ERP Software

Small ERP Software

When it was first developed, enterprise resource planning –or ERP- was considered a software tool meant for just large enterprises.  At that time, an ERP system consisted of cumbersome, robust IT infrastructure as well as software packages. The implementation process required employee training and time available for the training and then the switch over to the new system. All of this equaled money –a lot of it- money to be spent and money to be earned which could temporarily be delayed while the business transitioned. Needless to say, this description did not fit small companies.

Little by little, the ERP Software market for those large businesses became saturated and this caused vendors to find open niches for their wares. Many of the vendors found the heretofore untapped market of Small ERP Software and this signaled development and design modifications adapted for this market. And, while these changes may have resolved the issue of large, awkward, difficult to implement systems it did nothing to solve the problem of cost.

Eventually, vendors who wanted a share of the Small to Medium size Enterprise market had to come up with quality products that were smaller in scope, and did not carry the hefty prices of the previous ERP software systems. In other words, more cost effective ERP software with less complex implementation methods as the only option for SMEs.

By now, the competition for ERP system sales is just as intense in the SME market as it is in the market for large businesses. There are many vendors selling Small ERP Software, and some are the big name vendors. All of this has tended to benefit the SME companies, although problems still abound.

Most of the products being offered as distinctive for SMEs continue to exceed the needs and specifications of most small businesses. The bridge between the needs, expectations, and existing design is not yet complete. Another roadblock is the way that many SMEs look at ERP.  These companies view ERP Software as just another operational tool.  If no one in the company sees the overall picture of how ERP Software can benefit the cost to earnings ratio, the new system will not have the desired effect. Legacy systems with which all employees, especially those in the IT department, are comfortable represent another stumbling block. It is crucial to get the company behind the ERP project. Even the most perfect software will have no impact if the workers are sub-consciously (or perhaps consciously) sabotaging it.

Written by :

Amy Cruz