Overcoming ERP Software Selection Analysis Paralysis
Consider this scenario: You have engaged a software selection consultant to help you evaluate and select a new ERP solution, you have narrowed from long to short-list, received your ERP RFPs and have viewed demonstrations. It is now time to decide. There are certainly considerations across the top few packages, but one has stood out […]
IoT Will Rock You
We are beginning to feel and recognize the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT), although most admit defining IoT (and how far it will go) is a challenge. No doubt that’s because we remain on the verge of something much bigger than we can imagine. This could be problematic in the ERP software space. […]
Golly Gee ERP Systems Are Awesome! An Attendee’s Guide to ERP User Conferences
As we head into the fall ERP user convention season, it feels similar to sitting through an endless episode of “Leave it to Beaver.” Listening to Larry Ellison at Oracle Open World, Bill McDermott at SAP’s ASUG Sapphire, Kevin Samuelson at Inforum or Darren Roos at IFS World Conference, it seems the ERP vendors’ world […]
The Top 10 ERP Systems for 2020
Disclaimer: Third Stage Consulting is an independent ERP consulting firm. Third Stage has no financial ties to ERP vendors, either directly or through parent companies or affiliates. Accordingly, the below analysis is completely technology-agnostic and 100% free of vendor bias or compensation. As we enter the home stretch of the year, many of our clients […]
Why You Should NOT Implement a New ERP System Now
Growing up in the ‘80s, I was used to hearing the phrase “just say no.” It was a term coined and used often by the US President Reagan’s wife Nancy as part of her anti-drug campaign, so the saying became ubiquitous and associated with the ‘80s. CIOs can’t seem to say “no” to drinking the […]
Your ERP Project Isn’t What You Think It Is
You are about to embark, on or are in the middle of a major ERP project that’s going to change the way your company does business. You know how critical this new technology is to your organization’s future. You understand that nothing is more important than identifying the software with the best and most advanced […]
Executive Misalignment: The #1 Threat to your ERP Implementation
We see it more often than not. Any reasonable business advisor or strategy book will tell you that you need it and you can find endless blogs and articles on the topic, yet executive misalignment is ever more prevalent in today’s business environment. While a company could potentially survive for years with some degree of […]
Defining ERP Strategies for the 2020’s
Executives and project teams have a lot of issues and curveballs to navigate as they define their digital strategies for 2020. Whether you are considering ERP, CRM, HCM, cloud, on-premise, AI, industry 4.0, internet of things, predictive analytics, asset management, or any other set of technologies, the decision process can be overwhelming. This is true […]
Manufacturing ERP Software in 2020: The Digital Manufacturer
The 21st century has introduced a lot of technological innovation and businesses have felt the positive effect. New digital transformation manufacturing options have been strong and diverse. Some (but not enough) manufacturers have taken advantage. The advances in manufacturing ERP software have improved not only productivity but opened businesses to a whole new world of […]
How to Create Your Digital Transformation Change Management Strategy
Organizational change management is the #1 determinant of ERP implementation success vs. failure, yet most organizations misunderstand or underestimate the importance of change management. Too often, organizations and project teams fail to have a cohesive or complete change management strategy when deploying a digital transformation or ERP implementation. An effective change management strategy is critical […]
Hey Siri: What Does Artificial Intelligence Have in Store for ERP Systems?
If you’ve ever watched Iron Man movies, you’ll notice Tony Stark’s different artificial intelligence (AI) partners. From helping him create a new element to helping him do chores and run tests, AI in the Marvel Universe is extremely advanced and helpful. So how much of this is fiction and how much is possible? Let’s discuss […]
Are Big ERP Systems Integrators Best for Your Organization?
We have been stressing the importance of vetting your ERP Value-Added Reseller (VAR) or Systems Integrator (SI) for some time now, and the message seems to be hitting nerves across the industry. One common error we are seeing companies make is jumping to a conclusion regarding the size of the SI that is needed far […]