What is ERP? (Enterprise Resource Planning) | QAD (2023)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Definition

ERP stands for "Enterprise Resource Planning" and refers to a type of software or system used by a business to plan and manage day-to-day activities such as supply chain, manufacturing, service, finance, and other processes. Enterprise resource planning software can be used to automate and streamline individual activities within a business or organization, such as: B. Accounting and purchasing supplies, project management, customer relationship management, risk management, compliance, and supply chain operations.

What is an ERP system?

Individual ERP applications can offer software as a service (SaaS), while a complete suite of ERP applications forms an ERP system that can be used to effectively communicate and bring together a variety of business processes. ERP systems allow data to flow between individual applications, often through on-premises/shared or cloud databases.

ERPs connect all aspects of a business. An ERP software system enables better performance and project management that aids in planning, budgeting, forecasting, and accurate reporting on the health and financial processes of a business. ERP systems have become a must-have for small, medium, and large businesses in a variety of industries.

A History of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)

The term "ERP" was first used by the Gartner Group in the 1990s, but enterprise resource planning software and systems have been used in the manufacturing industry for more than 100 years and continue to evolve as needs change. of the industry change and grow.

ERP History/Timeline:

• 1913:An engineer named Ford Whitman Harris developed the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model, a paper-based manufacturing system for production planning.

• 1964:Tool manufacturer Black and Decker introduced the first material requirements planning (MRP) solution that combined EOQ with a mainframe computer.

• 1970-1980:Computer technologies evolved and conceptual software addressed non-manufacturing business activities, including finance, human resources, and customer relationship management (CRM).

• 1983:MRP II was developed and contained integrated "modules" and building blocks for manufacturing and manufacturing tasks integrated into a common data system.

• 1990er-2000er:The Gartner Group coined the term "ERP" to distinguish it from pure MRP systems. ERP systems have expanded to include business intelligence while also handling other functions such as sales force automation (SFA), marketing automation, and e-commerce.

• 2000-2005:Cloud-based ERP software solutions enter the market as ERP software vendors develop "web-enabled" products and offer an alternative to traditional on-premises client-server models.

• Hoy:Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) offer new delivery models for ERP. Web-based remote access toCloud ERP SolutionsProviding mobile solutions, security, and integration with ever-changing industries and smart technologies, including integrations with the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Everything (IoE), and even social media to provide end-to-end solutions for all industries.

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How does an ERP system work?

The main objective of an ERP system is to increase the organizational efficiency of an organization by managing and improving the use of company resources. Improving and/or reducing the number of required features without sacrificing quality and performance is essential to effectively enhance business growth and profitability.

ERP systems generally cover all aspects of business operations and often provide:

• an integrated system
• common database
• real time operation
• Support for all applications/components
• Common user interface for all applications/components
• On-premises, cloud-hosted, or SaaS deployment

ERP software is capable of collecting and comparing metrics across departments and providing a variety of different reports based on specific user roles or preferences. The data collected accelerates data discovery and reporting, providing a complete view of business performance with comprehensive information on resource usage.

ERP synchronizes reporting and automation, reducing the need to maintain separate databases and spreadsheets that would have to be manually merged to create reports. This combined data collection and reporting provides valuable information, eg B. where costs can be reduced and processes optimized, and provides the information to make business decisions in real time.

Types of ERP systems and ERP software implementation options

Enterprise resource planning software is considered a type of "enterprise application" which refers to software designed to meet an organization's software needs and improve business performance. Many different ERP systems are available today, depending on an organization's size, function, and needs. Types of ERP systems generally relate to implementation options and includeERP in the cloud, ERP on-premise and hybrid ERP (some systems in the cloud and others on-premise).

Each ERP solution system is often tailored to support different aspects of a business, to meet the business needs of an organization, and to have different delivery methods.

ERP for Large Enterprises vs. ERP for small businesses

In the past, "Big Business ERP" was targeted at large companies that frequently implemented on-premises/on-premises ERP solutions and had a large amount of resources that they could dedicate to IT and other support to analyze their software solutions, adapt, update and deploy them. .

The term "Small Business ERP" or "KMU (Small and Medium Business) ERP" generally refers to ERP software systems with business applications that are typically developed to meet the specific needs of small and medium-sized businesses.

Today, these terms are used less frequently because the important factor is not the size of the company, but whether the ERP system effectively meets current and future business needs, regardless of the size of the company. It is imperative that companies consider and select ERP systems that eliminate the need for costly customizations, accommodate the rapid pace of business change, accommodate future technologies, and address other identified needs.

Types of ERP systems: cloud, on-premises, hybrid

There are three main types of ERP systems that work with different deployment model options. The most common types of ERP systems include cloud ERP, on-premises ERP, and hybrid ERP.

• Software ERP no localIt is deployed on-premises and managed in a physical office space within an organization, hosted on the company's own computers and servers to ensure full control, support, and ownership of the entire system post-deployment.
• Cloud-based ERP softwareis a web-based solution known as software as a service (SaaS) in which an organization accesses and stores data on any device with an Internet connection, typically by purchasing a subscription. Ongoing support, updates, training, and flexible customization backed by the software vendor.
• ERP Software "Hybrid"refers to a combined implementation of cloud-based and on-premises ERP system solutions. The mix of hosting and delivery services varies by provider. These models can provide ERP users with the flexibility to migrate between implementation models or add benefits not available in existing implementations.

Different ERP vendors support different deployment model options. Combinations of options, often referred to as a "hybrid" deployment, can provide a combination of hosting and deployment services. These hybrid models can provide users with:ERP flexibleResolve and incorporate benefits that may not be available in the existing implementation.

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What industries can benefit from ERP?

ERP software can be used in any industry to help a business become more efficient. It provides an effective communication tool that can manage information between internal and external departments, help with day-to-day activities to manage projects, track policy compliance, and handle the day-to-day niceties of running a business. .

Since the roots of business planning software are closely related to manufacturing, there are otherManufacturing ERPSolutions aimed at a variety of specific needsto industry. ERP software systems are very diverse and are key components of many industries, including but not limited to:

• manufacturing

• Industrial machines and components

• Construction and DIY

• electronics and technology

• Auto

• Aerospace and Defense

• Health, Pharma and Life Sciences

• Agribusiness, agriculture and livestock

• food and drinks

• health and hospitality

• Clothing, consumer goods and retail

Over time, ERP systems have grown to include support for other applications and "ERP modules" that support daily business functions. In many ERP systems, these common functional areas are grouped into ERP modules, which include, but are not limited to:

• financial Accounting
• operational accounting
• human Resources
• manufacturing
• processing order
• Supply chain management
• Proyect Management
• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• data services

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When does your company need an ERP?

Business development typically focuses on goals that coincide with a company's short- and long-term growth, as well as analysis of potential business challenges. Performing a regular analysis of systems and processes helps to identify when a company may need to integrate an ERP system.

An ERP solution should be considered when existing business systems and processes:

• No longer working or inefficient (throttling/bottleneck)

• He no longer supports the growth of the company.

• Lack of up-to-date security requirements to mitigate risk

The identification of broken processes is important for growth and the search for areas of improvement. Here are some examples of ways a process can no longer support business growth:

• Uses/relies heavily on separate databases/tables/programs that require manual processes for data management and are not regularly synchronized

• Information and analyzes are difficult to access and/or are outdated

  (Video) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

• Daily processes are difficult or time-consuming, such as B. Paper accounting, financial reports, etc.

• Sales and customer experience suffer from inaccurate or incomplete data, creating a poor reputation for reliability and service.

• Inefficient/complex/complicated IT processes. Today's systems have low scalability, fragmented systems, and legacy solutions.

• IT time is spent fixing/repairing legacy systems to try to keep up with growth

• It does not support new and advanced technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence, etc.

Once failing processes are identified, organizations can take the next steps to address these business challenges and support business growth.

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What is the business value of ERP?

ERP systems are used to help businesses of all sizes overcome challenges, from small businesses to large corporations. Business early practices may not be able to keep up with the growing demand, requiring more efficient business tools such as ERP to effectively manage an organization's systems and resources.

ERP software systems offer many benefits to the health and growth of a business.

Characteristics and advantages of ERP

• Cost reduction and increased ROI efficiency.Increased productivity and efficiency as a result of the integration and automation offered by ERP software
• Improve business insight.Improve decision making with a single source of aggregate truth and real-time data
• Manage regulatory compliance.Manage and monitor regulatory compliance and even set up non-compliance alerts
• Mitigate and reduce risk.Automate key business processes, manual tasks, and reporting. Reduce human error and free up staff time and resources
• Improve collaboration.Break communication barriers for efficient collaboration and coordination to improve work efficiency.
• Improve the supply chain and the reliability of the distribution network.Use on-demand MRP to forecast supply and demand and prepare for order flows and supply chains
• scalabilityA consistent infrastructure for streamlined operations can grow as your business grows.
• Simplify customer and partner management.Service, customer relationship management, as well as partner and supplier management with transparently shared information.

How to choose an ERP system

Choosing and implementing an ERP system can be a daunting task as there are so many software solutions to choose from. When choosing an ERP system, it is important that the software meets the needs and goals of your business, providing the necessary support to implement an ERP system.

Here's a quick checklist to review when first comparing ERP systems to help narrow down your choices.

Checklist for selecting an ERP system

Does the ERP provider/software in question have:

• Does it meet the system requirements?
• Meet/align company objectives?
• Does it integrate/compatible with current existing systems?
• Do you have a partner network/availability for local support?
• Do you offer training/support options?
• Do you have customer references and recommendations?
• Continuously improve and evolve to take advantage of new technologies and adapt to challenges?

Once your ERP options have been narrowed down to solutions that are most compatible with your current systems and goals, it may be useful to discuss the benefits and capabilities of the systems with key decision makers in the organization. The insight and support of these decision makers can foster acceptance and support in the future.ERP implementationthroughout the organization.

What is an ERP implementation?

The process of moving to a new ERP system varies by project and requires planning and strategy that best suits your business needs. Choosing the right ERP implementation strategy is key to success with your new system. Implementation is an important part of any ERP project. The time and money involved depend on many factors, including the deployment model, the complexity of the system, the deployment strategy, the size of the business, and the resources dedicated to the project. A poorly executed deployment project can consume valuable resources. Done right, an ERP integration can propel your business to an exciting new level of success. Learn more about the steps to a successful ERP implementation below.

ERP Implementation Steps

At each step of the QAD scalable ERP system integration process, teams must review all milestones, deliverables, and commitments and report on progress. Our Effective Onboarding (EOB) strategy makes ERP system implementation quick and easy. This EOB strategy includes the following steps.

• the plane

  During the planning phase, we engage stakeholders and build the project team that creates a plan with milestones, deliverables, and resources from suppliers, customers, and partners. Governance structures such as the steering committee and relevant processes around change control, risk and problem management are also agreed and established at this stage.

• Project

  We then conduct business process workshops using integrated process maps based on leading manufacturing industry best practices. During this time, we verify how closely the client organization is following these industry standard processes and fill in any necessary gaps that may involve alternative process configurations or design improvements.

  We also record customer-specific requirements for ancillary services such as interfaces, EDI, electronic invoicing, etc. and we've done the technical work to add these ancillary services.

  At the end of these workshops, there is an agreed set of roles at the process step and work instruction level. We then configure our software with these process steps and customize the detailed work instructions to specific customer needs. Domain and data workshops are also held to identify data structures, cleanup and migration issues. Static data is also uploaded to the system.

• Test

  QAD performs conference room pilot testing (CRP) and user acceptance testing (UAT). Bugs are resolved at each test step and should decrease with each test. The first set of CRPs usually lasts three to four weeks, with each round taking less time.

  (Video) Was ist ERP? (Enterprise Resource Planning - Erklärung)

• Insert

  Once the UAT is complete, the team plans the data transition and activation. We put together a detailed plan of when to stop the old system and start the new one to minimize disruption. During Go-Live, we began a period of highly customer-focused service and support. Once this hyper-care phase is complete and the system is fully delivered to the customer, we perform a comprehensive post-project review to ensure the customer benefit has been achieved.

ERP Implementation Strategies

There are several strategies for a successful implementation of an ERP system, each with advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the more common strategies to consider.

• Single Stage Method

  With the one-step method, all users switch to the new system at the same time. The benefits of ERP come more quickly, but there is a greater risk of error that can be more difficult to compensate for later in the process.

  With the one-step ERP implementation strategy, you can quickly realize benefits like: B. Increased productivity, better insights, and lower operating costs. This ERP implementation strategy is ideal for users who are time-constrained and need to complete configuration, testing, and training before the planned launch date.

• Phased rollout

  In a step-by-step implementation, features, tools, and components are made available over a period of weeks to months. This more thoughtful approach allows for better fault detection and correction, but it takes longer to see the benefits of ERP and there may be additional costs for maintaining two systems at the same time.

  Phased implementations are a safe and efficient ERP implementation method. Phased releases give organizations more time to familiarize themselves with key features and expand from there. This ERP implementation option offers companies peace of mind as they eliminate any pain points and migrate from their legacy systems.

• parallel release

  In a parallel deployment, a legacy system is used in parallel with the new system for an extended period of time. Parallel releases are often the least risky way to implement an ERP system, as users can fall back to a legacy system in case of problems. This deployment method ensures that users always have access to important features, no matter what issues arise.

  While the risk is lower since the legacy system is still operational as a backup, running two systems can be a costly and time-consuming approach.

• hybrid approach

  This approach builds on all of the above. A company may choose a one-stage implementation of a system module, but take a more incremental or parallel approach with other, more complex or critical modules. This approach to ERP implementation allows organizations to save time and money transitioning specific functionality, while protecting critical modules that may require additional troubleshooting.

• Insert

  In this step, we meet with the customer to understand the requirements, define the scope of work, set expectations, and determine timelines, costs, and resources. We then commit to a signed statement of work, which serves as the foundation for the project.

Start using ERP

Not sure where to start (or continue) on your ERP journey? Whether it's time to move to the cloud or looking for someone to streamline your business processes, our global team of ERP experts is here to help.