It has been said that 73% of companies are dissatisfied after implementing an ERP solution. Few companies enter an ERP selection process with the end-state in mind and are won over by fancy product demos and talented sales people. It is important to take the time to really identify what part of your existing processes need improvement and identify a solution that will facilitate those changes and improvements – OTHERWISE you will only by putting fancy new screens on top of existing problems.

Sounds dire, doesn’t it? Well it really isn’t. Successful ERP Implementations require simply that you keep your end-state in mind… an End-State that must remain the focus of the initiative in every decision and conversation… an End-State that will define the evaluation of the initiative’s success. By following our five step process, organizations can arrive at an ERP decision and define their strategy relatively quickly – and become part of the 27% of companies that whose businesses are actually made BETTER because of their ERP.

Step 1. The Business Case–When the Basic Solution No Longer Fits

The right ERP implementation at the right time can truly help you make your business better… but only if it’s needed.

Ask yourself: Does your current system lack the capability to meet your organization’s needs?

Basic accounting software such as Quickbooks may no longer fit the needs of your growing business.

What are the company’s goals? Will a new system provide you with a measureable return on investment? Have you outgrown your existing infrastructure? Planning for the future is important when assessing what road to go down.

Step 2. Map your Current State

Question all of your existing processes. Is everything necessary? Are there any redundant steps? In addition to helping you define your critical requirements, this will also uncover any wasted process steps that need to be reworked before to going live on a new system.

When you implement a new ERP, you should also streamline your processes and create goals for the future.

Step 3. Document Critical Requirements

Document all of the critical requirements that are unique to your business… Then match to the options on your short list to those requirements. We are talking about critical requirements only here. Figure out what is truly different about how you do business.

We can all assume that most systems will have an “Aged Trial Balance”. This list should not be longer than two pages.

Step 4. Choosing the Right Technology and Partner – Ask for References

This is true both for the ERP Vendor AND your Implementation Partner.

Choosing the right partner can make the difference between the success or failure of an implementation.

Ask references from businesses that are similar to yours. This will give insights into the aspects of both the software and the partner that you should be considering.

Training and support after the implementation are critical and you need to trust in your service provider.

Step 5. The Demo

Seeing a demonstration prior to defining your requirements is a recipe for failure.

Note that this is the last (that is FINAL) step in the process. That isn’t to say that you can’t demo more than one product, but you should be fairly certain that the products you demo are a fit with your needs and have a good reputation with customers before you begin.

Have your preferred partner set up the software around your requirements and some of your data. The intention is to present the system as if it were live at your facility.

Again, this should be your final step to move ahead before negotiation.

It is critical that you take these steps before ever seeing a product demonstration.
By assessing your requirements with where you are, and where you want to go, you will be able to make informed choices with confidence when choosing both a system and a partner for your ERP implementation.

From now until December 16, 2014 Microsoft and Endeavour Solutions are offering special pricing to existing Dynamics GP customers that require additional licenses. In order to qualify for any special discounts:

• Businesses must purchase a minimum of 3 users or more

• Accounts must be current on Microsoft enhancement

• Licenses need to be ordered and paid for in advance of December 16, 2014

Are you happy? I mean really happy… with your current Microsoft Dynamics Partner?

Every day we encounter Microsoft Dynamics GP and CRM customers who are considering changing partners. Usually the reason for the switch has nothing to do with the product, but rather the lack of support and trust in their relationship with their Microsoft Partner.

If your current partner doesn’t stack up, the grass may be greener on the other side. However, there are 3 key things you absolutely must consider before switching in order to get the results you expect moving forward.

1. Account Leadership

Consider the type of relationship and level of interaction you have with your partner’s dedicated account leadership. When you reach out to your partner for account or product support, do you speak to a familiar voice? Are you continuously left wondering who will be responsible for answering your questions? Being confident that your support and service requests will be answered promptly so business interruptions are kept minimal.

2. Continuity

With dedicated, trusted account leadership and support should come with a level of business continuity that is the norm. Microsoft Dynamics products are designed to bring people and systems together to help you run your business more efficiently.

If critical business functions executed through Dynamics products are not properly supported, your level of customer service, consistency, and recoverability could be in jeopardy. Not to mention the reputation of your business.

3. Expertise

Finding the right Dynamics Partner is just as important as implementing the right product. Consider a partner’s level of product and industry expertise. Are you confident that your partner’s consultants and support associates are immersed in the latest deep product knowledge? Do they come to the table with notable hands-on experience in your industry proven by offering you references from existing customers?

The right partner can be critical to your success both during project implementation and for years to come as your business evolves. If you’re searching for more when it comes to your current Microsoft Dynamics partner, let us know – we’d be happy to discuss our services, client feedback and experiences, as well as various levels of support that can help your business grow.

We recently announced that Endeavour Solutions will be featuring ongoing webinars showcasing add-in applications for Dynamics GP based on some of the challenges our customers have told us about. These apps benefit organizations either financially or will streamline processes within your existing GP system.Our second upcoming webinar introduces the number one selling GP add-on, Smart View from eOne. They will also demo the Smart List Builder. Many Dynamics GP licensees use the out of the box SmartList but Smart View takes the tool that most love and makes it even better. Smart View provides an alternate, fast, easy to use and more flexible interface to all existing SmartLists. This affordable solution is used by over 13,500 companies worldwide.

Learn How Smart View Expands SmartList’s Reporting Capabilities for GP

                 Steve Ewing of Endeavour Solutions along with Abbey Cooper and Nicole Albertson of eOne will co-host: Smart View, the Number One Selling App for GP on Tuesday, October 28th at 10:30am EST.

Faster, Simpler, More Filters, Totals and Grouping. SmartView reporting removes the headaches and hassles by joining forces with SmartList to remove any reporting limitations and get the data to those who need it in your organization. Highlights of Smart View include:

• See Screens/Lists Faster, Like 10x Faster  

• Send Smart View Lists to Non-GP Users

• Drag, Drop, and Customize All Columns. Simple!

• Unlimited Filters to Customize Lists Exactly As You Want

• Export, Copy and Paste Right Into Excel

Smart View lets you give SmartList access to all Non Microsoft Dynamics GP users, meaning your entire company is connected without the need for additional licenses.

To register and for more information, click here