Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages are very expensive. Let us be clear. If you have already have some system or not, once you decide to go for ERP, you need to plan well. The entire project cost is not the only the ERP Software cost. It includes hardware, software, implementation, consultation charges, sensitizing employees to ERP and training them. Hence, if you come across some one indicating only the ERP software cost, do not get carried away. Every ERP implementation needs careful planning. Once the Enterprise identifies a few specific ERP software, ERP companies or their consultants may be asked to give you some presentation as to why should their ERP software be bought. Do not expect to get the total ERP implementation costs including ERP software cost in this presentation stage. You need to technically evaluate all the suitable ERP software packages. If you have internal expertise or a very strong IT team, you may evaluate yourself. Alternatively, you may hire a consultant, who will have the knowledge of different ERPs, their strengths, ERP software cost as well as all other costs involved. This consultant may be an individual or a company, guiding you and ...

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation needs lot of attention and dedication from all the concerned. The top management role is generally limited to the approval of the ERP package and taking care of ERP budgets. The top management identifies a person as 'Champion' to take the decisions as required. Once the company decides to go for a specific ERP, all the employees who are likely to be affected shall be taken into confidence and each of the end user shall be provided with ERP tutorial for their function. While there are more than one standard ERP tutorial, it may be better for the consulting company or the company's IT department to device their own tutorial. While ERP application is being customized, the concerned are consulted and their inputs are taken. Once the customization is done, the system integration and testing are done. At this point of time the users are required to undergo training using the ERP tutorial. This enables the users to know how their new system is going to be and there will not be any surprises. The ERP consultant generally takes the responsibility of training too as a package deal. However, they may have a standard training or a standard ...

You have some decent computerized applications running in your enterprise. But you feel that you are actually leveraging the benefits of automation. Your inventory levels have not come down and items in slow moving category are on the rise. You are not getting the required Management Information Reports (MIS) as you would like to get. You realize that it is time to have a fresh look at your systems. You may approach a company that offers ERP consultancy as well as ERP support services. Generally these kinds of companies have expertise in business process re-engineering, project life cycle management. They may offer ERP support services like Enterprise Information Technology Policy, Planning, Requirements Analysis, Product configuration, Product Integration, Test and Evaluation etc. Based on your consultant's recommendation, you may go for ERP implementation. There are many companies approved by ERP vendors who undertake ERP configuration, customization and implementation. These companies bring in all their resources, implement and leave the Enterprise, once their contract ends. These companies may charge a hefty Annual Maintenance Charges (AMC) for ERP support, beyond the ...

Every company in today's world will have some automation or other. Accounting packages are the first to be implemented. And the sales order processing is automated so that their clients and suppliers can access the data. It helps to implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), which allows the entire company to automate all its division/locations. In 1980s, ERP was available only to large industries who could afford the huge expenditure. Many ERP vendors have done their own ERP Review and have developed ERP solutions to different markets. Any company thinking of implementing ERP system shall have three stages of ERP Review - Pre-implementation, Implementation and P0st-implementation review. In the pre-implementation ERP Review, the company shall identify itself as large, medium or small scale enterprise. There are many ERPs for small and medium enterprises. Even, some big ERP software vendors offer a different products for small and medium industries. In the pre-implementation stage, all the requirement is collected from all the departments, stake holders and the requirement is documented. In the implementation stage, ERP software is configured to your requirement. A ...

Enterprise Resource Planning software offers you many modules which are tightly integrated with each other. The modules handle all functions related to engineering, Sales, planning, materials, manufacturing, finance, HR etc. Multiple locations can be seamlessly integrated into a single ERP System. Process is nothing but a systematic flow of work done. Process management is defined as the collection of activities corresponding to the planning and observing the effectiveness of a certain business process. This is true to ERP process too. ERP implementation some times calls for cultural changes in the enterprise. Typically ERP process has the following stages. Strategic planning, Readiness assessment, Vendor assessment and selection, Plan for Implementation, Implementation and post Implementation Assessment. Strategic Plan is to define the need and to provide the rationale for the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning systems. This first step of ERP process some times is the most difficult and may take few months. Every Enterprise is bound have processes already automated. Lack of co-ordination of the Information Technology sometimes allows individual departments to ...

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is an integrated information system to take care of all departments within an enterprise. An ERP system generally includes software for sales, manufacturing, materials management, accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, warehousing, transportation etc. Many ERP systems also offer human resource management module or HRIS. Lot of effort is required for ERP planning and implementation. First step of automating your enterprise is to set up a committee to look into the requirement and feasibility of various ERP systems, which may lead eventually to ERP planning. The first stage is ERP planning and organizing. Two types of questionnaires may be prepared. One questionnaire shall address the needs of the organization to collect the information "as-is" and the second questionnaire to compare various features required in the new system (ERP). This questionnaire helps you to shortlist an ERP vendor. Then you need to define the scope of your ERP implementation. Document your existing processes "as-is" and how you would like your processes "would like to-be". You need not know about any specific ERP. Even before you start ERP planning, this ...