What do you do if your ERP system configurations become too complex to handle?

ERPs are implemented to make life easy. If the system becomes too complex, it’s a clear sign to go back to drawing board and analyze where did we go wrong. Thumb rule to implement an efficient and effective ERP is to have 80% as the system suggests and only 20% alterations at max to cater for local needs. The moment this equation gets turned complexity’s start building and that’s the beginning of an end. I hope it helps - happy to share

If ERP system configurations become too complex to handle, it's crucial to reassess and streamline processes. Start by conducting a thorough review of existing configurations, identifying redundant or unnecessary elements. Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize essential features and simplify configurations where possible. Consider seeking assistance from ERP consultants or support services to optimize system performance and usability. Regular maintenance and updates can also prevent configurations from becoming overly complex in the future.

In Order to assess which is the foremost stage, - Evaluate all the implemented module's usage, relevance, and effectiveness in supporting your business processes. - Evaluate all your customizations. Are they still necessary/efficient and determine any outdated customizations that can be eliminated to streamline the system. - Assess whether the existing processes align with your current business requirements and goals. Prioritize these essential components that directly contribute to your core business process and ensure they are well-maintained and optimized. - Gather feedback and insights from stakeholders to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the needs and requirements of the organization.

ERP Configuration becomes difficult when people expectations are beyond capacity of System ERP which they decided to implement.. It means before going to implement ERP or Configuration of ERP The core Team involved in ERP System has to form steering committee to collate ideas as well as expectations from end users of ERP. List out the ideas & share the same to core team for conducting brainstorming sessions to decide what best is to be implement in ERP. Once done start working with ERP Implementation & Execution Team to see how many points are covered out of list finalise & what points can be achieved by implementing workaround. By such methods any ERP becomes easy to implement. In my view this the only way out to overcome any ERP Issues.

Ask the experts to identify not only opportunities for improvement, but trade-offs as well. Each stakeholder group should understand how they will be affected by the changes in terms of both benefits and costs. For example, reducing variability in the business process will make the system easier to train and support, but the business will be less agile to accommodate more scenarios. Going through an upgrade or enhancement project can be expensive, so building an ROI is as important as it is when implementing a new system. Not all ROI is easily quantifiable. If it relieves user frustration or allows IT to spend less time on break-fix activities and more on enablement, these should be highlighted as well.

Yes, engage experts but just like an unwell person visiting a GP, the treatment and or reference provided is as good as the information provided. You know your process and peculiarities better than any external expert, you most provide the right information and guidance for the appropriate solution.

I would add to the team consultants with specific process expertise for the industry segment in which we will implement and/or maintain the ERP, with a deep understanding of the specific industry as well as, or even more importantly, knowledge of the possible business configurations of the specific ERP. Because each ERP comes with a specific set of processes implemented in a "standard" way, and this knowledge brings a differential and agility to the implementation process.

- Simplify configurations: They can identify areas where configurations can be streamlined or consolidated, making the system easier to manage. - Identify root causes: Complex configurations often stem from underlying business process issues. Experts can help you identify these root causes and implement solutions that address them. - Future-proof your system: They can recommend best practices for configuration that will make your system more adaptable to future changes.

Most cloud based systems are well designed for best practices. In my experience a lot of architecture and system complications are due to carrying over legacy processes

Cloud ERPs, such as S/4 HANA Cloud, are now more and more ready to handle most of the industry business processes. Simplifying them and using industry best practices can help reducing complexity and easing innovation adoption.

Simplify ERP configuration for users by implementing intuitive user interfaces, offering guided configuration wizards, providing comprehensive documentation and training materials, and leveraging user-friendly customization options to tailor the system to specific user needs and preferences. Regularly solicit user feedback to refine configurations and improve usability.

It is always important that a customer revisits their internal process and refines/fine tunes or align to the benchmark industry standards at least a year before the ERP implementation starts. This will prevent many customizations and complexity in ERP implementation.

Before upgrading the ERP, the customizations which will be overridden by the upgrade but are still needed must be identified. The possibility and time taken to redo, test and complete them successfully after the ERP upgrade and before making the ERP available again must be determined to ensure that the upgrade can be practically achieved and deployed within the maximum allowable downtime for the firm's business operations.

In the dynamic realm of business technology, upgrading ERP systems is key to untangling the web of complexity that can entangle growth. With every system improvement, we're not just keeping up with technology, we're actively simplifying and enhancing how we work. The latest ERP upgrades can streamline operations, integrate disparate data, and provide insights that drive informed decisions. It's a strategic step that turns complexity into efficiency, giving businesses the clarity and agility they need to thrive in today's market.

Once you assess the current status, Look for systems that offer better scalability, easier configuration, and robust support for modern business processes such as cloud-based solutions, AI integration, and mobile accessibility. Identify an expert partner to execute the transition. This involves moving away from those complexities in the ERP system, train the users and monitor the effectiveness with modern analytical tools. By carefully planning and executing the upgrade or transition to a newer ERP system, you can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and better support your business objectives in the long run.

If the ERP becomes to complex then I would revisit the whole process and make it simplified to the user and remove the area which is irrelevant to time and take the inputs from the user wherein they are finding the complexity.

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, staying updated is more crucial than ever. It's essential not to fear new technologies but to embrace them as they emerge. Cloud solutions, in particular, are highly recommended in today's digital era, offering flexibility, scalability, and accessibility like never before. Embracing cloud technology can empower businesses to adapt quickly to changing market demands and stay ahead of the competition. Therefore, it's imperative not to hesitate in adopting these innovative solutions, ensuring that your organization remains agile and competitive in the ever-changing business environment.

ERP systems by nature are huge and complex, so providing intense training and documentation for end users will minimize the complexity of the system. In every organization's change management is crucial but it's under rated in most of ERP system Implementor and that brings frustration and avoiding the system from the end users. The solution is helping the end users in the process of the change management stage and engage to familiarize the system.

En mi experiencia dentro de la industria, he descubierto que mas allá de un entrenamiento para los usuairos, debe también existir un roadmap interno para homologar el conocimiento de manera horizontal y vertical. El ERP es una herramienta integral que sirve a toda la organización. Por lo tanto, el comité de proyecto debe trabajar en el plan de entrenamiento permanente con base en la documentación propia del fabricante, certificaciones, bases de conocimiento y nuevas funcionalidades disponibles. Usar herramientas de e-learning han demostrado ser muy valiosas para llevar el récord de avance de cada usuario, con el fin de lograr un aprendizaje individual que ayude al objetivo común.

Teach and Support: Ensure that everyone who uses the ERP system understands how to navigate it effectively and use its features optimally. This involves providing comprehensive training sessions for employees at all levels, from entry-level users to administrators. Training should cover basic system functionalities, such as data entry and report generation, as well as more advanced features specific to each user's role. Additionally, offer ongoing support channels, such as help desks or online forums, where users can seek assistance with any issues or questions they encounter while using the system.

It’s not just a cliche… knowledge is power!! Nothing is too complex, there’s just a lack of current understanding. If you find yourself in a place where the end users don’t fully understand the system or the results of what they are putting into it, it’s up to you to change that! Training is everything and user knowledge should never be assumed or taken for granted.

In the very best approach, key users are also process owners. As so, they must participate in the review. And then, they will train the users on the process first, and then in the systema operation.

In my experience due to its integration with various business functions and processes ERP system can be very complex so that it is required to be monitored closely and constantly. Here are some methods : - Have your robust monitoring model in place. Put dedicated team and tools to monitor system on required frequency. - Review the status in daily scrum & adjust the model. - Analyse the data, trends and patterns to assess if recurring and potential future issues can be addressed. - Build required reports, KPIs and comparison runs that provide you insights of system performance & its outcomes. Monitor these regularly - Adopt to leverage new technologies like Generative AI and ChatGPT into your monitoring model to be the best in industry.

Gather the troops and embark on an ERP adventure! Train your users like they're about to embark on a quest to Mount Configuration. Use analogies, memes, or interpretive dance if necessary – anything to make ERP training less daunting and more delightful.

Continuous monitoring of your ERP system is essential for maintaining simplicity and effectiveness. Establish metrics to measure ERP performance against business needs and regularly assess its alignment. Be ready to adjust processes or implement new functionalities as needed. Continuous improvement ensures your ERP remains a valuable business tool rather than a source of complexity.

Basis der kontinuierlichen Verbesserung kann nur ein Standardisiertes Prozess Enabling und deren Prozesüberwachung sein. Aber nicht jede Kennzahl macht Sinn, wenn man: - damit das Monitoring überfrachtet - die Kennzahl gar nicht beeinflussen kann Es sollten Monitoring Ma?nahmen bei der Implementierung immer mitgedacht, wenn auch noch nicht eingeführt werden Simplification & Best Practice, bieten gute Basis Vorgaben für das Monitoring und erm?glichen meist auch ein Benchmark, in der Branche oder Umfeld

The system configuration and IO need to evolve with the business. It is just as important to trim off capabilities once they become NVA as it is to evolve the capabilities of the system.

Ich beobachte bei SAP-Kunden mehrere Strategien: Dauerhafte Konsolidierung, Standardisierung und Optimierung von Anwendungen, Systemen und Schnittstellen. Veraltete Legacy-Anwendungen durch modernere ersetzen, um das Handling der IT-Infrastruktur zu vereinfachen und outzusourcen. In der ERP-Architektur gezielt auf die Abbildung von End-to-End-Prozessen achten und Process Mining Tools verwenden. Auf die Verbesserung der Datenqualit?t achten, um mit geeignetem Monitoring fundierte Entscheidungen auf Basis der Daten zu erm?glichen. Das sind nur einige Aspekte. Das zielführende Paradigma kann lauten: "Zurück zum Standard" statt "Individualisierung um jeden Preis"

In summary, ERP implementation in factory processes offers significant benefits such as streamlined operations, real-time insights, resource optimization, enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and improved change management. By leveraging ERP effectively, factories can achieve greater efficiency, agility, and competitiveness in today's dynamic manufacturing landscape. This means process as major important the team need to follow is systematically all procedures begin: digital data and physically move parts in the same time and location.

1. Usually complex ERP configurations is a reflection of large variations in multiple businesses/ business models force fitted into a single instance. Examine if this needs to be addressed by having a few more instances to disentangle businesses. 2. Apart from this examine the number of systems the ERP is talking to and how they are integrated. Native integration technologies (1:1 pipes) are complex and need to be continually maintained & upgraded. Consider a API first strategy with modern low code no code platforms. 3. Govern requirements. Complexity also takes birth due to multiple channels of demand flow and poor to nil strong central governance. Ask why, say No, propose alternates!

Some more suggestions can be.. - Break down processes to lowest level as possible - Adapt standard business processes available in the product though it may ask for some change in current working - Do not expect every business process to be covered under ERP (there are many low-code no-code systems which can be simpler to use with ERP and achieve better efficiency at lower cost/ time. - Nowadays lot of out of box Reports / Dashboards are available which can be used as-is with small configurations. - follow KISS model (Keep it Simple - n - Stupid)

Task number one can be a daunting one by itself! Depending on your situation, it may be best to redefine your processes, aiming for simplification and zero exceptions (every exception is an alternate configuration to maintain).