Why ERP Vendors are Partying Like it’s 1999
The big ERP vendors and their systems integrators seem to be having a field day lately. Forced upgrades, shifting customers from one-time payments to recurring revenue models going into perpetuity, and a larger share of IT spend are just a few of the things lining the vendors’ pockets. In other words, they are partying like […]
ServiceNow or Service Not?
ServiceNow is a cloud-based workflow solutions software platform designed to help organizations function efficiently. It can provide efficiencies for multiple areas such as IT, HR, security operations and customer service management. Currently this public company has a high valuation on Wall Street with about a 1,300% jump from its initial public offering price of $18 […]
People are the Heart of Digital Transformation in Africa
As companies around the world reap the benefits of ERP implementations and digital transformations, the focus on developing areas remains a mixed bag. Digital successes enjoyed by countries like China and India have allowed them to compete on the global stage in new ways. I find Africa to be an equally intriguing center for this […]
How ERP Software Industry Hoaxes Lead to ERP Failure
Big ERP vendors can sell software and services like nobody’s business. Companies such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Infor, and others have created monstrous machines capable of turning even the biggest skeptics into converts. But it all comes at a cost. In their quest for technology dominance, the vendors and their respective ecosystems have – presumably […]
Fun with ERP Systems: Driving with the Windows Down
Walk into any business environment and mention “ERP systems” and watch for the looks of horror. ERP is a critical factor in nearly ever business across the globe, but the thoughts and memories of past implementations have left many with scars. ERP implementations are hard, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Similar to being […]
How Better Change Management Could Have Saved the Boeing 737 MAX
Organizational Change Management (OCM) is not a one size fits all concept, but I couldn’t’ help from wondering if it could have made a difference with the major issues Boeing is encountering with its 737 MAX airliners. Boeing’s problems center around a Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which is safety software installed in these new […]
Why Do ERP Implementations Really Fail?
I have spent the better part of 20 years trying to help clients crack the code on why ERP implementations fail. It first started to click 12 years ago when I was engaged for my first ERP expert witness engagement for one of the highest profile lawsuits that the industry has seen. In this and […]
How to Minimize ERP Implementation Costs
ERP implementations are not known to be the cheapest things an organization can invest in to improve their business. That being said, enterprise software is considered to be an essential asset for manufacturers, distributors, and other business leaders. Businesses without effective ERP systems tend to struggle with accurate data, while their business processes tend to […]
How to Stay Educated on Changing Digital Technologies
Digital technology improves every single day, offering new functionality, advanced capabilities around automation and the ability to access and analyze endless amounts of data. Data forensics and what we learned about AI just a couple years ago is pretty much outdated. So how does one stay current? There are technology conferences and meetings in every […]
Welcome to the Machine of Digital Transformation
As Pink Floyd once said: “Welcome my son, welcome to the machine.” For all we know, they could have been talking about the future of digital transformation when they released the song 40 years ago. The dark side of digital transformation As a recovering Big 5 SAP consultant, I have seen the dark side of […]
Why You Should Implement a Cloud ERP System
As the internet world has progressed, more and more organizations have been slowly moving their computer services over to the cloud for a variety of reasons. In fact, we recently wrote an article about how cloud ERP has reached the tipping point of adoption, along with one about what IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat means […]
Agile + ERP Implementations: Why It’s a Terrible Idea
Trends in the ERP software space are a lot like politics. One minute a certain political party is firmly in control – then a few years later things change, and a new party is in control. With each shift comes hope and promise that the not-so-new answer will solve the problems of the “old” way […]