Avoid these three (3) common mistakes when evaluating your next Cloud ERP solution, and you’ll be well on your way to reaping the maximum benefit from your investment.
The days of software service “estimates” are over, and the cost and risk presented to you, the Business Owner, went with it.
The process of traditional ERP implementation is incredibly invasive – it’s very expensive financially, but it also takes a significant toll on your time and resources. Whether you have a fully staffed IT department or just a handful of tech-savvy employees, your staff’s time is dedicated almost exclusively to setting up your new business software and having to maintain and support it.
Avoid the hassles of infrastructure management and hardware investment by looking to cloud ERP. It is not only easy to deploy, because all the setup is done “behind the scenes” while your business runs as usual, but a true cloud subscription should also include the support and set-up for the application as well. As your partner takes care of it all with application management tools at their finger-tips, it frees you up to focus on more important things like running your business.
Improperly calculating the cost of the new system.
To accurately calculate the overall cost of your business software, you have a few things to consider: implementation, training, setup, upgrades, licenses, equipment, maintenance, add-ons/ integration, configuration and support. Fees and payment plans are oftentimes unpredictable “estimates”, changing year after year, and usually inaccurate (not usually to your favor).
With a true cloud subscription, everything you need is rolled into one all-inclusive monthly fee. You don’t need to worry about added costs for business software upgrades and system maintenance, and the subscription plan is billed in fixed monthly installments protecting you from inflation. This essentially turns a crippling upfront capital expense into a manageable operational expense, so the cost you agreed to upfront is the same number you see on your bill each month.
Misunderstanding the lifetime of the software.
Traditionally, business software was generic and limited in its functionality and stability. Many businesses were forced to use one system, simply because it was the only one developed for their respective industries. When companies settle for sub par business software because it’s cheap, niche, regional, entry-level or new, they feel – often immediately – the constraints of missing functionality and proper support. This often leads them to an emergency switch that is costly and detrimental to productivity, and any momentum expected or gained is completely lost by a halt in operations.
Avoid this costly mistake by choosing a cloud ERP solution that leverages the best, most proven business software technologies available, such as Microsoft Dynamics. These solutions have virtually infinite lifetimes, friendly integration capability, and the only augmentation you may need comes in the form of ready-to-use functionality or additional user profiles as you simply “turn-on” or “turn-off” as you see fit along the way. A true cloud subscription offering should relieve you from being “forced” into system changes or alterations that don’t entirely support your business.
In the competitive SMB market, any solution that helps you avoid the mistakes your competitors are making is a solution that propels you forward.
Ready to learn more about the cost-effective benefits of deploying cloud-based ERP software? Download our free eBook, An Insider’s Guide To The Best Cloud-Based ERP Software, by clicking below.
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