The primary role of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) consultant is to take the lead on guiding an organization through the transition period to use of a fully functioning ERP system. ERP is a method for linking business applications into a single architecture that shares data and processing methods.
History
The term ERP first came about in the 1980s when software firms first began to integrate applications. ERP consulting naturally followed as organizations came to realize that the implementation of ERP systems was far more complex than traditional stand-alone systems.
Function
The most important asset a consultant brings to a project is their knowledge of the software. They also understand how best to implement, configure, test and train your staff on usage and troubleshooting.
Another important skill set an ERP consultant provides is the ability to redesign business processes that can take advantage of the new system and improve efficiencies in how your organization transacts business. Another important function is "Change management," which is part communications, part training, part strategy and part hand-holding. You get less value for your efforts if your organization does not change with the system.
A less quantifiable but very important service the ERP consultant makes is to act as adviser. They’ve been over the course already (often many times) and can provide info on the pros and cons of different courses of action at different choice points in the process. They are also perfectly placed to provide insights into how other organizations dealt with the same decisions or issues.
Benefits
While ERP consultants can be expensive (particularly in the initial phases), when used properly they can save time and money, while implementing a more trouble-free system. One of many key benefits is "knowledge transfer" from consultants to your staff, which, when done well, empowers clients to essentially replace the consultants.
Considerations
When choosing ERP consultants experience should be the primary consideration. A massive bonus, ofcourse, is experience of working with clients in your particular industry. It’s important to be aware of the experience of both the firm and of its employees.
Expert Insight
It’s not uncommon for organizations to keep implementation consultants on their staff long after they have deployed the system. Their main motivation is for support and as a safety net in the event that changes are needed to the system configuration for business or regulatory reasons.
Given that implementation consultants are generally expensive they may not be very suitable to application support. As an alternative it’s wise to consider hiring a service geared specifically for system support; these services often tend to be cheaper and better at system maintenance and troubleshooting problems.
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