SCM 90

When implementing a new ERP system, many companies find that their current business processes will not tie well with the processeses baked into the off the shelf ERP.  To address this you’ll often find companies spending lots of money and implementing time melding the ERP to make it look like their current processes…this can be a problem. 

I look at ERPs as a mirror of industry standards–established processes that are borne out of  the experience ERP vendors get from multiple customers.  That’s not to say the ERP vendors are the be all end all but before spending lots of cash manipulating the system while saying “we have to have this” consider these issues: 1) Can the special items you need be addressed by custom reports?  Often this is far easier than breaking into the code of the system.  2) Can you change your business practice to match the ERP?  Like I said, these systems have seen a lot of businesses and their process may just be better than yours…I’m just sayin’. 

In the end you need the system that works, make sure you get an ERP that you know is working for someone in your industry.  Contact these folks and get a feel for how much heartburn it will be to implement the new ERP–there’s always heartburn.  Best wishes if you’re implementing a new ERP-it will take longer and cost more than you expect but it will be worth it to centralize your data.