ERP Failures: Stop Blaming Your Vendors, Start Fixing Your Planning
ERP failures aren’t happening because your system integrator can’t code fast enough. They’re happening because your organization didn’t make the right decisions before the project ever kicked off. That might sound harsh — but it’s also liberating. Because once you shift your focus from finger-pointing to forward planning, you can take back control of your […]
Rethink the Rip-and-Replace: 5 Reasons Why ERP Modernization Doesn’t Have to Mean Starting Over
Is “Rip and Replace” Still the Right Answer in 2025? For decades, the conventional wisdom in enterprise software has been this: if your ERP is outdated, it’s time for a rip-and-replace — tear it out and start fresh. Vendors love this idea — and why wouldn’t they? A full replacement means bigger contracts, longer implementations, […]
Cutting ERP Costs Without Cutting Corners
Most ERP projects don’t go over budget because of the software.They go over because of poor planning, bloated timelines, and the wrong people making the wrong decisions at the wrong time — all of which drive up ERP costs unnecessarily. The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way. At Third Stage Consulting, we’ve […]
Ripping Off the Band-Aid: The Truth About ERP Upgrades in the Cloud Era
Meta Description: The Upgrade Question: A Cloud-Era Reality Check When Chris on LinkedIn asked whether ERP providers would be pushing new platform versions that companies would be forced to adopt, it hit a nerve. Upgrades are one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of ERP strategy. They’re time-consuming. They’re expensive. And they can disrupt your entire […]
AI in ERP: What Customers Want vs. What They Fear
Why adoption is lagging—and how to move forward with clarity and control. AI is no longer a futuristic concept in enterprise tech. It’s here. It’s embedded in your ERP, your analytics, your workflows. And just like cloud five years ago, AI is quickly becoming a non-negotiable. But while organizations recognize they must embrace AI, many […]
ERP Is Dead… Sort Of: Why the Future of Enterprise Tech Is Bigger Than ERP
By Third Stage Consulting “ERP is dead.”It’s a bold statement—and maybe a little dramatic—but the truth is this: ERP software as we’ve known it is no longer the uncontested king of enterprise technology. Organizations are waking up to a new reality. They don’t always need to rip and replace a legacy system with a massive, […]
The Unique ERP Needs of Small and Mid-Sized Manufacturers and Distributors
By Eric Kimberling, CEO of Third Stage Consulting When most people think about ERP and digital transformation, they picture large enterprises with big budgets and full-time project teams. But the reality is, small and mid-sized manufacturing and distribution companies face just as much complexity — if not more — when it comes to upgrading their […]
Top 7 ERP Software Selection Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them
By Eric Kimberling, CEO of Third Stage Consulting When it comes to ERP software, companies often think the biggest risk is choosing the wrong system. But in reality? The bigger danger is picking the right software — and then failing in how you select, implement, and integrate it. After working with hundreds of organizations across […]
Technology Strategies for Small and Midsize Manufacturers and Distributors
Why Smaller Manufacturers Are Rethinking Their Core Systems Small and midsize manufacturing and distribution companies are at a unique inflection point. Many are still relying on aging systems like QuickBooks, Excel spreadsheets, or legacy ERPs that weren’t designed for today’s dynamic supply chains or customer expectations. The top two reasons these companies look to upgrade […]
Has Your Business Outgrown QuickBooks? Signs It’s Time to Scale Your Technology
From QuickBooks to Scalability: The Inflection Point for Growing Businesses Small businesses often launch with minimal tech: QuickBooks, spreadsheets, and a handful of manual workflows. But what happens when your customer expectations begin to mirror Amazon’s—and your internal systems can’t keep up? That’s the inflection point where many companies find themselves today. Customers expect real-time […]
Defining Your Digital Strategy: Top Technology Trends You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Why Digital Strategy Starts with the Right Technology Trends As digital transformation accelerates, leaders are asking the right question: Which technology trends should guide our digital strategy? The answer isn’t just about adopting the flashiest tools—it’s about building a strong, flexible foundation that enables sustainable change. Whether you’re migrating to the cloud or evaluating AI-driven […]
Tyler Technologies: The Public Sector ERP Powerhouse You Shouldn’t Ignore
What Is Tyler Technologies? A Public Sector ERP Giant Tyler Technologies is one of the leading providers of ERP software specifically built for public sector organizations. While it doesn’t have the name recognition of SAP or Oracle, Tyler powers thousands of municipalities, counties, and state agencies across the United States. Unlike traditional ERP vendors that […]