Essay Sample on Implement ERP: Choose the Right Partner & Software

Introduction

Implementation of an ERP System entails installing software, passing financial data to the newly installed software, configuring processes and users, and training users on the utilization of the software (Madapusi & D'Souza, 2012). Therefore, it is essential to choose a suitable partner for the ERP system's implementation as well as select the appropriate software. Various businesses need ERP since it optimizes the operations by ensuring improved resource tracking and reporting, effective management, and sharing of data whereby the whole system leads to business expansion without any additional staffing costs or information technology (Madapusi & D'Souza, 2012). This article discusses the implementation of an ERP by Colony Nursery and Landscaping Company to share information on the awarding of customers with its new store hence solving the information silo issue through ensuring proper collection of this information and availing it when needed through these cloud solutions to reduce costs and better scalability.

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The problem of information silo experienced by the Colony Nursery and Landscaping Company can be solved using cloud services as it will reduce costs and lead to improved scalability hence offering a solution to the problem. The application that the ERP system could provide is the Mobile ERP software that will the company collect real-time data, share it between the stores, and avail it when needed.

An information silo refers to a system of managing information that cannot establish communication with other systems designed to manage information freely (Margaret, 2020). Within an information silo, the connection is usually in a vertical direction hence making it impossible for that system to work with systems that are not related.

Information silos are problematic for organizations since data and information cannot be shared between divisions, departments, or stores like the case of the Colony Nursery and Landscaping Company hence hindering growth and efficiency of the operations. Silos can lead to the development of many problems, such as the duplication of efforts, loss of opportunities, and the lack of synergy (Margaret, 2020).

Many organizations are moving to cloud services since cloud costs are low and have minimal risks. These organizations prefer cloud since the users are able to access the software anywhere in the world hence ensuring that they are able to work remotely and perform various tasks while they are on the move.

The use of cloud services like a cloud-based host for data storage would solve the ERP information silo issue at Colony Nursery and Landscaping since the provider ensures hosting, securing, managing and maintaining various servers and related infrastructure which will ensure the collection, storage, and retrieval of information by the two stores. The cloud storage will be cost-effective as well as scalable.

The utilization of the ERP system and awards program would provide a competitive advantage for Colony Nursery and Landscaping. The whole system will be a cost-effective process that will ensure collection, storage, and sharing of data on the award program, which is aimed at recognition and praising the hard work and loyalty of the clients hence building successful relationships. This will provide a competitive advantage since clients are more likely to interact with Colony Nursery and Landscaping Company in the future.

The implementation of an ERP system might need the business process reengineering for Colony Nursery and Landscaping since reengineering of the customer awards system needs to be understood and implement the software in a user-friendly manner for the ERP system to succeed since employees can effectively embrace the new system after the reengineering process.

References

Madapusi, A., & D'Souza, D. (2012). The influence of ERP System Implementation on the Operational Performance of an Organization. International Journal of Information Management, 32(1), 24-34. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0268401211000715

Margaret R. (2020). ERP-Information Silo. Retrieved from: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/information-silo