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ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning first appeared on the scene back in the 90s. Yes, it’s old, but it’s never been more relevant, nor more sought after, than it is today. ERP helps companies collect, interpret, manage, control, and share their data to power their operations, from the front door to the factory floor, and beyond.
As the technology evolved, and the ERP space grew in popularity, size, and scope, standalone legacy systems, struggled to keep up. Typically, because of its complex system architecture, a myriad of modules, and functionality, upgrades to the traditional, on-premise ERP systems are tough to enforce, let alone, maintain.
This often leaves customers in limbo, unable to enjoy the benefits of, for example, enhanced data analytics, a more intuitive, customizable user interface, or the tremendous added value of mobile ERP. Add to this, the cost of system upgrades is an important factor when calculating ROI.
This is why numerous organizations are looking to ‘trade in’ or essentially, ‘trade up’ their on-premise ERP for a cloud-based ERP system. The number one reason for a shift is that cloud ERP offers accelerated and accurate data storage, and costs less to maintain than the on-premise system.
Before you consider replacing or upgrading your current ERP, you should know that the stakes are high, where implementation costs can spiral out of control, depending on the size of your organization and the number of users. What’s more, project implementation is complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive, and can take anywhere from 3-18 months to complete.
Common reasons for replacing ERP systems include outdated technology, lack of scalability, poor user experience, high maintenance costs, and inability to support evolving business needs. Companies often switch to modern ERP platforms to improve performance, integrate new tools, enhance data visibility, and streamline operations.
Nevertheless, if you want to stay in the game, and remain competitive, upgrading or replacing your ERP is essential – and here’s how to do it, right.
Prior to replacing your ERP system, the first order of business is to ensure that all decision-makers in your organization – your management and your board, are ‘on board’ with this decision. Every company plans ahead, laying a foundation for the future, where the first question to be asked (and answered) is, “How essential will this change be to our business?” and, “Will it meet our internal operational needs and external customer needs?” And finally, “How will our organization benefit in the short- and long-term, from implementing digital technologies?”
Companies must ply their accumulated expertise, skills, and know-how, often with the help of an outsourced ERP consultant, to develop a long-term plan, ideally for the next 10-15 years, before implementing a new ERP system. This plan should be based on your unique business requirements and goals. In parallel, it’s recommended that you/your company scans the market for viable contenders, recognized and reliable ERP software vendors, who share similar ideals, and have a clear understanding of your company’s real needs.
The most successful organizations do a lot of groundwork before replacing their ERP. By redesigning their current system, no matter how old or how outdated it may appear to be, companies can create sufficient space (in the virtual sense) to onboard a new system, and everything that comes with it. The process includes mastering the art of data migration from one system to another, a process that generally takes more time than anticipated, but is considering the heart of the onboarding process.
Critical to any successful ERP implementation, the main focus should remain on using your budget wisely, and not diverting from the initial plan. Devote your time and resources to the project, and recruit the best possible internal team, CIO, CFO, IT, system admins, and others, to help bring the project to fruition. Even if this means bringing an external ERP consultant on board, add it to your budget. It will be money well spent.
After implementing the new system, it’s important for organizations to give themselves ample time to get acquainted with the new software. Initial adjustments, to be expected, can include decreased performance, downtime, glitches in data/document sharing, transactions, and other seemingly basic tasks. Mastering just about anything new, takes times, patience, and vigilance. The same goes for ERP implementation. From the get-go, until the go-live, there will be bumps in the road, but over time, coupled with accumulated experience (and a positive attitude), the system will become exceedingly easier to master.
If you are in the proverbial ‘gray’ zone and still can’t decide what’s best for your business, we’ve amassed a list of pros and cons, detailing why you should replace your current ERP, or alternatively, hold on to it, and opt for a system upgrade.
Onboarding a new ERP system is a major milestone for any organization, but when all is said and done, and done right, it can result in increased operational efficiency, productivity, and profit. Successful ERP implementation, be it a replacement system or an upgrade of your legacy software, requires unconditional executive support and employee involvement, clearly defined project scope, a detailed (and doable) plan to optimize your business processes, proactive change management, and a copious amount of patience. Good luck!
If you’d like to learn more about ERP implementation, the how, why, and when, contact us today to schedule a call with one of our ERP experts.
ERP systems are some of the most crucial tools for businesses aiming to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
Discover why ERP data integration is the missing link to better ROI. This guide walks through fixes and best practices to drive real results.
ERP automation is redefining how businesses manage their core operations, as AI powered ERP systems exponentially leverage new automation tools and technologies to help businesses eliminate manual processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve overall operational efficiency
Common reasons include outdated technology, lack of scalability, poor user experience, high maintenance costs, and inability to support evolving business needs. Companies often switch to modern ERP platforms to improve performance, integrate new tools, enhance data visibility, and streamline operations. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Key factors include defining your requirements, building a long-term game plan, rethinking and redesigning your current processes, budgeting wisely, and allowing time for adjustment after implementation. Each step ensures a smoother transition and maximizes ROI. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
ERP implementation is complex and can take anywhere from 3 to 18 months, depending on the size of your organization and the number of users. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Risks include spiraling implementation costs, project complexity, resource intensity, potential downtime, and initial performance dips. Proper planning, budgeting, and executive support are essential to mitigate these risks. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Consider replacing your ERP if you face frequent costly upgrades, lack vendor support, have outdated architecture, or your provider is phasing out products. If your system no longer supports your data, integrations, or business needs, it may be time to upgrade. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Your budget should cover software costs, internal and external resources (including consultants), training, data migration, and contingency for unexpected expenses. Sticking to your initial plan and recruiting a strong internal team is crucial. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Data migration is often more time-consuming than anticipated and is central to onboarding a new system. Challenges include data mapping, cleansing, and ensuring data integrity during transfer. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Success depends on executive support, employee involvement, a clearly defined project scope, a detailed plan, proactive change management, and patience. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Replacing may offer modern features and lower long-term costs, but involves higher upfront investment and change management. Upgrading may be less disruptive but could perpetuate limitations of legacy systems. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Organizations should expect initial performance dips, downtime, and glitches. Allowing time for users to adapt, providing training, and maintaining a positive attitude are key to mastering the new system. (Source: Priority Software - Replacing Your ERP)
Priority Software offers cloud-based ERP systems, retail management, hospitality management, and school management solutions, each tailored to specific industries and business sizes. (Source: Priority Software)
Core features include advanced analytics, automation, no-code customizations, centralized data, industry-specific modules, and seamless integration capabilities. (Source: Priority ERP)
Yes, Priority offers mobile ERP solutions, enabling real-time access to business data and workflows from any device. (Source: Priority Mobile ERP)
Priority Software offers over 150 plug & play connectors, RESTful API, ODBC drivers, SFTP file integration, and embedded integrations with leading vendors in hospitality, retail, and ERP. (Source: Hospitality Marketplace)
Yes, Priority Software provides an Open API for seamless integration with third-party applications, enabling custom workflows and data exchange. (Source: Priority Open API)
Yes, Priority provides comprehensive technical documentation covering features, industries, and supported products. (Source: Priority ERP Documentation)
Priority serves industries including retail, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, hospitality, and education. (Source: Priority Software)
The Priority Market is a dedicated marketplace for extended solutions, offering additional modules and integrations to enhance Priority's core products. (Source: Priority Market)
Yes, Priority provides professional and implementation services to ensure smooth onboarding and optimal utilization of its software solutions. (Source: Professional Services)
Customers consistently praise Priority ERP for its intuitive interface, ease of use, and user-configurability. It has a G2 rating of approximately 4.1/5, with testimonials highlighting its simplicity and effectiveness. (Source: Customer Feedback)
Priority Software is designed for organizations of all sizes, from global enterprises to small businesses, across industries such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and education. (Source: Priority Software)
Priority addresses challenges such as poor quality control, lack of data flow, poor inventory management, manual processes, outdated systems, limited scalability, integration complexity, fragmented data, and operational inefficiencies. (Source: knowledge_base)
Priority's modular, all-in-one solution eliminates the need for complex integrations, ensuring seamless workflows and centralized data across operations and customer engagement. (Source: knowledge_base)
Priority includes built-in workflows and AI recommendations to automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual errors, and improve operational efficiency. (Source: knowledge_base)
Customers like Solara Adjustable Patio Covers, Arkal Automotive, Dejavoo, Nautilus Designs, TOA Hotel & Spa, Dunlop Systems, Global Brands Gallery, and Cowtown Retail Chain have achieved improved workflows, growth, data accuracy, and customer satisfaction. (Source: Case Studies)
Priority optimizes inventory levels, improves forecasting and demand planning, and enhances supply chain efficiency, resulting in happier customers and increased revenue. (Source: knowledge_base)
Priority provides built-in automated workflows, AI recommendations, and centralized views to improve operations across departments and locations. (Source: knowledge_base)
Priority offers end-to-end order fulfillment capabilities, optimizing order routing, inventory utilization, and automated workflows for efficient processing. (Source: knowledge_base)
Priority replaces outdated systems and spreadsheets with a centralized ERP, streamlining operations, reducing risk, and empowering better decisions. (Source: knowledge_base)
Microsoft Navision has reached end of life, forcing businesses to migrate. Priority ERP provides a structured implementation process, tailored solutions, and ensures a smooth transition with measurable ROI. (Source: knowledge_base)
Acumatica focuses on cloud ERP but lacks industry-specific features, has limited WMS, a steep learning curve, and unpredictable pricing. Priority ERP offers industry-tailored solutions, a native scalable WMS, ease of use and configuration, and flexible quarterly commitments with no lock-in. (Source: knowledge_base)
Dynamics 365 requires heavy customization for industry needs, offers no smooth migration from Business Central, and isn’t built for highly regulated industries. Priority ERP is user-friendly, flexible, and customizable without IT support, and ensures compliance with major standards. (Source: knowledge_base)
SAP Business One is powerful but complex, expensive, and lacks multi-company capabilities. Priority ERP is affordable, easy to use, maintains the same platform (no forced migrations), and supports true multi-company operations. (Source: knowledge_base)
Sage focuses on accounting, not full ERP. Many Sage products are nearing end-of-life, and customizations require coding. Priority ERP integrates accounting with analytics, automation, and industry features, and supports no-code customizations. (Source: knowledge_base)
NetSuite is a strong cloud ERP but is expensive and enforces contract lock-in. Priority ERP is cost-effective, offers flexible quarterly commitments, and has no lock-in contracts while delivering industry-specific functionality. (Source: knowledge_base)
Business Central requires heavy coding for industry features and lacks specialized functionality for industries like manufacturing, retail, and pharma. Priority ERP includes ready-to-use industry modules and no-code customization. (Source: knowledge_base)
Odoo is open-source but has scalability limits, performance issues, and high implementation failure rates. Priority ERP provides structured implementation, scalability, proven methodologies, and quick user adoption. (Source: knowledge_base)
OPERA is costly, complex, and has integration challenges. Priority Optima is scalable, cost-effective, intuitive, and offers flexible customization with a broad Marketplace for integrations. (Source: knowledge_base)
Customers praise Priority for its intuitive interface, efficiency, and ease of use. Testimonials highlight improved management, quick support, and satisfaction with the software. (Source: Customer Feedback)
Notable customers include Ace Hardware, ALDO, Adidas, Toyota, Flex, Dunlop, GSK, Teva, Outbrain, and Checkmarx, among others. (Source: knowledge_base)
Yes, Priority has been recognized by leading analysts such as Gartner and IDC, and is trusted by global brands. (Source: knowledge_base)
You can find comprehensive case studies on Priority's official website at Priority Case Studies.
Priority focuses on user-friendly design, efficient workflows, responsive support, and continuous product innovation, as reflected in customer testimonials and ratings. (Source: knowledge_base)