Well, it seems that the new normal has fast become the “next normal” as we ready ourselves and our businesses to ride out (and survive) the next unpredictable wave. With the surge in remote working, businesses are scrambling to ramp-up existing systems, or are attempting to on-board new systems to support employees working from home. A well thought out plan to keep your business up and running, and improve your operational processes, is critical, today, more than ever.
Most important here, is turning your plan into practice – doing it ‘smart’ but also doing it fast, so that your business is primed and ready for the challenges that await us all. It’s easy for me to relate to business management software, namely, ERP, as the be-all and end-all solution here. As an avid ERP enthusiast for well over two decades, I’ve seen more than my fair share of triumphs and pitfalls in ERP implementation.
But this I know to be true – today’s modern, flexible and scalable ERP systems can and do effectively support organizations in the new, next, and yes, unprecedented, normal.
Ode to the Cloud
While some organizations are still wary about moving their on-premise ERP systems to the cloud, in response to the global pandemic, and to maintain business continuity and support remote working & remote work environment, companies are turning their attention to cloud-based (SaaS) ERP. In many instances, cloud based ERP has literally saved their business, by remotely powering their operations, enabling engagement with customers and suppliers, and by giving their most valuable asset, their employees, the tools they need to work from home.
The Big Five
If you’re considering cloud ERP, but the prospect of having your business in the cloud still haunts you, here are 5 things you need to know:
1. Increased performance. On-premise ERP needs to reply on ‘big’ computer power, including extensive hardware, servers and costly IT resources to carry the load. Cloud ERP just needs a reliable Internet connection and your provider manages the rest. Your cloud ERP will perform faster and better, with little or no downtime, as would an on-premise system.
2. Reduced operating costs. On-premise ERP solution needs hardware and an IT team to maintain it, and have to purchase the system, licenses and renewals and updates. With cloud ERP, pricing is based on a flat-rate fee, reducing your implementation costs and overall expenses, especially since your provider can manage your maintenance.
3. Easier data access. With cloud ERP, you can access to your information from anywhere, anytime, with an Internet connection. This enables your employees to work remotely, at customer’s sites, and on the go, with fast, easy and real-time data access.
4. Enhanced security. You want to keep your data safe inside and outside of your organization. Cloud ERP ensures that your company data is secure moving from your systems to the host servers. To safeguard internal data, cloud ERP offers strict user-level access provided and secured by the system itself.
5. Innovation. Cloud ERP fuels innovation to adapt and stay on top of today’s business challenges. With cloud ERP, you get real-time visibility into your business when you need it, where your organization’s data, including the latest software versions and updates, are updated in real-time on the cloud.
While there are very compelling reasons to implement cloud ERP, all technology initiatives entail significant risk. Before jumping into a cloud implementation, you want to get all that facts – first.
If you’re a business owner/manager considering ERP implementation, or replacing your current ERP, check out Priority’s latest webinar, a short, super-informative session with guest speaker, Dr. Scott King, Director at Pinnacle, a leading UK business growth advisory. Scott shares his take on the “next normal” and how to stay afloat in 2021 and beyond. Watch the webinar now. If you’d like to learn more, and schedule a no-obligation call with one of our ERP experts, email us at [email protected].
