What is IFS?

Industrial and Financial Systems.

As software systems become more sophisticated, functionality becomes more complex. Individual systems, used by different functions within an organisation grow increasingly isolated and interoperability suffers. To resolve this problem, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, integrate internal and external management information across the organisation. ERP systems use integrated applications to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions and can also manage the connections to outside stakeholders. ERP systems can include components that will help a business manage Finance, HR, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Projects and Customer Relationship functions.

According to Gartner Dataquest, the top 5 ERP vendors accounted for around 90% of the entire market share with sales revenue totalling nearly $6bn. Vendors like SAP, Microsoft, IFS, Oracle and Sage operate in this market.

IFS is the vendor of an ERP solution known as IFS Applications^TM – a single product that combines best-of-breed solutions with a suite of component-based ERP software. This user-friendly software lets users anticipate changes in technology and business. IFS also runs an active User Group, which promotes and facilitates the exchange of information and opinions about the software and other common IFS user issues. It organises regular meetings, seminars and workshops on IFS related subjects and acts as the channel through which IFS UK communicates with its users.

In addition, UK user issues and enhancement proposals are co-ordinated through the User Group to influence future application development. Cooper Software is an official IFS Business Partner and has sponsored the IFS User Group annual general meeting since 2009.