History will be the ultimate decider exactly how 2020 will be remembered, but a potential title for this unusual period is “Year of the Postponement.” From professional sports to seasonal fairs, weddings to entire businesses, the long-lasting, ongoing effects of the novel coronavirus has led to numerous complications. It’s understandable why, given the highly contagious pathogen has tragically claimed more than 750,000 lives and infected more than 20.6 million people around the world, according to the most recent estimates from Johns Hopkins University & Medicine.
Essentially, the pandemic has brought life as we know it, to a halt.
Because of this, and since many people are now telecommuting exclusively, many companies that were in the midst of enterprise resource planning implementations earlier this year either slowed or stopped their projects. Now many companies are looking to start or resume their CRM or ERP projects, but are also adjusting their approaches to the implementations.
Here are a few strategies how organizations can go about acclimating to these uncertain times, all while moving forward with your ERP integration intentions:
- Invest in cloud-based ERP
Back in 2018, roughly 43% of Americans worked remotely at least occasionally, according to polling at the time. Amid the lockdown, that rate surged to more than 60%, in a more recent Gallup survey released in May.
An Iometrics “Global Work-from-Home Experience Survey” forecasts that between 25% and 30% of U.S.’ full-time employees will telecommute several times per week next year.
With an on-premises ERP software system, this new workplace reality would make implementation somewhat less urgent. Cloud-based ERP has changed all that. Users can access all the data they need from any device through platforms like Microsoft Dynamics 365. Cloud-based ERP is not only more effective for your remote workers, but it helps with time management and increases productivity by giving them the freedom to work on their time and on whatever device they prefer.
- Fight ERP resistance with facts
Due to COVID-19 and the shutdown that resulted, many organizations are in the midst of reviving parts of their company they didn’t realize were on life support. The suddenness of the situation laid bare business owners’ areas of weakness. Because of this, stakeholders that were initially all aboard for ERP implementation may now have cold feet, believing their assets and resources ought to be expended elsewhere.
As TechTarget suggests, perhaps the best way to rebut this line of reasoning is with data that can highlight why moving forward with ERP implementation is still in the company’s best interest. Some even contend that it may be more important now than ever before. Supply chains were upended during the height of the pandemic due to a host of factors, including resourcing, poor planning, staffing and asset allocation. ERP solutions are particularly effective in reinforcing supply chains by improving customer service, centralizing data, increasing visibility into workflows and streamlining inventory management, as noted by Thomas Insights. It’s little wonder online searches for the term “ERP software” have skyrocketed, up nearly 280% during the second quarter of 2020 versus the first.
- Make multitasking easier to manage
Parents already had a lot on their plate prior to the pandemic. Now that the academic school year is set to begin with cases still rising, many schools are opting for a 100% remote model. Parents now must balance their work responsibilities with making sure their kids do their assignments, and otherwise solve problems and answer questions wherever they can.
Aside from the fact that Microsoft Dynamics 365 runs off the cloud, it comes fully equipped with capabilities and tools that make doing multiple things at once more manageable. The clean interface and intuitive tools found in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central makes financial tasks easier than ever. By pairing Business Central with Microsoft Power BI, you can also generate reports and charts by leveraging your data.
ERP personalization adjusts to your company’s size and capabilities
Many companies are in the thick of a major overhaul, whether that’s in staffing, priorities or the full-scale removal of departments. The tumultuousness COVID caused makes personalization key to any ERP implementation. Turn to an expert that can design and install a solution that fits your business’ needs.
The TM Group is in the business of CRM and ERP implementation and support. From data migration to solution evaluation and selection, we can get your system up and running. The process improvements available through Microsoft Dynamic 365 just might make 2020 a year to remember fondly. Contact us today.
—
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
https://searcherp.techtarget.com/tip/Should-COVID-19-halt-your-ERP-implementation-12-questions
https://searcherp.techtarget.com/tip/10-cloud-ERP-implementation-challenges
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/235811/end-traditional-manager.aspx
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/309620/coronavirus-change-next-normal-workplace.aspx
https://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/how-many-people-could-work-from-home
https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/erp-supply-chain/