ERP Solutions Are Now Designer ERP Solutions

The Death Of ERP?

Like they said about the internet in the 90s, ERP solutions have also been rumored to die out. Over 2 decades later and man, were they wrong about the internet and even more so about ERP solutions. Drawing on more than 4 decades of data acquisition and testing in the past 20 years, ERP solutions have gone from IT only hieroglyphic like systems filled with code repositories and the clunkiness of a tyrannosaurus rex trying to fit into a compact car, to slim, lightweight unified systems which are easy to use and so adaptable, even European cheesemakers can find amazing value in them. Thats zero for two nay-sayers.

Overly criticized for difficulty for the end user and how rigid the code was, ERP solutions were never really something that caught on entirely until recently. Now with thousands of global case studies in major corporations who employ the likes of SAGE and Microsoft products, ERP solutions are once again at the forefront of business leaders seeking to bring their companies out of the hard records and paper history and into the digital age. Whats more is, instead of requiring an engineer to operate, these systems are developed with the end user in mind now. They are made to resemble programs you already use in the office, often with the same paradigms of menus, right clicks and use.

The Rise of Designer Based ERP Solutions

While some companies like Harwood Consulting provide access to engineers to customize any ERP solution to your company, many companies are finding that freelancers are able to provide similar results to even Microsoft Certified engineers. The rise of the code-free environment has led the industry to provide drag and drop GUI for ease of customization for the end user. While this can always provide an easy way to add in aesthetics and small functions, it will never take the place of a full fledged engineering team to brand and adapt your ERP to your specific business. All this, despite rumor mills bracing in horror as they fear ERP is headed back to a darker age of IT nicknamed Shadow IT where industry standards are thrown to the wind in favor of a more ungoverned approach to IT outside of IT’s domain in your company. Basically, a world filled with freelancers leaving your company with no need for an IT department.

Nevertheless, the age of ERP solutions has come and Harwood Consulting can not only provide Tier 1 products, but also Tier 1 support, management and training to go along with your chosen ERP solution. Read more about what we can do for your business on our services page.