Falling out of love with your ERP system?

Here’s how you know it’s time to move on…

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, love is in the air…unless you’re in a relationship that’s not working for you anymore. Here at BOSS Consulting, we’ve been thinking about business and ERP relationships, and how there are some symptoms that suggest it might be time to invest in a new relationship.

Organisations looking for a new ERP system – whether they have a current ERP system or non-integrated suite of business applications in place – tend to do so for two main reasons. The first is that their existing systems are no longer adequate, and business processes are restrictive. The second is that the existing systems no longer support the strategic direction and growth of the company.

These are tell-tale signs that the relationship between business aspiration and ERP are no longer aligned, and it’s time to take the plunge and get yourself an upgrade…

Business processes are broken

As we’ve already mentioned, one of the first noticeable signs that you need a new ERP system is that some business processes are no longer functioning correctly. For example, there could be an inventory management issue, such as data not being constantly updated and pushed out to every relevant department due to the lack of integrated communications between systems!

It could be that your current systems require different departments to key in the same information separately – this does not only impede efficiency but also invite errors and duplications. Ultimately this means that despite there being a centralised system, different departments end up with different information, causing delays and mis-information.

Lack of support

If the software vendor who sold and installed your ERP has been merged, acquired – or gone out of business – and you’re finding it increasingly difficult to get effective support, patches, or security help, that’s an intolerable situation.

A new ERP system will help rectify this and allow your business to get back to the cutting edge – where it belongs.

Rapid Growth

Another key driver behind the need for new ERP software is a company’s response to growth or change. Many smaller companies can get along fine for a time with spreadsheets or some combination of disparate software systems. But as they either grow or merge with another business to become larger, the added complexity and size no longer allows for legacy systems to function optimally. 

Closely related to this, and often a result of growth, is a change to business goals. Say, for example, a manufacturing team decides to open additional locations or wants to offer more complex product lines or some form of on-demand or custom manufacturing. The systems in place may simply not be able to meet the requirements that the new goals create.

Inefficient reporting
If getting useful reports out of your ERP system in a timely manner, or even ever, has become a challenge and you’re unable to collate and distribute key data for your organisation, this is red flag and a real sign that it’s time for an upgrade. The data trapped inside your ERP is of incredible benefit and value to your organisation – but only if you can extract it in coherent and timely reports. If this has become a struggle, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to investigate your options.

A well-implemented ERP system should run across your business like a well-oiled machine, enabling everyone within the organisation to engage with the software real-time and see the benefits in their everyday tasks. If you’ve fallen out of love with your ERP system and are looking to move on, give us a call we might be the upgrade you are seeking!

 

 

 

 

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