Page 37 - MetalForming September 2012

contemplating replacing your ERP solution, ensure that mobile access is available.
Considering SaaS
The excitement surrounding soft- ware as a service (SaaS) ERP has been escalating for several years. While just a few years ago companies seemed willing to let their other applications (CRM, for example) reside in a SaaS environment, they were less willing to place their systems of record (ERP) in a cloud they did not own or control. In recent years, that’s changed, and many are weighing the pros and cons of SaaS ERP.
This can be an important consider- ation for first-time ERP purchases, par- ticularly if cost was the primary reason for not previously investing. Cost sav- ings, including total cost of ownership, startup costs and cost of IT staff, can be substantial with a SaaS deployment. Even if the subscription cost over time equals the cost of software and main-
tenance, there are still the savings achieved by eliminating the purchase and continued maintenance of hard- ware. If you have no IT staff today, there is no need to hire any. And if you do have a good IT staff on board, investing in a SaaS ERP solution allows them to engage in more strategic, value-added activities rather than performing rou- tine maintenance.
Don’t Wait
Do you recognize an opportunity at your company to improve your ERP performance and functionality? Don’t wait until the patient is dying. Making aselectionandrunninganimplemen- tation project when the business is under duress does not create an atmos- phere of careful consideration, plan- ning and execution. You will be tempt- ed to take shortcuts that you may later regret.
Need a new ERP system but can’t afford it? Consider the potential cost savings. Most ERP solutions pay for
themselves within 2 to 3 yr. If capital funds are not available to support the project, consider SaaS deployment, with less up-front costs. Also, our sur- vey respondents with SaaS implemen- tations reached their first go-live mile- stone 19 percent faster than those with on-premise solutions.
Set goals and measure. Before embarking on your ERP project, decide which metrics will measure success. Establish a base line, set goals and measure progress against those goals. When you reach them, set more goals. Continue to measure and continue to reap more benefits. MF
Cindy Jutras provided a keynote pres- entation at The Manufacturing ERP Experience, held August 23-24, 2011, in Chicago, IL. She’ll provide another keynote presentation at this year’s Man- ufacturing ERP Experience, slated for October 3-4, 2012, in Cleveland, OH. Learn more and register to attend at www.metalformingmagazine.com/ERP.
C r e a t i n g V a l u e.
Whether you plan to replace an existing ERP system or install one for the first time, just deciding what to purchase can be time consuming.
The ERP selection strategists at M&M Business Solutions (a Meaden & Moore Company) follow a proven election methodology to help you zero in on the ideal system to fit your specific business and operational needs.
216.241.3272 or www.meadenmoore.com
www.metalformingmagazine.com
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