You May Already Have The ERP Solution, You Just Don't Know It Yet
By Steve Leadbeater
ERP is a powerful tool and critical to your business processes and efficiencies; and yet, so often, we see organizations not utilizing its ERP system to it’s full potential. Let's take a closer look.
Why Users Don't Make Full Use of the System
There are many reasons for why a company as a whole or individual users within an organization may not be making the most of its ERP system. Reasons include: poor training/handover during implementation; staff turnover; a particular process detail not being understood and therefore not included in the original scope; the business and/or processes have evolved over time and the original scope does not cover all of today's needs (or anticipated future needs); or just lack of knowledge.
ERP users are just that, users. Generally, they do not fully know what the system is capable of outside of their usual day to day interaction/processing. Why would they? It’s not their area of expertise.
However, the assumption that the ERP system cannot give them what they need then typically results in the introduction of ‘work arounds’. They create manual records/lists enter data on excel sheets, charts or other similar methods. These work arounds work, but are they efficient? Is the data live? Is the data visible to other people within the business when you are not available?
How Visibility (Or Your ERP Provider) Can Help
If you or your team is turning to manual, outside processes or feeling like your ERP system is missing something, it's time to reach out to your ERP provider for a check-in. Very often, engaging with the consultants at the ERP provider, who know the system inside-out will result in a solution utilizing the existing ERP system modules and functionality that people just did not know was there. The result is solutions that are robust, do not require manual entry of data already in the ERP database and is live and also linked to other business processes.
If you're struggling with specific ERP system issues, this is also a great time to take advantage of your ERP provider's annual customer conference if it offers one. This is a cost effective way to get access to open lab time for troubleshooting, one-on-one consulting appointments, educational sessions led by ERP vendor team members/customers/partners, as well as time to network with other ERP users.
Conclusion
Here at visibility our consulting team not only have system knowledge, but years of experience using Visibility ERP successfully in business processes in a variety of industries. Before going it alone on a work-a-round solution, contact us, we are here to help support you to grow and improve your business.
