ERP-Systems are at the heart of every organization, but over time, people have sometimes lost sight of what does and does not belong there. All sorts of secondary sub-solutions were added that did not make the organization healthier, but did make it more complex.
Are you planning to upgrade your ERP? If so, start by going back to the basics of what an ERP system is meant to do. In this blog post, we’ll explain why that’s important.
Supporting core operational activities
A robust ERP system supports departments with processes that are familiar to everyone. It encompasses everything related to operations, such as logistics and goods handling, financial flows, purchasing, sales, and master data. Of course, this varies from organization to organization, but it’s about the processes that—in a logical, interconnected manner—form the beating heart of the organization.
Avoiding an Invasion of Secondary Pups
The larger organizations became, the more ‘little corners’ popped up that really belong in, for example, a CRM– or project management tool. For example, there was a client who builds houses, and everything related to a construction project—such as contracts, photos, drawings, and agreements—ended up in the ERP system. However, this information can simply be stored in a project management tool. Another example is the incorrect storage of sensor data from production systems in an industrial setting, which was found in an ERP system. Our view is that while the insights derived from this data belong in the ERP system, the data itself does not. Otherwise, with the explosive growth of data, core business processes will increasingly be compromised.
Organizations still need a solution for tasks that don’t belong in an ERP system. Fortunately, modern ERP systems have become so comprehensive that many of these features are now included in standard functionality. This allows us to easily integrate existing add-ons to meet those specific needs. If you still want a custom solution, we can build it as a seamlessly integrated yet autonomous extension in Business Central or by means of Power Apps.
The consequences
These days, doing business successfully is all about agility and flexibility. The emergence of all kinds of siloed solutions has created a complex system that’s difficult to maintain, making upgrades and contract management, among other things, an increasingly significant challenge. In addition, many organizations are dealing with solutions that are difficult or impossible to adapt to the modern mobile era. Think, for example, of system integration via apps and the accessibility of information on smartphones. This is becoming increasingly important as more employees are working from home.
Preventing Extremely Disorganized Processes
The first step is to work together to determine what the foundation should be. For example, what would you do if you were to redesign your organization from scratch right now? You’ll likely discover that many of the software programs, systems, applications, or processes currently in use are unnecessary. The second step is to select an agile platform that you can build on, ensuring that integration and upgrades are always well managed. This also eliminates any potential dependence on software vendors who are unable to scale up in a timely manner.
Ready to invest in ERP?
The cost of an ERP solution like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central depends on your organization, processes, and growth plans. With the Gyde 365 online cost calculator, you can quickly get an idea of what Business Central will cost for your specific situation. No guesswork—just a realistic cost estimate, so you know exactly where you stand before you invest.
