REPORT
The 2024 Top 10 ERP Systems Report
Our experts have highlighted ten vendors that can help your organization make data-driven decisions.
Learn more
Where’s my Advil, I Have an ERP Headache!
Grab the Advil! I have a headache. A really big, oversized ERP headache. The Swinging Door of ERP Consultants As a former implementation lead on the client side, I can attest that the practice of replacing consultants at every stage of an ERP implementation was...Five Things to Remember in Your ERP Implementation Plan
If I listen to the hype from some ERP vendors, ERP implementations are a cakewalk. According to these sales messages, pre-configured industry solutions, data conversion tools, and generic training materials allow a company to have their ERP software up and running in...Can Your ERP Software Help You Set Sail for the Blue Ocean?
A Blue Ocean Strategy was first introduced by professor Kim and professor Mauborgne at France’s INSEAD in their book “Blue Ocean Strategy.” They define a market which is well explored and crowded with competitors as a “red ocean.” An untapped market which has...Break on Through to the Other Side: Moving Beyond ERP “Go-Live” to Competitive Edge and ROI
We are often asked by clients why our estimates for ERP implementation durations differ so much from what they hear from sales reps. While ERP vendors can usually provide anecdotal examples of customers that have implemented ERP software in a very short time span or...Avoid the Perils of Paperless that an ERP System Provides
One of the most common benefits cited with an ERP implementation is the reduction of paper forms to manage information flows. Easy, right? You just enter data into the ERP system, and then enjoy the speed and environmental benefits of electronic processing. Actually,...Canary in a Coal Mine: 13 Signs That Your ERP Implementation Project May Be in Trouble
I’m a big fan of ’80s rock. I am also guilty of quoting more than my share of classic rock songs in my blog. So when I heard “Canary in a Coal Mine” by The Police on the radio the other day, I instantly thought about ERP projects. The song...Canceling ERP Software Maintenance: When the Corporate Hero Becomes the ERP Fall Guy
You’re the IT Director and you’ve been tasked with reducing costs in your department yet again. You already whacked Suzy, Joe and Bill out of the budget last year, which effectively cut 50% of your already depleted staff. Your hardware is so old, moss grows on the...From Magic Quadrant to Top 10 ERP Vendors
Each year, Gartner publishes its magic quadrant of ERP vendors. This view of leading ERP software solutions is widely cited by software vendors when they are favorably represented in the quadrant, and it also makes for an appealing PowerPoint graphic....When Preparing for an ERP Implementation, Remember to Have Your Vitals Checked and Your Anesthesiologist Ready
Many companies look at an ERP implementation as just another IT project. “Get the software in and make it work” executives say, “it’s not surgery!” It actually is more like surgery than they may think. If the process is a failure, there is a very good chance that this...You Can’t Get Anything for Free or Can You???
An ERP implementation is a long-term project. Many multinational companies have taken years to implement their ERP systems by adopting a phased approach. Almost every single public company has expressed concerns in their annual reports that operations could be...Accelerating ERP Implementations
Accelerating ERP implementations have been an elusive goal of ERP vendors, implementation partners, and customers. For five years I worked for the #2 business software developer focusing on accelerating implementations. During those five years I chased the dream and...Five Steps to Define Your Enterprise Applications and IT Strategy
Although our company focuses on ERP selection, implementation, and organizational change management, many of our clients ask for help defining their IT strategies as a precursor to a broader ERP software selection process. Since it is difficult to choose an ERP vendor...Winning is Everything: Five Lessons from a Successful ERP Implementation
A few weeks back, we highlighted some of the lessons shared by one of our clients that had recently engaged in an ERP selection and implementation process. In the podcast interview, this particular client shared several lessons learned from the selection process. In...
When Customizing ERP Software, “Don’t Pave the Cow Path”
When flying into Dallas-Fort Worth, the cities seem to shoot up out of nowhere from a giant prairie. Many of the roads leading into the cities curve and bend, following no discernable logic at all. Why are they like this? Back when Dallas was primarily a ranching town...The Mother of ERP Implementations
Ever Thought You Might Need Another Mother? When you select a ERP consulting company to manage your ERP implementation, they should essentially become the mother to your enterprise software. Like mom, they are your allies. They represent you, stand by you, become the...Executing a Successful SAP Implementation
It is common for companies to jump into an SAP project without first conducting the due diligence and planning required to make the project successful. Often times, organizations select an SAP solution simply because of SAP’s longstanding, prestigious reputation and...We Stand for Freedom: An ERP Consulting Firm’s Declaration of Independence
The fourth of July holiday in the US is all about fireworks, a long weekend, and summer barbecues. Even more importantly, however, the holiday is about independence. For over 200 years, our nation has prospered and taken pride in its independence. Just as our country...Which Factor had the Greatest Weight in Your ERP Selection Project?
The selection of the ERP vendor is a very important decision. The costs and benefits of your ERP project are strongly correlated with the vendor you selected, therefore there is intrinsic link between your business case and the software functionality provided by the...The Incredible Shrinking Scope of ERP Training
We’d love to hear from you if you have been involved in a project that had adequate time to prepare and deliver quality training for your ERP implementation! Unfortunately, for this blogger, this is a consistent source of disappointment. If good ERP training has a...
