5 Signs you need a new ERP system

Is it  time to get a new ERP system?

Are your staff duplicating their efforts across multiple systems? Is the number of manual processes in your organisation becoming overwhelming?  Are you struggling to access accurate data in real-time?  

Still unsure if this is the right move for your business? 

Here are 5 signs you need a new ERP system:  

1. Your staff are completing the same tasks repeatedly  

A study by Cognizant found that 22% of an employee’s time is spent on repetitive task) , in other words, time wasted. If your businesses’ data is stored across multiple systems and spreadsheets, your employee is wasting valuable time transferring this data from one area, to another, to another and so on. According to IDC, 40% of a knowledge worker’s time is spent looking for and organising information. – Is this an efficient use of your employees’ time?   

2. You don’t have quick access to information on the move  

While using multiple systems causes your employees to waste time on repetitive tasks, it also creates another serious issue – you can’t access your data quickly or easily while on the move.  

If you are using multiple spreadsheets and software to store your information chances are not all of them, if any, will support mobile access and even if they do, you will still be scattering around different systems trying to pull information. If you are on-site with a customer, or in a meeting with a supplier and they ask you how many sales orders on average per day you have at the minute – are you able to answer that question quickly and accurately? If not, it’s time to think about implementing a new ERP system. 

3. You rely too much on manual processes 

Do most of your processes still require manual workarounds? Are you still accumulating masses of paper trails that could be made electronic? – Why not have a system that does all this for you?  

The cost of manual processes for your business is larger than you might think. Not only is this time-consuming, but it also leaves your business open to the risk of human error. A study found that when manually entering data into simple spreadsheets, the probability of a human error was between 18% – 40%. Can your business afford to take this chance? Not only may opportunities be lost due to incorrect data, but also valuable time is lost trying to fix the issue.  

A study by Mckinsey found that in 60% of occupations, at least one-third of activities could be automated– while your business is suffering due to manual mistakes, your competitor has already automated that process and is completing it quickly and at a lower cost. 

4. Your multiple systems are creating problems for your IT department 

Two thirds of mid-size businesses are running outdated versions of their software. This is because so many organisations are using legacy software and often the number of updates required for all of these systems is more hassle than it is worth.  

 The IT management involved in using multiple systems is extensive and exhausting for your employees. Your business is wasting valuable time and resources maintaining patches and updates. Let’s change that.  

 Using one ERP system gives your business the flexibility to respond to business change instantly and avoid the headache of complex systems.  

 5. Your sales are suffering, and so are your customers  

 Studies from Accenture show that 52% of consumers have switched provider in the past year due to poor customer service.  

 If you are managing your sales, inventory and customer data separately this is likely to have a negative impact on your customer experience. If customers enquire about order and you are unable to give them a real-time update on its status, this is a serious issue. Similarly, if stock is not managed efficiently, this impacts a customer’s ability to purchase goods, negatively impacting their user experience and giving your organisation a bad reputation for customer service.  

 With an ERP system, all staff will have access to minute-by-minute information allowing them to provide high-level customer service through accurate order updates. Your new ERP system could also give customers the ability to track their own orders online using a customer account, enhancing their user experience.  

 50% of all automation opportunities are being missed. Don’t let this happen to you, get in touch to see how making the switch to a new ERP system can improve your business efficiency.