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Managing business processes and maintaining customer data is essential for enterprises to streamline their overall operations. And, the integration of an eCommerce platform with a top-notch ERP system is exactly what businesses need to achieve this goal. Sometimes, it might also compel them to take the challenging decision of implementing an ERP system migration.
Statistics show that an effective ERP system reduces operational costs by 23% and administrative costs by 22%. ERP solutions help businesses to handle their business operations such as supply chain management, warehousing, inventory management, finances, human resources activities, and customer-related operations such as marketing and sales through a unified system.
SAP, one of the major ERP software companies, recently announced that it will end support and maintenance services for its ERP system by 2030. This announcement has led many businesses using the SAP ERP system, to chalk out a strategic move to upgrade or migrate to another competitive ERP software.
Checklist for ERP system migration
With a clear agenda and a comprehensive list of current and future requirements, a company can make informed, cost-effective, and customer-focused decisions as a part of their ERP system migration process. Here’s a checklist that eCommerce platforms can use while deciding on a substitute for their existing SAP ERP software application or while adopting a new one.
#1: Data consolidation
The new ERP system should consolidate clients, customers, partners, suppliers, and products data efficiently to help gain a unified view of all business operations. Also, there should be no duplicates, redundancies, and inconsistencies in the data. The obsolete and non-essential data should be identified and removed during the data migration process so that the digital transformation journey of an enterprise can be frictionless.
#2: ERP training
Even if the new ERP system is automated, enterprises should train their staff to understand the various operations associated with the new ERP software. They must empower employees with enablement training and knowledge-based resources that they might need while working with the new enterprise resource planning solution.
#3: Defining user access
Enterprise data related to intrinsic processes and stakeholders is crucial and it should be handled carefully. Companies should clearly define user roles and the access that all the users have to a particular data set. Apart from the ERP vendor team, an in-house team should work meticulously to ensure a successful data migration from the legacy system to a new ERP system.
#4: Time management
Updating to a new environment is a time-critical process and companies should not be in haste to complete it negligently. Businesses should make sure that the data migration process follows a well-defined timeline and should also develop a contingency plan to handle any accidental problems during this high-priority phase.
#5: Choosing cost-effective ERP software
ERP system migration requires adequate financial resources for buying, implementing, and maintaining the ERP software. However, eCommerce platforms should not go overboard with the budget and instead opt for an efficient, versatile, and customizable ERP solution to enable smooth and hassle-free data transfer from legacy systems to next-generation business management systems.
#6: Analyzing ERP system architecture
ERP upgrade or replacement can be from a traditional database to a cloud-based ERP solution or an on-premise ERP system. eCommerce platforms should choose an ERP solution based on their budget constraints and data that needs to be migrated. However, the latest trend suggests that 62.7% of organizations go with cloud-based ERP systems over on-premise software.
#7: Enabling enterprise mobility solutions
Enterprise mobility solutions should come as a part of the new ERP system migration strategy, so that it lets businesses achieve operational efficiency, improved data management, and enhanced customer experience. Leveraging mobility as a significant component of ERP software solutions is the best way to facilitate the modern way of working remotely and gathering valuable information anytime and anywhere.
Top 4 ERP software that can replace SAP ERP system
ERP solutions enable businesses to handle their customer, client, and supply chain data effectively and stay competitive. Here’re top 4 alternatives to SAP ERP system that can help eCommerce businesses increase their back-office productivity by simplifying the process of data management.
#1: Microsoft Business Central
Microsoft Dynamics NAV is now Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central, an ERP software solution that adopts cloud technology to help companies achieve overall unification of their business processes. We, at Ranosys, have integrated our Adobe Commerce Accelerator – Falcon with Microsoft Business Central to offer optimized inventory management, accurate performance metrics, task automation, and data analytics.
#2: Oracle NetSuite
Netsuite is one of the top cloud ERP business software solutions that enables companies to automate their core business processes and gain visibility into their financial and transactional data. Oracle NetSuite ERP solutions accelerate digital transformation by empowering enterprises to have real-time reporting with all-in-one cloud-based data management tools.
#3: Odoo ERP
Odoo ERP is an open-source enterprise resource planning software that helps businesses boost their sales, integrate various employee-specific and customer-centric services, streamline eCommerce business operations, and manage finances. Odoo also offers a unique ecosystem of fully integrated business applications that helps eCommerce platforms scale to new heights.
#4: SAP S/4HANA as replacement of SAP
SAP is offering the SAP S/4HANA system as a replacement to its previous ERP system. SAP S/4HANA uses HANA database to provide seamless ERP system migration to its clients. This cloud-based enterprise resource planning software comes with built-in BI technology, machine learning, and embedded AI. SAP S/4HANA ERP helps eCommerce platforms grow their digital business, automate internal and external processes, provide actionable insights, define new standards, increase throughput, and innovate supply chain operations.
Taking the right steps towards ERP system migration
The digital commerce platforms function smoothly only when they have a seamless customer-centric eCommerce space integrated with an automated ERP software. In fact, data reporting and analysis is one of the most important factors that decides the success of eCommerce platforms, which is facilitated by an efficient ERP system. Thus, employing a customized and an automated ERP system can help businesses stay ahead of the digital curve.
