Lean on standard, digital ERP processes if you want international growth

Through the past few years, we have seen an interesting shift in large ERP implementations. With the acceleration in preconfigured applications, many companies realize that the major ERP vendors define smarter ERP processes and help them grow their businesses faster than customized ERP software. At the same time, the need for local adaptation grows as companies strive to be as close to local markets as possible.

Historically, large enterprises have demanded customized ERP solutions that fit every single business process in their organization. However, this approach is changing among both small companies and large enterprises.

The reason is simple: The rapid development in digital software has, among others, led to more preconfigured applications with pre-defined processes that help enterprises become much more productive, efficient, and digitally transformed. Also, for many enterprises these pre-defined processes turn out to support and boost global growth in a way that their existing processes cannot.

Heavily customized ERP solutions are monolithic and may fit enterprises where specific business processes have highly competitive value. But for most enterprises, monolithic solutions belong to the past. If you have a heavily customized ERP solution, it’s almost impossible to follow the rapid pace of technological developments in highly customized solutions. And if you don’t’ follow the pace, your core business solution becomes stationary, and you will easily fall behind competition.

Best-of-breed applications and pre-defined processes developed by the software vendors help enterprises stay agile, always be on the latest version, be data compliant and data secure, expand to new markets quickly – and grow on a global scale. Faster, with better performance, and 100% digital.

Interestingly, as the demand for global, standardized ERP applications grow, there is a growing need for being flexible locally. When it comes to servicing local customers in a local culture, companies want to adapt. Proximity to each market is important. Therefore, local adaptations are necessary and should be an integral part of any International ERP implementation strategy.

The good news is that the more regulatory requirements in a country or other local requirements to ordering, sales, invoicing, reporting, etc., the faster the big software vendors follow with country-specific updates. Does this apply to every single country in the world? No, it doesn’t. But to most.

And this just supports our key message to you: Lean on standard, digital ERP processes if you want international growth. Your local partner will help you localize the software if needed, and it will be done in a way so you can still benefit from all the intelligent features that are pre-integrated in standard applications.

 

Harmonizing processes is just of the steps to simplifying your international ERP project. Download our ebook and get your “5 Steps Guide to International ERP”.

We wish you a safe, simple, and successful journey.