solution, though, going along with technical elements like automated unit testing and templated lock-down of high-risk objects.

One other practical outcome of DevOps from the very first stage of development is that ERP and business teams must be more closely aligned to ensure that customer requirements are clearly understood. Integration between the development team and other IT functions like QA and operations also establishes an early validation step.

Low-risk, high cadence delivery

Continuous integration is an aspect of DevOps that means that – unlike in many ERP landscapes – changes can be successfully deployed to QA or any other downstream system at any time without risk. The big change here is the ability to deploy based on business priorities, rather than just having to wait for the next release window.

Automation gives you the means to achieve this new high-frequency delivery cadence in ERP systems by providing a way to better manage risk (spreadsheets definitely do not form a core part of a DevOps-based software delivery process!). It enables you to check every change for technical issues like completeness, sequencing, dependencies, risk, and impact and more, ensuring that nothing is promoted prematurely.

This more rigorous, agile approach means QA teams, in particular, can focus their attention on real issues rather than technical “noise,” which accelerates the delivery of functionality that business users or customers are waiting for. Changes can be selectively and automatically deployed with confidence, rather than waiting for the next full release.

Minimal production impact

“Stability is king” has long been an unofficial mantra in ERP environments, given their importance to day-to-day business operations. With DevOps, the required system stability is maintained even though live production systems can be updated far more often. Rigorous controls – built on both technical solutions and new collaborative workflows – ensure that deployments are safely delivered to end users as soon as possible.

But there is always a risk, however small, that a change to live ERP systems can cause problems that stop the business. That’s why Mean Time To Recover (as opposed to the more traditional Mean Time To Failure) is a key DevOps metric. The most effective ERP DevOps processes feature a back-out plan that allows changes to be reversed as quickly as possible so, even if disaster strikes, the impact of change-related downtime is minimal, and business continuity can be maintained.

The culture question

As I’ve explained, when implemented correctly, DevOps fundamentally changes traditional ERP development processes. However, the manner in which DevOps impacts the roles and approach of staff can be just as important. In DevOps, effective collaboration is key. Traditional silos based on job function are replaced by multi-skilled, cross-functional teams that work together to deliver agreed-upon business outcomes. This may require a significant shift in how teams are organized.

It’s normal for some people to find this new way of working challenging, but creating a successful DevOps culture empowers team members to take responsibility at every stage of the development lifecycle. It enables them to collaborate with their colleagues and focus on a common goal of rapidly delivering the high-quality features and functionality the business needs to remain competitive.

DevOps benefits and outcomes

Change happens fast, and companies need to respond quickly. IT systems must, therefore, have the flexibility to rapidly change, expand, extend, and adapt.

But accelerating delivery cannot be done at the expense of business continuity. Successfully adopting DevOps for ERP combines speed, quality improvements, and risk reduction. That provides the flexibility to change ERP environments at the speed the business needs with confidence that it can be achieved without compromising stability.

For more on this topic, please read “How to Build a Business Case for DevOps” and “Self-Assessment: Are You Already Doing ERP DevOps?”

For a practical guide on how to introduce DevOps to your ERP software development and delivery processes, download our e-book.

A version of this article originally appeared on the Basis Technologies blog. This adapted version is republished by permission. Basis Technologies is an SAP silver partner.

The post DevOps For ERP: A Practical Guide first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

The post JustMarkets Review – Things you need to know first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

Brand Building Process with Simple Steps

So you’ve heard about all the branding consultants and experts that say you need to start thinking about Brand Building? Well, that’s a good idea. If you’re not already using an effective branding strategy, you need one. If you think you’re on your own in terms of brand building, here are some important steps to get you started:

Define your purpose

Branding consultants are always telling you to define your brand. What is it? Is it a marketing tool, a long-term planning process, or something else? The goal is to determine your unique brand identity.

Defining your unique brand identity is the first step in your brand building process. It’s also the most important step. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a big corporation or a small local salon, your unique brand identity is what makes you stand out from your competition. A unique brand will make your customers remember you and will lure them back to you. People are able to recall brand names more easily than those of competitors.

Once you’ve identified your target audience, your brand strategy should be built around that. Once you know who your target audience is, you can decide what kinds of products and services to offer. Your brand strategy should include everything you need to make your business stand out among your competitors. If you don’t have a brand strategy, then you’re like your competitor: you’ll keep on struggling for customers!

Define your marketing and branding goals

There’s a big difference between using a term like “the most effective branding” and “the most successful brand in history.” A lot goes into successful branding. It’s about being creative, being unique, being different, and more. Defining your purpose will help you plan your strategy.

Set your short-term and long-term goals

Your branding goal should be larger than just “building my brand.” Successful branding requires long-term planning, so you need to set your short-term and long-term goals for your small business.

Brand strategy 

You may have heard the term “brand strategy” but you aren’t sure what it means. A good brand strategy starts with clear goals and a plan for achieving them. It also begins with choosing a strong name or logo that will represent your company. A good brand strategy also begins with choosing a color scheme and developing a font set. Once your brand strategy is in place, you can begin thinking about the elements of your branding that make your product or service unique and make it unique to your customers.

In order for your brand strategy to be effective, it has to be part of your overall brand identity. For example, if your company is in the dog grooming business, there’s no point in having your own website unless it’s going to be part of your branding strategy. In fact, your first step should be to build a website for your company.

Use your branding strategy in every part of your business. It can be applied to every aspect of your business, not just your product or service.

Target Audience

Building a great brand is all about understanding your audience, communicating with them effectively, creating the right content, and delivering only the best to your target audience. When it comes to the topic of your website, you want to consider the preferences and search terms of your potential visitors and offer only quality content created by experts in the field. Think about what types of things your target audience is likely to be looking for. If you’re offering free information or services that your target audience are also looking for, then you need to focus on quality content above everything else. Creating the right content will help you build your reputation, increase your rankings in Google and other search engines, and give you credibility with your target audience.

Brand building in Google

Before you go ahead and start building a brand in Google, it is important to identify which areas you want to work on.It is also one of the most important things to do when starting a business. A good web page design not only appeals to the customers, it also gives the business an appealing and professional image. When customers start looking for your products and services online, the first thing that they will see is your webpage design. The main aim here is to make sure that the visitors on your website are able to get something useful out of the site.

Customer Service

One of the most important components of a successful brand is customer service. Customer service reflects your commitment to your customers. If you show poor customer service, your customers will likely switch to another company.

Conclusion

Once a brand-building strategy has been formulated, it is necessary to determine the best mediums to be used for the branding of your business. This is one of the most crucial decisions that have an impact on the success of your campaign.

The post Brand Building Process with Simple Steps first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

The two have teamed up again, this time bringing predictions to the whole season.

Call of Duty League fans got to experience the CDL and Paper Crowns collaborations last year with the Bracket Builder and $100K Bracket Challenge for the end of year Championships. Fans seemed to like this, and this year it returns, but with even more prizes throughout the year.

The CDL Pick’em is a game where fans can predict the result of each Call of Duty League match, earning points for predicting the winner and the score. Points will be tracked on the global leaderboard, with prizes up for grabs for the best. The CDL Pick’em works by giving you two points for predicting the winner, and an extra point for predicting the correct score.

The prizes for the CDL Pick’em are only available in certain regions, however, at the end of each stage, the top three players will receive the following.

• Grand Prize: ASTRO A40 TR Headset, Scuf Impact Controller & Scuf Impact Pro Player Pack.
• First Prize: ASTRO A40 TR Headset & Scuf Impact Controller.
• Second Prize (3rd – 10th) ASTRO A40 TR Headset.
• Third Prize (11th – 20th) Scuf Impact Controller.

To play CDL Pick’em, click this link and you’ll be able to predict the match results. After signing in, select the score of the matches for Stage 1 and see where you finish at the end of the events.

The post Call of Duty League & Paper Crowns Announce CDL Pick’ems first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

The era of awful Overwatch League merchandise is over now that Blizzard has allowed organizations to independently source and produce their clothing.

For years the Overwatch League has been in a contract with Fanatics, an online clothing company that does merchandise for sports teams at all levels. Initially, this news was exciting as a lot of esports teams have rare or limited merchandise options available. Unfortunately for fans, the gear was haphazardly put together, expensive, and had the same durability as a piece of paper in the middle of the ocean. The multi-year deal ran for the 2019 and 2020 season of the Overwatch League, and now that it has expired, teams are free to do as they please when it comes to apparel.

Out with the old, in with the new…

SF Shock x Meta Threads 2021

Available Now : https://t.co/eXaXiILIAS pic.twitter.com/ZZBh1czG2W

— San Francisco Shock (@SFShock) February 1, 2021

Overwatch League Merchandise:

Already we have seen the San Francisco Shock team up with Meta Threads to release a new lineup of gear. The Florida Mayhem have begun sourcing merchandise ideas from their community, and overall fans are excited to get quality and diverse team clothing options. The Overwatch League has not announced if they will still be working with Fanatics to produce official player jerseys. The likely choice would be to find a company with an untarnished reputation and begin offering official gear while organizations offer “lifestyle gaming apparel”. Previously the Overwatch League and a couple of teams collaborated with ULT Esports to develop exclusive merchandise, but it was still restricted. There was a partnership with Jeff Staples to design the 2020 Overwatch League jerseys but Fanatic was still in charge of production and sales at the end of the day. The Overwatch League kicks off once again in April with a similar tournament format to last year with a few minor adjustments.

The post Overwatch League Teams Are Free to Produce Their Own Merchandise first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

This is the latest addition to the 11k MMR bracket.

BOOM Esports is one of the most prominent teams in SEA, which is why it doesn’t come as a surprise its players are top tier. Today, Ralfi Fathur “Mikoto” Rahman became the first-ever 11K MMR player from Indonesia.

Ladies and Gentleman, we present you the first Indonesian player to reach 11k MMR! We hope that his achievements can further bring BOOM to achieve various higher titles pic.twitter.com/1MmodU3UMQ

— BOOM Esports (@boomesportsid) February 1, 2021

Despite the pandemic, the SEA powerhouse BOOM Esports had a pretty good year. Despite the fact that Dreamocel left the team, BOOM completely dominated their regional scene. Consequently, they received an invitation for the Upper Division of the Dota Pro Circuit League.

Needless to say, one of the biggest reasons behind their success was Mikoto. The Indonesian superstar has been a part of the team for nearly two years now and is overall an impressive player.

Besides being good in pro gams, the mid laner is, unsurprisingly, also an amazing pub player. He became the first-ever Indonesian player to break into the 11k MMR bracket. After he succeeded, the player announced it on his Instagram page. This accomplishment puts him alongside a select few others that reached 11k MMR.

Currently, BOOM Esports is doing okay in the DPC qualifiers. They won one series and lost another one, which means that they are currently sitting in fourth place. However, they are yet to play against some of the favorites, such as Fnatic and T1.

If you need more information about the DPC qualifiers, follow ESTNN. We do weekly updates where we cover everything that happened in each region.

Featured image via ESL.

The post Dota 2: BOOM Esport’s Mikoto Reaches 11,000 MMR first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

ESTNN recaps January’s European DreamHack Online Open ft Fortnite.

DreamHack’s second of three final Fortnite tournaments concluded this afternoon in the European region. It’s been quite a run should the Sweden-based production company decide to take a break from the popular Battle Royale title. Several players have made a name for themselves in DreamHack’s Online Open, which eclipsed 1 million entrants this month alone. January saw the best of the best in Europe reach the Grand Finals. DreamHack Players such as two-time Fortnite Champion Series winner Tayson, MrSavage, Hen, aqua and many others embarked on an eight-game quest to become perhaps the final EU DreamHack Online Open winner.

Also Read: Zayt Announces Return to Fortnite Three Weeks After Retiring

Steelix and Snagged Secure the Win

DREAMHACK WINNER LETS GOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/0ZeyEohSU9

— Wave Steelix (@steelixfnbr) January 31, 2021

The first four matches of the DreamHack Grand Finals saw four different duos achieve Victory Royales. It was an evenly contested tournament, but only one pair could claim the top spot. As match eight drew to a close, Snagged and Steelix – respectively of Centric Gaming and Wave Esports – claimed their first DreamHack tournament victory. The two players combined for 35 eliminations and an average placement of 16.50 to the tune of 357 points. Snagged and Steelix capped their eight-match journey with a fifth-place finish, securing their victory.

Each player bagged $12K USD and held off some remarkable teams in the process.

Also Read: Why Prize Pools in Fortnite are so Important

Top Teams in Tow

GGs! Here were the top duos from January’s EU #DHFNOpen Grand Finals!

@snagged35 @steelixfnbr ($24,000)
@VadealFN @noahreyli ($14,100)
@saevid @G2LeTsHe ($11,500) pic.twitter.com/Mq3y2LbdTV

— DreamHack Fortnite (@DreamHackFN) January 31, 2021

Tournament favourites Wave Vadeal and Noahreyli delivered on all expectations short of another victory. The two previous DreamHack Duo Champions finished in second place with one win and 343 points, netting them over $7K USD apiece. EP Saevid and G2 Let she rounded out the top three with 331 points and a Victory Royale. It was quite a performance for a last-second duo. Some other noteworthy teams settled for a top-ten result, including Hen & Chapix, Refsgaard & Skram, Tayson & Th0masHD and k1nzell & wake.

That concludes what might be the second to last DreamHack Online Open competition. Congratulations to Snagged and Steelix on their monumental victory! Stay tuned to ESTNN for the NA West final results after the tournament concludes later this evening!

Featured Image: DreamHack

The post Fortnite:Steelix And Snagged Triumph In January’s Europe DreamHack Open first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

The Godfather of Fortnite is back.

Retirement clearly didn’t suit multiple-time Fortnite Battle Royale Champion Williams “Zayt” Aubin. The NRG Esports member dropped some shocking news on the community only three weeks ago. Citing lack of motivation and offline events, the Canada-born competitor announced that he would step away from the game he grew from within in favor of a coaching, mentor and analyst role. He found instant success, streaming watch parties for Elite Scrims, which feature North America’s best players. As he watched, it didn’t take long for Zayt to realize just how good he had it as one of Fortnite’s best players.

Also Read: Why Prize Pools in Fortnite are so Important

Zayt is Back

I am at a point where I would regret not competing and wasting my gift for the game. With that said, yes I am coming back, sorry for everyone that I affected negatively. 2/2

— NRG Zayt (@zayt) January 30, 2021

After closely watching top trios and briefly competing alongside organizational teammate Benjy “benjyfishy” Fish, Zayt decided enough was enough. He took to Twitter, reflecting upon his short-lived retirement. “If I didn’t play dreamhack with Benjy I probably wouldn’t be saying that but, I really miss competing already. The only reasons I would want to stream would be to get enough money for the rest of my life,” he said.

It appears the safer approach didn’t mesh well with the competitive Fortnite veteran. He continued, “I am at a point where I would regret not competing and wasting my gift for the game. With that said, yes I am coming back, sorry for everyone that I affected negatively.”

Not many people will disagree with Zayt’s choice. He has placed well in nearly every major Fortnite Battle Royale tournament, including the $30M USD World Cup, where he and long-time duo partner Rocco “Saf” Morales claimed fourth place. The following year, Zayt and Saf returned to the top again after winning FNCS Chapter 2 – Season 2. Outside of financial security, it made no sense for someone with so much talent to step away. His decision will throw a wrench into the solidified NA East trio teams, however.

Also Read: How to Earn Free FNCS Twitch Drops in Season 5

Trio Shakeup

I dont really wanna igl either so idk what to do

— Bugha (@bugha) January 30, 2021

Fortnite World Cup Champion Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf suffered the most with Zayt’s return. Bugha replaced Zayt and became teammates with Saf and Team Liquid player Stretch for this season’s Fortnite Champion Series. Unfortunately, Bugha confirmed that the now previously retired Zayt will slot back in with his former trio. With so few options, Bugha will have some searching to do, especially considering that FNCS Chapter 2 – Season 5 begins next week. There’s no telling what could happen as other trios might look to clear room for Bugha, who remains at the top of his game.

Also Read: FNCS Chapter 2 – Season 5 Prize Pool, Format, Scoring System & More!

The Legacy Continues

well yeah we’re playing with zayt for the rest of FNCS, bugha is one of the best players i have ever played with and is easily one of my favorite teammates and i never in a thousand years thought zayt was gonna come back

— Liquid Stretch (@Stretch) January 30, 2021

Like most of the community, no one expected Zayt’s quick change of heart. Now, the NRG Esports competitor has a chance to further solidify himself as one of, if not the best Fortnite players in history. This season’s meta suits him particularly well since Epic recently removed Shockwave Grenades and Rift Fish from the competitive loot pool. Zayt can now utilize his game knowledge to lead his team on a crusade. The developer’s current $20M USD commitment to the tournament scene this year also likely helped Zayt make his decision.

The community will welcome him back with open arms. Zayt’s a true pioneer with many years of success remaining. It’s undoubtedly going to be a fascinating season of competitive Fortnite.

Stay tuned to ESTNN for more Fortnite news and updates!

The post Zayt Announces Return To Fortnite Three Weeks After Retiring first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

We take a look at the latest tool you can use in Dota 2.

Dota 2 is an amazing game where you can find loads of fun, but there is one problem — the community. Similar to other MOBAs, Dota 2 has many toxic players that will do everything in their power to ruin the fun for others.

Valve didn’t do anything about this problem until two years ago when they finally started to realize it was an issue. Since then, there have been several updates trying to improve toxicity in the game. The latest attempt to make Dota 2 a better place is called the Overwatch Community Review. It should allow the community to regulate the negative behavior within the game.

The tool in Dota 2

Today’s update introduces a powerful tool to help the community regulate negative behavior amongst its ranks — Overwatch. Learn more: https://t.co/M4EUkRE8Ou pic.twitter.com/TFUaM3XEyd

— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) January 27, 2021

Explaining the new tool is easier said than done, but you should think of it as an advanced report system. Once someone receives a report, the community will have the chance to review it. Following the changes, the report system is now divided into two. The first part includes the post-game reports (now, they only work for communication abuse).

The Overwatch report tool will also allow you to report someone from the scoreboard tab. Besides cheating and griefing, you can also report people for suspicious behavior. The latter will be a suitable option if you think that someone is cheating or using a bot.

Also Read: Three Offlane Heroes You Should Pick In 2021

If you are eligible to review a report, you will receive a notification below your profile picture. Depending on your judgment, you will either receive a positive or a negative score. If your score is too negative, you won’t be able to use this tool in the future.

Once you start reviewing a particular case, you can either choose guilty or not guilty. You will even have an option where you can’t make a judgment due to the fact there is not enough evidence. After you are done, you will have to send the information to Valve for their final decision.

For more information about the latest tool, click here.

The post Dota 2: Valve Adds An Overwatch Tool For Dota 2 first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling

Learn everything you need to know about Fortnite Battle Royale’s Nintendo

Epic Games and Nintendo have combined forces to produce the first-ever Switch Cup 2, a Fortnite tournament open only to players on Nintendo Switch. The developers have granted console players similar opportunities in the past, with the PlayStation-only Generation Cup and $1M USD Xbox Cup. Typically, these competitions offer either in-game cosmetics or cash as prizes. In this instance, players are competing for the “Lovely” cosmetic character skin, “Heart Blast” back bling and the “I am sitting down” spray before they arrive in the Fortnite Item Shop. Let’s take a look at all the essential details regarding this Nintendo-exclusive competition.

Also Read: Major Changes Coming to “Pay to Win” Superhero Skins 

Switch Cup 2 Format & Date

The Switch Cup 2, as previously mentioned, is open only to players on the Nintendo Switch console. It is a solo tournament for players, specifically on the Asia region’s servers. Keep in mind that competitors outside of the Asia region will be playing on significantly higher ping. The tournament goes live on February 3, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Here is the tournament structure you’ll need to know before queuing into the Switch Cup 2 on Asia servers:

• It begins at 6 PM Japan time or 4 AM EST / 1 AM PST for Americans
• Three-hour time limit
• A maximum of ten matches

Switch Cup 2 Scoring System

Understanding tournament scoring systems is arguably the most important factor when entering a Fortnite tournament. The Switch Cup 2 utilizes a placement-heavy point system, so playing for late-game will be imperative for players looking to earn the tournament’s cosmetic offerings. Here is the scoring system for the Switch Cup 2:

• Victory Royale: 20 points
• 2nd place: 15 points
• 3rd place: 13 points
• 4th-5th place: 10 points
• 6th-10th place: 8 points
• 11th-15th place: 7 points
• 16th-20th place: 6 points
• 21st place- 25th place: 5 points
• 26th to 30th place: 4 points
• 31st to 40th place: 3 points
• 41st to 50th place: 2 points
• 51st to 75th place: 1 point
• Each elimination: 1 point

Also Read: How to Earn Free FNCS Twitch Drops in Season 5 

Switch Cup 2 Prize Pool

Instead of the usual monetary payout, Switch Cup 2 entrants will compete for brand new Fortnite cosmetics before hitting the item shop. Merely earning eight points will grant yield the “I am sitting down spray.” Competitors looking for the skin and back bling need to achieve a top-1,000 finish. Since this tournament is exclusive to the Asia region and Nintendo Switch, only 1,000 skins are on the line.

That covers all of the information we know thus far about this tournament. If you’re an early riser, be sure to set an early alarm for the chance to win the Lovely skin before anyone else.

Stay tuned to ESTNN for more Fortnite news and updates!

The post Fortnite: Switch Cup 2 Tournament Prize Pool, Format, Scoring System & More! first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling