The point of deploying a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform is to reduce reliance on legacy systems so that they can be eliminated and enhanced functionality can be utilized. This can create friction when decision makers are too attached to systems that have served them for a long time. 

"If [organizations] do not actively work to decommission applications during the implementation, the end result is an ERP with all of the original legacy applications hanging off of it," John Picciotto, principal of application modernization at Accenture, told CIO Magazine. "The end result is another piece of software that [you] are paying maintenance and support on, paying for hardware and upgrades, and paying for interfaces back into the core ERP."

For that reason, executives should be prepared to scale back existing systems and applications to avoid confusion and congestion. If primitive, manual, offline, esoteric or irrelevant applications continue to be used after ERP implementation, the cost and time savings will be significantly reduced. 

In fact, the presence of an ERP platform working in conflict with legacy applications can increase waste through unnecessary redirections of energy. When enterprises adopt ERP systems, they should be ready to completely abandon the systems that have been rendered obsolete by their new platform. With the guidance of ERP implementation specialists, decision makers can determine the best time to decommission these applications, so that processes are not interrupted and the transition is bridged as smoothly as possible. 

At Accent Software, we've guided clients through the process of deploying and managing ERP platforms that support efficiency and optimize operations. Contact us today to learn more about how business management software can help take your enterprise to the next level.