Is It Time to Upgrade Your ERP System?

When the Time Is Right for Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3)

You know that your company needs a new ERP system. The existing software is slow, requiring nightly manual batch updates that bog down the entire network. Production is upset that they can’t get real-time figures. Your supply chain manager wants to know why she can’t get accurate information on where shipments are when customers are waiting for orders. It’s a headache that many manufacturers face.

There are certain signs that your current ERP system no longer meets your company’s needs. Do you know what to look for to determine when the time is right to upgrade your ERP system?

Some hints that it’s time to upgrade your ERP system include:

1. Slow decision-making: Although some people may just prefer more time to consider all of their options, slow decision-making may also be a sign of an aging ERP system. If you are waiting to collect data from your system, or you need someone staff to verify the accuracy of the data that you are pulling from your system, it’s a sign that your system is outdated. Systems such as Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3) provide real-time data so that you never have to worry about whether the data has been refreshed or not; it’s always displaying real-time information. Accuracy is also greatly improved. You are no longer pulling data from the system, entering it into spreadsheets, and double checking your work to detect data entry errors. Clean, real-time data, fed into easy-to-read reports is one of the benefits of a newer ERP system such as Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3).
2. Constantly tweaking the system with custom programming: Another sign of an aging system is what’s been dubbed the ‘band aid’ effect. Every time you need the system to integrate with a newer piece of software, it requires custom programming. Patches, special programs to synchronize data and systems, and other tweaks to get your current system to play nice with others are another sign that it’s time to upgrade. New ERP systems such as Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3) integrates well with other systems, requiring little to no custom programming. Sage creates modules for common manufacturing and business needs such as HRIS, CRM, finance, production, and supply chain management. These modules integrate well when used together and can provide a comprehensive suite of software for all of your business needs. If you are constantly tweaking your system so that it doesn’t crash or paying extra to ensure it works with newer software, consider upgrading the entire system to Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3) and the Sage family of products. Then you will be sure of having a system that easily integrates with other business systems.
3. You’re having trouble finding someone to fix it: Another sign of an aging ERP system is that it gets harder and harder to find someone to fix or update it. Upgrades may no longer be available. The special programming skills require to fix the system or build special modules may no longer be readily available, or you may have to pay more for them. Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3) is updated regularly, and excellent support is available for your Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3) needs through IWI Consulting Group.

Curious to learn more about Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3)? IWI Consulting Group offers a free virtual tour of Sage EM (formerly known as Sage X3). Find out more on our site.

Keeping older systems running may, in the long run, be more costly than investing in a new ERP system. Cloud-based systems do not require expensive investments in specialized hardware or IT staff to run them. The training time is minimal, and maintenance and security are taken care of by the cloud host. Software such as Sage X3 can end up making your business more efficient and profitable. It pays to invest in a new ERP system!

IWI Consulting

IWI Consulting Group helps businesses gain insights into their operations, inventory, and profitability. We provide software and support for a wide range of industries throughout the Toronto area. For more information, please visit IWI Consulting Group or contact us today.