ERP Solutions

Technological problems plaguing businesses can be many and diverse. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions have been designed to solve these management problems for businesses by effectively integrating all facets of a company. Businesses of all sizes from various industries have invested time and money in ERP solutions within the last ten years, hoping this would give them a competitive edge. If the ERP software solution can organize, manage, and control business procedures, then it can help businesses run more efficiently, increasing both productivity and profit.

Businesses all around the world are now relying on ERP solutions as a cost efficient alternative to piecemeal software applications. Most ERP systems are designed to be ‘complete package’ solutions. Any functionality that necessitates additional tables, columns and -more importantly- logic, has to be incorporated by the vendor into the main solution prior to implementation.

So, first a company has to select the ERP package that would provide the most solutions and then decide which, if any, specific alterations will have to be made to that software package. All of this represents risk. Most businesses can recover from a down quarter, a period when sales were slow, but if the time and money spent on ERP software does not provide results, a company can face a serious crisis: and end up still lacking a solution to the running of the business.

A true ERP solution is not solely a computer project; it is definitely a major business decision challenge. Yes, the quality of the technology characterizes a significant part of the capability for success, but this does not mean that business needs can be overlooked. Selecting the wrong ERP software or even a package that is unlikely to stand the test of time, can lead to a series of problems. Selecting an ERP solution that does not truly complement the needs of the business can create more fundamental difficulties.

An interesting, and successful, way to get around this problem is presented by the new ERP solutions which are intended to be double layered. The first layer will contain the usual and critical functions of: Manufacturing, Financials, Distribution and Sales, Customer Service, and Project Management. Meanwhile, the second layer is the one whose components will provide functionality that is specific to that particular industry and that might be unique to that organization.

Designing ERP solutions in this way prevents complications.  The first layer will be usable by any business in any industry, and the second layer will be the place where customization will occur.

Written by :

Amy Cruz