Implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) product can be a costly and time consuming exercise. Having worked for two different companies as an internal ERP solution manager tasked with implementing and then maintaining an ERP in a number of different companies, geographies and business units, I have first-hand experience with the associated challenges. I was very proud to see a news release we published about how an Epicor customer managed to implement a fully functional version of Epicor iScala within 3 weeks. How is this possible you ask? What tools exist within Epicor iScala to support fast implementations and ensure that change control is maintained even when the implementation project is complete?
Epicor has developed a number of tools to help speed up the implementation process and ensure consistency within the project and maintain the integrity of the solution going forward.
The Epicor Signature Methodology of implementation goes a long way to guaranteeing the success of the project by ensuring buy-in and approval during all phases of the project by all the members of the project team. This combined with tools like XSOL InOrder to document Epicor Best Practices allows Epicor to support the implementation process from start to finish. Other tools like Epicor Knowledge Mentor (EKM) allow for the creation of reusable documentation and training material to support on-boarding of existing or new employees with measurable results.
With the implementation process and documentation secured, how do we handle best practices and templated implementations? Having come from a consulting background I realized that we needed to introduce something into iScala to allow us to support templated implementations. One of the first things we added to the development plans for iScala was the iScala Template Tool. This tool provides Epicor, our consulting partners and even our customers with the ability to define, maintain, distribute and control different iScala configuration templates.
The Template Tool is easy to use. Templates can be created for specific organizations, regions, industries or even business processes using a collection of preconfigured system parameters, code files and even master data.
So how does it work? Administrators can select an existing iScala implementation, take a snap-shot of this importing any master data (customers, suppliers, stock items), code files and parameters into a new template. The template can be adjusted adding in customer parameters to further control what is included in the scope of the template.
Once the template is created this can be used to either validate compliance with a predefined (one or more templates) configuration using the compare mode or to ensure compliance with a predefined configuration using the enforce mode. The Compare mode allows system administrators/owners to monitor the system configuration ensuring change management is maintained even once the implementation project is finished.
The enforce modes is a great way to implement the application quickly by using one or more templates to prepopulate the iScala application with all the correct system values for the organization, region, etc.
The combination of the compare and enforce modes is a great way to ensure change control. Any unauthorized/undocumented changes to the system configuration are detected using the compare mode and then incorrect values/settings can be reset to comply with the template. All of this can be from a central location meaning that if you have several iScala companies there is less administration involved.
As a former consultant this is really exciting. Likewise, as a former system administrator the iScala Template Tool offers a number of benefits: change control and compliance management; easier support and troubleshooting; and, quick starts for new sites or organizations.
So you see, a successful ERP implementation really could be just 3 weeks away.
View the announcement of Albatros Aluminium Implements Epicor in Less Than Three Weeks.
Posted by the Epicor Social Media Team
In Malcolm Gladwell’s seminal book The Tipping Point, he defines a tipping point as “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” For Software as a Service (SaaS), the traditional barrier to attaining the momentum implied by the tipping point has been ERP. Companies have been amenable to having applications that surround or extend ERP reside in a SaaS environment, but they have been less likely to place their most critical enterprise records in an environment they did not directly own or control. This is changing.
According to a recent study by Mint Jutras, an independent research-based consulting firm that specializes in analyzing the business impact of enterprise applications, “Today…as many weigh the pros and cons of SaaS ERP, the advantages appear to be winning.”
Why? Why now?
In Q3 2011, Mint Jutras surveyed over 1,000 individuals knowledgeable of and involved in ERP implementations, in companies ranging from small (<$25M annual revenue) and lower midsize ($25M – $250M annual revenue) to upper midsize ($250M – $1B annual revenue) and large (>$1B annual revenue). The survey’s responses give a strong indication of why we may have reached the tipping point. Here are a few of the principal ones:
For a more detailed look at the momentum being gained by SaaS ERP, download the full report from Mint Jutras, made available at no cost by Epicor. Do you think the tipping point has been reached? Let us know in the comments.
Posted by the Epicor Social Media Team
With the unpredictable economic market, now more than ever, businesses must evaluate processes to gain efficiency throughout the organization. When business processes encounter “waste” or unused production, they become inefficient which influences the company’s bottom line. The waste can further lead to a loss of value positioned in a company by its customers and key stakeholders.
To help business processes improve efficiency and drive more value to the customers, it is vital to develop a cost effective approach, called “Lean.”
Lean is not just a tool, but more of a methodology to turn waste into value. Lean is a focus on speed, eliminating waste and delivering more value to customers. When implementing Lean techniques, credibility is important to build around the effectiveness of selected initiatives. The Lean technique analyzes end-to-end processes and determines how to deliver more to the customer with much less.
One key method to develop credibility is to certify major stakeholders in Lean tools and practices. As one of the top companies in the industry, Epicor recently launched a Lean Certification program to provide a comprehensive suite of information on lean tools and techniques. The program consists of a two-day interactive course that combines lecture and group activity sessions to develop Lean specialists within an organization. The curriculum offers applicable knowledge and templates relevant at their company. Participants can earn the Epicor Lean Certification by completing an open book examination at the end of the course.
Here is a preview of the Lean Certification course:
Day 1
Day 2
“This was great. I appreciate how interactive it was and how we can immediately apply the tools and concepts in our business,” said Rene Savage, vice president for Stellar Industrial.
The Lean Certification program is an integral part of ongoing initiatives for Epicor University to provide the best-in-class training and education resources for customers, partners and employees worldwide.
Posted by the Epicor Social Media Team