Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions are an single integrated system that supports efficeint management of an organization. Often these systems are large and cumbersome. ERP can include CRM, Order Processing, Inventory management, Account (GL, A/P, A/R etc etc), Shipping control, Payroll and other functions that are vital to an effective businesses operations.

- proposition

The goal of integrating all the functions of a business into one integrated tool, seems on the surface to make a lot of sense. Having marketing stats connected to sales info and tracked ot profitability can be very helpful in managing an organization.

Most adopters of ERP are at a high level in the organization, and the reports that they recieve help them to make decisions quickly and be comfortable that the decisions are based on information rather than instincy or "gut reaction"

- reality

Often the initial installation, customization implementation and rollout is very large expensive job (usually names like SAP, Peoplesoft, Bahn, Oracle, IBM and such are involved in the process). Because the systems are one size fits all, the end result (while championed and praised by executives) leaves a lot of room for improvement in terms of supporting the foot soldiers (people doing real work) of an organization. Often these project cost millions of dollars for the product and sometimes as much for the customization.

The workers in the trenches doing the real work are disenchanted by being slowed down and extra burden to perform record keeping tasks that add no percieved value to the process of creating valuable results. This does not encourage them to do a quality job of recording information, and the data that the decision makes are relying upon is skewed based on the workers data entry.

In the last several years, many Open Source System (OSS) ERP's have appeared and they hold much promise towards providing Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with ERP that is less expensive, high quality and proven effective. This has become a real choice. Also the customization of an OSS ERP can be much less expensive than a commercial alternative as high priced consultants are not required to perform the customization.

A key portion of ERP adoption is training. If the analyses of the organizations needs are effectively performed and then at roll out time, effective training of the staff in the usage of the ERP.

Inquire online about our open Source ERP Services and our availability to provide the skills and services you need to succeed.