Santa’s ERP System

I’ve been in the ERP business for a while now and have helped all sorts of organizations with their systems from non-profit, to government, to businesses small and large.

One of the most interesting and complex ERP deployments that I’ve had the pleasure of participating in was for Santa (and Santa generously gave me permission to share what we did for him so that other businesses can learn from his lessons).

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Staying agile in an uncertain world

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We are living in a world of change and uncertainty. In 2014, Harvard Business Review published research that showed that uncertainty has increased in the last 50 years, and that some industries are more affected by it. Of the top ten industries facing the most uncertainty, eight are manufacturing industries.

There is a military term now used by business to characterize the challenges of change – VUCA – which was discussed in a previous blog post. VUCA stands for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity. Another acronym (also originating from the military) provides guidance on how to deal with a VUCA world. 

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How to Pick an ERP System that Benefits the Entire Company

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ERP projects touch all aspects of a business. Small- and medium-sized companies can typically only afford to have one person do most of the research and that person usually ends up having the most influence over the selection.

Unfortunately, this scenario often results in missing opportunities to make other departments more efficient, as the person doing the research rarely knows the most pressing business problems in the other departments.

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Favorite SYSPRO Espresso apps

Those that know me well, know my reputation for being “the lady with the laptop.”  There are numerous photographs of me with the laptop seemingly surgically attached: the middle of a field on Scout Camp, whilst washing clothes on the Serbian Scout Jamboree, even in my Wedding Dress.  When K3 Syspro took part in the UK National 3 Peaks Challenge, my laptop came too; if I go away for a weekend with the kids, the laptop is the first thing in the car.

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Is ERP an Expense, or an Investment

dave_c_expense_vs_investmentHaving been in the IT industry long enough to remember when the idea of “ERP” first started making the rounds, I have watched with some fascination the struggle that organizations go through to decide how to justify an enterprise solution strategy.  At the same time as a business owner or manager decides they must acquire the latest automated machinery with the  belief that it will improve the business; often a decision about enterprise software is  put on the back burner because the cost seems higher than anyone knows how to explain in the context of the overall business. Although it is obvious that I’m biased on this discussion, there is often a compelling case for understanding  your business inputs, processes and outcomes more fully that is ignored, and opportunities to make the business function better are passed up. 

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Measuring Process Performance

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louise_measuring_process_performanceAs we head towards a new year, I have been having a number of conversations with work colleagues and ERP consultants on the subject of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and their effectiveness. Out of these discussions it can be concluded that there are good and there are poor KPIs.  

Wearing my ERP hat a good example of this is looking at the role of a Purchase Order clerk. A logical metric to ensure they are performing and doing a full days’ work could be to measure the number of purchase orders and purchase order lines they capture in a day. In most environments this would be a poor KPI, as that could lead to more stock being ordered than you need at any one time, resulting in tied-up capital. A good KPI for a purchasing clerk could be the price they are paying for goods, as it will indicate if they have negotiated a good deal on behalf of the company. 

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Gamification and ERP training

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I have never been a ‘gamer’ – in my definition that’s someone who spends a significant amount of their leisure time playing video games. My husband, on the other hand, is an avid gamer – so much so that one of his groomsmen got us an X-Box One as a wedding gift! This got me wondering if I am missing something – why do people escape to these virtual worlds and how do the games keep them interested and coming back for more?

In her TED talk ‘Gaming can make a better world’, Jane McGonigal provides some valuable insight into my contemplations – online video games engage and motivate gamers by providing:

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ERP and the Evolution of Packaging

 width=Optimizing supply chain processes is essential for managing a business in the midst of a changing industry. A dynamic industry dictates that companies must re-evaluate their processes with a focus on operational efficiencies and strategic use of technology.  

This is where it is imperative for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to step in. 

The packing industry in particular is characterized by constantly changing market conditions, technological advancements, relentless competitive pressure, seasonal and regional variations as well as fluctuating costs for both raw materials and business operations.  

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