ERP Configuration Platform Automating Customized Report Generation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The process of deploying customized enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is inefficient due to the tedious and time-consuming task of generating documentation that requires searching and matching information from multiple sources, wasting computing resources and leading to customer inquiries and support needs.

Innovation Solution

A configuration platform that receives operational, customization, and test result data from ERP software, processes this data to identify configured tasks and links with customization tables, generating a report that includes task functions, modifications, and considerations, thereby reducing resource waste and providing comprehensive documentation to customers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If manual processes are used to search and match information from multiple sources to generate documentation, then comprehensive documentation can be created, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocumentation completenessVSAvoiddocumentation generation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates documentation by having the ERP software self-report its configuration data, customization tables, and operational information through standardized interfaces. This eliminates the need for manual information gathering while maintaining complete and accurate documentation of all software configurations and customizations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The ERP software continuously maintains and updates configuration data, customization tables, and operational information in structured formats during normal operation. This preliminary organization of data ensures that when documentation is needed, all information is already prepared and readily available for automatic generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If manual documentation processes are used, then comprehensive software configuration information can be captured, but computing resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration information captureVSAvoidcomputing resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The ERP software automatically generates documentation using its own internal data structures and configuration information. The system self-services by extracting, organizing, and formatting documentation without requiring external manual intervention, thereby capturing complete configuration information while minimizing additional computing resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates documentation by copying and formatting existing configuration data, customization tables, and operational information that already exist in structured formats within the ERP system. This copying approach ensures complete information capture while avoiding the computational overhead of manual data processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If detailed tracking of software configuration and customization is implemented, then comprehensive documentation is generated, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoftware configuration trackingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ERP software uses universal data structures and standardized interfaces that serve multiple functions: they support normal software operation, track configuration changes, maintain customization tables, and generate documentation. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by avoiding separate specialized systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration tracking system is segmented into distinct, manageable components: operational data structures, customization tables, configuration parameters, and documentation templates. Each segment handles specific aspects of configuration tracking independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3792851A1Configuring enterprise resource planning software and generating a customized report about software configuration
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LTD
  • EP3792851A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3792851A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3792851A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A device may receive operational data associated with software provided by an enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, and may receive customization tables associated with the software provided by the ERP platform. The device may receive configuration data associated with the software provided by the ERP platform, and may receive test result data associated with the software provided by the ERP platform. The device may process the operational data, based on the configuration data, to identify a set of tasks, from tasks performed by the software, that have been configured, and may determine a plurality of links between the set of tasks and a plurality of customization tables, of the customization tables, based on the test result data. The device may perform one or more actions based on the operational data, the plurality of customization tables, the configuration data, and the plurality of links.