There are a number of reasons for an organisation to undertake business process mapping. It’s a great starting point for an ERP implementation, to find opportunities to improve efficiency and productivity, and identify waste.
But do you really need to hire a third-party ERP consultant to do it?
A lot of the time, the answer is no – not exactly. Any resourceful person ought to be able to find sufficient information online to be able to put together their own process maps, and they may even be reasonably useful. For business process mapping to be truly successful, however, we would recommend that an organisation solicits the guidance of an experienced consultant.
In business process mapping, an outside perspective is vital
Why? Well, when it comes to business process mapping, an outside perspective is vital – and not just in the sense that it helps to get a fresh opinion on the perennial issues within your organisation.
If there’s one thing that undermines the value of a process map, it’s a failure to reflect the reality of how the business works. This may sound like it should be easily avoided, but it’s a surprisingly common mistake – the creator, or creators, of the document simply describe what they think happens, not what really happens.
A skilled ERP consultant, on the other hand, will be aware that tribal knowledge has an important role in most organisations, and will tend to be experienced in collecting and documenting that knowledge. And no process map is complete without it.
An ERP consultant will help you find the right solution for your needs
Furthermore, the ERP consultant should know how to deliver business improvement off the back of a process map, regardless of the problems it shows. Armed with knowledge of both their customers’ industries and the ERP market itself, they’re ideally positioned to recommend next steps – whether that means pushing ahead with a new implementation or proposing changes so the organisation gets more out of its current technology investment.
Without this knowledge, decision-makers might find themselves at a loss over how to eradicate wasteful processes, no matter how well those processes are mapped out.
An ERP consultant will guide you to the right implementation methodology
Finally, if the business process mapping exercise leads to a new ERP implementation, the ERP consultant should be able to use its findings to determine the right implementation methodology. Their knowledge of the organisation’s pain-points means they can recommend changes that deliver tangible business benefits fast, reducing the time until ROI is realised.
All in all, the organisation ends up with a process map that’s accurate, prescriptive and actionable – an all-important step towards a more efficient and productive business.
Want to learn more about how an ERP consultant can help your company achieve growth and profit? Get in touch.
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