When A Plan Comes Together

I love it when a plan comes together.  That has to be one of my favorite lines from the A-Team TV show from the 1980s.  It resonates with me today when considering how much planning is required when implementing software changes, especially enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.  Whether you are replacing outdated legacy software or have decided to implement ERP for the first time, proper planning can make the difference between a plan coming together or falling apart.

After deciding to use an ERP software solution, the first thing you want to do is decide what business data you want to capture.  Discuss the important operational data that you want to collect and analyze with your key managers and other team players.  Once you know what data you need to capture, then you can find a solution that will best match your needs.  Microsoft Dynamics GP is flexible ERP software that can be customized to address unique business features and can easily be changed as your business needs change.

Next on the list is to choose a software provider that can help you achieve your business goals.  Software experts can guide you through the deployment options that will work with your existing hardware or provide suggestions for other deployment options.  You may find that a hosted, Cloud, or a hybrid deployment will fit your budget, as well as optimize the use of your new ERP software.  For example, if you have multiple locations or sales and field service teams, an option that allows workers to access important data on their Smartphones and tablets would boost productivity and improve collaboration while your team is out of the office.

Finally, plan the implementation and training stages.  Microsoft Dynamics GP offers a RapidStart feature that will take hours or days to implement, instead of weeks or months.  The quicker you can implement your ERP solution, the quicker you can reap the benefits.  Since this particular ERP solution has a look and feel similar to the other Microsoft software that you likely use, your team will find it easier to learn.  Your software provider can provide training on how to use the features specifically related to your employees’ job responsibilities.

If you take the time to plan your ERP implementation from the start, then you’ll avoid many common bottlenecks and pitfalls associated with implementing ERP software.  Contact Perimeter Business Solutions for additional information about choosing the right ERP software solution and you’ll love it when your plan comes together too: http://www.perimeterbsi.com/contact/.

By Mark D. Kosakowski of Perimeter Business Solutions, Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner out of Georgia