HORIZON ERP

When organizations implement new ERP systems, they often think that the biggest change is in the software that employees will be using. Sure, they usually understand that the change will be fairly significant, but they also usually think that some end-user training prior to go-live will resolve most of those concerns. However, it is important to point out that training address a relatively minor portion of the vast changes that employees see (and experience) following most ERP implementations. The degree of organizational change is broad: business processes, job roles and responsibilities, workflows, reporting and transactional processes are just a few of the major changes employees need to adapt to, which underscores the need for an effective organizational change management program. However, the largest change is perhaps a more philosophical and less tangible one: employees must evolve from being hunter-gatherers to true decision makers. In other words, many employees pr

In a report published about ERP Implementations, actual data from 1,600  ERP implementations  across the globe is considered. One of the more interesting metrics buried in the study relates to end-user and executive satisfaction. Among companies that have recently implemented enterprise software initiatives, it is found that an underwhelming number are at least somewhat satisfied with the end result. According to the study, 32% of executives are dissatisfied with their ERP software. Perhaps not surprisingly, end-users are even more dissatisfied (39%) with their enterprise software solutions. Because companies invest such large amounts of time and money in their ERP software, it is surprising that there is only a 2 out of 3 chance that they’ll like what they end up with. This data underscores some of the key contributors to ERP software satisfaction: 1.      Companies too often pick the wrong software.  Many companies in the study underestimate the need for a thorough ERP

In any ERP project, sooner or later the question arises, “how fast can we select and implement an ERP system?” That’s an understandable question. Transforming from a legacy system to the latest software solution is not a quick project. Hence, planning out the project timing is one of those best practices. A Matter of Timing After managing numerous ERP selection and  ERP implementation  projects, we suggest that the timing issue be treated as a separate step. Project timing deserves a special look because there is a great deal of emphasis on ERP education in a selection project.  The faster the team can learn, the faster the execution of the entire project. A key question to consider, therefore, is how fast the company can get the team educated and ready to get through the project on the most direct path. One should not focus on  ERP selection  speed; focus on ERP education and understanding how new business processes in new ERP software will improve the business.

Large ERP software vendors are taking a beating in the marketplace. Fortune 1000 companies are slashing their enterprise software budgets, Software as a Service (SaaS) is threatening traditional business models, and indulgent spending on ERP software solutions are a thing of the past. To add insult to injury, there has been a backlash against long-term and high-cost ERP maintenance contracts. Companies typically spend 15-20% of their software license fees on maintenance and support each year. In fact, according to a recent survey on our web-site, 69% of companies spend at least 15% per year for ERP support and maintenance. On the other hand, 8% indicate that they are no longer paying support for their systems. Given the 10- to 15-year average lifespan of ERP investments, license costs are often eclipsed by maintenance costs in the long-term. So it’s understandable that companies would want to reduce these costs. However, there are some risks to consider before canceling y

Most companies enjoy access to accurate and timely data managed by their ERP system. Key for overall business performance, is the ability for clients to use consolidated data for powerful insight into context and trends. This is where Business Intelligence trends become important. ERP systems adequately track functional areas of an enterprise, such as shipping, inventory, accounts receivable and more. True business value comes from business intelligence trends, namely,  business intelligence (BI) applications  – the powerful, intuitive analysis tools that provide real-time, enterprise-wide insight for fact-based actions and intelligent decisions. When an ERP solution integrates business intelligence, clients benefit from deeper business insight.  Once  business intelligence requirements  are addressed, companies are better armed to make improved decisions about planning, forecasting, production scheduling, supply chain management and more. From customizable dashboards to gr

So your company is planning on completing an ERP implementation within the next few months and you think your data is clean? Okay, you are not alone.  Many companies think the same way.  But, before you flip the switch on your new ERP software package, ask yourself these questions: ·          Have you ever entered an entry for a price quote and forgotten to delete it? ·          Do you have duplicate customer or supplier accounts? ·          Do you have any blank description fields for products or generic items? ·          Do you have old product codes that are no longer in use? ·          Or do you have any critical data in Excel that is NOT in your legacy system? If you have answered yes to any of the above, your data probably needs to be cleansed prior to go-live with your new ERP software package.  Or in other words, you need to learn the art of data cleansing. Most of ERP software vendors purposely do not take responsibility for cleansing data before or dur

In the battle to stay competitive and ahead of the curve, many small business leaders are turning to mobile strategies that aim to revolutionize their operational processes. From financing to order processing and stock control, the ability to have a handle on these facets on the go, is seen as integral to meeting growing consumer demands. With this in mind, an increasing number of independent SME leaders are looking to utilize ERP software as a centralized system. Turning to truly mobile ERP solutions can have many cost saving benefits, critical for those smaller businesses that may already have low margins. More crucially however, it is about SMEs being able to truly drive forward their business on the go. For example in procurement, for keeping up with demand of a new product is a complex balancing act, often requiring access to key metrics to decide when and what is the best product to invest in. With ERP software, this information is available at the touch of a button,

Transforming the old legacy system to modern software solution is not a quick project. It involves a thorough review of the existing system, the evaluation of multiple ERP vendors, and an ERP implementation project that will consume a major part of the key people’s time. Having said this, it is very important to consider time to benefit with this initiative. The ERP selection project is an important part of taking the most direct route to the goal line. If this step is done right, customers can shorten the implementation process. Therefore do not short change this part of the ERP project or it will extend the overall timeline. Most mid-market companies do not have much experience in using the modern ERP software. A few of the team members have probably used a more modern system than the company currently have, but it is unlikely that they have gone through an ERP selection in the previous year. Technology is changing so fast that it is impossible for the team to quickly underst

Setting up an ERP must incorporate all the nuances of a project – from keeping the ERP project on time and within scope to choosing the right technology solution. The companies on the cusp of making that plunge into choosing a new solution, a strategic approach to setting a budget for ERP helps companies successfully execute these projects and help reduce risk. The following ten factors to consider when planning and setting a budget for ERP: 1: Deployment Model Setting a budget for ERP must take into consideration how the system will be deployed – whether via an on-premise or Cloud ERP model. There are benefits of each deployment model.  Fee for a cloud-based system will typically add up to about 20 to 30 percent of the cost of a similar system’s perpetual license. With an on-premise deployment, users must still pay annual support and maintenance costs that run between 10 and 20 percent of the original licensing fee. 2: Software Licensing Depending on the most approp