In the age of digitalization
We’re now entering the year 2023, and right now, all companies – aware that they need to stay modern – have all turned to digital. In other words, they’ve started to digitize their services.
And there are several tools used in this digitization process, and each tool generally corresponds to a given service.
For example, EDM is a company’s data management tool; BI for business decision-making; CRM for business customer data; and finally ERP to manage a company’s day-to-day tasks.
But what exactly is an ERP?
ERP or Enterprise Resource Planning is a platform (software) used by companies to manage their day-to-day activities such as purchasing, project management or risk and compliance management. ERP mainly enables a company to track and manage its operational information and services. ERP enables a company’s services to be digitized, thanks to various management functions such as purchasing and sales, inventory, customer and supplier relations, accounting and payroll, production, logistics and many others, all within a single system.
In short, ERP serves to centralize a company’s data for a global view, and thus to manage everything as a whole, enabling staff to organize themselves better and work more efficiently. To achieve this, ERP requires standardization.
It is therefore the ideal tool for boosting productivity within a company, thanks to a homogeneous information system (IS).
And what do we gain by using ERP?
ERP software digitizes a company’s information system by homogenizing it, i.e. by covering the entire information system. This makes it possible to centralize data, enabling all staff to access the same resources, and above all to avoid redundant information within the database. With ERP, a company has a uniform, error-free database.
ERP software also enables companies to better manage their resources.
In effect, the company has an overview of all its resources. This enables it to better assess its needs. These can range from finance to customer relations, inventory and company finances.
With ERP, resource management is no longer a chore, thanks to easier decision-making.
Speaking of decision-making, ERP also enables a company to be more reactive. ERP software can gather information in real time, enabling the company’s needs to be assessed instantly, and the appropriate solutions to be found without wasting time.
ERP software also enables companies to optimize their productivity. Thanks to centralized management and automated tasks, the workload is reduced, as employees can focus on other, more important tasks, i.e. those with higher added value.
It’s also worth mentioning that investing in ERP software ensures better internal communication. This digitized service enables staff to access the same data. This makes it easier for them to act and react without having to wait for others before receiving the information they need to carry out their tasks.
Last but not least, the use of ERP software enables a company to stay on course in the face of technological advances. ERP enables the company to react effectively to changes, evolving demands or any other fluctuation in the business environment.
How do you implement an ERP solution in your company?
Like any kind of radical change, the digitization of part of a company, and in particular the implementation of an ERP solution, must be carried out gradually.
There are a number of steps to follow in order to make a successful transition to digitalization.
First and foremost, you need to carry out a diagnostic to understand your company’s needs.
This is the first step in determining why a company needs to digitize its activities. It also identifies the elements involved in digitization, i.e. the staff concerned, the activities they perform, and the tools used on a daily basis.
The ERP solution is then chosen according to the company’s needs. There are a plethora to choose from, but the choice is made according to the key criteria of the department to be digitized.
Once this stage has been completed, it’s time to move on to the communication phase. This involves informing company members of the need to adopt the digital solution for day-to-day operations. Indeed, to ensure a successful transition to digital, all employees need to be on the same wavelength.
Then it’s time to get down to the actual implementation of the ERP software. To do this, it needs to be configured according to the company’s needs. This is followed by regular testing and fine-tuning, as well as regular maintenance to ensure optimum efficiency.
The penultimate stage involves training the staff concerned. This stage is essential to ensure that they really understand what is at stake in the transition, and that they are fully receptive to the change. This stage also enables them to master the new tools to be used on a daily basis.
And last but not least, ROI measurement. This step is necessary to evaluate the performance of the ERP system. Thanks to clearly defined performance indicators, it is possible to assess the effectiveness of the ERP tool used, and make improvements where necessary.
In short, a company aware of the potential of digital technology must take the step towards digitization. And what better way to start than by digitizing its day-to-day operations, and seeing its sales take off thanks to increased productivity.
But as the implementation of this digital solution needs to be meticulous, it’s important to call on experts to integrate it within a company.
