Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an ERP software selection take from evaluation to implementation?

The easiest answer to this question is that implementation times can vary depending on the size of the company, the number of functions required by the software, and the amount of customization needed. In our experience, the complete evaluation process, software selection and implementation can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

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How do I determine if my company needs ERP software?

This is a complicated question that a consulting firm can help you answer. However, below are 5 important questions to consider:

How accurate is your business data?
Are your important business systems connected?
Is your company growing (and outgrowing current tech)?
How satisfied are your customers?
Do you need to reduce costs from inefficient processes or technology?

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What is the budget needed for ERP implementation?

Like implementation times, the budget can vary depending on several factors. Every solution vendor has a different pricing model for software licensing, so it’s best to find one that offers options to suit your budget. Generally, the total cost of an ERP system is split between licensing costs and implementation services, and it’s important to consider both when determining the overall budget for the project. The overall cost depends on many factors, such as the number of modules you need, the number of users and the quality of your current data and processes.

Does your company help select ERP systems with deployment methods?

We help our clients select various deployment options such as on-premise, SaaS or Hosted deployment solutions when considering a new ERP system. The ERP and deployment you choose will depend on your business’s needs and requirements. Running your ERP system in the cloud offers several benefits, including low start-up costs, easier deployment, and a shorter time to benefit. On-premises solutions provide physical control over your data, greater customization flexibility, and easier integration with other software you may be running. The hosted solution might be a better fit for a large organization because they want more control over the software and likely have IT resources for system improvements. Having a choice allows you to use the best deployment option for your organization – SaaS, on-premises, hosted or a hybrid solution.

Learn more about Hosted Vs SaaS Solutions: Which One Should I Choose?

How long is an ERP software selection process?

The duration of an ERP selection process varies from company to company. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly; you should be prepared to invest sufficient time and energy in the selection process. Adequate preparation provides decision security and quickly bears fruit—through higher employee acceptance, optimized processes, lower costs, and maximum transparency because only the right ERP solution will contribute to your long-term company success. Our experience has shown this to take between 3-4 months.

Will you help us migrate data from my current system into a new ERP solution?

Absolutely. An ERP system typically allows migrating data from a legacy system to a new solution. Master files such as customer data, product information, and transactional data such as opening balances, historical information can be imported. To ensure an efficient implementation, it is important to establish a well-prepared and validated basis for the data to be imported.

Does your company provide ongoing support and training?

Selecting an ERP system for an organization is just the beginning. Change management and training are key to successful user adoption. A perfect implementation will only maximize your investment if your employees can use the software. Businesses must also work to properly integrate and implement the software and provide employee training and ongoing support. We will help you every step of the way.

What are the ERP Tiers?

ERP systems are commonly categorized into tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3. These three tiers have tremendous value depending on your growth stage and future business goals.

ERP Tier 1 Solutions

Tier 1 ERP systems are intended for global enterprise corporations. They are designed to handle large multinational corporations with many complexities, allowing numerous people to handle the same tasks. As a result, these systems are intricate, feature-rich, challenging to implement, and expensive (typically costing millions of dollars).

ERP Tier 2 Solutions

Tier two focuses on getting the most out of an ERP system. 20–40% of companies use this tier in the small to medium business sector. Typically, businesses in this tier have $25 million and $500 million in revenue. Companies that utilize tier two ERPs have medium to complex needs and fewer users than tier one.

ERP Tier 3 Solutions

Tier three is the most economical, interchangeable, and prone to significant audit and fraud risks. Because some of these ERP systems can be too adaptable and permit ledger posts to be changed, these systems are the most uncomplicated version of ERP. They only need a junior bookkeeper or you, the business owner, to run it. These systems are primarily for financials and keeping track of expenses and orders.

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Do I need to change my current business processes with a new ERP solution?

Not necessarily. The early stage of a project includes a business process analysis to ensure we understand how the new ERP system will need to function within your organization. During this process, we draw from the experience we have working with other manufacturing, engineering and distribution organizations and make recommendations on any procedures that could be more efficient – but it’s up to you what new processes you adopt, if any.

What is Microsoft Dynamics?

Microsoft Dynamics is a family of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) applications produced by the Microsoft Business Solution group.

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How are Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Dynamics GP different?

They are both ERP software systems; however, Microsoft Dynamics NAV is highly customizable, and Dynamics GP is more ‘out of the box’ and faster to implement. NAV focuses more on warehousing and inventory management whereas GP focuses more on the financials and basic distribution functions.

What is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows web publishing and collaboration under a single server. Microsoft SharePoint is an excellent system for project managers, allowing users to share information internally and externally under a central interface.

What can I do with SharePoint?

Distribute and manage content
Develop websites, portals, wikis, blogs, and more
Provide relevant information to organizations without allowing access to the source
Easily share and edit information internally

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How do I know when my company is ready to switch to an integrated ERP solution like Microsoft Dynamics?

- Your business is growing, and spreadsheets aren’t enough to handle financial or departmental tracking
- Data and details are slipping through the cracks
- Customer satisfaction is declining rapidly
- You feel out of touch with many of your departments

What is ERP Consulting?

ERP consulting is the combination of services associated with implementing an ERP system. ERP consulting can encompass everything from initial business auditing and ERP system selection to ongoing training, support, and workflow optimization.

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Will your company support us in vendor contract negotiations and contract management?

We fully support our clients both in the evaluation of software contracts and in the assessment of implementation models. Through our experience as project managers in implementing and introducing ERP software, we have a wealth of practical experience that flows directly into assessing these contracts.

Who from my company needs to be involved in conducting a successful ERP selection?

A selection team will involve key stakeholders, including an Executive Sponsor (usually the CFO) and functional leaders from Manufacturing, Operations, Accounting, and Information Technology. We would also include active Human Resources and Sales leaders if your ERP solution considerations encompass HRMS or CRM, respectively.

What matters most when preparing to implement an ERP Solution? What are the critical success factors?

From a people standpoint, the critical factors are a dedicated team of functional experts, executive sponsorship, experienced project management, and IT support. From a process standpoint, the most important success factor is thoroughly documented as-is business processes.

Should I choose agile or waterfall ERP implementation methodologies?

Numerous implementation methodologies can be used to implement an ERP solution. The implementation methodology you choose depends on several factors – the size of your company, your functional requirements, internal resource capability and time availability are a few elements to consider.

Why is project management important when implementing an ERP solution?

Project management keeps the project on track, ensures sufficient testing is done before going live and opens communication between users, implementation teams and project sponsors/management. Both the implementation team and the customer must have a project management skill set available.

What type of industries do you serve?

We are proud to have been part of successful projects across a broad range of industries, including:

Distribution
Emergency Communications / Public Safety
Financial Services
Forestry
Health Care
Legal Services
Manufacturing
Maritime
Mining
Not for Profit
Public Sector
Real Estate
Utilities

Frequently Asked Questions