An Introduction to Build – A Cloud Based App
We’re going to explore the Boyum cloud platform, but only the build product, and really understand what it can provide, who needs it, and so on.
Let’s just start with a general question. And can you just explain what volume cloud is?
Boyum cloud is the platform for our new product family.
Each product has a focus on a particular persona. The products are out-of-the-box apps, follow a best practice approach, and is implemented within one day. What makes our products valuable additions to better support specific personas in the supply chain.
As you said, you have a few other products developed in the Boyum cloud platform. How many products have Boyum It developed so far on the cloud platform?
We have three different products. We have Build, which we’re going to talk about it today. We have Produce, and we have Inspect. As I mentioned earlier, each product supports a different persona per different departments in the company.
That’s really interesting because it is a different set of products than what we used to have. So, let’s talk about Build. Can you explain what problems does it solve, for example?
Yes. So, build helps the product manager since they have a straightforward way to manage the products. It works like a small PDM.
So, let’s take a step backward. What is Build? It’s a cloud app with specific functionalities that fit the product manager, right?
That’s absolutely correct. So, anybody who works with new items or a new bill of material.
Usually, it is the product management department or the product owner. It’s all about changing and adding a new bill of material.
And the beauty of this app is that you can do a cost calculation. You can work on this product. And before you actually upload it to SAP Business One, you can do pre-cost calculations on a new bill of material.
Then you upload it to SAP Business One once you are okay with everything. So, you can ensure you have included the labor cost and calculated material cost correctly.
So, does Build builds bills of materials with all the relevant information?
Yes. That’s correct. So, product managers can build a bill of material step by step. For example, I am sending you a request to make this item. So, you have the request.
You can input the raw material for this item via Excel or from a CAD solution. Configure the operation plan, which are the steps you have to take to build this item and calculate the product cost and the sales price. Then you release the product and make it available in SAP Business One. Once you’re ready to say yes, I’m done with it.
What makes this product unique from other solutions you can find in the market?
So, it has a very user-friendly interface and provides the product management department with additional tools.
They can have different statuses for the bill of materials while building it.
Based on the different statuses, they can create tasks for themselves.
When product managers build a massive bill of material, they always have to return to the customer and ask questions. With Build, they can set up tasks for themselves. For example, to follow up on specific specs for this product.
And they can E attach documents while building this bill of material. So again, let’s go back, you’re building something for me, and I’m going to send you maybe a picture or other specs with my request. So, product managers can also add attachments.
And the last thing, it’s a cloud-based app. So, you can access it from anywhere on a web browser or a tablet. You don’t have to log onto SAP Business One. You can access it from anywhere you’re at as long you have internet.
So how does this cloud app connect with SAP Business One? As you mentioned, no login to SAP is required. You can just work on Build, and it will sync into SAP Business One?
That’s an excellent question. And I get it all the time. So, the application connects through the SAP Business One service layer. So basically, you connect to the app, synchronize it the first time when you configure it, and you’re ready to go.
Of course, the beauty is that it is real-time, and you are always up to date with the data. You can download the Build app, connect it to the SAP Business One database, and that’s it. You can start working.
I understand what Build is now. I understand how it integrates. Now let’s talk about functionality and answer some of the questions you get in your demos. The first question that I will focus on is this “I’m already working with SAP Business One. I have the bill of materials, and maybe I need to revise them or create them from scratch. Am I able to change the existing bill of materials or just add new bills of materials? Can I add items to the existing bill of materials?
And then, after we create the new bill of materials, can I import the items or complete the bill of material from the CAD system via Excel?
Yes. So that’s an excellent question. So, if you already have a bill of material in SAP Business One, you have access to it also in the Build app.
You can pull it up, and you can change it right there. Again, you don’t need to log on to SAP Business One. You can do it right in Build.
You can also pull up those existing bills of material and still do cost calculations, which is the beauty of it. Let’s say you change one raw material because that material was discontinued. So, you can pull that up an existing bill of material and do cost calculations.
You can change the existing bill of materials, and you can also create new items. So, if you have a new raw material, you can create it in Build. It’s a faster way to build new items because you can set up templates. You don’t have to fill in all those fields in SAP Business One because it uses templates to create these new items and new bills of materials.
As mentioned earlier, you can add attachments, create tasks, and import data from Excel. It is an effortless way to create raw material for the new bill of material.
You can copy a bill of material when you have a similar bill of material to create with minor changes.
You don’t need to switch back to SAP Business One to do something or find some kind of information. It will all be accessible on the Built app.
What are the benefits of having this functionality accessible in the cloud versus an SAP Business One client?
Well, this is the future. And the sooner you get started, the quicker you are ahead of the rest of the world. It is a significant change for a lot of companies to go cloud based. It is hard to change, especially when people are used to having their own hardware and add-ons.
Like with anything new, it’s always hard to change. But with cloud-based applications, you reduce hardware and software maintenance for the company. You do not have to go through any upgrades or installations. Your IT cost will decrease tremendously.
Since there is less maintenance, it supports environmental productivity cutting down on paper waste. We all like that. And reducing computer-related emissions, since it allows employees, users to access from anywhere with an internet connection, as I mentioned earlier.
So that brings another question that we have not covered. Does the Cloud Apps work as a standalone to SAP Business One, or does it have to work with Beas Manufacturing or another product from Boyum IT?
Cloud Apps supports SAP Business One basics. Combined with other cloud-based apps, it gives the customer added value.
As a solution provider, Boyum IT is known as a company that fills in the gap for SAP Business One. And yes, our cloud-based apps are also filling gaps SAP Business One is missing.
If you are a Beas Manufacturing customer, you would not need our cloud apps. Beas Manufacturing is a full-blown manufacturing product. Boyum cloud apps are not a replacement for Beas Manufacturing either. I do get this question a lot from different customers.
As for Produmex WMS, there will be an integration very soon. So you can use our cloud products with Produmex WMS.
Suppose you have Produmex Scan, which is a scanner to do your inventory transfers and transactions. In that case, you can work it with our cloud apps because we also support SAPs transactions.
What is the implementation effort to get the system up and running?
As I mentioned earlier, the installation and implementation efforts are minimal. All you need to do is connect the database, synchronize it the first time you use it, and you’re good to go.
Of course, some training is involved, but we get great feedback from customers on how intuitive it is. And everybody likes the look and feel.
You know, you mentioned something about training and material online. Is it included in our e-Learning platform?
Yes, absolutely. We do have videos in our e-Learning platform. We also have some videos already on YouTube if you want to check them out.
And the other thing is we also have a help center where all the videos are listed. And the other thing is to sign up for our newsletter, to sign up for our regular webinars. So please sign up for our newsletter also.
What is the license requirement for having Build installed?
That’s a crucial topic because, as I told you, Build is standalone app. You access it with a browser, and you’re connected to your SAP Business One.
So, the cloud apps are designed so that you really do not have to log on to SAP Business One. However, you need at least an SAP Business One indirect license because that connects to your database.
Suppose you already have an SAP Business One professional or CRM license. In that case, you do not need an additional license.
So, it all sounds really great. If customers want to find out more about it or see a demo. What should they do? Where should they go?
If you are interested, want to see the products, or talk with anybody, please email us at sales@, and we will definitely get back to you. We’ll be more than happy to speak with you about the products. boyum-it.com
We also have a success story already out there from customers. So anything you guys need about our volume cloud products, please contact us. We’ll be more than happy to meet with you.