When considering a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, receiving expert guidance is of the utmost importance. By ensuring that this new technology will meet your business’ needs correctly, you’ll avoid unnecessary spending—and get things right the first time.
This year, UK-based pub and hotel company Fuller’s learned this the hard way: after investing £10 million in an ERP system, it decided to scrap the project and search for a “simpler” accounting system.
The Fuller’s Dilemma: A £10 million misstep
Originally, the scrapped ERP system was intended to “deliver a continuous improvement program” in the company’s brewing, packaging, and distribution divisions. However, after selling its beer business to Japan’s Asahi, Fuller’s felt that this solution was no longer appropriate. As a result, it chose to replace the bespoke system with a “proven accounting system” for premium hotel brands, walking away entirely from its original investment.
Unfortunately for Fuller’s, this £10 million loss could have been entirely circumvented. Had its executives sought the guidance of an IT consultant, its existing ERP system could have likely been modified to suit each of its unique needs, even after the sale of its brewing sector.
This reveals a key truth about the importance of proper ERP implementation. By hiring an expert for—and investing the necessary time and effort into—the creation of these systems, potentially monumental mistakes can be averted. By choosing the right professional for your industry landscape, you’ll ensure that your ERP is effective for your business—and conducive to your requirements.
How can I evade this problem?
As stated, approaching a seasoned team of specialists (like that of ERP Advisers) is of paramount importance. With our approach to ERP system selection, we will:
– Review each and every area of your business, including sales, customer service, purchasing, warehousing, manufacturing, business intelligence, accounting, and logistics, to identify your immediate and long-term needs;
– Prioritize your requirements to address your most important needs first;
– Perform key market research to pick the right ERP software products for you;
– And ensure you understand why we’ve made these choices—and that you’re in full agreement with them.
With this, we’ll prevent you from costly errors, setting you on the path to success from the start.
Interested? Reach out to us here to learn more!