Avoiding Death by 1,000 Papercuts in Digital Transformation
Here’s the situation: you currently use a legacy ERP system that has been in place for over 20 years. When your customer places an order, you enter them into a field called “work order” in your ERP system. Everyone within your organization refers to these as “work orders” in their daily discussions. Fast forward a […]
Business Integration: A Key Ingredient for a Successful Digital Transformation
We recently wrote about the dark side of digital transformation and how there are inherent risks in today’s digital landscape. As it turns out, there is a key ingredient to mitigate these risks. Business integration is the key ingredient for a successful digital transformation. Simply put, business integration combines the operational, organizational, and technical components […]
Is It Time to Fire Your SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics System Integrator?
In my 12 years as an ERP expert witness and digital transformation specialist, I’ve seen more transformation failures than I’d like to admit. With the news of recent failures (the SAP failure at Lidle, SAP problems at Haribo, National vs. Wipro lawsuit, etc.), it seems that the industry is becoming numb to the realities of […]
Who Did You Vote For?
No, I’m not talking about that election, although the end result is the same regardless of what type of “vote” we’re talking about. People get angry and start tossing blame for anything that happens. Possibly the same level of manipulation involved, as well, but I’m talking about which ERP system you voted for when your […]
The Biggest Challenges with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Transformations
Like most digital transformations, implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 has challenges that need to be overcome. Unlike other digital transformations, there are several challenges with Dynamics 365 implementations that are unique to this particular solution. Here are a few of the challenges to keep in mind when embarking on your Microsoft Dynamics 365 transformation: The maturity […]
How to Save $5M On Your ERP Implementation Costs
ERP implementations and digital transformations more often than not cost more money than expected. However, there is a secret recipe to save a ton of money on your ERP implementation costs. The Hidden $5M Costs of an SAP ERP Implementation To set the stage for this common-sense solution, below is an excerpt from a manufacturing […]
Do This Before You Select a New ERP System
Years ago, when a client needed help evaluating and selecting a new ERP system, it was pretty straight forward. We would follow a basic methodology, define pain points, document requirements and go through the traditional long list and short list analysis of potential solutions. Today, the approach in actually selecting a software hasn’t changed too […]
Lessons from the SAP Transformation Problems at Haribo
The last year has been a difficult one for digital transformations and ERP implementations. After high-profile digital transformation failures at Lidl and National Grid, we now have news of SAP transformation problems at Haribo. Long story short: Haribo is a German candy manufacturer that manufactures gummy bears and other candies. In late 2018, they began […]
The Importance of ERP Go-Live System Testing
By Sam Graham A standard piece of advice when implementing an ERP system is that it should never go live without exhaustive and comprehensive testing. Even small companies implementing Tier 3 systems, are urged to carry out ‘Conference room pilots’ to ensure that there are no nasty surprises come the big day. But the latest […]
Did You Get a New ERP System for the Holidays?
Whether it was left under the tree or you managed to snag a vendor’s year-end closeout, getting a new ERP can be exciting. But like the new paint set you get for a 3-year old it can also cause a lot of stress if not managed correctly. I recall a phone call I received several […]
Digital Transformation Mandates for CXOs in 2019
As 2018 winds down and we look to the future, it is a good time to reflect on what we can do to be more effective in the coming year. The past year was a great one. On one hand, enterprise technology evolved in a significant way to help deliver potential breakthrough enterprise capabilities. On […]
Getting Help Selecting an ERP Implementation Partner
Software advisory firms have been helping organizations evaluate and select ERP software for decades and methodologies have become relatively holistic in their approach, with one key exception:evaluating and selecting an ERP implementation partner. Ask any ERP consulting firm how they evaluate the implementation partner, system integrator (SI) or value-added reseller (VAR) for the selected software […]