The truth about ERP

Myths can be a fun distraction from everyday life, but they do not have the same positive impact when it comes to business operations. The ERP technology has often been a “victim” of myths and, in many cases, decision-makers appear to be reluctant to proceed with the deployment of an ERP solution due to such misinformation. Read below to learn about some of the ERP-related myths and discover why they do not hold true.

1. A technology exclusively addressed to “big players”

One of the most common misconceptions is that ERP solutions are suitable exclusively for big organizations, as the underlying technology has been specifically designed for them. In reality, this may have been the case during the early stages of ERP development, but in the thirty years that have gone by since then, both the use and the features of ERP systems have significantly evolved. Besides, based on the available data, 60% of small and medium businesses (SMBs) have expressed an interest in acquiring an ERP solution as they have understood the benefits it has to offer, such as minimizing cost and improving operations for businesses of all sizes.

2. A budget buster

We won’t argue that going over the initial budget does not happen often, but we can assure you that this is -almost always- due to poor choices in planning and scheduling that can very easily be avoided with proper deployment and integration. The two main reasons for which businesses often spend more than anticipated are customization and integration. These two factors can be safely handled if you choose the right vendor that will safely guide you through the deployment process. Understanding the needs of a business is the first step to avoid any cost-related issues.

3. Fear of failure

There are many stories of unsuccessful ERP deployment projects and Internet provides the space and means to spread such rumours. Nevertheless, we can assure you that these stories -even if they are partly true- are the exception and not the rule! It has been established that only 10% of businesses have reported that the deployment of their ERP system resulted in absolute failure. Furthermore, many of the problems that came up during the deployment process would have been avoided with the right vendor and realistic scheduling and estimation of needs and resources. The rest is just a… tale!

4. The flexibility myth

This is another myth with loyal fans, even among IT professionals. In reality, businesses are often faced with limitations when it comes to developing or improving their operations due their legacy systems. This leads them to the -false- conclusion that if they proceed with the deployment of an ERP system they will be permanently trapped in a mediocre state with no way out. The solution to this problem is quite simple and, once again, it comes down to choosing the right vendor that will provide you with the necessary flexibility and customization at a reasonable cost, thus enabling you to customize the solution according to your needs.

5. ERP for the shake of ΙΤ

It is self-evident that IT plays an important role in the successful deployment of an ERP solution, as it is actively involved in the selection of the vendor and the deployment process through benchmarking and personnel training. But this does not mean that IT is the only department that will benefit from an ERP solution. All business departments that can benefit from increased effectiveness, productivity and transparency are actually in need of an ERP solution.