What Is the Most Common Cause of Digital Transformation and ERP Failure?
Digital transformation and ERP failures are caused by a number of things. Poor project management, lack of internal alignment, and poor organizational change management are just a handful of reasons by transformations so commonly fail. Behind these and other common symptoms lurks a deeper root cause: lack of independence and objectivity. Simply put, ERP vendors […]
The Most Important Roles on ERP Implementations and Digital Transformations
When planning for an ERP implementation or digital transformation, most people seem to intuitively understand the importance of a good project manager. They typically also understand how important the CIO or IT Director’s role is. These are two examples of roles that are very important to the success of any digital transformation. Surprisingly for many, […]
The Three Stages of Digital Transformation
If you have been following Third Stage for any length of time, you have probably heard reference to reaching the “Third Stage” of your digital transformation or seen the below graphic: This is a graphical references of the three stages of a rocket launch in comparison to a digital transformation, suggesting that the third booster […]
10 Steps to ERP Implementation Success
Despite decades of history and lessons learned, most organizations still haven’t figured out how to achieve ERP implementation success. In fact, our research over the years shows that most implementations still fail – despite lessons from history and advancements in technology. (For more on this, see our 2020 ERP and HCM Report). The more things […]
Five Movies to Watch Before Implementing New ERP Software
We often look for third party guidance when heading into an ERP software implementation or other forms of digital transformation. We read blogs (thank you), we search online for success stories as well as failures, and we ask our network for tips on what has worked in the past. We too strongly recommend researching and […]
Why Tier 2ERP Software Might be Right for You
In ERP world there’s no shortage of software solutions and a variety of pricing. Software is sometimes described as Tier 1 solutions (examples include SAP and Oracle) and Tier 2 solutions (software companies like IQMS or NetSuite) and the list goes on. The concept is the lower the number the more sophisticated the system. Tier […]
Digital Transformation Is Dead
Digital transformation is dead – or at least it should be. The brutal truth is that most ERP vendors, consultants, and analysts have been far too focused on the “digital” in digital transformation and not focused enough on “transformation.” It’s high time that we put the outdated modes of digital transformation to rest for good. […]
Communicating the Need for Headcount Reduction as Part of Your Digital Transformation
We recently discussed the concept of reducing headcount as part of your digital transformation. While not an enjoyable topic for most, it is still a reality in some situations. If you find yourself having to layoff workforce in order to either stay afloat or keep your competitive edge, the most difficult part will likely be […]
Why ERP Software Magic Quadrants Are Flawed
When evaluating potential ERP software or other enterprise technologies, project teams typically turn to the usual industry analysts and reports. Analyst firms such as Gartner, Forrester, and others will frequently publish reports and analysis of various software solutions in a variety of verticals. Gartner’s ERP software magic quadrant is an example of a common reference […]
Reducing Headcount with your Digital Transformation
While far less prevalent than two decades ago, we do still see it: companies leveraging efficiencies from their new technology to reduce headcount. It is not an easy discussion topic, especially in today’s world when layoffs and furloughs are at an all-time high, but it is reality. And reality needs to be dealt with. Lack […]
The Convergence of ERP Configuration and Customization
The words configuration and customization can be equally challenging to understand. As related to ERP software – the challenge comes from the fact that every software company builds and defines their software a little differently. Configuration typically refers to the ability of a software to natively perform a certain function. A general way to think […]
How Magic Quadrants Can Derail ERP and HCM Software Evaluation Processes
We often see organizations get caught in analysis paralysis during their ERP and HCM software evaluation process. With so many options in the market, coupled with a lack of independent data on the strengths and weaknesses of these options, it’s easy to see how a project team can get stuck in the mud. Unfortunately, common […]