Have you recently implemented enterprise software only to find you have just as many workflow problems as before?
What’s going on?!
Post-implementation workflow problems are common. However, there is a path to recovery as long as you’re willing to reconsider your technology and process decisions. Let’s look at a few of the issues you might be experiencing and how to move forward with the right ERP strategy.
5 Workflow Problems You Can Overcome
1. Systems Don’t Communicate With One Another
When you integrate new enterprise technology with existing systems, it’s critical to make sure that they can all “speak” to one another once everything is in place.
Unfortunately, business leaders often install systems and applications that are incapable of communicating with their other internal systems.
When this happens, it becomes nearly impossible to track the flow of data across an enterprise. Version control becomes complicated, document tracking suffers, and employees spend an inordinate amount of time copying and pasting information from one system to the next.
One way to remedy this issue is implementing a universal document management system that allows you to track, edit, and share documents from a centralized location.
Contemplating litigation?
We have multiple software expert witnesses available for provision of reports, depositions, and testimonies.
2. Underlying Issues are Still Present
While enterprise-wide software allows you to automate manual business processes and improve productivity, it’s important to ensure you’ve automated the right processes.
If a workflow wasn’t efficient before automation, you shouldn’t have automated it because you’ve replicated those same inefficiencies.
To remedy this issue, think about reworking or eliminating inefficient and outdated workflows altogether. You might also consider business process reengineering.
3. There are Hidden Bottlenecks
There are some bottlenecks that are easy to spot and address. Then, there are smaller ones that tend to go relatively unnoticed. By ignoring these or sweeping them under the rug, business leaders allow workflow issues to deepen.
Some workflow issues could be due to the fact that employees aren’t fully trained on the new system or aren’t utilizing it as they should. To identify such root causes, it can help to hire an ERP consultant. These experts can analyze your workflows from an outside perspective and determine how issues originated.
4. Remote Teams Hinder Collaboration
To date, around 45% of all American employees work from home at least part of the time. While having a remote workforce allows companies to access talent from around the world, it can make collaboration difficult and create workflow challenges.
These challenges can exist even with the most sophisticated enterprise software system. The software you really need is software that facilitates easy information exchange.
For example, the right ERP platform for a dispersed workforce is one that allows team members to share information through advanced video conferencing technologies.
5. Mission-Critical Information is Hard to Find
Successful companies have a smooth and standardized system for data exchange. Employees know exactly where to go when they need a specific record, file, or piece of information. This saves time, improves productivity, and keeps customers happy. It also frees up the IT team to focus on more pressing tasks.
Hopefully, the ERP system you implemented has reporting features that include built-in data analytics and customized dashboards. Employees and business leaders should be able to access the information they need when they need it. They shouldn’t have to go digging all around the office to analyze trends and predict future patterns.
If your enterprise system isn’t providing these benefits, an enterprise software consulting team can help you determine if a different system is necessary or if there are people and process issues to solve.
Recover From Workflow Problems and Optimize Your Workflow Management
At its core, ERP software is designed to connect your people and data. Yet, it isn’t enough to simply implement it and hope it solves all your business problems. That’s exactly how some organizations end up with workflow issues and ERP failure.
Do the workflow problems mentioned in this article sound familiar? It’s not too late to recover from these setbacks. It all starts with re-examining your enterprise software solution and your implementation approach.
A successful ERP implementation requires careful planning from the start. Leaders from across the organization should be involved in every step of ERP implementation planning.
Our independent ERP consultants can help you review your project plan and find the workflow success you want. Contact us below for a free consultation.
