I remember a few years ago when “You Might Be a Redneck” jokes were all over the place. There are stores that sprung up in strip malls and shopping outlets simply due to the demand for the Jeff Foxworthy Redneck joke special. A few of Foxworthy’s choice offerings include these can’t miss observations:

1.      You ever cut your grass and found a car.

2.      You burn your yard rather than mow it.

3.      The Salvation Army declines your mattress. 

4.      Your mother has “ammo” on her Christmas list

So what do these jokes have to do with ERP?  If you find yourself making a list of questions that start with the phrase, “My ERP may need replacing because…”, then you have officially categorized your business like Jeff Foxworthy categorized rednecks.

Here are a few questions that indicate that a new ERP system may be in order:

1.      Is your system slow? If you experience lags in your system because of the number of users attempting to access it, then you may have outgrown your hardware. System downtime and/or a slow system develop from an increase in volume. This can be a combination of users and transaction related volume. However, if your system lag is because you have modified and patched your business software (ERP) to the point that it resembles Frankenstein, you may need to replace your ERP. Is your manufacturing and financial data fully integrated? If they are not, then you are not getting all the information that you could from your data. And if you are trying to get integrated information from your data, chances are, it is on an excel spreadsheet, and that comes with its own set of problems.

2.      Do you have limitations with everyday functions? If you have expanded your product line and you are working with an older ERP system, then chances are you have experienced some growing pains.  These pains become more painful when you have an ERP system that is older and not flexible enough to integrate new products, or even changes in your manufacturing or distribution chain. The point is that as your business has developed and expanded, the limitations placed on you by an older ERP system can be causing more harm than good.  If you are unable to adapt manufacturing or business functions within your ERP system then you should probably consider replacing your ERP Software. This may not seem like a big problem right now, but if your customers are looking for technology oriented features like online ordering or product configuration, then they may look to your competitor who can provide ease of ordering and technology functions that people have become accustomed to as consumers.

3.       Is reporting an issue? As previously mentioned, if you are putting your reporting together via excel spreadsheets, then you have a problem. New ERP Software systems have the ability to create data rich reports that are essential in making important business decisions.  Important alerts and reports can be set up and scheduled within newer ERP software systems. These systems are more intuitive and provide greater depth.

If you have answered yes to any of these questions or even nodded your head in agreement with the above mentioned challenges, then it’s time to take action. Visit www.godlan.com to find out more.