Implementing a successful integrated business solution like Microsoft Dynamics NAV is kind of like scaling and reaching the top of Mount Everest: It's a battle. An ERP project is one of the most expensive and complicated tasks an IT department can undertake, with obstacles at every corner waiting to thwart the unsuspecting. After hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours of work, it can be devastating to find out that an ERP system does not meet expectations or deliver tangible benefits. It is, therefore, incredibly important that businesses get it right the first time.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV can function as the backbone of a company's operation and the foundation upon which business performance is built. The success of a project is much more than simply choosing the right solution, vital though that is.  How the implementation is planned, structured and carried out is just as important.

One way to avoid any mishaps is to understand the most common pitfalls organizations encounter when they embark on an ERP implementation project:

Lack of planning: Never play ERP by ear. Kevin Beasley, a leading chief information officer, told CIO.com, "Many organizations do not do enough up-front planning before they begin an ERP software evaluation. This often leads to confusion down the road because they might not fully understand their current processes and how to evolve them to maximize business benefits and efficiencies." It is essential for organizations to conduct audits before selecting an ERP system to discern where the software is needed most and what features would be beneficial. ERP systems should also be evaluated. The employees who will be using the software most are the best bet for this job.

Not screening vendors: It is a vendor's job to sell you their system. Without testing it you cannot be sure that the system has all the benefits or capabilities they promise. Of course, ERP systems cannot be taken to the office, tested and returned if there are any problems, so it's important to vet vendors before making a purchase. Request names of reputable businesses that the vendors supply to, and find out if you can contact those organizations and talk to them about their experiences with ERP implementation. A vendor should be able to provide at least three or four names. If they can't, consider it a warning sign.

Not understanding or using features: John Hoebler, managing director of a business consulting company, told the source that their annual ERP survey found that only 46 percent of respondents understood what features they were using in their system. That means that a whopping 54 percent of survey-takers had invested millions of dollars into a software without knowing its features. Without knowledge of what your ERP is capable of you can not fully harness it's potential. When the time comes for maintenance or upgrades there will be no way to guarantee their effectiveness because you won't know which features are most helpful and which are redundant. Experts suggest that organizations create master lists which outline salient attributes, and track their usage. The list should be reviewed regularly to determine which parts of the ERP system are being used.

In general it can be difficult to implement ERP like Microsoft Dynamics NAV successfully without a dedicated team or consultant. Accent Software can help your business understand the benefits of Microsoft Dynamics NAV and how it can help your company. If you are interested in finding out more about this and other business management software contact us today.

The enterprise resource planning (ERP) market is dynamic and innovative. The system is in constant flux, rapidly developing like any other digital-era technology, and in order to avoid falling behind, companies must conduct constant evaluations of their business management software. Are you taking full advantage of all the advancements that have been made in ERP? Does your system still fit the needs of your business and its environment?

Here are a few signs that it might be time to replace your ERP system:

Outdated systems: Aging systems will frequently take long periods of time to respond, or will break down entirely, indicating that the system is overtaxed and begging for replacement. Outdated systems will suffer architectural limitations, such as the type of network configuration that can be accommodated, and functional problems, like a lack of integration between different systems. Your ERP system should be able to efficiently and effectively meet all the demands of your business.

Functional limitations: If you ever find yourself avoiding your ERP system because it simply has too many issues to use, think long and hard about updating. Many companies simply stick to spreadsheets and other methods to get things done in the moment, leaving the problem of a clearly impractical ERP for another day. There is no point in keeping a software you can't use. If you have recently acquired another company, introduced new products or expanded your chains, the changes could put a huge load on systems that cannot handle complexities. Instead of living with the functional limitations, make a point to look for replacements.

No mobility: Modern ERP systems are designed to make use of new technologies in the market, such as smartphones and tablets. Take advantage of the convenience of these features by updating your system.

The face of ERP is constantly shifting. To bring your system into the modern age, contact Accent Software today.

Earlier this month SAP announced the next-generation ERP system, S4 HANA, which will replace S3 or SAP Business Suite. The new model promises an easier-to-use interface, disruption-free migration and super-fast data analysis, supported by entirely rewritten code. SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner predicted that S4 HANA would eliminate 40 percent of SAP IT load.

As appealing as S4 HANA sounds, for now it is merely a vision for SAP, and won't be released for at least a few more years. Still, the launch, called "the biggest in the vendor's history," could mean a lot of changes for consumers when it finally comes to fruition.

Reduced complexity: Analyst house Pierre Audoin Consultants stated, "While the SAP landscape has become more and more complex due to the various new components the vendor has added over time, it is SAP's intention to reduce this complexity with S4 HANA. With this, SAP delivers on its promise to provide an integrated system." Plattner claims that data complexity has been reduced drastically in S4 HANA simply though getting rid of aggregates, redundancies and creating satellite applications that do not need their own instance.

Fast analysis: Undoubtedly S4 HANA will continue the SAP trend of high speed data analysis. During the launch SAP product and innovation lead Bernd Leukert showcased the tool's speeds by analyzing 245 million lines of items for a company's profits and losses within seconds.

Cloud capabilities: With S4 HANA SAP is looking to configure cloud products so they can be used on-premise, for consumers who are not quite ready to make the upgrade. This is a reversal on last year's announcement that the vendor had put a deadline in place for on-premise ERP support.

S4 HANA represents a radical shift for SAP, since the new ERP will be dependent on HANA instead of supporting multiple databases. While it seems to be an impressive system so far, what S4 HANA can really do remains to be seen. For more information on new ERP systems and other business management software get in touch with Accent Software. We would be happy to answer your questions!

It is looking like a good year for enterprise resource planning (ERP), for both vendors and business users. Technology is advancing rapidly, and increasing numbers of companies are taking the time to upgrade in the new year. As enterprise resource planning systems become more flexible and varied we can expect the demand to keep rising. While IT leaders might not be able to see into the future to determine precisely which system to license or which upgrades to make, they can follow current trends to aid decision making. Here is what 2015 is bringing to ERP:

Hybrid cloud: Chris Wolf, VMware's CTO of the Americas told CIO, "[We] saw a spike in multi-cloud strategies in 2014, and that will continue into 2015. CIOs will continue to seek out the flexibility that [hybrid clouds offer]. And senior IT decision makers will invest in hybrid cloud architectures to future-proof their applications and services."

The advantages of the cloud are numerous: It allows for higher levels of service and faster execution at lower costs. Experts predict that most businesses will choose to adopt a hybrid cloud system, mixing off-premise and on-premise modules.

Subscription pricing: Competitive pressures are ever increasing, causing a shift in price point. Trends point to ERP becoming priced on a per-use and/or per-year basis, as opposed to traditional lump sum licensing. This price model is more scalable and predictable. Look for it to be available in end-user-centric applications, as well as data center management and other business management software and services. 

Deeper integration: ERP will become more versatile and offer greater degrees of integration with procurement, HR and customer service software. SAP recently made a number of strategic acquisitions that will help customers expand their ERP systems.

Looking for more information about current ERP trends? Contact Accent Software, where we can help you find top-of-the-line systems that will take your business to the next level.