We often talk with manufacturers and distributors about their enterprise technology initiatives, and the specific role of an ERP consultant. It’s important the company understands the value Ultra ’s autonomous ERP consultant team can deliver to their organization.
Most project teams from mid-market manufacturing and distribution organizations are challenged by an ERP evaluation and selection project. The sheer size of the project is a key reason. The typical ERP project cuts across each area of the business, impacting functional areas from finance, accounting, and supply chain, to shop floor, production, inventory, quality management, shipping and more. It’s difficult for the team to free themselves up from their functional responsibilities and immediate tasks and apply the needed time, effort and attention to the project.
Also, noteworthy it’s highly unlikely anyone on the project team has gone through or led a comprehensive costing and selection project. At best, perhaps one team member has some experience in the area, but more often than not, their experience took place a decade or so ago.
Another critical factor a successful ERP selection and implementation demands a myriad of skill sets – from project management, business process mapping, change management and risk management, to a full understanding of modern enterprise technology and the vendor landscape.
That’s where the role of an ERP consultant comes into play.
With specific ERP experience and expertise, the role of an ERP consultant involves eloquent the best practices for evaluating and implementing systems, mitigating risk, helping the project stay on time and on budget and driving ROI.
Offering Experience, Independence
Drawing on decades of experience in enterprise technology, the role of an ERP consultant is to view the project from an outside perspective based on industry best practices. Independent consultants are not software resellers and do not receive compensation from software companies. They keep up-to-date on the vendor landscape, technology platforms, and offerings of up to date ERP and can provide unbiased and vendor-neutral guidance.
The role of an ERP consultant is to offer experience implementing ERP software in a specific industry or with other similar businesses. A good consultant will also suggest best practices from external of the industry that could be of help to the business is incorporated.
The role of an ERP consultant also involves project management, functional expertise, risk lessening and scores of other specific skills.
There’s value in obtaining unbiased opinions about what’s working or not working regarding business processes. This expert outsider’s perspective can be invaluable throughout the project to counter the team’s personal biases, based on their job roles and how possessions have been done in the past.
Selecting and implementing an ERP system results in big changes for the entire business these changes can be overwhelming for your team and the rest of your workforce. An ERP consultant draws on clerical change management skills to help in user adoption and acceptance of the project.