How to move to a new ERP solution in 2024

If you’ve already deployed an ERP solution, you’ll know it’s the heartbeat of your company. In fact, you’re probably wondering how you ever functioned and seamlessly completed so many tasks each day.

But, as with any piece of technology, these systems can become outdated and restrictive to your business if not updated regularly. One of the biggest barriers preventing growth in SME companies are legacy systems.

The average lifespan for an ERP solution is usually around ten years – if it’s not developed and updated regularly. SAP usually releases a new major version of SAP Business One every two or three years. Between that, there are also various patch releases in line with new innovations and regulations.

If you’re currently running a legacy system, then chances are you are being left behind. Technology and innovation moves at such a fast pace that you can be quickly outmanoeuvred by your competitors. More importantly, if your system is outdated then it’s probably not helping you to say compliant and putting your organisation at risk of an unnecessary financial penalty.

How to choose your next ERP solution?

So, your company has decided to put in place a new ERP solution. Great. Now you’ve got a series of important decisions to make. Firstly, identify what functionality works well for your business and what doesn’t. What does your business need moving forward to grow and reach its ambitions? Speak to key stakeholders across your organisation and ask them for a ‘wish list’. Combine these together and you’ll have a good idea about the functionality you need in your next application. You might always want to use SEIDOR’s ERP Requirements Checklist to help you identify key aspects of your next system.

Do your research

When you do a search on Google for an ‘ERP solution’ there are over 112 million results. This can be overwhelming to search through pages of results, so you’ll want to check out what are the market-leading solutions or what similar types of companies use.

Once you’ve shortlisted several solutions that might work for you, there are hundreds of videos or online demos you can check out. Take a look at how user-friendly SAP Business One is on our YouTube channel. Buy-in across your company is often determined by usability. If your solution is too complex, then users keep it at arm’s length.

Another thing to do before you decide on your next solution is read some customer testimonials. Download case studies and see how solutions work in real life. You can check out what our customers have to say about SAP Business One here.

Find the right partner

I can’t stress how important it is to work with the right partner. The majority of ERP developers have a partner network where you can purchase the software and related support. There are many key factors to consider. The size of the organisation, their level of experience, cost, location and culture.

The best ERP partners will have the experts and experience to successfully deploy our solution. Make sure to check out customer testimonials and references. Meet up with them a few times and get a feel for their company. If something doesn’t feel ‘right’, then it usually isn’t.

Another important factor when selecting a vendor is price. Obviously, every organisation has a budget set aside for their ERP upgrade. But costs shouldn’t be the deciding factor. Will the cheapest ERP solution deliver the maximum long-term value, rather than just a fast ROI?

Next Steps

SEIDOR is delighted to again be exhibiting at this year’s ERP Head to Head UK event in Milton Keynes. If you’d like to come and see how our team of ERP experts can help your business move to a new ERP solution this year, it would be great to meet your team.

Contact us for more information today on 01932 212 777 or email one of our ERP experts with your requirements and we’ll help you identify the best ERP solution for your company.