SAP S/4HANA vs. Oracle ERP Cloud: Clash of the Titans
When considering new enterprise technologies, many of our clients consider SAP S/4HANA vs. Oracle ERP Cloud in their ERP software evaluation process. In fact, our upper mid-market and larger enterprise clients choose between these two systems on an extremely frequent basis. In the most recent rankings of the top ERP systems, it’s not surprising that […]
My Company Doesn’t Have an ERP System
We often encounter clients that don’t have a true enterprise resource planning system (ERP). That doesn’t mean they don’t have processes. This isn’t limited to just small companies. We also work with pretty big midsize companies following similar patterns of relying on QuickBooks and spreadsheets. Thus, there must be very real practical reasons why these […]
Self-Serve ERP Software Please
Don’t underestimate the influence of Generation Y (Millennials) or Generation Z (Gen-Z) on how the top ERP systems will continue to evolve. They are changing the rules both as employees and consumers. Their preferences and actions are dramatically altering how businesses operate as well as how they use technology, and at an ever-increasing pace. As […]
Is Business Intelligence the Logical Evolution of ERP Systems?
Many of our blogs talk about the significant advantages of modern ERP and associated digital transformations. Among those advantages, we have discussed how business intelligence is a key ingredient of an effective digital transformation. The last few decades have seen tremendous progress in software development and information technology enabling access to sizable amounts of stored […]
How a Good ERP Consultant is Like a Utility Infielder
Utility infielders are critical pieces of a successful baseball team. They are not everyday players and often are not even starters. They play many positions and roles, many of which are only consistent if there is an immediate or urgent need created by an injury to a starter. So, what makes them so important to […]
Oracle ERP Cloud vs. Oracle NetSuite: An Independent Third-Party Comparison
In the years we have been providing our annual technology-agnostic ranking of the top ERP systems, we have never seen one quite like the list for 2020. Not only were there some surprises on the list – particularly with Service Now, Workday, and SAP S/4HANA – but some vendor products fared better than others. This […]
Overcoming ERP Software Selection Analysis Paralysis
Consider this scenario: You have engaged a software selection consultant to help you evaluate and select a new ERP solution, you have narrowed from long to short-list, received your ERP RFPs and have viewed demonstrations. It is now time to decide. There are certainly considerations across the top few packages, but one has stood out […]
IoT Will Rock You
We are beginning to feel and recognize the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT), although most admit defining IoT (and how far it will go) is a challenge. No doubt that’s because we remain on the verge of something much bigger than we can imagine. This could be problematic in the ERP software space. […]
Golly Gee ERP Systems Are Awesome! An Attendee’s Guide to ERP User Conferences
As we head into the fall ERP user convention season, it feels similar to sitting through an endless episode of “Leave it to Beaver.” Listening to Larry Ellison at Oracle Open World, Bill McDermott at SAP’s ASUG Sapphire, Kevin Samuelson at Inforum or Darren Roos at IFS World Conference, it seems the ERP vendors’ world […]
The Top 10 ERP Systems for 2020
Disclaimer: Third Stage Consulting is an independent ERP consulting firm. Third Stage has no financial ties to ERP vendors, either directly or through parent companies or affiliates. Accordingly, the below analysis is completely technology-agnostic and 100% free of vendor bias or compensation. As we enter the home stretch of the year, many of our clients […]
Why You Should NOT Implement a New ERP System Now
Growing up in the ‘80s, I was used to hearing the phrase “just say no.” It was a term coined and used often by the US President Reagan’s wife Nancy as part of her anti-drug campaign, so the saying became ubiquitous and associated with the ‘80s. CIOs can’t seem to say “no” to drinking the […]
Your ERP Project Isn’t What You Think It Is
You are about to embark, on or are in the middle of a major ERP project that’s going to change the way your company does business. You know how critical this new technology is to your organization’s future. You understand that nothing is more important than identifying the software with the best and most advanced […]