Sydney Hoffman

Avatar of Sydney Hoffman Sydney Hoffman joined Software Connect in 2022 as a staff writer. She has a bachelor’s degree in technical writing from the University of Southern Indiana. With experience producing content for web, print, television, and radio, Sydney hails from the small, strange town of Santa Claus, Indiana, which is in fact a real place.

JobBOSS² Shop Management Review: Details, Features

We like JobBOSS² for its modern, user-friendly interface and high level of automation for purchase orders and job scheduling.

Updated September 26th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Best Discrete Manufacturing Software

Discrete manufacturing software streamlines the manufacturing process by managing supply chains, tracking inventory, and scheduling production. Find top products today.

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 8 Infor CloudSuite Industrial Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 9 SYSPRO Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 8 Epicor Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 9 Sage Intacct Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 8 Workday ERP Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 9 Acumatica Alternatives and Competitors

Updated September 25th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Understanding CRM and ERP Integration

Updated September 22nd, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Managing Multiple ERP Systems: Benefits and Challenges

Updated September 22nd, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
ECI M1 Review: Pros, Cons, Features

We like ECI M1 for its powerful scheduling module, built-in payroll capabilities, and multi-location inventory management.

Updated September 21st, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
QuickBooks Online Review: Pros, Cons, Features

We like QuickBooks Online for its robust integrations, intuitive user interface, and powerful invoicing.

Updated September 19th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
NetSuite ERP Review: Pros, Cons, Features

We like NetSuite for its advanced features, extensive customization, and powerful integrations. NetSuite offers industry-specific software editions to generate leading practice reports and boost out-of-the-box functionality.

Updated September 18th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Benefits of Implementing a University ERP

Updated September 18th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Are the Types of Enterprise Systems?

Updated September 18th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Understanding the Different Types of ERP Systems

Updated September 18th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Epicor Kinetic Review: Ratings and Features

We like Kinetic for its extensive product configuration, discrete manufacturing capabilities, and powerful customizations. Kinetic offers comprehensive business rules to manage sub-assemblies and other aspects of product configuration.

Updated September 15th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
IoT and ERP Integration: Benefits and Challenges

Updated September 15th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Infor CloudSuite Industrial

We like Infor CloudSuite Industrial for its robust bill of materials features, highly customizable reports, and modern design. This ERP solution allows users to create or edit existing BOMs quickly.

Updated September 15th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Sage 50cloud Accounting

We like Sage 50c for its powerful job costing and sophisticated financial reporting. This software allows you to customize reports specific to your industry, including construction, distribution, and manufacturing.

Updated September 14th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What is Business Intelligence?

Business intelligence is a technological infrastructure that compiles, parses, and turns data into actionable information. Learn how BI works and view examples.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Amortization vs. Depreciation: Key Differences

Amortization writes off the cost of an intangible asset over its useful life, while depreciation tracks loss in value for tangible assets—view formulas, examples, and differences.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
How to Calculate Manufacturing Overhead Costs Step by Step

Calculate manufacturing overhead costs by summing up your facility’s indirect expenses. View examples and formulas and learn how to calculate predetermined overhead rate.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Power BI Dashboards 101: Learn from 8 Top Examples

Jumpstart your dashboard with these eight Power BI examples, then learn nine best practices for building a clean and concise design with actionable insights.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Is Inventory Shrinkage? Causes, Examples, and Prevention

Inventory shrinkage occurs when actual inventory levels are lower than your accounting records. Learn about causes, prevention, and how to calculate shrinkage rate with examples.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Understanding Dropshipping and How To Get Started

Dropshipping is where a retailer relies on a third-party supplier for inventory and order fulfillment. Find out how you can leverage this low-risk business model for your store.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Guide To Calculating Fixed Asset Depreciation

Depreciation is an accounting practice of allocating the cost of an asset over its useful life.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Why Is Quality Control Important in Manufacturing?

Quality control is a set of procedures that ensures mass-produced goods meet predefined quality standards. Learn QC benefits, methods, and its role in quality management.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
A Guide to Variance Reports: Definition and Examples

A variance report is a planning document that compares budgeted amounts for expenses and revenue to actual results. View examples and learn how to write a report.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What is a Master Production Schedule | Guide and Examples

A master production schedule is a plan manufacturers use to determine product types, quantities, and output. Learn how to prepare an MPS, view examples, and download templates.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Is Software Testing?

Software testing is the process of assessing a software application to evaluate its functionality and verify that it meets user expectations. Review common types and techniques.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Is Rough-cut Capacity Planning?

Rough-cut capacity planning (RCCP) helps manufacturers determine whether they have the necessary labor and raw materials—or capacity—to meet planned production.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
The Pros and Cons of Customizing Your ERP System

ERP customization can benefit your business, but it’s easy to over-customize. Learn about the best practices, pros, and cons of customization.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Companies Use ERP Software?

ERP streamlines processes, empowers decision-making, and provides real-time data. Read on for our top companies utilizing ERP like Amazon, Apple, and Walmart.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
The History and Evolution of ERP Systems: The Past and Future

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has a long and storied past, stretching from manufacturer's ledger books in the 1940s to the integrated suite of business applications we know today.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
MRP vs. MPS: What’s the Difference?

A master production schedule (MPS) is a plan based on independent demand, and MRP determines production based on dependent demand. Read on for definitions, examples, and diagrams.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Is Off The Shelf Software?

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
What Are The Core Goals and Objectives of ERP?

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
ERP's Role in Managing Human Resources

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
How AI Is Transforming ERP

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
ERP Business Case Guide & Template

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Your Guide to Implementing Microsoft Dynamics ERP Software

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Top 8 ERP Solutions for Startups

Growing businesses can leverage an ERP solution for risk mitigation and forecasting. Read on for our 8 ERP picks for startups like Acumatica, Odoo, and more.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Leasecake Review: Ratings, Pros, Cons

Leasecake is a tech enabled real estate services firm and is the operating system of lease and location management for commercial real estate. They help multi-location owners/operators stay ahead of every business-critical, time-sensitive event through a centralized, proactive, and collaborative platform. Using their consumer-centric and mobile-fir

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
AccountingSuite Review: Cost, Pros, Cons

We like AccountingSuite because it's a competitively-priced option offering advanced functionalities beyond financial management.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Zoho Books Review: Pros, Cons, Pricing

We like Zoho Books for its modern and responsive user interface, powerful integrations, and affordability compared to other accounting solutions.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
FreshBooks Review: Costs, Features, Pros, Cons

We like FreshBooks' ease of use, accessibility, and pipeline approach to simple accounting tasks. For example, you can easily convert a proposal or estimate into an invoice or project.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Workwise Edition

Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Workwise Edition is an intelligent ERP that can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud. The solution is primarily used by manufacturers who need complete visibility into their shop floor and delivery operations in order to improve efficiencies, manage complexity, and grow their business. @youtube The Aptean Indus

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Dynamics 365 Business Central Review

Get a complete business and financial management solution for small and medium-sized businesses. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central makes ordering, selling, invoicing, and reporting easier--starting on day one.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman
Sage Intacct Review: Ratings, Pros, Cons

We like Sage Intacct for its multi-entity financial reporting, powerful integrations, and industry-specific services. For example, Intacct offers out-of-the-box functionality, from comprehensive fund accounting to healthcare financial management.

Updated September 13th, 2023 • By Sydney Hoffman