Evaluating Your Business Growth Goals And How ERP Can Help
Forbes writer Joel Patterson has been in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) industry for more than twenty years, and has learned the important role business software plays in successful firms. No two companies have the same needs so no two ERP systems can offer the same capabilities. Patterson shares an article describing the best approach to utilizing the best ERP system by evaluating the firm’s past, present and future goals. Per the article, he asks business owners to ask themselves the following questions:
- Learn from your past. What were your past business goals? Were you able to achieve those with your current systems and processes? Identify the elements of your business that have previously held you back.
- Analyze the present. Take stock of your current system. Is it equipped to handle your growth goals easily? What will happen if you make a strategic decision to acquire a business in a new industry? Is your system scalable and capable of supporting new processes and/or products? Does it allow you to quickly access data from across all silos of your business, giving you a birds-eye view of your operation with up-to-the-minute accuracy?
- Dream for the future. Once you’ve assessed the situation, it’s time to look towards the future. What are your goals for the coming years? Is your business prepared to grow into its potential?
Once you consider the answers/needs to these questions, Patterson believes you can plan for a better ERP system in place at your business. One important key is having the right team behind you (i.e. your IT department and your implementation partner). Adjusting to a new ERP system is a trying process, so it’s important to work with a team you can trust, have easy communication with, and can understand your unique business needs. The right ERP system can be a game changer for your business so choosing and implementing will take time.
