in: Acumatica, Company News
Are you making the switch to Acumatica this year? A technology-based approach can make the changeover even easier.
What is a technology-based approach and how does it differ from other methods? New software purchases often trigger an internal RFP process with teams and committees gathering to assess business needs, software requirements, user experiences, and more.
Now, that’s not bad; we recommend that approach ourselves. As with most things in life, choosing new software is never a one-size-fits-all experiment. Sometimes, a systematic, business method of determining software feels like a square peg in a round hole. Companies that rely heavily on technology and have tech deep within their cultural DNA may find that a tech-based approach works better.
A Tech-Based Search for Better ERP
Two planning concepts undergird a tech-based search for ERP: a list of requirements, heavy on the tech side; and a roadmap of existing software and data.
- Requirements: Requirements are the backbone of any search for new software. Knowing what you want and what you’d like to achieve with your new software makes sense. Tech requirements, however, differ somewhat from typical RFP gathering. Instead of focusing on business use cases, tech-based searches utilize technology requirements are the primary driver of the search. Functional requirements drive the search with people reporting which software they used that day, how they used it, and what they liked or didn’t like from it. This results in a list of requirements based on technical needs rather than business wishes and is often better focused than a wish-list alone. It can be used separately or in conjunction with a business use case study to form a comprehensive list.
- Roadmaps: Roadmaps chart a course for others to follow. A tech roadmap consists of mapping how the software within a company exists and interacts; which systems connect, and which do not. It also consists of data location mapping so that data silos can be identified. A map of the roads (software) and silos (data) helps software consultants work with your company to “connect the dots” so that all roads lead to productive outcomes.
This approach focuses on workflow and working methods, rather than on hypothetical use cases, to develop a list of needs for the company’s software. By understanding what technology needs you to have and how the current systems work (or don’t) to fill those needs, you can choose new ERP software that closes any gaps in the current system and provides you with better data management.
Cloud Makes All the Difference
It’s no longer a question of “if” your data connects but when and how. Interconnected data, facilitated by the cloud, build a better ERP system. The more the data sources in your company interact, the more information you can obtain from the data. Better reports lead to better outcomes and conclusions, with new and innovative strategies developed from there. But, it begins with data. Cloud-based systems make all the difference by making it easy to connect systems and scale according to your data needs.
Acumatica ERP
If you’re considering migrating from a legacy system to a cloud-based system, consider Acumatica. From the tech-based research standpoint, Acumatica surpasses expectations. Right from deployment, it offers a variety of choices including SaaS, on-premises deployment, and cloud ERP so you can pick the right one for your business’ technology needs.
Customizable dashboards make data use and integration much easier, too. You can choose how you interact with the system and set it up to meet your needs. Integration with third-party applications comes naturally to Acumatica. The system is built with the requirements of small to mid-sized businesses in mind.
Tech or use-case approaches to software selection can work equally well, depending on the company using them. The important thing is to find software that meets your business needs. With Acumatica ERP, you have a robust and flexible software package that offers a significant step up from legacy systems.
Mindover Software
Mindover Software is a software reseller with a broad range of accounting, ERP, finance, customer relationship management, and other software products, including Acumatica software. For more information about Acumatica or other software needs, please contact us or call 512-990-3994.