The question is actually not if, but when to start looking for ERP. If a company is still at the beginning of its corporate history, orders, customer data and stock lists may still be manageable with Excel and co. However, this type of data is not getting any less. The number of people is also growing. Individual workplaces are becoming departments. The demands on company management are growing. Decisions are becoming bigger and riskier. And the accounting department must always provide reliable figures. In short, the workload is growing.
When data takes on a life of its own
The problem is that even if the individual departments are equipped with good software solutions and function in their own administration, there is still a lack of correspondence between them. Although this does exist, it is not standardised. The systems often communicate via interfaces. One danger is that data is lost during transfer. More often, however, redundant data is created through duplicate processing. Data is also edited in one system. However, this is not transferred to the other system. Suddenly, different data records, which should actually contain the same information, deliver different results. This means that the company has to spend a lot of time and money checking the data for accuracy. This effort increases with the size of the company. The accuracy of the data can never be guaranteed 100%.
Overcoming scepticism
Nevertheless, many companies delay the ERP search. The scepticism about the new system and the fear of leaving the system construct with which the company has grown is great. However, with ERP software It's not just about replacement, it's about improvement. With a suitable solution, data and processes can be integrated and workflows accelerated. The IT infrastructure is standardised and reliable data management creates the basis for healthy company growth. This is just a brief insight into the benefits of an ERP system.
Many standard solutions such as SAP Business OneThe standardised systems map all functions in one system. However, they can be customised and extended to suit (industry) specific requirements. A wide range of Add-ons is already available here. Nevertheless, the ERP solution can still be updated. As you can see, deciding in favour of a system does not necessarily mean committing to it.
When is the right time to start ERP search
The idea of whether it is not wiser to use an ERP solution from the outset should be considered with caution. Because especially with Start-Up It takes a certain amount of time for companies to crystallise the processes that need to be optimised by an ERP system. Making too quick a judgement about what the right ERP system should have can cost the company a lot of time and money. As a rule, it is better to start at a lower level - even during implementation - and expand the solution over time. Systems such as SAP Business One can always be supplemented with additional user licences and functions.
This (almost) answers the question of whether and when an ERP system makes sense for a company. Because these days, ERP software is (almost) part of every company's basic equipment. For start-ups, it's all about the right moment and for older companies, it's not too late. In both cases, the search for the right solution will not be an easy step.
The search for the right part 3: The ERP selection
The search for the right one. Part 2: Errors in ERP selection