3 common ERP implementation errors to avoid

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Implementing manufacturing ERP software is a complicated process with myriad pitfalls. Unfortunately, many manufacturers fall victim to these hazards, adopting inadequate solutions that fail to meet project goals.

ERP failure rates have steadily risen over the last five years, according to research from Panorama Consulting Solutions. In 2014, more than 20 percent of implementers deemed their adoption attempts failures. Even those that manage to rollout new software saw fewer benefits than they had anticipated.

In most cases, serious missteps normally precipitate such situations. As you set out on your ERP journey, be sure to familiarize yourself with some of these common errors and try to avoid them at all costs.

Ineffective planning
Organizations often set the groundwork for failure with poor planning, TechTarget reported. ERP software experts uniformly agree that potential adopters must first carefully evaluate their operational needs and assess essential technology infrastructure via exhaustive internal audits. Yet, many skip this step completely, choosing to forge ahead with little idea of what they actually need, CIO reported.

"This often leads to confusion down the road because they might not fully understand their current processes and how to evolve them to maximize business benefits and efficiencies," Erik Kaas, vice president of product management for mid-market ERP products at a leading software vendor, told the magazine.

You can easily avoid this situation by properly evaluating your processes and pinpointing trouble spots that might improve with a little ERP automation. Using this information, you can create a required features list and research solutions with a firm grasp on your specific software needs.

Adopting impactful manufacturing ERP software is possible if you avoid these common pitfalls.Adopting impactful manufacturing ERP software is possible if you avoid these common pitfalls.

Poor change management
In 2014, technology consulting company Deloitte asked over 1,200 chief information officers from companies across the globe to identify key ERP implementation roadblocks. More than 80 percent cited internal resistance to change as the biggest barrier. This response came as no surprise to seasoned information technology professionals.

Employees often resist such shifts, as most don't particularly enjoy learning new systems and reshaping their usual workflows. Unfortunately, many organizations fail to address this issue and simply drop new systems into the laps of their workers, expecting them to innately understand their benefits and happily accept the change. In most cases, employees begrudgingly adopt the new software but fail to unlock its full potential. And, sometimes, widespread resistance forces companies to completely abandon newly implemented ERP platforms.

Again, this easy to avoid. After sketching out an implementation strategy, share it with your employees and gather their input. By engaging them in the process, you can build support early and possibly develop some internal product champions. Additionally, be sure to explicitly outline the overarching business goals the system will address. Employees need to understand how the ERP will tangibly improve operations and the company, as a whole.

Of course, spend considerable time developing a customized training plan for end-users. You can't expect your employees to pick the new system without assistance.

Inaccurate cost and resource estimation
More than half of implementers go over budget, according to Panorama Consulting Solutions. Most often, this occurs because they underestimate the costs in the first place. The average ERP implementation costs $6.1 million and takes almost 16 months to complete.

"Formulate a realistic budget that includes sections for post-rollout support and maintenance."

So, formulate a realistic budget that includes sections for post-rollout support and maintenance, expenses that many organizations fail to consider. Additionally, once you've developed a project scope and started the implementation process in earnest, avoid altering project goals or tacking on new objectives. This will increase costs and most likely put you over budget.

With these common pitfalls in mind, carefully plan the implementation process for your new manufacturing ERP software and stay vigilant as things move forward. Though the odds are stacked against you, adopting an impactful, bottom-line altering manufacturing software solution is possible.

Tips to ensure smooth sailing with your ERP implementation

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Implementing a new enterprise resource planning software platform can be a daunting task. There are lots of decisions to make regarding the budget, timeline and project teams. However, if managed correctly, the new business management software will be in place and your team will be enjoying increased efficiency in no time. Following these guidelines will help you get the most of your the implementation and ensure a smooth transition. 

Manage your budget
ERP software solves a lot of issues, but just blindly throwing money at your problems isn't the most cost-effective solution. Develop a budget and determine whether or not you're going to need to bring on additional help. Be realistic and careful when putting this plan together, so there are no surprises.

Build a project timeline
In order to make sure your implementation does well, it's a good idea for you and your team to create a timeline with important milestones. That way, if your implementation begins to fall behind schedule you and your team can take a look at any roadblocks and make adjustments. 

Get leadership on your side
Your implementation is going to be rough if you have to butt heads with executive management. Executives deserve to know what's going on, as this implementation will likely affect their departments as well. Having executive buy-in can improve the budgeting and analysis of the implementation. 

"Partner with an ERP vendor that understands manufacturing."

Pick and choose
One of the benefits of modern ERP technology is that these programs are available in various modules, allowing you to pick and choose which programs and functionalities you need. Is your biggest issue with handling inventory? Focus on and inventory management software module. As your business grows you can add more modules, but don't feel like you need to purchase the whole package from day one. 

Train your users
You would think this would go without saying, but many times this part is overlooked in an ERP implementation plan. A comprehensive training program will help make sure that your team is able to hit the ground running as the new program rolls out. 

Partner with a vendor that knows your business
In order to properly implement an ERP platform, it's important to partner with a value added reseller that understands manufacturing. A partner that knows manufacturing software and can walk you through the program will be invaluable for your implementation. 

If you're looking for a modern ERP to improve your manufacturing operations, Accent Software can help! We're a proud Microsoft partner and are with you every step of the way, ensuring that your business gets the most out of Dynamics NAV. Contact Accent Software to learn more. 

Building your ERP dream team

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When it comes to manufacturing, it's always a team effort. Great manufacturing business software can help boost productivity and flexibility. However, in order to get the most out of your enterprise resource planning program, it's going to take a winning project team. You're going to need to assemble a strong group of thinkers, doers, movers and shakers that will help you fully harness the power of your new ERP platform. 

The individuals you choose will go a long way toward the overall success of your manufacturing ERP software. So, what kind of people do you need on this team?

Managers who listen and act
Executives need to be able to gather information from their teams, digest that information and then make sound decisions. Their team members are the people who perform the necessary tasks every day, across the company. Managers need to understand what they do and how they do it, so they can provide valuable insight for new ERP projects. If a manager doesn't know how to perform his team's tasks, how can he provide information for their ERP module? 

"Your team needs stakeholders who can think outside of their own silos."

Strong communicators
Technically skilled employees are naturally important members of an ERP project team. After all, you need contributors who are handy with the software in order to make it work. But don't overlook communication as a valuable skill either – as your project will likely need to be rolled out to other employees, it's important to have good communicators who can use their skills to engage new users and develop training materials. 

'Big picture' thinkers
When implementing new processes and standards, there will likely be some individuals who act as obstacles. Maybe they don't want to change because the old way works for them, or their department. Maybe they don't care if a small change helps the company as a whole. They simply can't see the forest through the trees, or they don't want to. Your ERP team needs stakeholders who can think outside of their own silos, and see the greater good that these changes are bringing. Otherwise, progress may be stalled at the drawing board. 

Business minds
Obviously, an ERP project is heavily aligned with technology – you need technically skilled people in order to help implement and upgrade the software, as well as maintain its functionalities. However, don't think of an ERP project as just a technical one. Everything that your ERP software does should serve a business purpose. That means every ERP project is a business project. Include team members who are always taking the business aspect into consideration during any ERP project. 

"Everything that your ERP software does should serve a business purpose."

An experienced, responsive vendor
Don't overlook the ERP vendor. Choosing the right one can make a huge difference, because these are the people who help establish the implementation strategy, the training programs and the post-implementation problem-solving. Selecting an ERP vendor that you trust ensures that your company has a dedicated partner who can work through any problem with you and your team. 

Are you ready to replace your legacy system with a robust new business management software solution that's built for manufacturing? Add Accent Software to your team! Accent is a Microsoft partner that provides Dynamics NAV. Our dedicated professionals can walk you through every step of the process, from implementation all the way to post-launch problem-solving. To learn more about winning ERP solutions, contact the Accent Software team today. 

Creating a winning ERP training plan

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Your business has made the decision to implement a sophisticated new enterprise resource planning system. Now comes the training. In order to make sure that employees get the most out of this robust tool, it's important to develop a comprehensive training program. The following tips will help you to create a plan that will bring everyone up to speed, and ensure that users will be able to enjoy the full benefits of your new manufacturing software. 

Involve the whole company
Your business management software will affect every part of your enterprise, so why limit the training to just a few people? Obviously some employees will be using it more than others, and some will be using different modules. However, everyone should have a baseline understanding of the software, its best practices and its procedures. After all, ERP software connects every department, so every department should be able to use it. 

Get leadership on board
Since you're involving the whole company, you're going to want to make sure management is on board. Training may cause some temporary disruptions, so managers deserve to know if their teams are going to be training on this new system. Involving management will also help them to nominate change agents, individuals who help to transition their teams and promote the strengths of the new system. 

Collect feedback
Your training program may not work for everyone, or some portions may be more helpful than others. Are you using real-life examples? Is there anything else you could be going over that your users are facing? Provide a method for constructive criticism, so your can make sure that your training is as helpful as possible. 

"Everyone should have a baseline understanding of the software."

Keep it going
You can't just train once and forget it. ERP software is so  adaptive that new functionalities are always rolling out, and its important for users to stay on top of the updates. Maintaining a rolling schedule of training programs helps to bring new hires up to speed, while keeping veteran users up to date on any changes.

Be adaptable
Not everyone learns the same way. Some learners are more visual, others need to try things themselves in order to fully understand them. When it comes to office training, scheduling time for everyone can be a challenge. Bringing remote employees in can be complicated as well. While ERP training is critical, you don't want to disrupt peoples' schedules too much if they're busy with other tasks and responsibilities.

Online learning can be a great solution because it allows employees to learn from any location, on their own schedule. By using digital training materials that only require an internet connection to access, employees can brush up on system fundamentals wherever they are, whenever it works for them. Hands-on training is recommended, but for those employees in unusual situation, or those who would like to freshen up on what they've already learned,  online learning can be a great benefit. The important thing is that you're adapting materials to different learning styles. 

The Accent Software team can help train your users on Microsoft Dynamics NAV, a powerful ERP solution that's built for manufacturing enterprises. The Accent team can also help with implementation and ongoing service. Contact Accent Software today to learn more. 

How ERP helps manufacturers improve revenue

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It's no secret that enterprise resource planning software can help a business in many ways. While ERP solutions can help streamline processes and reduce waste at every level, they can also help you improve revenue streams. At the end of the day, it's so important that you're able to get the most revenue you can as your business grows. Let's take a look at how ERP finance and accounting tools can help. 

Analyzing business data
ERP systems provide a central hub of information in every area of your business. Naturally, sales is a major component, and this data can make a huge difference. ERP software can help you analyze your revenue streams to identify emerging patterns.

Seasonality and decreasing sales for specific products are several examples of patterns that ERP can help identify. Armed with this information, you can make smart strategic moves to take advantage of these opportunities. Avoid making too many products with waning popularity, and schedule production of season products accordingly. ERP business intelligence tools can also identify products that are growing in popularity, can capture relevant data to help you make new strategic moves to meet new opportunities. 

"ERP software can help you analyze your revenue streams to identify emerging patterns."

Recording revenue transactions
Revenue recognition is a principle that requires revenue to be shown during the period it's earned, rather than when the payment is actually received. It's a cornerstone of the accrual basis of accounting. Using the robust business accounting program of a modern ERP system allows you more flexibility when recognizing sales, while still working within Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) standards. This flexibility is extremely helpful for manufacturers, who often mix product sales with service sales. 

Synchronizing production with demand
Demand planning is always challenging for the manufacturing field. The more information you have about upcoming customer orders, the more accurately you can determine how many units to make. ERP software can provide a great benefit in this area, helping you prepare your operations to meet this demand. 

Customer communication is important in this area. By collecting information on past orders and prompting your team when they need to reach out for updated orders, an ERP solution can help you prepare for demand and schedule your production to meet it, ensuring that you minimize waste and meet all deadlines. 

At Accent Software, we help manufacturers make the most of their revenue streams with Microsoft Dynamics NAV. We can help your team undergo a dramatic digital transformation with Dynamics NAV and follow up with training and consulting wherever they're needed. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help. 

What to expect from the future of business management software

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Enterprise resource planning has changed quite a bit during its illustrious history. The process management software has integrated a number of new functions and technologies over the years. ERP still brings tremendous value to an enterprise, and as the technology continues to grow and develop, so will this value. Let's take a look at what the future holds for manufacturing ERP software. 

The rise of component systems 
ERP software was originally created for large companies. As the technology became more mainstream, the software has become more affordable to small and mid-size companies, allowing them to streamline processes and compete with the big dogs. Component ERP systems make this easier: they're simpler base systems with an extensive number of add-on modules that a company can add as necessary. This makes the ERP more scalable for growing businesses. 

Increased mobile integration
Enterprise mobility is not new at this point, but it's only going to get bigger in the future, and ERP systems will be part of it. While older platforms might have adapted to include mobility as an added tool, future ERP systems will be developed with mobility as an integral part of the functionality. As mobile tools are playing a larger part in the manufacturing environment, ERP tools will be increasingly "mobile-first". 

ERP mobility will continue to grow, and postmodern ERP will provide more "mobile first" tools. ERP mobility will continue to grow, and postmodern ERP will provide more "mobile first" tools.

A focus on flexibility and customization
Markets can change dramatically. Manufacturers need to be able to adapt rapidly to new challenges and opportunities, developing workflows and processes that can be tweaked when necessary. ERP software is going to help here, providing customizable systems that can change as the company grows, and provide agility that legacy systems just couldn't offer. 

The growth of hybrid cloud features
While cloud computing has transformed the way business management software can provide value, there is still some data that is going to be housed on-site rather than the cloud. A hybrid cloud allows enterprises the best of both worlds: the flexibility and reduced hardware investment of cloud computing, and the increased control of on-premise software.

"ERP will bring new ways of harnessing and using data."

A faster, more integrated supply chain
Seamless delivery between vendors, manufacturers and end users is more important than ever. Big Data is providing a glut of business intelligence, helping to develop a smarter supply chain on the global level. This intelligence will help to reduce order errors and recalls, and help manufacturers develop more accurate customer demand. As ERP platforms exist to serve these supply chain functions, look for them to bring new ways of harnessing and using data to improve functions at every stage. 

Reduced redundancies through automation
Legacy ERP systems relied heavily on workers filling out manual reports and forms. This was extremely time-consuming, and often lead to human errors. As ERP systems adopt increased automation, custom reports that used to take days are now taking mere minutes. The automation also reduces the chance of human error, and lets employees focus on providing customer service and other important tasks. New ERP programs will include increased automation as the software becomes more powerful and integrated with other systems. 

If you'd like to replace your outdated legacy system with a newer, more powerful manufacturing business software solution, contact Accent Software. We're proud Microsoft partners who help growing manufacturers implement Dynamics NAV, a robust manufacturing business software. The Accent team will walk you through the full process, from planning to training and post-implementation. 

How does manufacturing ERP software strengthen company culture?

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Enterprise resource planning can bring many changes to a business, such as increased efficiency, improved inventory management and clearer cross-functional communications. What many people may not realize is that ERP software can also improve company culture.

While culture can be difficult to define, it plays a major role in how well your enterprise runs. A strong company culture can lead to happier, more productive employees. Many of the issues with legacy software, such as poor communication, inefficient processes and general disorganization can hurt company culture, but the improvements that come with the right business management software can reverse these effects. 

New roles and responsibilities
Many employees will be facing new challenges and opportunities when business management software is implemented. Everyone's role will change in some way or another, but there will be some users who feel like they have totally different jobs. It's important to make sure that everyone understands the changes going forward. Not only how it's going to change their jobs day in and day out, but how it's going to improve functions throughout the company. 

"It's important that everyone understands the changes going forward."

Training and education
Rick Cook of Inside ERP said, "Train for the changes, not just the software." It's gong to take more than just a few training sessions to get everyone on board with the changes. Ongoing training programs will keep your team up-to-date with all of the changes, as ERP software like Microsoft Dynamics NAV is always evolving. Use real-life scenarios so the team can see how these new standards and tools will apply to their everyday roles. Properly trained employees will embrace these changes, because they'll see the value this new software brings. 

Automation
ERP software helps to automate the redundant, time-consuming tasks that can frustrate many workers. By completing these tasks automatically, the ERP system frees your team up for more valuable and rewarding work. Your team will feel more fulfilled from spending more time helping customers and performing other high-value tasks. 

Change management
Seeing leaders getting on board with the new business management software solutions will help establish the importance of the new ERP system. Nominating change agents throughout the company as "super users" can help demonstrate the many benefits this software will bring. 

When everyone in your organization buys into this new and improved manufacturing business software, your company culture will be thriving with team members who are excited to be part of a cutting edge operation. 

At Accent Software, we can help you create a training plan to develop your users into experts, so you can be well on your way to enjoying the many ERP benefits. We're proud Microsoft business software partners, and we help growing businesses use Microsoft Dynamics NAV for their business management software solutions. Contact us to learn more about the many ways we can help.

Automation with business accounting systems

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Keeping solid financial records is important for any type of enterprise. Accounting, while important, can involve a lot of administrative tasks that add no product value but take up a great deal of time and energy. Allan Smith of The Huffington Post noted that as a company grows, it's important to establish a solid foundation for its accounting functions. 

Non-value added work
Chen Amit wrote in IT Pro Portal that 72 percent of accounts payable professionals spend over five hours a week on non-value added tasks such as setting up payees, approving payments, issuing payments and working on reconciliation of missing or inaccurate payments. One of the most challenging aspects of cost accounting is charging every task accurately. If work is not charged correctly, it can cause headaches, inaccurate records and additional work. It can even strain partner relationships. Employees may have to search through stacks of invoices or purchase orders in order to rectify a discrepancy. 

ERP for accounting
This is why enterprise resource planning software is so important for a growing business: it automates these tasks, which keeps financial records accurate and saves time. Manufacturing accounting software automates the invoicing process, ensuring records are transparent, searchable and easy to track. The ERP system processes invoice and purchase orders automatically, dramatically slashing the possibility of human error. By using the right cost accounting software, your records will be accurate and it will be easy to extract any information you need. 

At Accent Software, we work with growing manufacturers to implement Microsoft business software, helping them automate tasks, reduce costs and achieve a competitive advantage. If your legacy software isn't cutting it and you want to take your performance to the next level, contact us to see how a sophisticated ERP program like Microsoft Dynamics NAV can make a difference. 

3 ways ERP software can help you save

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In the manufacturing industry, running an efficient workflow is essential to the well-being of your business. If you're still relying on an outdated legacy system for your business management solutions, chances are your enterprise is not performing as well as it could. 

Maintenance
Companies that use legacy systems find themselves constantly spending money on upgrades and repairs. ERP business management software, like from Microsoft Dynamics NAV, is always evolving and upgrading, and the deployment experts at Accent Software know the Microsoft business software extremely well.

Inventory
Every product that lingers in your warehouse costs money. If you produce too many units, you may have to rent additional storage space. Destroying unsold units also costs money, and it's a terrible waste. The Microsoft Dynamics NAV inventory management system provides accurate and up-to-date demand planning tools so you can produce exactly what customers need, no more or less. These systems allow you to keep inventory as low as possible, and keep it moving quickly. Ian Whiting of CIO noted that ERP software also lets you identify slow-moving inventory and change its price to adapt.

Purchasing
Your customers aren't the only important clients in your ecosystem. You also have to maintain relationships with suppliers, and a poorly-managed purchasing process can strain that relationship. An ERP system allows your team to synchronize purchasing and sales activities. You can analyze your sales data and apply that information to your purchases, ensuring correct orders and a smooth relationship with suppliers and customers. 

At Accent Software, we work with growing manufacturers to implement Microsoft business software, helping them reduce costs to achieve a competitive advantage. If your legacy system isn't cutting it, contact us to see how a sophisticated ERP program can make a difference. 

ERP buying trends

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Forrest Burnson of Software Advice recently shared his insight into the enterprise resource planning buying trends. His interactions and analysis with ERP buyers shows how important business management software is and how the market has changed. 

First-time buyers
Two-thirds of buyers are using ERP software for the first time. In many cases, these are growing enterprises and they've reached a critical point where they need to organize their data in order to scale up. Many modern ERP programs are modular, so growing enterprises can implement different levels of service to suit their needs. 

SaaS contracts
Many buyers are finding perpetual licenses cost-prohibitive so they're going a different route. Burnson noted, "in the past few years, more ERP vendors have begun offering subscription-based 'Software-as-a-Service' (SaaS) contracts, in which users pay a monthly or annual fee for access to the software, as an alternative to perpetual licenses. The software is typically hosted on the vendor's servers and accessed by users via the Internet."

CRM improvement
Nearly half of all ERP buyers are doing so in order to improve their customer relationship management databases. As ERP centralizes data and connects information for sales, accounting, human resources, manufacturing and other departments, it makes perfect sense that this business management solution can enhance existing software, such as CRM. 

ERP software helps your enterprise use data more efficiently and develop optimized processes. At Accent Software, we can help your business implement an ERP system that improves efficiency and transparency. We're proud Microsoft partners, and we help SMBs use Microsoft Dynamics NAV for their business intelligence. Contact us to take the next steps toward a more efficient business.