5 reasons you should look into Next Invoices if you consider a new ERP

Kim Hellum

“We are moving to SAP, NAV, AX, or something else in 6, 12, or 24 months.”

Congratulations! You just identified the best possible time to introduce a new Invoice processing solution. As with Husqvarna, having an external invoice processing solution in place will ease the transition. And save you loads of money.

According to Herbert Nathan & Co — the largest independant advisor in ERP selection in the Nordics — a record number of companies are right now evaluating to upgrade or replace their current ERP systems.

This leads to the very relevant question — what do we do until we have upgraded or replaced the ERP? 

In this short blog entry, I'd like to offer my take on this.

1. The era of wall-to-wall ERP systems has gone

Not so long ago, the highest fashion was wall-to-wall ERP systems. One system to handle everything. At the most recent ERP fair in Denmark, the consultants from Herbert Nathan & Co confirmed that "best-of-breed" is now back in fashion. That is — certain functions or processes in the company are best catered for, not by the ERP system, but by applications selected because they have a better fit to the actual needs. This trend is supported by the fact that by now all modern systems offers integration to other solutions. 

 

2. It will take longer than you think

Considering, making the case for a new ERP, evaluating alternatives, selecting the appropriate system, and successfully implementing it — takes time. Lots of time. And even when you engage highly skilled and professional advisors, it often takes longer than you initially think it will.

  

3. You can ease your transition

Swapping, or even upgrading, an ERP system is an overwhelming challenge. Being able to keep all transaction history on customers, suppliers, and stocked items in a corporate archive as Next Business Archive, and keep personnel intensive approval processes running with Next Invoices, will ease your transition to the new system.   

  

4. You can lower your risk

Implementing a completely new ERP system is not only a challenge, and an opportunity, but also a risk for the company. The more elements you can leave untouched during the migration, the lower the risk of failure is.

  

5. You can reduce your costs

Having systems and processes bridging a systems swap will eliminate costly data migrations. Very often we also see a reduced need for expensive ERP licenses for staff only needing less than full ERP access. 

 

 

Lessons:

1. Don't expect your new ERP to miraculously handle everything. Expect for it to handle the most important 80-90%, and find the best option for the remaining 10-20%. Next Invoices is one such option.  
2. While you plan for and implement the new ERP, Next Invoices will pay back the investment several times. Guaranteed.
3. Presiding the swap of ERP with the implementation of a corporate archive and structured invoice processing can ease your transition, lower both your risk and costs. 

 

You are wrong If you think that you are best of by putting everything on hold until your ERP is replaced.

You are right If you recognize that implementing selected smart process applications may be the best possible way to prepare for an upcoming ERP upgrade or replacement.

 

Or at least that's my take. Based on almost 3 decades of experience, with clients replacing their ERP every 10 years on average. Only diamonds are forever. 

 

 

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