8 Things To Consider When Making Revisions To Your ERP System

ERP systems are modern timesavers.  They offer businesses the opportunity to manage their stock levels, supply chain and critical information within a common framework, while also allowing this information to be accessed and distributed across multiple sites and platforms.

Developing a system for your business can be complex and time-consuming, and the process of revision and refinement is no exception to that.

In the spirit of saving you precious time and energy, let’s look at 8 considerations you can take into account when making refinements to your ERP system.

Talk To Professionals

Whether it’s an issue with your system or an idea you’d like to see fleshed out and integrated into your solution, it’s often a good first step to contact an experienced provider of ERP software in Australia. Other than expert advice and ongoing support and training, an experienced provider can offer you a wealth of suggestions for better managing and implementing your ERP system, and will often provide you with all the tools necessary to make any changes or revisions as a part of the process.

Involve Your SMEs and Experts

Fostering the involvement and contribution of your SMEs (subject matter experts) and inside experts can be a good idea. These employees are a fantastic resource and hold the knowledge required to help hone and improve your ERP software so that it works optimally for your business. These employees are often aware of existing roadblocks and niggles, which would otherwise cripple or disable your ERP in the future.

Industry Engagement

Before making your revisions, it might be useful to venture out and research the ERP systems of peers and competitors. Find out what works for them (and equally, what doesn’t work) and take the time to think about whether implementing such changes in your own system may be of use.

Process Mapping

To complete and implement the revisions to your ERP in a timely and smooth manner, it’s a good idea to plan and to map out potential issues or requests ahead of time. By creating a process map and including possible issues up and downstream, you will be saving time and trouble in the development process, while also providing useful directions to your ERP system provider,

Forward Thinking

It’s easy to focus on present-day results and instant ROI, but it’s equally important to look into the future and work out ways (where possible) to future proof your business.

About your ERP system, it may be as simple as finding new ways to export data, or ways to include new functionality. Small tweaks to your system in the present may eventually lead to greater cost savings in the future.

Integration Potential

If you’re constantly developing and changing your ERP system, chances are that you’re also reworking and refining other systems in your business at the same time.

A great way to cut down on double-tracking and cost is to look for ways to integrate other system functionality into your ERP system. The extra outlay you make during the revision stages will save you money in the long term by cutting the ongoing software and training costs from running multiple proprietary programs.

Analytical Details

If you’re using your ERP system in tandem with a BI system, it can be wise to consider ways to integrate parts of each system into the other. Having a common reporting and analytical process may make it easier for your business to interpret large scale data, and leads to greater transparency across your entire business.

Budget Constraints

As with many technical processes, making revisions to your ERP system will most likely be more expensive and more time consuming than you budget for. This is an important consideration when working to a tight deadline and budget. Try to be realistic, and opt to allot more time and money than you estimate is necessary for the project.

An ERP system can be as complex or as customised as you’re willing to make it. If you take the time to map out your processes and set goals for what you’d like to achieve with your ERP, you will find that you’re able to make it work more effectively for your business, and you’ll forge a great ongoing relationship with your ERP provider.