Why Connected Business Systems Start with the Right ERP Consultant
Today, enterprise resource planning is a vital part of every organisation’s operations. As the operations of the business become more complex, more and more companies use ERP systems in order to unite their finances, inventory and operations under one roof. This phenomenon is not accidental, as the majority of companies understand that the costs of using disconnected systems have become too high. But while the choice of new business software might seem relatively simple, the issue of connecting them is much more complicated.
Problem of Disconnected Systems
The majority of companies do not want to create systems that will function in isolation from each other. They just choose different tools to solve particular problems. But with time, such an approach leads to the situation where systems become incompatible and start operating separately from each other.
Employees have to enter the same data into different systems. Reporting becomes harder since one has to use several sources in order to see the full picture. Moreover, decisions based on such reports are not confident because the data is incomplete.
In fact, this problem is the result of choosing disconnected solutions in order to solve a particular issue. When such a system becomes ineffective, the business finally begins to look for an ERP solution.
How the Right ERP Consultant Works
An ERP consultant is not only a specialist responsible for the installation of the system. Such a professional adds value to the business thanks to his understanding of its operational processes and his ability to map them to the ERP system.
The experienced consultant recognises all possible implementation mistakes, like data migration being rushed, lack of proper staff training, or inadequate configuration. Such knowledge is gained in the course of hands-on experience and cannot be acquired thanks to generic instructions or expensive trial-and-error methods.
Sometimes, it is necessary to recommend platforms depending on the size of the business and its complexity. MYOB Acumatica is an example of such a platform designed to operate in the case of multiple entities, locations, and/or complex reporting.
Why the Right Fit Matters More Than the Right Brand
People often assume that the process of selecting the software is a matter of feature comparison. In fact, the main question here is whether the system’s architecture suits the plans of business development.
For instance, a retail company developing geographically will have different requirements compared to a professional services firm operating with project-based billing. Even if the wrong platform is highly recommended, it can cause more problems than it could ever solve.
And this is where an independent consultant becomes helpful. Being unbiased, he will be able to provide an analysis of the business and make the correct choice.
Where the Real Value Lies in Implementation
Choice of the platform is only the first step on the way to an ERP system. The implementation process, including such stages as data migration, configuration, and staff training, is the main factor that decides the success of the process.
An ERP consultant, who implemented several ERPs in his career, will know the order of actions in this process – which data should be cleaned before migration, which departments should be involved earlier, and where the test period is indispensable. Trying to save time in order to skip these steps will cost the business much more in the future.
Two aspects require additional attention during the implementation process:
Data and People
- Data integrity is important because data migration errors tend to compound
- Change management is important because the system will not work correctly if employees do not trust it.
If those aspects are taken into consideration correctly, it will guarantee that the system becomes an integral part of the operation.
Ongoing Support Creates Long-Term Success
ERP systems are not static. The needs of the business and reporting rules will change, and integration with other systems will be required. However, the role of ERP consultant does not finish at the moment of go-live; he provides support in order to maintain the system.
This way, the relationship becomes much more valuable than a transactional one. Businesses that communicate with their consultants prefer to adapt their systems step-by-step rather than change them radically every couple of years. Minor changes in the beginning of the system’s existence are always cheaper than major changes at a later date.
Ongoing support also means that the person already knows all the peculiarities of your business and can solve problems without conducting a new investigation.
Connected Systems Are Created Thanks to the Right Guide
Businesses’ systems do not fail due to bad software. They fail because of the wrong strategy of choice and implementation of such software. An ERP consultant brings such a strategy into the system.
Businesses, which get the maximum value from their ERP investments, are the ones that consider system selection a long-term operational decision. And this point is much more important than any feature comparison.