What's the best alternative for our old Baan ERP system?

Nick

From what you've written, I can't tell how much knowledge you already have so if what I'm about to write is teaching granny to suck eggs, please accept my apologies.

First of all, if you do anything more than a simple, minimal-change upgrade of your existing software, this is a "bet your company" decision.

The track record of ERP implementations is not pretty. There is a very long list of businesses who have ended up suing their ERP vendors. Some high-profile CEOs have lost their jobs as a result of flawed ERP implementations and a number of companies have gone out of business for the same reason.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but it does mean that it's critical to get it right. Hence, I entirely agree with Guy's suggestion that you should go through a formal selection process.

With big risks come big opportunities. Unless your business is already achieving truly world-class performance, a new ERP package offers the opportunity to change working practices so as to make some big improvements.

Ideally, you should go right back to looking at your business strategy and, particularly, your competitive positioning. I know that's a long way from software packages but I'll get back there soon.

In order to beat your competition, what quantified levels of operational performance do you need to achieve over the next few years in terms of: product range; volumes; flexibility of product mix and volumes; quality; lead times; on-time delivery performance; post-sales support; etc. ? How well do your current operations match up to that?

Once you've identified the gaps (which you may well be very conscious of already), you can decide what changes you want to make to how your business operates (not just how you use your computer systems) to close the gaps. That should tell you what you need from a new system that your present one doesn't deliver.

You are then in a good position to answer the questions that Guy posed and to conduct a formal selection process.

If you don't go through what I've described, there is a risk that the formal selection process will be based upon a wish list of "nice to have" features instead of a coherent picture of how the business wants to work in future. It doesn't matter how good the selection process is if you don't have a coherent picture of what you want to do.

Like Guy, I'm also happy to discuss by email.

It depends. Some factors are things like:
* What kind of manufacturing (process, discrete, build to order)
* Any foreign operations?
* Any unique requirements?
* Budget
* Internal IT capabilities
* Areas that would benefit from greater automation
* Company Culture - willingness to work with smaller software vendor or need to have one of the big boys

I'd recommend going through a formal software selection process.

Hit me with an email and we can talk some more.

Thanks

Just to name a few

Hi Nick, we are a ERP Software solution provider. Our product called Datascan Clarity is currently being used by small and medium scale manufacturing companies. We would be happy to arrange a demonstration of our software for you if you can give us your contact details. We are ready and have the ability to customize our software to satisfy any specific needs that you might have.

Hi Nick,
I answered your collegue on Linkedin.
I am one of the old BaaN crew, Considering your version of BaaN and especially the functionality of that version I suggest you look at SAP Business One.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask them
+31 622 934 676
Regards

Hi Nick,

You need to go through the benchmark step having done internal functional specifications, bidbook... anyhow, from my experience, Baan ERP (from Triton version) was often challenged by JDEdwards application (now under Oracle label), for functional and company size , but agian you need to do a business requirements study first

Hi Nick,

First I have to agree with Tony in regards to the current ERP systems and their implementation process on the market today. They all promise the "one of a kind magical solution" but in reality it is like ever other product available out there right now. The amount of failure, risk, headaches, loss of revenue, time, and in some cases entire business operations is catastrophic to say the least.

In the past I would say, "good luck with that" because these systems are rigid and generally don't adapt to any type of change unless their is some type of risk involved.

BabbleWare was invented on this whole premise. We asked ourselves how can we change these current business systems already in place without changing them to begin with? Best answer we came up with was don't change them at all!

BabbleWare is unique in that our EAO sits outside of your current systems while it recognizes the data and it's behavior, teaches it new logic, and then allows you to create your "new" transactions. This is all done without change or risk to your current business operation systems so that when new technology hits the market you don't have to modify or up-grade your current business systems AGAIN and continue to look at your "bottom line" deplete.

Your company can slowing migrate Babbleware's EAO software as you "test drive" the impact it will have on your current business operations.

Babbleware is two years ahead of the industry and has no competitors.

If you would like more info please visit www.babblewareinc.com or if you would like a demonstration of Babbleware's EAO please contact me
calbert@babblewareinc.com

Best Regards,

Carol

Hi Nick,

If you are interested in a robust ERP, MRP solution that by-passes the on-premise headaches of servers, operating systems, maintenance and upgrades you should look at NetSuite.

NetSuite has been gaining alot of attention lately due to its growth as compared to other ERP vendors ( e.g. 41% in 2008 vs 2% for MS and -2% for SAP); its Software as a Service (SaaS) model and because it has been displacing systems like SAP R/3, MS Dynamics GP & NAV, Sage.

NetSuite recently launched an MRP suite as part of its ERP that was developed and built by the same guys that built Relevant's MRP system. You'll probably remember that Relevant was a direct competitor to Baan back in the day.

It's worth taking a look when evaluating your options. TCO for NetSuite is alot lower over 3-5 year period and ROI is much faster than the usual solutions in the market (as per Nucleus Research & Gartner).

NetSuite has offices worldwide including multiple offices in North America, offices in the UK, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, etc..

Please contact me for further information.

Regards,

Sharon

Hi Nick,

I think Guy nailed it. You really first need to do a needs assessment so that you know what are your key ERP requirements. Then you should go through a formal review process combined with a very thorough due diligence process.

Please take a look at my white paper posted in Focus regarding ERP Due Diligence (http://www.focus.com/ugr/research/finance/reference-checking-erp-selection/) as hopefully you will find it very helpful once you get to that point.

Having said all the above, please feel free to contact me to see if Expandable Software is a potential ERP fit. If it is not, I promise not to waste your time. We have customers ranging from start-ups to multi-million public companies to a multi-billion dollar division of a public company.

Our focus is manufacturing and our average implementation time from kick-off meeting to "go-live" is 6 weeks; the multibillion dollar division took 8 weeks.

In addition, if you have CRM requirements as well, we have great integration with salesforce.com which you can preview in AppExchange.

our url is www.expandable.com

I'm kind of shocked at the answers I'm seeing. If anyone has any idea of what the "best" ERP to replace anything is - without any in depth analysis of the business, the issues, the budget, the direction ,. . . . then you should run the other way from all those people. I respect all of those who point out how terrific their solution is, and many of the ones responding do represent good solutions. The key question is what is the best solution for your organization, and that can only be answered by defining "best" and gaining a clear idea of what you really need.

Isn't that what Nick said right up front..."It depends". As I said previously, he nailed it.

Hi,

As you are on Baan IV, it is best recommendation to go for Baan LN version which will take less time for implementation and you will get good ROI on the product.

Regards
Rajesh

Our company has replaced many Baan ERP solutions in the manufacturing industry. We are one of the best in our industry. I would be more than happy to tell you more details. Shoot me an email. aalbers@hitachiconsulting.com

Thanks for all the great feedback and recommendations. I will look into our requirements with my team and get back to you guys. Again, thanks for all the contact info and resources.

Dear Nick,
You being an existing Baan customer, the ideal and most appropriate road map for you is to move to Infor ERP LN, which is the latest new generation of Baan. So of the key reasons why are as follows:
1. Infor ERP LN is the best solution available for manufacturing industry. It has been rated by Gartner as well the best in manufacturing functionality as compare to any other solutions available.
2. Infor ERP LN is best in Usability.
3. For you as exisiting customer, you need not to spend much on buying a new product. You can get your present Baan licenses replaced with the latest version if you are paying your regular AMC to Infor.
4. change managenent will be very easy for you as your users will have to just under go little bit training to get familiar with the new version.
5. You can plan to migrate your open balances as well as some of the transaction data as per your requirement to the new verion.
6. Your cost of implementation shall also be low as compare to thinking of going to another system.
7. Incase you have any other Baan alied solutions from a Baan company like Work Flow , BI or Scheduler etc they can also be moved as it is to the new versions
8. Once on Infor ERP LN you shall be able to use variuous Best in Class solution options available from Infor to meet your end to end business requirements.

We are one of the leading ERP LN implemenation providers and have been working with many existing Baan customers in planning their migrations to Infor ERP LN. If you want we can have our team look into your requirement and can give you a complete functional map for you migration.

We are also globally the first and only Infor ERP LN Education and Certification partner. We can suggest you some of the usique methods to get your teams familar with Infor ERP LN quickly.

Again I would like to say one thing, being on Baan ideal road map is Infor ERP LN (i.e. Latest version on Baan), this can offer you best functionality and you can safegaurd your investments which you have done so far.

Regards,
Rishi Bansal
Vice President
Merino Consulting Services Inc.
United States of America
www.merinoservices.com

Nick, I agree with Rishi. You should understand your options with your current system. However, many of my prospects engage a third party manufacturing evaluation consultant at least to point them in the right direction. An average company acquires and ERP system every 10 years or so. Things have changed dramatically.

Try Gary Burns & Assoc at gburns@glbinc.com.

I have only been doing ERP implementations for a short period of time (42 years!) but there has been some good and some not so good information offered here.

Yes, this is a "Bet your Firm" decission. But with good consultants, you can make it 99 to 1 in your favor.

One size fits all was the rule up to 20 years ago. Now there are a dozen packaged products with varying degrees of customizability (from take it like it is, through "use our 3000 ISV add on products", to build it from the ground up. Of course, cost varies as well.

The question should not be what is a good replacement but what does our firm need now that will carry us to the future. I would guess that your firm has evolved since Baan was installed, simply replacing it with existing functionality may be contraining you.

I would strongly recommend a Business Process Analysis that defines what your firm does now, how it accomplishes it, what problems you need to resolve, and what you would like to be able to do. With that document in hand, you can then provide it as a part of a RFP and take bids or get quotes.

And, yes, I have done these. Feel free to call me, I am not a salesperson and will not "keep you on the phone until you sign". But I would be delighted to talk with you for a bit about what you need.

Richard L. Whaley
author, consultant
Accolade Publications, Inc.
Senior Implementation Consultant
Integrated Business Group

PS...as for the size of your firm, one of my two current projects has 3000 employees in their manufacturing operation while the other has a dozen facilities around the country.

321-277-1341 (direct cell)