Hosted ERP Software

How Hosted ERP Software Works

Cloud-based / SaaS / Hosted

The term hosted is often used interchangeably with the term SaaS (Software as a Service) or cloud-based and is used to describe an implementation method for software applications. With hosted ERP software, the system and information is installed on servers and equipment managed by the software vendor at the vendor’s data centre. Users then access the system via the cloud (or internet) through various methods (such as RDP connection or a web-browser). With this method, license fees are broken down and paid for usually on a monthly basis and server/hardware management and IT maintenance are the responsibility of the software vendor. Blue Link’s hosted ERP software for distributors is a subscription-based service with payments occurring monthly and no up-front licensing fees. This greatly reduces the upfront costs of implementing a new software solution. Monthly fees also cover the cost of annual upgrades and warranty. Hosted/SaaS or cloud implementations allow your employees to access the full Blue Link ERP software package remotely via the internet through an RDP connection. It does not require you to set up your own servers and eliminates the need to purchase additional hardware. What is ERP?

Worried About the Safety of Your Data?

With an on-premises software installation, your entire business software and data is managed on your own, internal servers. Employees are responsible for saving data on their computers, USBs or portable hard drives. Even with your own security measures in place, this is not as safe as it sounds. Break-ins happen, computers are rarely backed up properly, floods and fire risks are a real concern and it’s unlikely that everyone’s machines are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Instead, with Blue Link’s hosted ERP your data is stored on secure, always-updated, backed-up, enterprise-class servers in multiple state-of-the-art, highly-secure data centers strategically placed in multiple cities.

Our Secure Data Centre

Your Data is Always Safe with Us

Blue Link’s state-of-the-art hardware and server equipment resides at a facility designed to Tier III data center standards, located in Mississauga, ON. Our servers are protected in buildings with biometric entrance, 24-hour surveillance, robust disaster recovery plans, fire protection, cooling systems…and the list goes on. Our software and hardware is updated regularly with the latest security patches and firewall protection. The data center features redundant internet connections, redundant data storage, climate control, and provides 99.9% up-time to keep your data safe and business running.

Cloud-based FAQ

Is my data safe?
One of the biggest benefits of hosted ERP software is that your data is often far safer than it ever would be if you kept it on-location at your place of business. There are typically two main areas of concern: (1) security and the act of managing risk, and (2) privacy and the appropriate use of information. When it comes to security, most small/medium size businesses are not equipped with the proper level of disaster prevention systems, nor do they have the same level of safety measures in place at their different locations. The benefit of Blue Link’s hosted solution is that, if your entire business was to encounter a disaster such as a fire, your system would still be accessible and all your data would be safely running in our data centre. When it comes to data privacy, Blue Link makes sure that sensitive information is being encrypted and provides advanced security via programs such as anti-malware, anti-virus and provides 24/7 monitoring services.
Do I own my data?
Although with cloud-based/hosted solutions your data is physically located outside of your organization, it is still owned by your company. In addition to backups performed by Blue Link, backups can also be deployed locally and in the event that your business decides to move systems or close operations, we will work with your team to get your data back in a format that works best for you.
What happens if I stop using Blue Link ERP?
In the event that your business decides to move systems or close operations (hopefully neither!), our team will work with you to get your data back in the format that makes the most sense for your business.

How do I connect to Blue Link ERP?
To access Blue Link ERP, users connect to the software via an RDP connection. Essentially, RDP allows a user at a remote computer to log into a server or a specific computer on a network over an internet connection. Therefore, your employees will log into Blue Link ERP over the internet using an RDP client. This allows you to run software (in this case Blue Link) that requires powerful processors and lots of memory from your own, minimally configured workstation.
What happens if I lose my internet connection on a regular basis?
If you lose your internet connection on a regular basis, and do not have access to better services, than Blue Link’s cloud-based solution will not work for your business.
What is the difference between Web-Based and Hosted deployment methods?
The main difference between Web-Based and Hosted deployment methods is how you access the software. With Web-Based, you access the software with just an internet connection and a web browser. With Hosted software, users access the system via the cloud through various methods (such as RDP Connection or a web browser.) View our infographic to learn more.

Benefits of Hosted ERP

When you use Blue Link’s hosted ERP software, you don’t need to worry about the technical side of things. Instead, you get to just do your work. We handle all of the security, back-ups, upgrades and other “IT stuff” and keep your data safe and secure, so that you can focus on what’s most important for your distribution business. The benefits of a hosted implementation include:

No large upfront cash outlay
Infrastructure and hardware costs are pushed to the software vendor (Blue Link)
No more worrying about backups
Painless, annual upgrades
Increased access to expert support (in lieu of an IT department)
Remote access from anywhere with an internet connection
Improved security and reliability (malware protection, database back-ups and secure methods of connection)
Increased up-time and redundancy
Immediate or quick access to a broad range of applications
Monthly fees include warranty costs

Your data is backed up automatically every day

Daily backups, and even better, our backups are stored in multiple physical locations for further security and redundancy. You never have to worry about losing your data – we have a dedicated team of people to manage your data, your systems and your software every day.

Access all of your data in one place

A major benefit to hosted software is that all your data is centralized and accessible over the internet from any computer, at any time. You don’t need to worry about storing data in multiple places, on multiple devices. Instead, you can access your data and systems from anywhere with an internet connection.

You can work from home, from the office or on the road

Speaking of accessing the software from anywhere, Blue Link’s hosted ERP is secure even when not in the office. When you use cloud-based ERP software, your office is everywhere. At work, at home, at a customer’s office, a hotel – anywhere you have internet, you can access Blue Link. As part of our security features, we help you access the system through a VPN when you’re working remotely – which means even more security no matter where you are.

You’re always using the latest and greatest technology

Unlike on-premises software which puts the upgrade process on you, our hosted ERP software is updated on an annual basis by our in-house team of experts. We plan annual, scheduled upgrades to make sure you’re on the latest version of the system and always using the most up-to-date technology.

No more hardware or servers

Blue Link’s hosted software lives on our servers – so you don’t need to worry about managing your own equipment. This means you don’t need to maintain any equipment in-house or worry about costly maintenance and upgrades. Instead of spending money on expensive equipment and the people required to manage said equipment, you can put it towards something better….like a pool table for your team. Or an ice cream machine.

We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk

We use our software every day. For managing leads, for accounting purposes, for reporting and analysis, project management and more. And we store all of our sensitive and confidential data on the same servers that our customers use. We trust our security policies and run our entire business on the systems we sell.

I wanted to let you know that we are very happy (now that all is up and running) with ‘phase one’ of the upgrade. The new Windows program has clearly made a difference in speed within the BL environment just as you said it would. I would like to thank you very much for all your help! You patiently explain everything to us and do a great job helping us to fix issues (like the ones we had today) when we need it! It is clear that you are an expert at what you do and an asset to clients like us. Thanks again for all of your help!

Michelle Crossan

VP Operations, ECS Coffee

Cloud-based/Hosted Deployment

With Blue Link’s cloud-based/hosted implementation, the software is implemented and managed on dedicated Blue Link servers, with data being accessed and managed via the cloud (over the internet). Clients access the system off premises via the internet through an RDP connection and pay an on-going monthly fee to Blue Link. With this method, hosting the software and maintaining hardware, backups and upgrades is the responsibility of Blue Link and so no hardware purchases are required by your business. Maintenance fees for upgrades and warranty are included in monthly fees.

Our Secure Data Centre

Blue Link’s equipment resides at a facility designed to Tier III data centre standards, located in Mississauga, ON. The flagship facility is purpose built and equipped with 2N power, cooling and connectivity infrastructure and an indoor generator facility located off-site for added redundancy, providing high levels of reliability and support. The data centre and Blue Link’s server setup employ the latest and greatest in hosting technology and gives customers peace of mind that their data is safe. Blue Link’s disaster recovery plan includes managing data from multiple physical site locations with extensive backup power. In the event of a blackout, the data centre has two times the generation capacity required to run the entire building – so even if one set of generators fail the other set can still run everything. Still Don’t Trust the Cloud?

Data Centre Features

Up to 4.8 MW total power available with full redundancy
Clean power supplied by double conversion UPS
2N backup power infrastructure, from two municipal diverse hydro substations dedicated to the complex
Redundant A/B power pre-configured in every cabinet
Automatic fail-overs

Cooling Systems:

Raised floor warm aisle, cold aisle configuration
2N cooling infrastructure

Fire Suppression:

FM-200 pre-action fire suppression system
Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA)
Complex outfitted with proper fire and smoke alarm system

Security:

Multi-factor access authentication
24/7 video monitoring and manned security
24/7 monitoring by Network Operations Centre
Security professional at the complex main entrance
Secure loading dock area

Disaster Recover:

In the event of a disaster at the East Coast Data Center, Blue Link has procedures in place to fail over to a different data center located on the West Coast
Disaster recovery time (RTO) is 2-4 hours, with a recovery point (RPO) of 15 minutes (achieved through continuous replication)

Your Data is Safe with Blue Link

99.9% server up-time (scheduled maintenance with 48 hours notice)
Rendudant power, processors and harddrives
Automatic fail-over – if a server fails, another kicks in immediately
Optional Blue Link Database backup to your site available
Backup generators and Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS)
Climate controlled to eliminate overheating
3-level security – BioMetric, PIN code & Access Card – 24/7 Monitoring
State of the art fire detection & suppression systems

As a Blue Link hosted customer you are always in warranty. Any system down issues are prioritized, and the data center is monitored 24/7 by Blue Link and a 3rd party company. Our up-time record over the past 9 years has consistently been better than major cloud providers.

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Cloud-based / SaaS Software

How Hosted ERP Software Works

Cloud-based / SaaS / Hosted

Worried About the Safety of Your Data?

Explainer Video: What is Hosted ERP?

Our Secure Data Centre

Your Data is Always Safe with Us

Cloud-based FAQ

Benefits of Hosted ERP

Your data is backed up automatically every day

Access all of your data in one place

You can work from home, from the office or on the road

You’re always using the latest and greatest technology

No more hardware or servers

We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk

Is Blue Link ERP the Right Fit?

Data Centre Features – Your Data is Safe with Blue Link

Cloud-based/Hosted Deployment

Our Secure Data Centre

Data Centre Features

Your Data is Safe with Blue Link

More Cloud-Based Resources

Cloud Computing with RDP

The Real Cost of On-Premises Software

Still Don’t Trust the Cloud?

Resources

Company

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