CSCMP National Podcast: Strategies for Defining, Selecting and Launching ERP Systems, Dan Kocer.
Software Requirements Definition, Selection and Implementation Support for ERP and WMS Systems
Council of Supply Chain Management (CSCMP) is a national professional organization. One of their services is creating several podcasts each year of interviews between their president and leaders in the supply chain industry. This is an interview and discussion with our president, Dan Kocer, about how a manufacturer or distributor should approach the daunting task of selecting and launching a new ERP.
A Systematic Approach To Defining, Selecting & Implementing a New System
Software Requirements Definition, Selection and Implementation Support for ERP and WMS Systems
Kocer Consulting + Engineering can work with you and your team to orchestrate and facilitate a collaborative ERP requirements definition, selection and implementation that is streamlined and supported by all departments within your organization. The result from hiring Kocer is an improved ERP requirements list that streamlines all functions, selection of the right system, a lower cost contract, improved communication and employee involvement, and a sooner go-live date with minimal disruption and rework. The delivered ERP will meet your business objectives and provide better performance now and in the future. As the president of Kocer Consulting and Engineering, I am very excited about this service and the systematic process that we have developed. This is a high-risk project when done without an expert such as Kocer Consulting and Engineering and we are delighted to help, given the opportunity.
Requirements Definition
Our approach is to first define what it is that you want to accomplish with the software through a collaborative effort of documenting your functional requirements for each department. It is important that we involve the key users who will be using the software to get their input and buy-in. We will capture current needs, future requirements and will incorporate process improvements that we know are made possible in today’s software packages. This becomes the cornerstone for the selection and the direction for implementation.
Selection and Implementation
Once we define the requirements, we help you select the software package and manage the implementation to ensure a successful transition. There are hundreds of different ERP and WMS systems on the market. Each package has its own industry niche and provides functionality that may or may not fit your specific company needs. We have knowledge of the different systems that are appropriate for each different business model for small to medium sized manufacturers and distributors. We know the strengths and weaknesses of the software and the software company’s staff. We have developed a very good process to maximize your value and minimize your risk. Kocer Consulting and Engineering is unbiased to any software company and strictly looks out for our client’s best interest.
Taking our Client Up the Ladder
We don’t assume you need a new ERP solution out of the gate. Once we have developed the functional requirements we evaluate the current software to see if the needed functions exist. If not we investigate upgrades or additional modules. If these don’t fill the functional gaps we investigate third-party partners, and if this does not solve the problem we look at a new ERP. We call this “taking the client up the ladder”, knowing that the lower rungs involve less cost and less risk.
We have been asked by several professional organizations across the country to present on this topic and would happy to provide a presentation on Strategies for Defining, Selecting and Implementing ERP Systems to any company that is interested in replacing or fixing their ERP or WMS.
We provide the following to our clients:
- Systematic approach to selecting Supply Chain Management systems including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Distribution Management Systems (WMS), Order Management, Yard Management, Maintenance Management, wireless networks for barcode systems, and shipping systems
- Awareness of current and upcoming technology and state-of-the-art features
- Implementing best practices, lean, and paperless processes
- Setting up a contractual agreement between the software vendor and customer with the right operational clauses to purchase performance and value rather than just software
- Implementing inventory management best practices to provide inventory accuracy and shipping accuracy that approach 100%
- Project Management, teamwork and communication skills to ensure operational goals are met within budget and schedule
- Benchmarking and visiting sites of other happy clients
- Risk mitigation to ensure high value and best fit
- Knowledge and experience from many implementations
Our Testimonials
See what our clients have to say about us for more reviews click here
The Kocer Consulting + Engineering software expert identified ERP alternatives and recommendations that were much better than anything we had considered. The Kocer team captured our requirements and picked the system that best fit our needs, in an efficient, collaborative and professional manner. The end result of Kocer’s help was an ERP system with a faster implementation, more robust functionality at a significantly lower cost. I recommend Kocer Consulting + Engineering to other manufacturers who need to select and implement a new ERP system.
CFM Consolidated (Lisa Chissus, President/Owner)
A Systematic Approach To Defining, Selecting & Implementing a New System
Looking for a firm that can help you streamline your operations?
Software Requirements Definition, Selection and Implementation Support for ERP and WMS Systems
Kocer Consulting + Engineering can work with you and your team to orchestrate and facilitate a collaborative ERP requirements definition, selection and implementation that is streamlined and supported by all departments within your organization. The result from hiring Kocer is an improved ERP requirements list that streamlines all functions, selection of the right system, a lower cost contract, improved communication and employee involvement, and a sooner go-live date with minimal disruption and rework. The delivered ERP will meet your business objectives and provide better performance now and in the future. As the president of Kocer Consulting and Engineering, I am very excited about this service and the systematic process that we have developed. This is a high-risk project when done without an expert such as Kocer Consulting and Engineering and we are delighted to help, given the opportunity.