ERP: What does it mean? ERP is the three-letter abbreviation for Enterprise Resource Planning. This term is used to cover a multitude of software packages including:
- Accounting;
- CRM
- Supply chain management
- Warehousing software
- HR
- Business intelligence
What is ERP Software Used For?
A common goal of people looking for ERP software is to integrate the various applications within their business that they have, or think they should have, into one system, so they can track information across all departments and business functions. By sharing one database, this enables the ERP system to support multiple functions used by different departments within a company. This means that everyone in the business is working from a unified system, sharing the same information, hopefully relieving any bottlenecks or problems that have occurred due to the use of disparate systems.
Implementing an ERP system is a big undertaking for any organisation. With such a large investment of your time, resources and money, the choice of the right ERP system and reseller is vital. A successful implementation will involve both you and the reseller working together as a partnership and this will mean that you will need to prepare as much as you can for the implementation you are about to undertake.
A strong Business Process Review means that you are in the driving seat and ensure that any decisions are led by your business needs. You will need to think about what you are trying to achieve and what improvements you want to make across the business. Ensuring that your project starts out with clean, accurate and relevant data will save time and money in the long run; so now is an ideal time for some housekeeping, not a glamorous task but it will reap huge rewards down the line. By including senior personnel from the company in this review it will ensure that all departments are represented. As well as trying to safeguard that nothing gets missed out it also means that the team will feel part of the project and “buy in” to the new system more easily.
Where can I go for help?
Contact an independent accounts/ERP provider who will be able to offer advice and consultancy on which ERP system is right for you. They should talk to your team, look at your business processes and from a choice of solutions put forward some options that they think will match your requirements, both now and in the future. If they are in your area, the benefit of a local presence can give you peace of mind that if you need help, they are nearby.
Meeting their team is also very important, these are the people that you are going to dealing with as your account manager and for providing support to you and your colleagues.
Further down the line, talking to their customers to get an insight into how they found the process of moving to a new system and the service they received from the reseller is also a good idea.
Where does DCS come in?
DCS have a myriad of tried and tested offerings; both on premise and Cloud, from authors such as Pegasus, Advanced, Intact and Iplicit,.
We have a wealth of experience, indeed over 37 years, in helping companies replace their existing legacy systems and can give you local support to help you plan, implement and scale your ERP system to allow it to grow as your business grows.
Most of the accounts systems that DCS offer are modular so you can start with just what you need on day one and add users and extra modules as and when you need them.
With a large specialist hardware department, we can also evaluate your current network and PCs and recommend any requirements for the new software. This gives you peace of mind that you are dealing with one company, not having to liaise with a hardware supplier and a different software provider. The buck stops with us!
Our support team will help with the Business Process Review, install the software, set up and configure a Test company, organise user training and commission a suitable go-live date, all the time liaising with your team. They will arrange assistance with month end procedures, Management Accounts and user set ups and report design.
Our team of programmers, who work hand in hand with our support team, can add functionality to elements of the ERP system so even if you cannot find a system that fits your requirements exactly on day one, we may be able to tailor it for you.
With today’s ERP systems now using the latest technology, you have access to a wealth of data, KPIs etc. The key is to ensure that you have what you require for your needs and that of each end user and this will in turn allow you to get on with running and growing your business.