4 Things to Consider Before Embarking on an ERP Upgrade or Implementation.

Author: Lubin Hoque, Sales Director, Cooper Software.

If you’ve been watching industry news recently, you will probably have learned that from December 2024, Unit4 is ending support for all three of its on-premise interlocked enterprise resource planning (ERP) products; Unit4 ERP, Agresso and Unit4 Business World. The concept of software vendors shifting emphasis to cloud Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions is not new. But we should all pay attention because this is an important inflection point. With the cost of upgrading with their incumbent ERP partner so clearly prohibitive for many, enterprises under pressure to make an upgrade decision are using the opportunity to consider alternative platforms.

There are viable alternatives that open up all sorts of additional options too. Firstly, to choose between ERP vendors. And secondly, to choose between operating models for ERP software - from full-service running in the cloud, managing the deployment in-house, and, where they want to run it.

Whilst these organisations are not as alone as they think they are. Here are four things upgrading ERP enterprises should still think about this year: -

1. Simplification

Upgrading to many SaaS solutions is far from simple. In fact, it often involves starting from scratch. Being able to offer our customers a smoother transition to a future-ready ERP solution, is one of the reasons we’re partnered with IFS.

While some SaaS/Cloud platforms necessitate a full re-implementation with a brand-new architecture, IFS Cloud stands out as a solution that minimises complexity. The out-of-the-box tools are designed to facilitate implementation, upgrades, and support with little need for extensive customisation. This reduces the potential challenges associated with customisations or configuration complexities.

2. Industry specific

The customisations needed to achieve industry specific capabilities also lead to high costs and long timescales. IFS Cloud can get you up and running more quickly with hundreds of industry-specific capabilities out-of-the box. There are tailored solutions for diverse markets like manufacturing, oil & gas, construction & engineering, aerospace & defence, and the service sector. With industry-focused Lobbies, users can access configurable dashboards with an ‘at-a-glance’ view of information relevant to their specific industry and role. They can also visualise data and keep critical metrics and actions in view, or drill into the details.

3. Scalability and consistency

Scalability and consistency across systems matters. Disparate solutions for ERP, finance, and customer relationship management (CRM) creates unnecessary limitations. An ERP upgrade can often not only lead to a full re-implementation but can also create the need to string together multiple systems and vendors to get the same capabilities that IFS Cloud can offer in a single configurable platform.

IFS Cloud brings together all areas of a business from human capital management (HCM) to finance, supply chain, manufacturing, procurement, maintenance, and service. Unifying these functionalities seamlessly, eliminates the need for patchwork solutions and ensures a cohesive, integrated experience. Connecting them drives visibility from the back office to front. It draws on connected data, intelligence, and automated workflows that allow for faster action.

4. Global reach, local expertise

Too many organisations are frustrated by some solutions only being available in some regions, with limitations like regional payroll modules for example. The modern ERP suite needs to ‘think global’ and avail its capabilities wherever the customer has businesses and offices.

Again, IFS Cloud delivers a global solution adaptable to local needs. The comprehensive offering spans across regions, ensuring you have the tools you need, wherever your business operates.

But don’t just take our word for it. Allow me to point you in the direction of a 2023 Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact (TEI) Study. It’s an interesting reference when it comes to understanding how enterprises are boosting efficiency, slashing costs, and driving innovation with IFS Cloud. It shows users saving up to $36 million over three years in labour, capital, and legacy system costs. It should certainly factor into important ERP platform decisions.

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