On-Premise, Private Cloud and Web: Set Up Profile ES Your Way
Think of your business as two parts. A storefront faces your customers, for sales and customer service. A back office is where ordering, receiving, inventory, production, shipping and billing happen.
Profile ES keeps the back office at the office, on your own desktop client-server network, and gives you a storefront when you need one. Start with what you need today and add locations, remote staff, a web storefront or field teams as you grow.
Every option on this page fits together in one system.
Why Desktop Client-Server
Profile ES is installed software that runs on your own network, on-premise or in your own private cloud.
Fast on Your Own Network
Work runs over your local network, so screens, searches, inventory updates and reports respond right away.
Your Data on Your Servers
Your business data lives in an open-source PostgreSQL database on servers you control, with no proprietary lock-in.
Own It Instead of Renting It
There is no per-seat monthly subscription. You own your installation, so adding people does not add a monthly bill.
Start Simple, Grow as You Need
Ways to Set Up Profile ES
Each option builds on the one before it, and most businesses combine two or three. Select any picture to see it larger.
Your Back Office
Isolated Facility
Everything stays in one building. Every workstation talks to your own Local Cloud server over your private network, with nothing on the internet.
- Works fully offline
- A Recovery Station on site gets you back to work quickly
- A good fit for one shop with no IT staff
Branch Facilities
Each location runs its own Local Cloud at full speed, and every location stays in step through your Private Cloud.
- Same inventory, customers and books at every location
- Keeps running at full speed if the internet drops
- An off-site copy for backup and recovery
Satellite Office
A few desks and no server room. The office works straight from your Private Cloud, with nothing to maintain on site.
- No server hardware on site
- Same data as every other location
- Simple to open or move
Remote Stations
The full Profile ES desktop client-server application on a laptop, connected through the user's internet service to your Private Cloud on a secure data stream.
- The full software, not a cut-down portal
- Each station has its own secure connection
- Role-based access for each person
Your Storefront and Field Teams
Storefront: Your Web App
Customers order online, check order status and look up pricing through a Web App on your own domain. It works from a limited set of data, never the back office.
- Your own site, not a shared portal
- Online orders flow into Profile ES
- Only the data you choose to publish
Field Teams
Service techs receive jobs on their tablet and log notes, photos and payments on site. Sales reps check pricing and stock and place orders from their phone.
- Jobs dispatched from the office to the tablet
- Receipts emailed from the job site
- Orders flow straight into SalesCentral
Manufacturers and Their Reps
The Manufacturer's View
A manufacturer runs one Profile ES database across its headquarters and plants. Its independent rep firms compete with one another, and each works the territory the manufacturer assigns. Every rep firm keeps its own separate database and its own channel to the manufacturer, so no rep firm sees another's orders or customers.
- When both run Profile ES, orders arrive as electronic packages
- Otherwise, orders come by email, fax or paper
- Confirmations go back by email, fax or paper
- Orders for inventory or drop ship, returns as the manufacturer allows
The Rep Firm's View
A rep firm carries several manufacturers with related lines that don't compete, such as electronics and power and data cable. Each manufacturer assigns the rep firm its own territory. The rep firm's field salespeople write orders in its own Profile ES, and each order goes to the right manufacturer.
- Some rep firms stock and distribute, others pass orders through for drop ship, under each manufacturer's agreement
- Electronic order packages when the manufacturer also runs Profile ES
- Email, fax or paper for every other manufacturer
- Returns sent back as each manufacturer allows