Get the most out of your ERP system

If you have been using your ERP system for some time now, you’ll probably have noticed that its performance is not what it used to be. As with everything else in life, time takes its toll. Gradually, your system may experience issues, users may lose their interest and you may need to add different functionalities in order to get the expected results. Here are some tips on how you can maintain your ERP solution and ensure the required performance levels.

It is not uncommon for a business to deploy an ERP solution and later on install additional systems in order to get full functionality. This usually happens either because the initial ERP application did not have all the required features, or due to budget restrictions that did not allow the purchase of a full feature set during the initial deployment of the system. If that is the case for you as well, you can improve your existing ERP system simply by contacting your vendor and determining whether your system is capable of offering you the functionalities you need without going through the whole process of deploying a different system from scratch.

Another common misconception is that updates can create problems and lead to unexpected downtime and so, many businesses tend to avoid updating their systems. In reality, such a practice usually creates more problems in the long run, since outdated systems are prone to errors, do not perform as expected and lack important features that are typically added with updates and patches. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have a concrete plan for regular maintenance and updates, thus ensuring your system’s proper performance.

Speaking of maintenance, a crucial factor in terms of performance is data management. After a while, you have layers upon layers of data and your ERP system has to work harder in order to process it all. By keeping your system “tidy”, archiving old data and making room for new, you make your system’s work a lot easier, thus enjoying a better performance.

Finally, apart from technology, you should always take into consideration the human factor. People using an ERP system on a regular basis tend to develop and stick to specific routines for their usual tasks. Tasks that are not that common are usually forgotten. As a result, you may think that your ERP system does not offer you all the functionalities you need, when in reality it is the people using it that have stopped being as effective as they could be. Renew your training schedule once a year to help the existing employees use the system more effectively and ensure that new employees are aware of all functionalities available, and not just the basic ones.