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7 things you should be looking for in a modern ERP solution

7 Things You Should Be Looking For In A Modern ERP Solution

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Disruptive technologies that were once seen as “ideas” are today a reality for many businesses.

Given the advancement of these new technologies over the last few years, if we look at how Enterprise Resource Planning has evolved, one thing is clear – the ERP world has changed!

Cloud, Mobility, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to name a few. What impact is this having on ERP and how do you make sure that you take advantage of these technology shifts when the time comes to implement or choose an ERP software for your business?

Here is a short video on what to look for in modern ERP software.

 

Riding the wave of innovation in ERP

Firstly, a technology that doesn’t translate into meaningful change and associated advantages for your business is absolutely pointless!

You need to make sure that Cloud, Mobility and AI have a positive impact on your ERP solution by providing real business benefits.

Assuming we are in agreement that these technical changes will lead to business benefits and should be taken into account when choosing an ERP, let’s focus our attention on what we should be looking for in a modern ERP software.

  1. Fit for purpose. Let’s start by making sure that we choose an ERP solution that is a good fit for the business. This requires an analysis of multiple components:
  • Budget – can you afford the solution?
  • Does the solution that you are planning to implement offer the required functionality to help run your business better?
  • Make sure you cover all functional requirements (financial, operational, manufacturing, CRM) during a scoping exercise.
  1. Internal muscle. Do you have the internal muscle to implement ERP? If you want to learn more about why you need “internal muscle” to implement and maintain an ERP solution, check this blog post.
  2. Web-based technology. Sounds obvious and it is! Your Cloud-Based ERP solution should have web client technology to allow access from anywhere, anytime via any device.
  3. Mobility. Apps and web client access are critical to give the user a consistent user experience across any device. You should be able to log in via mobility apps or the web from your phone, tablet or pc.
  4. Support. It goes without saying that you will require an ERP partner that offers great support. Without a strong support partner, you might encounter challenges for your day-to-day ERP users and long-term ERP optimisation strategy.
  5. Upgrades. Upgrades should be included as part of your cloud solution. If you are not going with a cloud solution, then find out more about future upgrades. Things like frequency, costs and potential disruption to your day-to-day operations should be taken into account. Technology is moving at a more rapid pace than ever before so make sure that your ERP provider can offer technology enhancements to give your business the competitive edge that you are seeking.
  6. Cloud. The team at Leverage Technologies has written several blogs on the subject of Cloud ERP vs On-Premise ERP. There is no right or wrong answer except to say that more and more companies are moving their ERP solutions to the cloud for all the reasons we know about – lower costs, scalability and access to computing power to provide a more agile environment. Ultimately leading to an easier deployment and maintenance of your ERP system.

 

Conclusion

New technology shifts are making it easier to do business and are providing a competitive edge for organisations that embrace change.

Current technology trends that will provide a competitive advantage include Mobility, Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, IoT and Big Data analytics.

Make sure you are positioned to take advantage of these technologies by having a modern, technology-ready, ERP platform.

Modern ERP solutions can help you run a better business. Invest in the right ERP solution and take advantage of a world of new technology that will provide your business with real day-to-day benefits and strategic, long-term opportunities.

For more information or to learn how modern Cloud ERP can help your business grow, call 1300 045 046 or email [email protected].

 

Pay Less And Get More – Is This What Modern Cloud ERP Is All About?

Pay Less And Get More – Is This What Modern, Cloud ERP Is All About?

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The new-age CFO pays monthly for music, TV shows and movies.

In a modern Cloud-Connected world, why would we pay huge upfront fees for anything, including ERP software? Why implementing an ERP is not quite as easy as downloading the latest episode of your favourite shows from Netflix?

The modern thought process which says “I want to pay as I use software and I want a quicker time to value” is creating waves in the ERP industry.

In this article, we are going to review how the new way of consuming technology is disrupting the ERP industry and what businesses can do to get the most from their ERP investments.

 

End users will be the winners

 

In the new age of Cloud-based ERP software solutions, end-users will ultimately be the winners.

As always, let’s consider what business advantages we get from Cloud ERP solutions. Expecting more from Cloud ERP than ever before means that we want to see real, tangible business benefits. These benefits run on both sides of the ledger.

  • Cost savings;
  • Using opex cloud investment rather than capex;
  • Only paying for what you use, when you use it;
  • No need for expensive IT infrastructure;
  • Revenue creating advantages;
  • Quicker quote to cash times;
  • Reduced inventory;
  • On-time in full delivery for your customers;
  • Improved Customer satisfaction;
  • Better cash flow.

The advantages that we have been seeking from modern ERP solutions have not changed. What has changed is our expectations about time to value. We want to pay less and get more.

 

New technology, new expectations

The modern, new age, Cloud ERP customer wants:

  • Shorter project timeframes – from project kick-off to go-live date.
  • Monthly opex based payments;
  • Pay as you use/pay as you go;
  • Less upfront (implementation) cost;
  • More tightly integrated solutions;
  • Web-based access and mobility for all team members.

The expectation has been created – technology is improving at a rapid rate – cloud, mobility, AI, IoT and more. Now we want more from our ERP Solutions.

 

How do we achieve the advantages that we are looking for and keep the investment requirements on track?

Planning is important! It all starts with choosing the right ERP solution. Let’s think our way through the ERP selection steps to ensure that you get more from your technology investment.

  • Technology is changing at a more rapid pace than ever before. Take advantage of this by choosing a modern, cloud, ERP solution;
  • Make sure the solution you choose covers your functional requirements – financial, operational, sales / CRM and reporting;
  • Consider a templated solution for your implementation. This can greatly reduce the time and associated investment to implement;
  • Deploy a Cloud-Based solution – spend opex, not capex;
  • Implement core Cloud-Based ERP technology and then expand the solution as your business grows;
  • Don’t try and do everything at once but grow with the solution;
  • Consider integrated point solutions (or core functional solutions) that can have a massive impact on time to value – AP automation, sales order mobility, BI etc;
  • Keep the initial requirements simple – put the foundation solution in place and then add functionality as and when required;
  • Technology is important – look for a solution that offers web-based technology, easy development platforms, mobility and more;
  • It’s an integrated world – make sure that your ERP is an open solution with easy (pre-templated) integration points;
  • Check for third-party, pre-defined integrated solutions. As an example is Microsoft Power BI pre-integrated? What mobility options are available?
  • Consider templated reporting packs that can be quickly deployed at low cost;
  • Ensure that annual upgrades are included in your cloud plan;
  • Choose a reputable ERP provider that has implemented solutions for your industry;
  • Talk to your ERP provider about a fixed-price implementation.

Conclusion

Cloud Computing has disrupted the way businesses implement and pay for ERP software solutions.

In the new world of modern, Cloud-Based ERP software, the winner is the end-user. You get more computing power and ERP functionality than ever before and at a fraction of the price.

This is only the beginning – as technology improves and we introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies the time to value will continue to improve.

Are you evaluating possible ERP options for your business? Call 1300 045 046 or email [email protected] to speak to one of our consultants.

 

Brett Mundell

Brett Mundell

Managing Director

Brett has more than 20 years of business software sales and company management experience. Brett has been involved in more than 300 ERP projects. His passion is customer satisfaction, making sure every client is more than just satisfied. Brett wants our customers to be driven to refer their friends and peers because we offer the best services and technology available and because we exceeded their expectations.