threatsWhy we continue to talk about ERP systems when everyone punches at them?

Although we know it is not the full solution to plan, control and execute business processes, it is the only one that reasonable works. It is like democracy, full of defects, but there is nothing better. If you have 100, 500, 1000 or more people in your company, in one or more different locations, think that you do not have a ERP system:

  • How can you have financial statements 24 hours after we end the period?
  • How do you know people are working?
  • How much will you pay on taxes?
  • What products are being produced?
  • What orders are being fulfilled?
  • What materials do you need in different warehouses?

Without an ERP, these questions like plenty more are simply cannot be answered. However the new new systems from the three main suppliers (SAP, Oracle and MS) are rising another concerns:

  • Making expensive the evolution of our system. Someone will pay in the short run for the huge investments of these companies.
  • Making higher dependencies with the supplier and implantation company. The knowledge to support these products are not in the market yet. One thing is to announce they are coded in Java and another thing is know what is in every page of the Java book of our system.
  • SOA is coming! Not yet though! Maybe it will take the same time as client-server from the announcement to the machine. This is going to change the technology map. Until it is here the need for customization and taylor-made code will grow.
  • We will continue to talk about “standard system” concepts with a twist of logic change in workflow. Therefore the need for adaptability to learn “special languages” (drag and drop, or configuration management).
  • The corporate culture that we are so proud is going to change with the new products. Are we ready to manage these trends?
  • Empower the middle management throughout info sounds like music although the overflow of information is also a reality to be manage with training and methodological approach. We cannot hope for the best judgment call every time. It is our responsibility, everything run smoothly.
  • Until we do not get stabilized in the new architectures and products, it will continue updates and even product migration just after implantation should be planned.
  • Middleware will be the corner stone of this changes. What out for the one who the delivers the best.

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