Is it time for an ERP upgrade?
You probably haven’t been asked those questions directly (unless you’ve been talking to sales reps), but you might have asked yourself that question, if not explicitly. Is there a small measure of doubt that your system is better in some way? Possibly you’ve heard some modern ERP success stories. Or maybe it’s more evident than that – perhaps there are new things you need to do for your customers or to keep up with the competition that your legacy system can’t handle without a lot of time and money for upgrades or modifications. Either way, it is good management practice to continually assess system performance and identify areas for improvement or emerging issues that may become problems in the foreseeable future.
Is there a perfect ERP system?
The short answer is “no.” And even if the perfect system existed for your specific needs at a given moment in time, those needs are continually changing. So it is good to keep on top of things, know how well your ERP is supporting your current needs, and identify trends that may lead to problems.
It is fashionable to refer to installed systems as “legacy ERP,” implying old technology and outdated systems. That is unfair because many installed systems are regularly maintained, continually upgraded, and fully capable of growing and adapting to changing needs and requirements. That said, ERP upgrades are optional, albeit strongly encouraged by software vendors. It is important to stay up-to-date with fixes and enhancements provided by your solution provider. If you spot issues or unfavorable trends, the first thing you should do is make sure your system has all updates and releases, then find out if your vendor has additional add-ons or enhancements available that could address any shortcomings you’ve found. Determine what it would take to implement those fixes regarding money and effort (see “How much do you spend on ERP?”).
Source: SAP Insights
