Do This Before You Select a New ERP System
Years ago, when a client needed help evaluating and selecting a new ERP system, it was pretty straight forward. We would follow a basic methodology, define pain points, document requirements and go through the traditional long list and short list analysis of potential solutions. Today, the approach in actually selecting a software hasn’t changed too […]
Did You Get a New ERP System for the Holidays?
Whether it was left under the tree or you managed to snag a vendor’s year-end closeout, getting a new ERP can be exciting. But like the new paint set you get for a 3-year old it can also cause a lot of stress if not managed correctly. I recall a phone call I received several […]
Getting Help Selecting an ERP Implementation Partner
Software advisory firms have been helping organizations evaluate and select ERP software for decades and methodologies have become relatively holistic in their approach, with one key exception:evaluating and selecting an ERP implementation partner. Ask any ERP consulting firm how they evaluate the implementation partner, system integrator (SI) or value-added reseller (VAR) for the selected software […]
Should you Adopt ERP Implementation Best Practices?
A majority of marketing around business and technology refers to the concept of “Best Practices.” Software vendors such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft have also adopted use of this term almost to the point of exhaustion, claiming there is no need to worry about business processes during a software implementation since they bring “best in […]
How to Define your ERP Contingency Budget
It’s no secret that ERP projects often run over time and over budget. There are countless case studies, whitepapers, anecdotes and even lawsuits that share horror stories of unexpected costs and scope extensions. Even with the best planning and due diligence, the unforeseen occurs. The recent ERP failure at Lidl and the National Grid vs. […]
Defining your Digital Transformation Project Dream Team
Eric Kimberling recently posted a blog surrounding the potential dark side of digital transformation and how the increased power of technology can cause complications even greater than faced in the past with vanilla ERP implementations. One of the greatest risks of a complete digital transformation is not having the right team and skill sets to […]
Timing Your ERP Initiative and Reading the Gas Gauge
I was running late for an appointment last week and jumped in the car to see that my wife had returned the car home with less than 2 miles remaining before the tank was to run empty. The gas station is also just about 2 miles away, and my appointment was another 15 miles or […]
Can you Trust your ERP Consultants?
While every industry has some bad apples, the ERP consulting space is one that seems to have a few extra worms. We have also recently heard several horror stories from companies regarding their past experience with ERP consultants. The common phrase “you get what you pay for” comes to mind here. However, there are many […]
What is Best of Breed ERP?
For most of us this sounds like a simple question. We all have a definition of some sort in our minds and have used this term probably for years. Having had several conversations surrounding best of breed ERP over the past weeks, it has become clear that there are very dramatic differences as to what […]
What is the Best ERP Software?
Growing up my teachers used to tell us that there are no stupid questions. I’m sorry to disagree, but this is a stupid question. This is also the most common question asked in the independent ERP consulting space, and we receive it in one way or another on a daily basis. The most recurrent response […]
How Important is Industry Vertical Experience in a Digital Transformation?
“Do you have direct experience in our space?” As consultants, we hear this question every day. Clients often want to know how important industry vertical experience is to a digital transformation or ERP implementation. Recently, I have been asked if we have experience with: Baby food manufacturing Tier 2 defense manufacturing Public, Fortune 500 pharmaceuticals […]
Organizational Change Management and the Barber
I recently talked with a company who is planning to bring their Organizational Change Management (OCM) efforts for their digital transformation 100% in-house. Can this really be done? The answer is yes, it can be done, but the results will be similar to cutting your own hair. Change management Organizational change management is the #1 […]