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Our management is intimidated by ERP. Is there web ERP that can help us out but that's not too scary?
I would like to implement a fairly easy-to-manage ERP system, but management is concerned with the scale of the project and is unwilling to jump in with both feet until we try out some form of hosted ERP. Please advise.
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4 Answers
Cody,
Can you give us some more information? It would be helpful to know what it is about ERP that is intimidating your management team. What sort of company do you work for (are you involved in manufacturing, distribution, services, etc.) and in what industry?
Are you asking about hosted ERP in terms of ERP software that you buy and then pay another firm to host and manage for you? Or are you perhaps asking about Software-as-a-Service ERP (a software solution that is delivered over the web where your company pays a subscription fee each month or year)?
If you can clarify a bit, you should see some good answers to your question.
My firm can help you and your management get your heads around these types of ERP questions. Send me an email if you get a chance or take a look at our website at www.rjmc.net .
Jeff
Cody,
ERP is not for the uneducated. The only way that your management will 'jump in with both feet' is if they fully understand a number of factors. E.g. What is ERP and how is it different from CRM, BPMS and the other technologies out there? What's the Return on Investment? How do we select the right vendor? How do we control the budget and project plan?
Spending money on an outsourced solution (e.g. SaaS ERP) is money and time wasted if the above questions are not answered and they can only be answered by educating the management team...which will be a very small investment in light of the large investment of time and money put into any ERP initiative.
There are a number of organizations out there that have the ability to provide this education. However, like selecting an ERP solution, make sure you have the right one for your organization. E.g. they have prior experience in management education and mentoring and they have no ties to ERP solution providers.
Good luck with your quest.
Ken Cowman
Cody,
Online or in-premise your management is right to be squeamish about an ERP. ERP has value, certainly, but they are not something you just try nor anything your company is likely to survive without adverse impacts. Right or wrong, your company has systems in place now that are a known evil. The industry press is strewn with statistics on the high failure rate, cost overruns and project delays of ERP. The "sticker" price alone is really high and the implementation schedules are too long. Why do you think the company needs an ERP anyway?
Hi Cody
SAP has a product out that would probably be of value.
SAP Business ByDesign is a Software as a Service (SaaS) that provides significant ERP capability as well as fast and easy implementations (ERP and fast & easy... are usually contradictions, I know). I saw an overview of it at a recent conference. It might be what you are looking for.
Grant
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