Signs That It's Time to Upgrade Your ERP Solution
Thursday, June 4, 2020Eric Zegarski
Top Signs That It's Time To Upgrade Your Current ERP Solution
Your ERP software is the glue that holds your business together. It’s that one source of truth for many departments in your organization. It’s crucial that the data inside your ERP is accurate and entered in a timely manner. However, as your business grows your needs change. You might find yourself implementing a multi-channel strategy and selling on various online marketplace. Or perhaps you’re expanding your manufacturing operations and transitioning to building your products at your own manufacturing facility. Therefore, it’s essential for you to evaluate the capabilities of your current ERP solution.
Your ERP enables your business to function at its peak performance. Having an outdated solution can cause errors, and in the long run cost you more money than an upgrade. An ERP should be viewed as an investment in your business more than an expense. Below you’ll find a few telltale signs that you have outgrown your current ERP.
Your Business Needs Exceed Your Current ERP's Capabilities
Many businesses start out with a
Sage 50 or
QuickBooks ERP. As their business evolves, they often push their ERP to its limits. The number one reason why you should consider upgrading your ERP is that your business needs change. You might need advanced reporting or functionalities due to multiple sales channels or manufacturing. Many solutions like those from
Sage and
Microsoft have tiered ERP platforms. These platforms are designed for small, medium and enterprise businesses. Therefore, as you upgrade, you only pay for what you need. For example, if you’re running just one high volume eCommerce store, then a Sage 50 will do. However, once you have a full-fledged multi-channel strategy and manufacturing operations, then a Sage 300 or X3 would be optimal.
Customer and Supplier Expectations Are Not Met
Your customers and suppliers are the lifeblood of your business. Customers want to receive their orders fast and not encounter stock-outs while shopping. Suppliers want timely orders so they can plan their manufacturing processes. If you’re having issues managing inventory and product orders, then it’s time to consider upgrading your ERP. The worst case for any business having a customer base willing to buy but not having any merchandise on hand to sell.
Reliance on Old Tech and Bad UX
We all know that accountants love spreadsheets. However, when it comes to ensuring your business back-end runs smoothly, spreadsheets can cause a havoc. Due to unexpected errors with formatting, they can corrupt your data or present false results. If your ERP is heavily reliant spreadsheets, it's time to upgrade. Furthermore, if your dashboard looks like something that came standard on a Windows 98 computer, it’s time to seek out a new solution. Current ERP solutions, have a modern UX. A great UX ensures you have access to data in a legible fashion, on any medium. This comes in handy when running complex reports or accessing your information on the go.
Limited Mobile Functionality
Your team is always on the go. Due to demand, some larger eCommerce businesses run their fulfillment centers 24/7. As a result, they need access to orders and inventory all the time. In addition, your business operations might not be in the same location. Your HQ might be on the East Coast, but your warehouse is located on the West Coast. Having an ERP that is mobile friendly allows anyone to access vital information be it on a laptop, tablet, or phone.
Your ERP Has Reached Its EOL (End of Life)
ERP solution providers are always launching new versions. Sometimes they discontinue support for an older version or system all together. If your platform has surpassed its end of life, your ERP solution is out of date. The publisher is no longer rolling out updates for the platform. This means that any new features your publisher rolls out for newer versions will not be released for your ERP. In addition, without ongoing security updates, you’re at a high risk of having your data compromised by hackers.
Your ERP Isn't Hosted on the Cloud
Cloud hosting is in and on prem is out! A cloud ERP has many advantages to an old school on premises solution. A cloud-based solution avoids the upfront cost of building a computing infrastructure that requires hardware and data servers. Therefore, as your business grows, you don’t need to upgrade your servers. A cloud solution also reduces IT expenditures since support is provided by the data center. Furthermore, you can rest easy knowing your vital business data is backed up in the cloud should a random power outage occur.
As Your ERP Needs Change, eBridge is Here to Help
Our platform is universal, meaning as your business grows, we can accommodate your needs. We have pre-built connectors for leading
ERP solutions. For example, if you’re transitioning from a QuickBooks or Sage 50 to another ERP that we support, we can connect your new ERP to your business systems. Looking to learn more about the benefits of integrating your commerce network? Check out this
resource.
In addtion, we have pre-built connectors for leading
eCommerce platforms and 100s of
EDI trading partners. eBridge is hosted on Microsoft Azure, therefore ensuring an almost 99.9% uptime and industry leading security. With an integration solution from eBridge, you can ensure that your commerce network is connected and communicating data bi-directionally.