E.R.P. as a straight-jacket

‘Big E.R.P.’ has become a straight-jacket for many big businesses whose business processes have changed significantly since implementation, but their software has not kept up. The result is, it compromises their flexibility and prevents a business from truly thriving. Hence the term 'straight-jacket'.

If you are a small business, you can learn from and take advantage of these restrictions on ‘Big Business’ by installing ‘Small E.R.P.’ that is flexible and expandable. Thereby, allowing your business to grow and truly thrive, while at the same time, the software expands and changes with you and does not act as a restraint on your activities. It is far easier to do this in a small business than in a large business.

To achieve this you must ignore the ‘Big E.R.P.’ systems and look for the ‘Small E.R.P.’ systems and suppliers. Your first task is to select a system whose 'software base' closely matches your current requirements. Having selected such systems out of the multitude available, you then need to ensure that the software supplier is able and willing to form a 'business partnership' with your business.

This 'business partnership' is essential in order that as you grow and your business processes change, they can change and grow the software in partnership with you.

If a supplier is only interested in selling you a system 'straight out of the box', move on and look for a software supplier that can truly support your business. It is the support that is the crucial element and is the part most often overlooked by small businesses.