What is Best of Breed ERP?
For most of us this sounds like a simple question. We all have a definition of some sort in our minds and have used this term probably for years. Having had several conversations surrounding best of breed ERP over the past weeks, it has become clear that there are very dramatic differences as to what […]
The Last Mile of Digital Transformation
Over the last two weeks, I have been intrigued by two data points: 1. A recent article by a well-respected colleague about the outdated nature of ERP software, and 2. Work we just started with a new client – a very large US-based manufacturing and distribution company – whose digital initiatives extend well beyond ERP […]
What Private Equity Firms Want from Digital Transformation
Over the years, we have worked with quite a few clients backed by private equity companies. These big private equity firms want unique things from their digital transformation. Even for those of us outside that industry could learn quite a bit from their endeavors. As a broad generalization, private equity firms are hyper-focused on creating […]
What is the Best ERP Software?
Growing up my teachers used to tell us that there are no stupid questions. I’m sorry to disagree, but this is a stupid question. This is also the most common question asked in the independent ERP consulting space, and we receive it in one way or another on a daily basis. The most recurrent response […]
Comparison of Microsoft Dynamics 365 vs. NetSuite
Our recently release ranking of top ERP systems for 2019 triggered some interesting discussion and comparisons of leading enterprise software. Microsoft Dynamics 365 and NetSuite were both in our top 5 (#1 and #3, respectively), which leads to an interesting comparison of these two systems. Microsoft Dynamics 365 and NetSuite are often on ERP shortlists […]
How to Avoid ERP Failure
By Sam Graham Benjamin Franklin once said that in this world only two things are certain; death and taxes. Were he alive today, he would probably have added a third: continuing analysis of ERP project failure. We had hardly moved on from the Anchorage disaster before we read about the National Grid SAP failure, and […]
How Important is Industry Vertical Experience in a Digital Transformation?
“Do you have direct experience in our space?” As consultants, we hear this question every day. Clients often want to know how important industry vertical experience is to a digital transformation or ERP implementation. Recently, I have been asked if we have experience with: Baby food manufacturing Tier 2 defense manufacturing Public, Fortune 500 pharmaceuticals […]
Should We Adopt Our Parent Company’s Tier I ERP System?
Over the last few weeks, we have helped two companies navigate a common challenge: whether or not to adopt their parent company’s tier I ERP system. Tier I ERP systems traditionally refer to products such as SAP S/4HANA and Oracle Cloud ERP. Some might say that Microsoft Dynamics 365 and/or Infor CloudSuite should be considered […]
Why Oracle Cloud ERP and eBusiness Suite Isn’t Among the Top Digital Transformation Technologies
The other day we published our list of top ERP systems for 2019. The ranking is intended to provide a general, technology-agnostic comparison of the leading digital transformation technologies. Many were surprised that Oracle Cloud ERP and eBusiness Suite were not among the top digital transformation technologies. Oracle as a vendor generally ranks #2 in […]
Have You Done Your Homework to Prepare for Your Digital Transformation?
By Stuart Robb, Maddison Ward Limited Shall I tell you a secret? A big digital transformation trade secret… Whilst all the consultancy firms will bombard you with their papers on the top 6, the top 10, the top 15, and the top 61 reasons why ERP programs fail, the truth is that there is only […]
Top ERP Systems for 2019
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. As we enter the home stretch of the year, many of our clients are knee-deep […]
Why Every CIO and ERP Project Team Should Attend the Digital Stratosphere Conference
It seems that it is impossible to learn everything there is to know about digital transformation success. Although I have been an ERP consultant for over 20 years and recently published lessons from over 1,000 ERP implementations that I’ve been involved with, I am still constantly learning. Other cases in point: recent SAP failures at […]