FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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About Profile ES
What is Profile ES?
Profile ES is a complete desktop ERP and MES system built for independent business owners and small manufacturers across the USA. The name comes from the idea of profiling your business — understanding exactly how it works — and building a system around that profile. ES stands for Enterprise Systems. Profile ES connects every part of your operation — sales, purchasing, inventory, accounting, HR, payroll, production, and reporting — into one single Connected system.
What is the difference between ERP and MES?
ERP — Enterprise Resource Planning — is the business management layer. It handles sales, purchasing, inventory, accounting, HR, and reporting. Every business needs ERP regardless of whether it manufactures anything. MES — Manufacturing Execution System — adds the shop floor layer on top of ERP. It manages work orders, production scheduling, real-time production tracking, bill of materials, production costing, quality control, shop floor data collection, and equipment maintenance. Profile ES delivers both in one system — so manufacturers get complete coverage from the front office to the shop floor without needing two separate software systems.
Is Profile ES cloud-based or desktop?
Profile ES is a desktop application at its core — meaning it runs directly on your workstations rather than through a browser. Your critical business data is stored on your own system or private cloud, not on a public web portal. This gives you the speed and reliability of a desktop application with the flexibility of cloud access when you need it. For businesses that want e-commerce or field service capabilities, an optional web application layer connects directly to the same Profile ES database — so your web-facing operations and your desktop operations always share the same data in real time.
What operating systems does Profile ES run on?
Profile ES runs on Windows natively. For businesses with team members using Mac or Linux, Profile ES can be deployed on those platforms using the WINE compatibility layer. This means your entire team can access the same system regardless of which operating system they use — without being forced into a browser-based solution or compromising your data security.
How is Profile ES different from other ERP systems?
Most ERP systems available today are cloud-based SaaS products — meaning your data lives on someone else's server, accessible through a browser, and subject to monthly subscription fees that increase as your business grows. Profile ES is different in three important ways. First, your data stays on your system — not on a public web portal. Second, Profile ES is built on a codebase with over 45 years of real-world enterprise refinement, production-tested across hundreds of independent businesses. Third, Profile ES is customized around how your business actually works — not the other way around. You are not forced to change your processes to fit the software.
About Your Options
What is the difference between the three options?
Accelerated Design offers three paths depending on your situation. Out of the Box Profile ES is the complete, proven system configured to your business during setup — no custom development required. Customized Profile ES starts with the same proven foundation and adds custom development tailored specifically to your workflow, terminology, and reporting needs. Custom Business Software is a purpose-built system designed from the ground up to solve a specific problem or clear a procedural bottleneck — for businesses that need a surgical fix rather than a full ERP system. A free consultation will help determine which path is the right fit for your business.
How do I know which option is right for my business?
That is exactly what the free consultation is for. We talk about your business — your current systems, your pain points, your workflow, and your goals — and together we determine which path makes the most sense. There is no sales pressure and no commitment required. If we are not the right fit for your situation, we will tell you honestly.
Can I start with one option and move to another later?
Yes. Many clients start with Custom Business Software to solve an immediate bottleneck and later grow into Profile ES as their operation expands. Clients on Out of the Box Profile ES can add custom development at any time as their needs evolve. No path closes any doors — your system grows with your business.
About the Process
What happens during a free consultation?
We talk about your business — not our product. The consultation is a conversation about your current situation, your challenges, and what you are trying to achieve. There are no budget questions, no sales pitch, and no obligation. The goal is to understand your business well enough to determine whether we are the right fit for each other. If we are, we move forward with a detailed fixed price proposal. If we are not, we will tell you that too.
How long does implementation take?
Implementation time depends on the complexity of your project and which option you choose. Out of the Box Profile ES can be configured and deployed relatively quickly. Customized Profile ES and Custom Business Software projects are scoped individually and given a delivery date as part of the fixed price proposal. Accelerated Design has never missed a delivery deadline in 25 years of operation.
What does a fixed price quote include?
A fixed price quote from Accelerated Design covers everything required to deliver your system as specified — configuration, development, testing, and deployment. There are no hidden fees, no scope creep charges, and no surprises. You know exactly what you are getting and exactly what it costs before any work begins. If your requirements change during development, any additions are quoted separately before work proceeds.
What if my needs change during development?
Accelerated Design uses a development methodology that combines Rapid Application Development (RAD) with Agile Development. This means you see working software early and often — not at the end of a long development cycle. Changes and refinements are identified and addressed during development, not after deployment. If new requirements emerge that fall outside the original scope, they are quoted separately and transparently before any additional work begins.
About Security and Data
Where is my business data stored?
Your Profile ES data is stored in a PostgreSQL database on your own system or private cloud — not on a shared public server. You choose the deployment configuration that fits your infrastructure and security requirements. Options include a local cloud within your facility, a private cloud connecting multiple locations, or a combination of both. A recovery system can also be configured to ensure your business keeps running even if your primary connection goes down.
Is my data exposed through a web portal?
No. The core Profile ES desktop system never exposes your data through a public web portal. Your critical business data — pricing, costs, vendor sources, customer records — stays in your control, behind your doors. For businesses that choose the optional web application layer for e-commerce or field services, that web layer is purpose-built to provide only what customers and field staff need. Sensitive business intelligence never surfaces on the web-facing side.
Who has access to my data?
Profile ES includes role-based security that gives you complete control over who sees what. Every user is assigned a role that determines which parts of the system they can access. Features that are not relevant to your operation can be disabled entirely. Accelerated Design does not have ongoing access to your data after deployment — your system is yours.
About Support
What kind of support do you provide after launch?
Accelerated Design provides ongoing support after every deployment. Support covers system issues, user questions, and ongoing development as your business evolves. We do not hand you off to a help desk after go-live — the same team that built your system continues to support it.
Who do I contact when I need help?
When you call Accelerated Design, you reach a project admin who knows your system — not a generic help desk agent reading from a script. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because we build and maintain your system ourselves, we can resolve issues faster and more accurately than any third-party support team could.
About the Optional Web Application
What is the optional web application?
The optional web application is a Drupal-based web layer that connects directly to the same PostgreSQL database that powers your Profile ES desktop system. This is not an integration — it is a direct connection. The web application supports e-commerce for customer-facing online sales and field service dispatch for mobile field teams. Every order placed through the web application lands instantly in SalesCentral, your single source of truth, and triggers FlashFulfillment — alerting your fulfillment team the moment a new order arrives. No batch uploads, no manual transfers, no delay.
Can I keep my existing e-commerce platform?
Yes. Profile ES can facilitate the transfer of sales orders from your current e-commerce platform into the desktop system. However businesses that choose the optional Profile ES web application gain an important advantage — new orders are received and visible to your fulfillment team immediately, without any manual download or transfer step. If your current e-commerce platform requires you to periodically download and import orders, switching to the optional web application eliminates that process entirely.
Still have questions? We welcome them.
Educated buyers are our best clients. Reach out and ask us anything about your situation — no sales pressure, no obligation.
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