Skip to main content
  • login
  • contact
  • language
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Português
    • Deutsch
    • Italia
    • 简体中文
    • 日本語
  • search
X
    GEP Logo GEP Logo
    • Company  
        • About Us 
        • Culture 
        • Careers 
        • Contact Us 
        • AI-First at GEP
        • Sustainability at GEP

        About Us

        • Leadership
        • Customers
        • Partners
        • News
        • GEP in the News
        • Events
        • Mission & Vision
        • Awards & Recognition
        • Contact Us

        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        Read More
        A Procurement Software Platforms Leader — 4 Years Running

        Tariff Resource Center: Strategies and Action Plans 

        Read More

        Culture

        • Diversity
        • GEP Cares
        • GEP Core Values
        • Women at GEP
        A Procurement Software Platforms Leader — 4 Years Running

        GEP & Xylem Unite to Bring Clean Water to 1,800 in Maharashtra

        Mapping & Reducing Scope 3 Emissions: A Quickstart Guide for Procurement Pros

        GEP & Akshaya Patra: Partnering to Deliver 4 Billion Meals and Fight Hunger Worldwide

        Careers

        • Explore Global Careers Opportunties
        • North American
        • Europe
        • India
        • Latin America
        • Asia-Pacific
        • Join Us
        • GEP Per Se
        • Campus Connect
        TOP EMPLOYER 2025 - USA
        TOP EMPLOYER 2025 - UK
        TOP EMPLOYER 2025 - INDIA
        TOP EMPLOYER 2025 - Costa Rica

        Contact Us

        • Ask Us
        • Request for Proposal
        • Schedule a Demo
        • Share Feeback
        GEP - AMERICA

        GEP in the Americas

        GEP - EUROPE

        GEP in Europe

        GEP - ASIA

        GEP in Asia

        GEP - AFRICA

        GEP in Africa 

        GEP - Middle East

        GEP in the Middle East

        AI-First at GEP

        Sustainability at GEP

    • Solutions  
        • Software 
          • GEP SMART  
          • GEP NEXXE  
          • GEP FINA  
          • GEP QUANTUM  
          • GEP GREEN
        • Strategy 
          • Procurement Consulting  
          • Supply Chain Consulting  
        • Managed Services 
          • Procurement Outsourcing  
          • Supply Chain Outsourcing  

        Software

        GEP SMART

        • Procurement Software
        • Direct Procurement Software
        • Indirect Procurement Software
        • Midsize & High Growth Enterprises

        GEP NEXXE

        • AI-First Supply Chain Management 
        • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution 
        • Supply Chain Planning 
        • Supply Chain Collaboration  

        GEP FINA

        GEP GREEN

        GEP QUANTUM

         

        GEP SMART

        • Procurement Software
        • Direct Procurement Software
        • Indirect Procurement Software
        • Unified Source-to-Pay
        • Source-To-Contract Software
        • Procure-to-Pay
        • GEP SMART for Midsize & High-Growth Enterprises
        • Key Capabilities
        • Spend Analysis
        • Sourcing
        • Contract Lifecycle Management
        • Supplier Lifecycle Management
        • Third-Party Risk Management
        • Purchasing
        • Payments
        • Data Analytics and Reporting
        • Do More With GEP SMART
        • Intake Management & Orchestration
        • Intelligent Category Management
        • Tail Spend Management
        • Cost Data & Analytics (GEP COSTDRIVERS)

        GEP NEXXE

        • AI-First Supply Chain Management
        • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
        • Logistics Visibility  
        • Inventory and Warehouse Management
        • GEP Multienterprise Collaboration Network
        • Supply Chain Control Tower
        • Field Services  
        • Supply Chain Collaboration & Planning  
        • Supply Chain Planning
        • Purchase Order Collaboration  
        • Forecast Collaboration 
        • Capacity Collaboration  
        • Quality Management Software  
        • Should-Cost Modeling
        • Direct Material Sourcing
        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        Read More

        GEP FINA

        • E-Invoice Network
        • E-Invoice Receiving
        • E-Invoice Sending
        • E-Invoicing Compliance
        • Digital Supply Chain
        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        Read More

        GEP QUANTUM

        • AI, ML & Automated Technology
        • AI-Powered Data Analytics
        • Cloud Integration
        • Low-Code Application Development
        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        GEP Is a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Source-to-Pay Suites

        Read More

        Strategy

        Unrivaled supply chain and procurement expertise + the transformative power of AI

        Procurement Consulting

        • Procurement Transformation
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Opportunity Assessment
        • M&A Services

        Supply Chain Consulting

        • Environmental, Social and Governance
        • Sustainability Consulting Services
        • Socially Responsible Sourcing
        • Scope 3
        A Procurement Software Platforms Leader — 4 Years Running

        Tariff Resource Center: Strategies and Action Plans 

        Read More

        Procurement Consulting

        • Procurement Transformation
        • Digital Procurement Transformation
        • Opportunity Assessment
        • M & A Services
        • Strategic Cost Management
        • Supply Risk Management
        6 Strategies for CPG Companies To Supercharge Sales and Operations Planning

        6 Strategies for CPG Companies To Supercharge Sales and Operations Planning

        Read More

        Supply Chain Consulting

        • Environmental, Social and Governance
        • Sustainability Consulting Services
        • Socially Responsible Sourcing
        • Supply Chain Strategy
        • Supply Chain Diagnostics
        • Inventory Optimization
        • Network Optimization
        • GEP Total Inventory Management Solution
        Mapping & Reducing Scope 3 Emissions: A Quickstart Guide for Procurement Pros

        10 Practical Steps To Reduce Scope 3 Emissions

        Read More

        Managed Services

        World-class skills, experience and know-how — amplified by the power of AI

        Procurement Outsourcing

        • Source-to-Contract
        • Spend Analysis 
        • Procure-to-Pay
        • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing

        Supply Chain Outsourcing

        • Planning & Forecasting
        • Inventory Management
        • Logistics Management
        • Supply Chain Data Management
        GEP Named a Leader in Procurement Outsourcing Services

        GEP Named a Leader in Procurement Outsourcing Services

        Read More

        Procurement Outsourcing

        • Source-to-Contract
        • Spend Analysis
        • Strategic Sourcing
        • Category Management
        • Tail-Spend Management
        • Procurement Support Services
        • Procure-to-Pay
        • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
        • Accounts Payable
        GEP Named a Leader in Procurement Outsourcing Services

        GEP Named a Leader in Procurement Outsourcing Services

        Read More

        Supply Chain Outsourcing

        • Planning & Forecasting
        • Inventory Management
        • Logistics Management
        • Supply Chain Data Management
        • Supply Chain Risk Management
        GEP Named a Leader in Procurement Outsourcing Services

        Expanding the Possibilities for Procurement and Supply Chain Management by Using AI

        Read More
    • Industries  
        • Explore by Industry 

        Explore by Industry

        • Automotive
        • Chemicals
        • Consumer Packaged Goods
        • Energy & Utilities
        • Financial Services
        • Government & Nonprofit
        • Industrial Manufacturing
        • Life Sciences
        • Oil & Gas
        • Private Equity
        • Retail
        • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
        • High-Tech
        • Media & Entertainment
        • Software, Social & Platforms
        • Telecom
        • Travel & Hospitality
    • Knowledge Bank  
        • Explore by Topic 
        • Explore by Type 
        • Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

        Explore by Topic

        • Artificial Intelligence
        • Digital Transformation
        • Software & Technology
        • Strategy & Planning
        • Operations
        • Procurement
        • Sustainability
        • Inflation Strategies
        A Procurement Software Platforms Leader — 4 Years Running

        Tariff Resource Center: Strategies and Action Plans 

        Read More

        Explore by Type

        • White Papers
        • Research Reports
        • Bulletin
        • Case Studies
        • Webcasts
        • Blogs
        • Podcasts
        • Insights From the Top
        • Glossary
        Resilience: Delivering Value Amid Volatility

        Resilience: Delivering Value Amid Volatility

        Read More

        Global Supply Chain Volatility Index

    • Careers
      • Join Us
      • GEP Per Se
      • Campus Connect
    • Partners
       
    • GEP Software ›
      • GEP Software
      • ‹ Back
        • GEP SMART ›
          • GEP SMART
          • ‹ Back
            • Procurement Software
            • Direct Procurement Software ›
              • Direct Procurement Software
              • ‹ Back
                • Bill of Materials Management
                • Data Analytics & Reporting
                • Inventory Management
                • Master Data Management
                • Quality Management
                • Supplier Collaboration Portal
                • Supply Chain Operations
            • Indirect Procurement Software ›
              • Indirect Procurement Software
              • ‹ Back
                • Source-to-Contract
                • Savings Project Management
                • Savings Tracking
                • Guided Buying
                • Procurement Portal
                • Catalog Management
                • Order Processing
                • Invoice Management
            • Unified Source-to-Pay
            • Source-To-Contract Software
            • Procure-to-Pay
            • Midsize & High Growth Enterprises
            • Key Capabilities
            • Spend Analysis
            • Sourcing
            • Contract Lifecycle Management
            • Supplier Lifecycle Management
            • Third-Party Risk Management
            • Purchasing
            • Payments
            • Data Analytics and Reporting
            • Do more with GEP SMART
            • Intake Management & Orchestration
            • Intelligent Category Management
            • Tail Spend Management
            • Cost Data & Analytics (GEP COSTDRIVERS)
        • GEP NEXXE ›
          • GEP NEXXE
          • ‹ Back
            • AI-First Supply Chain Management
            • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution ›
              • Supply Chain Visibility and Execution
              • ‹ Back
                • Inventory and Warehouse Management
                • Control Tower
            • Logistics Visibility
            • Inventory and Warehouse Management
            • GEP Multienterprise Collaboration Network
            • Supply Chain Control Tower
            • Field Services
            • Supply Chain Collaboration & Planning ›
              • Supply Chain Collaboration & Planning
              • ‹ Back
                • Purchase Order Collaboration
                • Quality Collaboration
            • Supply Chain Planning ›
              • Supply Chain Planning
              • ‹ Back
                • Demand Planning
                • Supply Chain Bill of Materials
                • Supply Planning
            • Purchase Order Collaboration
            • Forecast Collaboration
            • Capacity Collaboration
            • Quality Management Software
            • Should-Cost Modeling
            • Direct Material Sourcing
        • GEP FINA ›
          • GEP FINA
          • ‹ Back
            • E-Invoice Network
            • E-Invoice Receiving
            • E-Invoice Sending
            • E-Invoicing Compliance
            • Digital Supply Chain
        • GEP QUANTUM ›
          • GEP QUANTUM
          • ‹ Back
            • AI, ML & Automated Technology
            • AI-Powered Data Analytics
            • Cloud Integration
            • Low-Code Application Development
        • GEP GREEN
        • Innovation ›
          • Innovation
          • ‹ Back
            • Emerging Technologies
            • Native to Cloud
            • Native to Mobile
            • One Unified Platform
            • Security
            • User-Centric Design
    • GEP Strategy ›
      • GEP Strategy
      • ‹ Back
        • Procurement Consulting ›
          • Procurement Consulting
          • ‹ Back
            • Procurement Transformation ›
              • Procurement Transformation
              • ‹ Back
                • Procurement Strategy
                • Org. Design & Implementation
                • Capability Building
                • Change Management
                • Governance & Performance
                • Processes & Policies
                • S2P Operations
                • Sourcing & Category Management
                • Technology
            • Digital Procurement Transformation
            • Opportunity Assessment
            • M&A Services ›
              • M&A Services
              • ‹ Back
                • M&A Clean Room
            • Strategic Cost Management ›
              • Strategic Cost Management
              • ‹ Back
                • Zero-Based Budgeting
            • Supply Chain Risk Management
        • Supply Chain Consulting ›
          • Supply Chain Consulting
          • ‹ Back
            • Environmental, Social and Governance
            • Sustainability Consulting Services
            • Socially Responsible Sourcing
            • Scope 3
            • Demand and Supply Chain Planning
            • Collaborative Planning
            • Source To Contract
            • Procure To Pay
            • Inventory Strategy & Management
            • Operations & Manufacturing Excellence
            • GEP Total Inventory Management Solution
            • Network Strategy & Optimization
            • Warehousing & Transportation Management
    • GEP Managed Services ›
      • GEP Managed Services
      • ‹ Back
        • Procurement Outsourcing ›
          • Procurement Outsourcing
          • ‹ Back
            • Source-to-Contract
            • Spend Analysis
            • Strategic Sourcing ›
              • Strategic Sourcing
              • ‹ Back
                • MRO
                • CAPEX
                • Logistics
                • Packaging
                • IT & Telecom
                • Energy
                • Direct Materials
            • Category Management ›
              • Category Management
              • ‹ Back
                • Contract Management
                • Supplier Performance Management
                • Savings & Compliance Tracking
            • Supply Market Intelligence  
            • Tail-Spend Management Services
            • Procurement Support Services ›
              • Procurement Support Services
              • ‹ Back
                • eSourcing
                • Supplier Performance Management
                • Savings & Compliance Tracking
                • Sourcing Support
            • Procure-to-Pay
            • Cost Recovery & Invoice Auditing
            • Accounts Payable
        • Supply Chain Outsourcing ›
          • Supply Chain Outsourcing
          • ‹ Back
            • Planning & Forecasting
            • Inventory Management
            • Logistics Management
            • Supply Chain Data Management
            • Supply Risk Management
    • Industries ›
      • Industries
      • ‹ Back
        • Automotive
        • Chemicals
        • Consumer Packaged Goods
        • Energy & Utilities
        • Financial Services
        • Government & Nonprofit
        • Industrial Manufacturing
        • Life Sciences
        • Oil & Gas
        • Private Equity
        • Retail
        • Telecommunications, Media & Technology
        • High-Tech
        • Media & Entertainment
        • Software, Social & Platforms
        • Telecom
        • Travel & Hospitality
    • Knowledge Bank ›
      • Knowledge Bank
      • ‹ Back
        • Explore by Topic ›
          • Explore by Topic
          • ‹ Back
            • Artificial Intelligence
            • Digital Transformation
            • Operations
            • Procurement
            • Software & Technology
            • Strategy & Planning
            • Sustainability
            • Inflation Strategies
        • Explore by Type ›
          • Explore by Type
          • ‹ Back
            • Insights From the Top
            • White Papers
            • Research Reports
            • Bulletins
            • Case Studies
            • Webcasts
            • Blogs
            • Podcasts
            • Glossary
        • Global Supply Chain Volatility Index
    • Company ›
      • Company
      • ‹ Back
        • About Us
        • Leadership
        • Customers
        • Partners
        • AI-First at GEP
        • Sustainability at GEP
        • News
        • Events
        • Culture ›
          • Culture
          • ‹ Back
            • GEP Core Values
            • Women@GEP
            • Diversity
            • GEP Cares
        • Mission & Vision
        • Awards & Recognition
        • Contact Us
    • Global Presence ›
      • Global Presence
      • ‹ Back
        • Americas ›
          • Americas
          • ‹ Back
            • English
            • Español
            • Portugués
        • Europe ›
          • Europe
          • ‹ Back
            • English
            • Deutsch
        • Asia-Pacific ›
          • Asia-Pacific
          • ‹ Back
            • English
            • 中文
        • Middle East ›
          • Middle East
          • ‹ Back
            • English
            • العربية
    • Contact Us
    • Careers ›
      • Careers
      • ‹ Back
        • GEP Per Se
        • Campus Connect
    • Language ›
      • Language
      • ‹ Back
        • English
        • Français
        • Español
        • Deutsch
        • Italia
        • Português
        • 简体中文
        • 日本語
    • BLOGS
    • Strategy
    • Technology
    • MIND
     
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    Blog Image

    The Hard and Soft of Interoperable Devices: Why Hardware and Software Must Work in Tandem

    May 25, 2016 | Procurement Software   4 minutes read

    Of what use are jaw-dropping hardware specs without software that can do it complete justice? In some ways, it’s like driving an SUV powered by a lawn-mower engine or a muscle car that could never go beyond 80 mph!

    At a recent event in Beijing, Chinese electronics manufacturer, LeEco, rolled out the world’s first smartphone that will run Qualcomm’s much anticipated Snapdragon 820 processor, while also announcing a surprisingly diverse new range of products that included a VR headset, a television and even an autonomous driving car. The company has an ambitious vision of constructing an entire ecosystem around its product line through integration with its ‘Ecosystem UI’. Among the unveiled Android smartphones was the Le Max 2 – the centerpiece of LeEco’s array of offerings. Sporting a 5.7-inch Quad HD display and 64 gigabytes of storage, the top end variant of this absolute beast of a gadget will boast a whopping 6 gigabytes of RAM along with the Snapdragon 820. Impressive as this may seem on paper, it does beg one arguably cynical yet seemingly obvious question; is there need for such a powerful device on the current Android 6.0 platform or is it simply overkill?

    While the Le Max 2 will provide unprecedented speed and memory management for almost every application available on the Google Play Store today, it may still not push the bounds of performance in earthshattering fashion, simply because the software platform it runs may not yet be at a level where it could match the device’s amplified hardware specifications. In other words, it’s somewhat like installing Windows 98 on one of today’s systems and expecting it to run modern day programs. The other caveat is that there are probably no applications, be it high-end games or otherwise, that could truly utilize this kind of power to the fullest. This then would mean that the complete potential of the device’s impressive hardware will probably never be realized on account of it being launched far ahead of its time and well above anything that contemporary mobile software can hold a candle to.

      

    In contrast, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) manufacturer Nvidia’s state-of-the-art hardware keeps winning because of its software. Being a hardware company that is great at software ensures that Nvidia’s chipsets go beyond mere speed and performance dimensions to deliver a truly enhanced, all-round gaming experience. This means that every new graphic card release is followed by games that don’t just run smoother, but redefine gaming standards altogether. It is only when hardware and software work together seamlessly like this, that the true and optimal power of interoperable smart devices is unleased.

    In the context of business software, it is a constant hassle to ensure that both hardware and software components are functioning in a manner that generates the best value for an organization. This often entails heavy investments in hardware overheads like servers to ensure compatibility following software updates or a conundrum similar to the one above wherein the software is just not up to the mark, resulting in resource wastage. In either case, companies have to invest heavily to keep both areas upgraded in an effort to achieve that elusive balance between the two. But in a dynamic environment that changes so frequently, this becomes an ongoing, tedious and expensive process. In such a scenario, migrating to the cloud could be an ideal solution. A cloud-based system offers flexibility and scalability without being subjected to the hardware or software limitations that often plague on-premise legacy systems. As the responsibility of upgrade and optimization shifts to the solution provider, an organization benefits from optimal performance of their ERP system while not having to bother about investing in either department.

    While the hardware, software and operating system (OS) combination is just as important in a B2B context, CPOs shouldn’t have to worry about any of them. This is what cloud economics means. The platform is designed for future-proofing with upgrades and upscaling completely decoupled from service delivery. Procurement only needs to think about leveraging the power that the system can deliver, in exactly the same way that gamers just need to get on and play, knowing that the Nvidia approach is sound and smart. The onus then is on solution providers like GEP to deliver that state-of-the-art synergy of hardware and software in a manner transparent to the customer.  When the next-gen cloud does appear, alluding to an advance akin to that of LeEco’s, business users shouldn’t have to concern themselves with whether their procurement system will work in the new cloud; they should just be ready to reap the rewards.

    Image credit: pixabay.com

    Endnotes:

    https://www.androidauthority.com/leeco-le-2-2pro-le-max-2-688409/

    http://venturebeat.com/2016/05/14/nvidias-hardware-keeps-winning-because-of-its-software/

    Image Reference: https://pixabay.com/vectors/robot-binary-thinker-thought-162087/

     

     

    Tags: Mobile and Cloud , Procurement Software

    Add Comment +

    GEP Outlook 2025: Procurement & Supply Chain Key Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

    Read More

    FEATURED POST

    ...
    Risk Management

    Act Now or Play Safe? Here’s How to Respond to Tariff Uncertainty

    ...
    Supply Chain Strategy

    The AI Race Isn’t Just About Tech — It’s About Supply Chain Agility

    ...
    Source to Pay

    From Vision to Execution: Why GEP Is a Leader for S2P Suites in Gartner 2024-25 Magic Quadrant

      BLOG CATEGORIES

    • Procurement Software
    • Supply Chain Software
    • Accounts Payable
    • Inventory Management Software
    • Contract Management
    • Spend Management
    • Operations
    • Source to Pay
    • Supplier Management Technology
    • Purchasing
    • Mobile and Cloud
    • Procure to Pay
    • Sourcing Technology
    • Spend Analysis

    TAGS

    sustainability
    Procurement Software
    supply chain strategy
    Inflation
    Russia-Ukraine War

    By checking the box below, you consent to GEP using your personal information to send you thought leadership content – such as white papers, research reports, case studies – and other communications. GEP representatives may contact you to provide additional information or answer questions.

    If at any point in time you decide to withdraw your consent, you may unsubscribe by emailing your request to us at privacy@gep.com.

    Please refer to the GEP Privacy Statement to understand how we manage and protect your personal information.

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement

    SEND US YOUR QUESTION(S)

    By checking the box below, you consent to receiving thought capital – such as white papers, webinars, news and research – and other communications from GEP. When you download an asset, GEP representatives may contact you to provide additional information or answer questions.

    GEP will never sell or share your information with anyone. You may opt-out at any time. Please refer to the GEP privacy statement to understand how we manage and protect your personal information.

    If you choose to withdraw your consent in the future, you may do so by emailing your request to privacy@gep.com

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement

    Breadcrumb

    1. HOME
    2. BLOGS
    3. TECHNOLOGY
    4. THE HARD AND SOFT OF INTEROPERABLE DEVICES: WHY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE MUST WORK IN TANDEM

    Contact Us

      Demo Schedule a live demo of our software
      RFP Request for a business proposal
      Ask Us Send us your question(s)
      Feedback Share your comments and suggestions
           
    STRATEGY
    Strategy
    •   Procurement Consulting
    •   Digital Procurement Transformation
    •   Strategic Cost Management
    •   Opportunity Assessment
    •   Supply Chain Risk Management
    •   Supply Chain Consulting
    •   Supply Chain Strategy
    •   Supply Chain Diagnostics
    •   Inventory Optimization
    •   Procurement Transformation
    •   Sustainability and ESG Consulting
    SOFTWARE
    Software
    •   Procurement Software
    •   Supply Chain Software
    •   Source-to-Contract
    •   Procure-to-Pay
    •   Supply Chain Planning
    •   Supply Chain Collaboration
    •   Supply Chain Visibility & Execution
    •   Supply Chain Control Tower
    •   Should-Cost Modeling
    •   Inventory & Warehouse Management Software
    •   Source-To-Pay Software
    •   Midsize & High Growth Enterprises
    MANAGED SERVICES
    Managed Services
    •   Procurement Outsourcing
    •   Strategic Sourcing
    •   Tail-Spend Management
    •   Category Management
    •   Procurement Support Services
    •   Supply Chain Outsourcing
    •   Supply Chain Planning & Forecasting
    •   Inventory Management
    •   Logistics Management
    COMPANY
    Company
    •   About Us
    •   Leadership
    •   Customers
    •   Sustainability at GEP
    •   Careers
    •   News
    •   Awards
    •   Partners
    •   Contact Us
    Stay Connected

       
      

    Download the GEP GO App

    Stay connected with cutting-edge procurement and supply chain insights – anytime, anywhere.

    app store
    play store
    © Copyright GEP 2025. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement | Cookie Policy |  Cookie Settings | Quality Policy | GEP Logo