If You're Hesitant to Adopt an ERP System, You’re Not Alone

Adopting any large system and changing processes within a business can be challenging. Especially when productivity and continuity is of vital importance to the health of the organization. And because enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is such a mainstay of modern businesses, it's crucial to get over the hump and get to the task of adoption. Businesses that choose to take advantage of the solutions that an ERP system provides can reap huge rewards from streamlining their processes and aggregating information into a central database. But let's take a look at some of the common concerns businesses have when considering making the switch. It will decrease productivity Fear of change can paralyze a business, especially if that fear stems from productivity-related worries. Many of the technological implementations within a business suffer from this concern. Major changes can upset processes and productivity, causing revenue to lag. And change also requires time and effort, especially if there isn't initial buy-in from all staff members. With alterations, fear of becoming obsolete, and the need for energy to be put into retraining, staff can pose a major roadblock in the ERP implementation process. Take a look at your business and think about all the areas that need improvement in the current product-to-market workflow. Is there anything that could be automated, streamlined, or improved upon with an ERP system? Weigh these permanent changes against a temporary implementation challenge and chances are, you'll be better off in the long run if you just dive in. An ERP consultant's job is to minimize productivity losses during implementation, and rest assured they're well-versed in how to decrease the pain of replacing your old systems and processes with the new. It's unnecessary Without seeing an ERP system in action within your business, it can be hard to envision the necessity of it. An implementation and all its benefits can stall if the justification isn't clear. Especially when it requires restructuring the current workflow, cost, and staff training. Many old practices within a business aren't necessarily wrong or broken, but they can be improved upon. For example, before smartphones we had no idea what could be achieved. But now that they're here, many of us couldn't imagine our lives without them. The same can be said for a functioning business that's still using multiple systems, printing out information, and manually entering and re-entering data. And without the efficiency, visibility, and location-independent access to real-time data that an ERP solution provides, it leaves the door open for more technologically advanced competitors to get an edge. It's too expensive ERP systems can be costly. Not just in purchase price, but in time and training. And oftentimes this cost can seem oppressively large, especially when the benefits of an ERP system are not fully understood. The solution is a deep and extensive calculation into the return on investment. Find an ERP partner you trust and ask them to help you see just where your financial health can be improved upon. Without clarity, an ERP system may look like just another hefty expense on an already burdened budget. But when you take the time to factor in the return and the long-term impact on your overhead and efficiency, this concern can be confidently set aside. As ERP systems become the norm, the reasons why they are an important purchase for your business become much clearer. Implementation specialists can help you get a better view of the ways an ERP solution can positively impact your business, and assuage the concerns over price, necessity, and productivity losses. Every business owner wants to improve the business' bottom line, and an ERP system lends itself directly towards that effort. The change that comes with ERP implementation can be uncomfortable, but the rewards of a more efficient and profitable business are well worth it.

Fuente: ebnonline.com