If your manufacturing company has been hosting a legacy system for a long time the chances are that it is time to replace your system with a solution that is more capable and functional. As technology advances and business needs progress, many manufacturers find that their legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems can't handle the strain.

Companies tend to suffer without state-of-the-art software. Legacy systems are often not up to the task, and fail to meet industry demands and requirements. While users may be able to work around issues for some time and executives will undoubtedly tell you that the company's current solution has a good few years to go, the fact of the matter is that the more outdated you allow your software to become, the farther you fall behind. There is always a danger that your competition will secure customers you could not keep because their business is more agile and better equipped to respond to ever-changing markets.

Switching ERP systems does not have to be as stressful and time-consuming as it sounds. When searching for an ERP vendor and a potential new solution, you and your partners should ask yourself these questions:

• Will you continue to host on-premise or is a cloud platform an option?
• Does the business logic of the potential ERP system mimic the way your company functions?
• Does the new system offer scalability?
• How does the vendor support the system? Will the vendor develop a long-term relationship with the company and support you beyond installation and implementation?
• How do the costs of the new system compare to its benefits? 
• What will be the total cost of ownership over the years, and is the investment the same across vendors and platforms?

Selecting a new ERP system can be an overwhelming process. That is why Accent Software is here to help you along the way. If you are in the market for new business management software, such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV, do not hesitate to contact us.