How can you collaborate more effectively with your ERP system?

Two things jump immediately to mind: - Business goals. Using a modern ERP simply as a system of record is not maximising your investment. Understand your business's goals and align AI and ML and predictive analytics functionality to meet them. - Data accuracy. Modern ERPs are so functionally joined up, that any attempt to get meaningful insights from it without accurate data is pointless. Garbage in, garbage out. Govern and protect the integrity of your master data with effective master data governance tools to accelerate the real value you get from your system. If you are looking for an effective, comprehensive and good value master data governance tool, I would recommend SimpleMDG.

You better have a clear vision of your Target Operating Model, vision, objectives & what/where you want to transform your organisation too, before you go anywhere near ERP. You have to spend time & effort to create the requirements of the organisation and the scope of Transformation to help you define how ERP can support them. You want to focus on data quality and be data driven - this has to be part of your processes and strategy and it is a great way to deliver the value you return - with factual information.

In my 2.6 years of experience with NetSuite, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of aligning ERP goals with broader business objectives. Firstly, identify business objectives - be it improving efficiency, streamlining processes, or enhancing customer experience. Regarding pain points, I've seen how businesses can leverage NetSuite's capabilities to streamline processes, reduce manual efforts, and eliminate bottlenecks. Measurement is key. Establish KPIs aligned with your objectives - be it faster order processing, reduced lead times, or improved financial reporting. Regularly assess these metrics with the help of reporting and analytics tools to gauge success and recalibrate strategies as needed.

Um ERP, é mais que uma solu??o tecnológica, mas sim um processo complexo da organiza??o que precisa estar bem alinhado com todos os envolvidos, considerando a cadeia produtiva, de forma que os principais key users e process owners precisam estar engajados e envolvidos tanto para contribuir com o compartilhamento de informa??es, tanto para ter a abertura para que ocorram mudan?a no processo atual, antes da implementa??o de uma ferramenta de ERP, e por fim, terem o conhecimento necessário para desenharem juntos com a implementadora, novos processos e procedimentos alinhados com a estratégia da companhia na implementa??o desta ferramenta.

Align with you business users , you can make the best system ever but if it’s not user friendly and if you are not aligned with the users practices then you will miss your goals.

I think User Experience is important and we should evaluate a solution based on minimum number of Touches. This is very important as every click is a chance of making mistakes

Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful ERP management. In my 2.6 years of experience with NetSuite, I've learned that the success of an ERP system depends on collaboration with managers, users, vendors, consultants, and IT staff. Engaging with stakeholders involves providing constructive feedback, sharing suggestions, and offering support to the ERP team - this collaborative approach is instrumental in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities for improvement. I've found that transparent communication not only resolves issues promptly but also strengthens the overall team dynamic.

ERP systems touch EVERY person in your organisation (after all you pay people, Finance sits in ERP, try doing so without). You should have a 360 continual improvement feedback loop for everyone not just the ERP team. You MUST have a collaborative & communicative culture as this drives the user experience (with other factors) - and you want users to have efficacy with the system they use. If I had a ￡1 for the times I've heard "it could be simpler this way" ... you know the rest. Make sure when you implement ERP that you give the people of the organisation a voice, that is listened to, heard, & actioned on. It's imperative to great user adoption & that's what you are striving for. There's a solution to the challenge - go find it.

Sometimes, messaging is not so much about WHAT is being said and HOW it's being conveyed. It's about WHO is sending the message and WHOM is receiving. You really need to know your speaker and your audience, and when it's time to switch it up. This is especially true when an outside vendor (such as an implementation partner) is struggling to get a message across. In such cases, take a step back and assess: is there someone on the inside who is more trusted and believes in the message? Are they willing and able to step up to help convince others? ERP communication is challenging. It requires building alliances and communicating on multiple levels, through multiple channels. Rumor mills, hallways, and sidebars are important too.

experience with the ERP system. This information can be valuable for identifying areas of Security Measures: Prioritize data security by implementing robust access controls, encryption, and regular security audits. Educate users about best practices for safeguarding sensitive information. Provide accessible user support and establish a helpdesk for users to report issues or seek assistance. Promptly address user queries and concerns to maintain a positive user experience. Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement by regularly evaluating the effectiveness of ERP processes and identifying areas for enhancement. Implement updates and modifications based on lessons learned and evolving business needs.

I think continuous small training is important. Another thing is the Training should be available in the right place and should be handy. Sometimes through training you get more requirements

Having spent 2.6 years immersed in the world of NetSuite, I firmly believe that the success of any ERP system hinges on the proficiency and empowerment of its users. Training must be an ongoing process. I remember undergoing continuous training programs during my time at Oracle. As part of UAT, I even had to train my clients. Empowering end-users involves providing them with the right resources, tools, and guidance. In my experience, a trained and empowered team leads to increased job satisfaction. When users feel in control and proficient in their tasks, it positively impacts their engagement and morale. It's not just an investment in technology; it's an investment in the people who drive its success.

Training and empowering users is important. The change will be scary enough. By providing good training sessions, materials and ongoing support, you can mitigate problems with system adoption. Also, if users have a good foundational understanding, they can help guide ongoing developments and improvements.

Encoraje os usuários a conhecerem profundamente as consultas e relatórios nativos disponíveis. Geralmente o alvo da implanta??o e treinamento é as entradas de dados e movimenta??es, sendo que a extra??o/consulta de informa??es pode ficar em segundo plano. A "gest?o" de um departamento é feita extraindo e analisando os dados imputados no ERP e a forma mais eficaz de fazê-la é usando o que a ferramenta oferece.

La capacitación es de los puntos más importantes en el éxito del nuevo ERP. Elegir un colaborador y designarlo como usuario experto siempre aporta mucho. De todas maneras, si los demás usuarios no se sienten confiados, la incertidumbre del día que se ponga en marcha el ERP genera múltiples reacciones negativas silenciosas muy peligrosas en el éxito de la implementación. No perder de vista que la zona de confort desaparece para todos los usuarios. Más capacitaciones redundan en más certidumbre y legitimad de los procesos de implementación.

ERP systems capable of being used in medium/large to large companies are complex systems themselves. Try to stick to only one ERP system, opt for solutions within the same ERP platform (single instances/ multi instances). Avoid integrations with cross system and data conversions. The more you stick to standard (which usually it’s industry best practices) the better of your company will be, the less disruptions it will have. This is also a way to assure business continuity by sticking to basics.

In my 2.6 years of experience with NetSuite, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of integrating ERP systems with other business tools. I've seen NetSuite integrate with applications such as Celigo, Salesforce, OpenAir, Expensify, Concur, Stripe, and more. ERP systems should not function in isolation but rather as a cohesive part of the broader business ecosystem. Integration with CRM, BI, and e-commerce platforms is imperative for achieving consistent, accurate, and accessible data organization-wide. The synergy between ERP and other tools enhances overall performance. For instance, integrating with CRM systems enables a 360-degree view of customer interactions, empowering sales and service teams with comprehensive insights.

ERP systems aren't isolated islands at all. BUT they should be the "Single Source of the Truth" for your organisations data. Great ERP's have CRM, BI, E-Comm etc. etc. as part of the composable systems they are, so you DON'T need to integrate now as you used to - it's done for us, and is far simpler. Use of AI will only improve these features and enable people & organisations for greater success. You can optimise everything and automate more with integrated systems that work with things like single sign on, user roles and permissions, this list goes on, and it creates a far lower total cost of ownership than having many many vendors and maintaining their products and integrations. It's simply far easier to have an integrated ERP.

* ERP systems should be flexible in integrating with other solutions * As a client switching from a legacy enterprise application to a newly developed ERP system at one go is never recommended, since failure or issue in new ERP could risk bringing down the complete clients operation * Hence there has to be an integration between the two applications so that there's a smooth transition of all the operations sequentially * Further adding, it helps in creating an enterprise solution of market leaders which adds up to more value to the organisation success * For eg. Integrating #PowerBI as a BI solution with ERP would be beneficial in following ways * Less implementation time * Better insights than ERP reports * Cost effective

Many users have good, mature ERP system for highly structured core financial, inventory, purchasing and sales processes. We are seeing more and more attempts to add workflow and better ERP integration to less structured customer service and sales processes. Newer tools like MS Teams and Popdock from Eone solutions show some promise in improving links between these silos of information.

- Enforce MFA and role-based access from the testing phase - Conduct audits to identify and address vulnerabilities. - Encrypt sensitive data / Don't use real data in tests. - Keep systems updated with security patches. - Implement robust network security measures. - Use secure configuration practices to minimize risks. - Stay informed about security updates from the ERP vendor. - Develop and update an incident response plan. - Train employees on security best practices. - Establish and test data backup procedures. - Set up systems for monitoring and investigating suspicious activities. - Ensure compliance with industry regulations and data protection laws. - Adhere to secure coding practices for customizations and delivery.

In my 2.6 years of experience with NetSuite, I've witnessed firsthand the dynamic nature of ERP systems. They are not static entities but rather living ecosystems that must continuously evolve to align with changing business and market dynamics. Keeping your ERP system updated is paramount, ensuring it remains a reliable cornerstone of your operations. Regular updates not only enhance functionality but also address security vulnerabilities. For instance, NetSuite uses its own File Cabinet to safely store and share data. Multi-Factor Authentication is another way to ensure additional safety. By proactively addressing potential issues through updates, we ensure that the ERP system runs smoothly, minimizing downtime and disruptions.

Apply the patches, assure the code quality, monitor the ERP vendor's sources with the latest news and information, keep up to date with the roadmap of the ERP system, understand the application lifecycle as its end of life (end of mainstream maintenance), work with the ERP vendor to get value from your contract through services and agreements.

Protect your ERP Data, it is MONEY, because it is a valuable business asset that can & should be guarded. You should not, in my opinion, give people the ability to run data searches that result in lists they can print, export, email, or take outside the "box" of the ERP to manipulate. Don't give people access to do this! Give them product functionality that means there is no need. Do you want your Director of Sales trotting off to your biggest competitor with all your customer data? Updating ERP is a requirement of all the vendors, keeping it current also means less effort in major upgrade programmes later. Always, always, have a Disaster Recovery Plan! Power lines get cut, fires happen, protect your ERP - its part of your business.

Sigue el cronograma del proveedor para mejorar funcionalidades y seguridad. - Prueba las actualizaciones en un entorno separado antes de aplicarlas al sistema principal - Lee la documentación del proveedor para entender los cambios de la actualización - Plan de Pruebas: Cubre procesos críticos como transacciones, informes e integraciones - Pruebas Funcionales y de Regresión: Asegura que las nuevas características y las existentes funcionen correctamente - Incluye a los usuarios clave - Realiza copias de seguridad antes de aplicar actualizaciones - Realiza las actualizaciones en momentos de baja actividad operativa - Monitoreo Post-Actualización: Vigila el sistema después de la actualización para detectar posibles problemas

Modern, cloud-hosted ERPs can be designed (or forced) to do almost anything. This isn’t always a good idea and often leads to designing solutions for things that aren’t currently a problem. At each step of the ERP Implementation process, ask yourself and your team, “Is this needed?” Consider the balance between system > process alignment and process > system alignment. Sometimes business processes need to be adjusted. Frequently, time and money gets wasted on things that just aren’t necessary. Just because the ERP can be backed into a corner with a hyper-specific custom process doesn’t mean it should.

Efficient collaboration with an ERP system involves clear communication, user training, and utilizing integrated tools. Ensure team members are well-trained, establish standardized processes, and leverage features like real-time data sharing to enhance collaboration. Regularly update and optimize workflows to align with evolving business needs.

- "What do you want the ERP system to do for you?" - this question needs to be answered for not only the organization as a whole but for every individual employee and the answer should be communicated well to every stakeholder. When the users are convinced that they will benefit from the ERP, user adoption (which is one of the biggest challenges that an organization faces with an ERP implementation) will automatically be maximized. - "Why did the organization need the ERP system?" - this is another question which needs to be addressed. All stakeholders must be onboard with the necessity of adopting the ERP, ensuring that not only is the initiative well-supported but also make it easier for the organisation to define success criteria.

Collaborating with an ERP system involves integrating your software or services with the ERP to share data seamlessly. This typically requires using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) provided by the ERP vendor. You'll need to understand the ERP's data structure, authentication methods, and communication protocols. Consult the ERP's documentation for API details, and consider working with a developer familiar with the ERP system to ensure a smooth integration.