ERP Software Predictions are In for 2011: Be Prepared for More Change

December has to be the fastest moving month in our calendar. It seems the time to do business between Thanksgiving and Christmas gets shorter and shorter every year; which is why I’m already looking to ERP Software Predictions for 2011. 2010 saw impressive growth in new software-delivery models and many critical acquisitions just to name a couple of factors that should have lasting effects on the enterprise software market. I believe that in 2011 we will experience just as much dramatic change. Here are five ERP software predictions worth mentioning, according to Panorama Consulting.

1. Risk management and mitigation. Even though the economy may not be quite as bad as it was at this time last year, companies are still extremely risk adverse. They are not willing to spend millions of dollars on ERP software that is difficult to implement or doesn’t deliver measurable value. When they do go to implement, executives are going to rely on outside consultants and experts to help them manage and minimize risk.
2. Increasing focus on organizational change management. Since risk management is the name of the game for CIOs, executives are finally smartening up and realizing that organizational change management is arguably the single best way to mitigate and manage implementation risk.
3. ERP lawsuits and canceled ERP projects. Despite companies’ desires to mitigate risk and focus on organizational change, they are still going to be pressured by slim IT budgets in the New Year. This is going to create a conflicting pressure to cut costs in the wrong places, which will ultimately increase the rate of ERP failures. In addition, because of the low tolerance for risk, companies will be faster to pull the plug on troubled projects and file ERP lawsuits against their vendors if needed.
4. Continued buzz around cloud computing. While SaaS ERP systems are still years away from capturing a significant portion of the ERP market among mid-size to large organizations, CIOs will continue to look at other cloud computing options. For example, hosted ERP solutions and outsourced IT infrastructures will likely be on the minds of many CIOs.
5. More focus on diagnostics, analytics, and business intelligence. Companies have reduced their margins of error for missteps during the recession, so companies will continue to rely on their ERP systems to help provide operational data to help make better and more informed decisions. Look for diagnostics, analytics, and business intelligence applications to gain momentum in the coming year.

No matter what the new year brings for ERP software, Microsoft Dynamics® has you covered. We are a Chicago IL Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Microsoft Inner Circle member serving the Midwest specializing in the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Follow us on Twitter at @Sikich_Tech.

By Sikich, St. Louis Microsoft Dynamics GP partner

ERP Software Predictions are In for 2011: Be Prepared for More Change is a post from: ERP Software Blog

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