Rushing forward without pertinent tools and processes can hinder your business goals. A systems pragmatist will gain traction by strengthening fundamental areas. As I've been going through my hundreds of articles to put together the 100 tips, it's become obvious as to which topics resonated with me as essential [...]
Technological innovations are abundant, even overwhelming. Rather than trying to modernize at every turn seek to leverage your I.T. department to provide maximum efficiency without non-value added work. We hear a lot about lean, Toyota Production System and the like; however, I rarely hear about Lean I.T. A friend [...]
Extract the right data at the right time in a meaningful format for decision-making. Almost every company I work with seems to get caught up in the bells and whistles of their new or upgraded software; however, when push comes to shove, the bells and whistles mean nothing if [...]
Successful companies forge partnerships with their IT departments to create an ERP system that provides data to make good decisions and provide their customers with an exceptional experience. Is IT viewed as a partner to the business? Or a necessary evil? Or something in-between? Successful companies go down the [...]
Stay on top of hot ERP system trends to stay ahead of the competition. Those who make a concerted effort to identify and leverage emerging trends outperform their counterparts. As I want to make sure my clients are at the forefront of this path, I pay attention to emerging [...]
Acknowledge your ERP implementation project leaders for their ability to manage multiple moving parts. I've found that successful ERP implementation project leaders are unsung heroes as few executives could or should understand the 1000's of moving parts & critical elements to achieving success. What are a few of these [...]
Never underestimate the importance of design when upgrading or implementing supply chain systems. I find that design is often undervalued. We seem to blindly follow systems and business processes yet don't take the time to think through design. Purchasing and maintaining an ERP system is considered a big-ticket item [...]
I get "too many" calls to help resolve problems associated with system upgrades and/or new system implementations. How can some of these be avoided during the selection process? The good salesman - ERP software suppliers have to be some of the best salespeople I've seen. Even when you are [...]
How effective is your ERP selection and implementation process? Published in "The ACA Group" website, November, 2011 ERP system implementations fell off the grid during the recession; however, I've seen resurgence in the last year. Companies are thinking about investing again. However, although businesses are picking up, they are [...]
The multifaceted task of implementing a successful ERP system starts with selecting the “right” system and having a cohesive, adaptable strategy. As strange as it might sound, the software and its features is typically the least important ingredient to success. Instead, focus on... Just the critical few key requirements. [...]
