Ready to go!
Whatever process you have taken, you have finally arrived at the point where your company is going to start the journey of selecting and implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) application. You have strong executive leadership and buy-in, now what? There’s a common phrase that states, “you only get out what you put into it”. Simply put, how well or poorly you plan a project or initiative will largely pre-determine the outcome. Now, you are venturing into the ERP application space. To select the best, most appropriate application and vendor, there are key points that are common, if not universal, to companies that have been successful with their ERP projects.
In this ongoing series, we’ll share best practices garnered from decades of working with customers whose ERP implementation success was pre-determined by their planning and execution thereof.
Focus on Value vs. Bells and Whistles
Focus on Value vs. Bells and Whistles
Your entire ERP project should be geared toward value and return. Not just the bells and whistles. Sure, it’s slick that you can change the color of your dashboard, but what’s the value and return on investment to the company, the department, the user?
We often walk into a company that has been mesmerized by the flashing lights, song and dance presented by our competition. Isn’t this a beautiful report? Look at this wonderful dashboard! Only to find out, that the underlying data and disciplines required to provide that report or dashboard, are not available in the technology or require more effort to maintain than what the company’s resources can sustain.
Both you and your partner should be focused on the total value that an ERP solution provides to your organization at all levels and applications rather than simply just on this bell or that whistle. You’re making this important decision to invest in your company’s future, so prioritizing value is essential.