All too often we see companies who are dissatisfied with the performance of their ERP system.
Though they have spent significant dollars on the purchase of the software and on consulting services for implementation support, they are not seeing a return on their investment.
One sign of this is people using ‘work arounds’ rather than relying upon the system. These may be in the form of spread sheets or even manual lists. Though the software is installed, it has not been fully implemented. It has been tested, proven to be working according to specs, but has not been accepted by the people who it is supposed to be helping.
While it is possible there may be a misfit between the ERP system and how you run your business, this is not normally the case. If your ERP system is not performing to your expectations, it is more likely due to a disconnect between the system and the people who are trying to use it.
Today’s ERP systems have been written to support multiple environments, from make-to-order job shops to high volume repetitive lines in both discrete and process industries. They offer a wide variety of features and functions, which must be tailored to support your environment.
Though your people have been trained on how to turn on (and off) specific features, they may not have been educated as to why specific functions should be selected. Without a thorough understanding of what is needed to support current processes, it is difficult match the system to your needs. As a result, people are fighting the system rather than benefiting from it.
Policies and procedures also play a major role in getting the most out of your ERP system. They provide a link between the people and the programs. The more clearly these are defined, the better people will be able to utilize the ERP system in the performance of their jobs.
At DataDevelop Consulting, we have many years experience working with companies to ensure they get the most out of their ERP systems. We can help identify the problems which prevent full utilization of the system, and can provide education and trouble shooting to assist you in improving your performance.
