If your company is using an ERP or any other accounting or financial system you may be wondering what an ERP consultant can do for your business? First, we must make a distinction between technical and functional ERP consultants. Technical ERP Consultants usually work for a software vendor and come in to help you with a new installation. Those consultants are highly knowledgeable in the software they represent, and they will know the most efficient way to install and configure your new system.
Functional ERP Consultants often work independent from any software vendor and usually have a background in business and accounting besides computer systems and IT. This enables them to understand the business processes and relate them to Management and IT, facilitating smooth communications between the departments.
Many decision makers often are not aware of what a Functional ERP Consultant does and the benefits he or she can bring to a company.
They will get involved in your business processes, work closely with your employees and observe every aspect of your business, e.g.: inventory, production, sales and procurement. In some larger companies those consultants can be employees of the company, as they provide the ongoing support of the users, maintain the software, analyze the data and create reports. For smaller companies an independent consultant can build a long-term relationship and provide support as needed, sometimes working remotely as well.
In the process of studying your business a Functional ERP Consultant will discover issues that sometimes even management is not aware of, because they are not involved in the nitty gritty of the day to day business. As an example, the ERP Consultant might discover that some orders are slow to be processed because some information that is needed to work with the order is not received on time. Once the problem has been identified, it can now be resolved either by making changes to the business process, or by changing or adding functionality to the ERP system.
Functional ERP Consultants are your partner for the long term. They will regularly review your business and advise you of any problems or opportunities to improve the procedures, thus helping you to save money. They will also train your employees and make sure that procedures are followed to keep the ERP System working properly. In some cases, they are even given some authority to enforce those procedures.
If you are in the market for a new ERP System, your Functional ERP Consultant can help you with the selection of the most appropriate software for your business and then work with the consultants from the software vendor to achieve the best possible integration of the new system. They are experienced in change management, and since they know your business, they facilitate the necessary change that is being introduced by the new system, working with your employees to achieve the best possible acceptance and a smooth transition.
Many Functional ERP Consultants also know about data analysis enabling them to create a complete Business Intelligence Solution that includes data from other applications. This will take the standard reports to a new level allowing management to make better decisions based on accurate and fast information.
In conclusion, the Functional ERP Consultant is a very important asset to your company, helping ensure smooth operations while saving you money.
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