Love-Hate Relationship:

Even with manufacturing decision-makers expressing dissatisfaction with their ERP system, they continue acquiring or upgrading new systems. What alternative do they truly have – reverting to spreadsheets and other manual systems? Manufacturing decision-makers acknowledge the advantages of ERPs for their business, but they address system issues from a broader technology perspective. At ICG, our experience shows it's more about embracing change and utilizing technology to drive advancement and efficiency.

Evaluate Your Existing Software:

Maximizing your ERP's potential requires an evaluation of your existing software. In many cases, companies unsatisfied with their ERP underutilize the competencies of their current software. To avoid the trap of underutilizing your ERP, you can work with your service provider to familiarize your team with the full capabilities of your system. 

Trust Your Personnel:

ICG’s primary concern is that manufacturing organizations neglect their end-users and business processes and procedures, often attributing issues to the software instead. When selecting or upgrading their system, organizations often overlook how their users will interact with the ERP. Decision-makers should consider what the pain points are, how end-users will be trained, and what systems and processes they want to automate or improve before they invest their time and money. When these issues are not addressed first, you end up with frustrated end-users and more errors, which make your ERP look inefficient. 

Evolving Your ERP:

The automation provided by ERPs can enhance efficiency, output, and overall capacity, but realizing these benefits requires following the proper upkeep. Whether adopting something new or upgrading your current ERP, understanding and implementing the proper processes and procedures, running system updates, and utilizing any necessary ERP extension products is critical to ensuring your ERP is used to its fullest capabilities. ERPs are not a set-and-forget system: they constantly evolve, and staying up-to-date on advancements is crucial to securing their ongoing success.