After many years of comprehensive use, there might come a time for an ERP system update or some technical TLC.
A survey of 225 companies by SelectHub conducted in 2017 found that the average lifespan of an ERP system was 5-10 years. This is not surprising given the level of investment required to implement an ERP solution. This is especially true in terms of capital, time, resources and the complex and ever-changing nature of businesses worldwide.
After a period of years have passed, you may find your ERP system is no longer functioning in the way you want. This is typically due to the high demands placed on it by state-of-the-art business processes.
Considering the cost and scale of a new ERP implementation programme and the teething trouble new software can cause, you’ll want to proceed cautiously before making any big decisions.
With that in mind, here is our quick guide to reviewing your ERP needs and knowing when to update your software.
End of support
The first thing to consider is a relatively simple one. Is your current software version so old that support is about to end?
This is a very good reason to upgrade. Using unsupported software puts you at risk of reduced productivity should something go wrong.
This lack of support also means you will not be able to deploy updates, security patches or even customisations that could help you grow the capability of the system. It effectively removes any safety nets that you require to keep functioning normally.
Also, if the software is outdated, the chances are high that when you upgrade other aspects of your infrastructure compatibility issues will arise. This could include operating systems, hardware or process-related problems.
You are also likely to struggle to integrate the software with other systems. This increases the amount of time spent on manual data entry, and most likely, data duplication.
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Growth and change
Sometimes it is not change brought about by fast-moving technology that causes problems to arise, but the changing nature of your business.
If you are approaching 10 years with your current ERP system, there is every chance that major changes have affected your organisation and it is now unrecognisable from the time of the initial installation.
Perhaps you’ve grown enormously, downsized, shifted into different market, or even absorbed other companies. The need you initially identified and the priorities that informed the implementation of your current software could well be obsolete.
When this happens, it might be a good idea to re-examine the needs of your business and how this relates to your ERP system.
Want to learn more about Epicor ERP 10 and how this new software could improve your business processes? Click here.
System inefficiencies
In a similar vein to re-examining ERP use in relation to the business’ needs, it is a good idea to revisit how your core business processes are mapped to your ERP system. Especially after several years’ on the same software.
Following a business process mapping exercise, you can more clearly identify the part the software plays in each process, and as a result, opportunities for better automation and integration, among other features.
If you have not updated your ERP system for over five years, you may well be missing out on some automation capabilities that newer versions of the software present.
Similarly, if you have not viewed your business processes through this lens for a long period of time, it is easy to get caught in a loop and accepting inefficiencies that can be easily resolved with new software.
Just one recent edition to the Epicor ERP feature list is SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). This provides a more flexible solution to the Crystal Reports that Epicor 9 users will be familiar with.
Access to more functionality
Finally, updating to the latest version of your ERP software gives you access to better capabilities and expanded functionality. This will open opportunities for automation, efficiency savings and integrations that you could not have achieved before.
Whether or not you need this functionality will be addressed during your ERP requirements assessment.
That being said, newer ERP systems bring a number of features that many businesses would benefit from. Examples are the ability to host in the cloud, increased mobility, better usability, and of course, improved speed!
And that is without going into more specific modules and business functions that such technologies will enhance.
Interested in updating your ERP software? For a better understanding of the new, improved features within Epicor ERP 10 click here.
The timing of your ERP system update is really down to your business and its specific needs and goals.
As always, we advise that you start by examining what your business needs to achieve and how ERP can support this.
Map out inefficiencies within your current system and begin research on the available systems that will support improvements.
This exercise will tell you everything you need to know.
Want more specific advice and guidance on upgrading your ERP system? Get in touch here and a Clear Business Outcome specialist will be happy to help.
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