Which solution is better?
The idea of ERP as a one-stop shop with everything you need in a cost-effective seamless solution is an attractive prospect. But does it really provide everything you need? Or are there other systems out there that could be more valuable to your business?
Is it smarter to get the best system for every part of your business and integrate them into the ultimate management resource? Or is the answer somewhere in between?
The choice between a single ERP system versus integrating best of breed solutions has been hotly debated for decades. It’s a question that has challenged many an IT project in companies of every size and shape.
No one-size-fits-all
The allure of a single ERP solution for organisations is easy to understand. It’s a promise of easy, relatively low-cost implementation, one system to train and maintain, and a good enough solution for all the moving parts of the business. Alternatively, trying to match all of the variables to all of the different possibilities on the market for every department is not something anyone looks forward to.
A single solution can make all that easier. The functionality available in ERP suites has increased massively over the last 10 years, and vendors have been acquiring best of breed software and integrating these into their systems. As a result, many ERP systems can offer perfectly adequate functionality for most business environments.
But if you need higher levels of functionality for specific business solutions, it is true that ERP systems cannot compare to systems on the market for every conceivable aspect of business, from sales force management to laboratory information management. Yet, despite advances in cloud solutions and flexible, open-source architecture, many best of breed solutions still struggle to offer full ERP system integration.
Put the vendor to the test
Deciding on a systems strategy is complex, and there is no right answer to which solution is better. It’s important to first have a clear understanding of what level of functionality is adequate, and where more specific functionality might be a game-changer.
And even if a core ERP system meets all your needs, it is important to look for a vendor who can deliver full integration and real cost effectiveness, rather than pieced-together software ‘solutions’. (Different user interfaces are often a dead giveaway.)
When you’re clear on your information systems strategy, challenge ERP vendors on specific best of breed solutions, implementation and integration.
The perfect place to do that is during a vendor demonstration or a one-to-one discussion at the ERP HEADtoHEAD™ event.
This event offers a unique opportunity to meet, compare and experience leading ERP vendors and their products. So how about gaining knowledge on ERP systems that might otherwise take months of planning and meetings to achieve? This explains the success of the event, because it is all about one thing: efficiency!
