If your business is going through a change, don’t be so quick to eliminate your existing ERP software. According to Harry McClintock, projector manager at Panorama Consulting Group, companies undergoing a “lean transformation” can synchronize ERP systems with the new and streamlined planning and control systems.

Businesses stand to benefit from ERP systems integrated into a changed environment, as McClintock believes the notion of ridding of ERP software just for the purpose of lessening business processes is a fallacy.

In fact, said McClintock, these ERP software platforms can work alongside newer implemented systems, thus easing the use of business management software. This, in turn, decreases usage costs and simplifies the implementation of new ERP systems.

"The key to working ERP in a lean environment is to select the ERP features that work best with lean and discard those that don't," said McClintock.

Whether a company is going through a transformation or not, it’s still important for companies to find ERP software that delivers tangible business benefits, cost reduction, productivity improvement and measurable bottom-line results. In doing so, companies must recognize the challenges that deploying an ERP software system into their place of work may bring before committing to an ERP software solution.

Panorama Consulting Group Business analyst Greg Griffith had some valuable advice for companies seeking rollout strategies for ERP software implementation – pick one that suits your company best, as some ERP systems are a better fit for particular companies over others.

"Engage with great consultants who have 'been there and done on that' on multiple ERP implementations and who will listen and work side-by-side with you to get a great outcome," said Griffith, who added organizations should carefully evaluate their approach to implementation – whether all at once, or as a more “hybrid” method.

Upon evaluating potential ERP software providers for your business, companies can opt for Aplicor’s ERP systems. As Aplicor’s CEO Chuck Schaeffer once said in an interview with TMCnet, an ERP software provider’s focus should be on business process automation for tasks and activities that streamline work processes, shorten business process cycles and increase user productivity.

These facets, combined with a leaner environment, will further abridge the utilization of business management software as well as support the transformation phase. In a review by Denis Pombriant at Enterprise Irregulars, it is said that the “Aplicor UI supports flexibility but in a different way than the Microsoft (News - Alert) ribbon.  Aplicor supports a standards-based UI that is easy to figure out but it also enables multiple applications to be live at the same time, which supports a more natural ability to enable the user to sequence work.”

Tammy Wolf is a TMCnet copy editor. She also writes articles for TMCnet on a wide range of topics, including IP communications and information technology. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Janice McDuffee