Avis vs. Hertz: A Tale of Two Digital Transformations
I’m always fascinated by how digital transformations that look so similar on the surface can end with such different results. I’ve spent the better part of my career as an independent ERP consultant and ERP expert witness studying the nuances that define success versus failure. The other day, I read a Wall Street Journal article […]
The Digital Transformation Declaration of Independence
In the US, we celebrate our independence every July 4. While this is not a recognized holiday in most parts of the world, it is worth striving for independence in certain facets of business and digital transformation. The ERP software and digital transformation industries have long been ruled by incumbents that we should be striving […]
Why Customer Experience Should Dictate Your Digital Transformation
Customer experience (CX) should drive your digital transformation. But with the increasing number of digital transformation failures in recent years, it is clear that we are focused on the wrong things. Most organizations implement new digital technologies with the intent of creating additional value and enhancing the customer experience. But, as we have seen in […]
Snow in Late Spring: The Art of ERP Risk Mitigation
No signs of it a week prior, but sure enough, it snowed in Denver on May 21. We all know it “could” happen, but nobody really expected snow in May. The storm resulted in several records and was the largest May snowfall in 44 years. Worst part was, it also dropped from near 80 degrees […]
Hertz vs. Accenture: How to Avoid Digital Transformation Failure
You’ve probably heard about this latest $32M Hertz vs. Accenture lawsuit by now, where Hertz is suing Accenture for failure to deliver on a digital transformation project involving their website and mobile applications. I’ve personally received hundreds of emails, texts, links and questions on this exciting case. My only response to this point has been […]
Alternatives to the big SAP and Oracle Systems Integrators
“No one ever got fired for hiring [insert big, well-known system integrator here],” or so the saying goes. While I can’t say that I know of anyone that has been fired for this decision, I do know of plenty of organizations that have sued as a result. As a recovering Big 5 SAP consultant, I […]
ERP System Integrator vs. Customer: Who Is Really to Blame for your Implementation Challenges?
Last week, Eric Kimberling published a blog on exposing the big ERP system integrators, highlighting quotes from consultants within some of the larger firms and confirming the concept of being “Accentured” or “Deloitted.” It is a real phenomenon and something to definitely watch for both before and during an implementation. While SIs and VARs (Value […]
When is it Time for an ERP Software Replacement?
ERP systems are an inherently difficult thing to handle, as they not only track financial activity in a company, but they also handle resource management and a plethora of other tasks as well. That’s why many organizations spend a long time picking an ERP system that works for them, because if you choose the wrong […]
Big ERP Systems Integrators Exposed
Disclaimer: This article contains quotes from multiple sources, which we have not cited for confidentiality purposes. Third Stage Consulting is an independent, technology-agnostic firm that is not affiliated with any of the ERP software vendors or systems integrators mentioned in this article. After the French Revolutions in the 1800s, a famous French writer once wrote: […]
ERP Vendor Negotiations: Can You Negotiate Too Hard?
While not common, we have seen situations where companies implementing ERP software press a little too much. Generally, ERP vendors will walk away when the terms fall out of their favor, but there are times when they may enter into an agreement that they are not fully comfortable with. When negotiating, there are two things […]
SAP vs. Oracle: An Overview of the ERP Software Leaders
SAP ERP and ERP in Oracle – Which one proves to be a better ERP system? SAP vs. Oracle is a comparison that many complex businesses make when considering their digital transformation options. The question of which brand can provide a better Enterprise Resource Planning software has always depended on the unique characteristics of different […]
Digital Transformation: The Art of the Possible?
By Sam Graham Companies tend to fall into two extremes in their digital transformations: there are those who expect far too much from their transformations, and then there are those that expect far too little. There are also those that fall somewhere in between, but it helps to look at both extremes for illustrative purposes. […]