Making savings with ERP business software

Roland Rott explains how 2nd-tier business software can cut companies’ investment by up to 75 percent, whilst streamlining business processes, increasing transparency and delivering high value.

“If a company is considering which type of ERP software to implement, 2nd-tier providers present a cost-efficient and often more attractive alternative to the top-tier brands”
-Roland Rott, Exact Software

In a normal economic climate, when striving to optimise their business processes and boost value, companies might automatically be compelled to choose a 1st-tier provider as their business software solution. Top market brands such as SAP or Oracle are widely believed to be safe and trusted choices, although they come at a significant price, require a lengthy implementation period, and may not even be optimally suited for every business because of their complexity.

Today, in these challenging economic times, most companies are not in a position to simply accept paying the premium amount for any investment, which also applies to business software. As it has never been this important to have a strong software backbone to help streamline processes, increase transparency and gain control, companies are searching for cost-efficient alternatives to the pricy market giants. And there is an alternative – in the form of 2nd-tier ERP solutions. They can save companies millions on investment, implementation time and long-term cost of ownership, while delivering as much or more value, benefits and satisfaction. No matter what type of business software set-up companies are currently using, 2nd-tier business software solutions like Exact Software are well worth considering.
Study

According to a study carried out by the Panorama Consulting Group, companies can save up to 75 percent with 2nd-tier solutions within a much shorter implementation time. They were also found to yield up to 10 percent more employee satisfaction. In around three to six months, a 2nd-tier provider can help a company gain control, optimise cash flow, increase transparency, boost revenues, identify underperforming areas and increase reaction time – providing valuable agility in these challenging times. Fully integrated and standardised, 2nd-tier alternatives can either complement 1st-tier solutions already in use at headquarters or they can serve as comprehensive ERP systems, and they are generally perceived as more user-friendly by employees and IT.

If a company is considering which type of ERP software to implement, 2nd-tier providers present a cost-efficient and often more attractive alternative to the top-tier brands. Additionally, in cases when a leading brand has not optimally served its customer’s needs or running costs like maintenance are a material factor, it could still be more cost-effective to switch to a 2nd-tier ERP system in order to gain significant overall savings and benefits. Exact Software is a cost-efficient 2nd-tier provider whose solutions are specifically designed to suit the needs of SMBs or the SMB subsidiaries of larger companies. Combining global presence with local support, Exact provides companies with one standard product globally and complete integration of all business areas in one solution.

Customers
Founded 25 years ago, Exact currently operates a network of subsidiaries in more than 40 countries worldwide, providing support to customers, such as Siemens, Toyota and Lufthansa, in over 125 countries. Exact’s solutions can be implemented more quickly than 1st-tier competitors and better suit a company’s needs without weighing it down with unnecessary bulk. Exact Synergy and Exact Globe – Exact’s full-suite, front and back office business solutions – integrate all business areas to provide real-time enterprise resource planning, high information quality and streamlined processes for all of a company’s stakeholders, thereby increasing transparency. By reducing the number of different ERP solutions a business uses, Exact also lowers long-term cost of ownership, resulting in future economies of scale.
The decision to invest should never be taken lightly, but it is particularly critical today. Studying the available options and their real return on investment, companies may be surprised to find that 2nd-tier solutions are the better choice in almost every scenario. After all, why pay substantially more for less satisfaction?

Roland Rott is the Managing Director for the EMEA region of Exact Software, a leading provider of business software solutions. Rott is responsible for key global clients and has played a leading role in the development of the company’s international strategy. Prior to joining Exact Software in 1998, he was a successful entrepreneur.

Contact details:
Exact EMEA B.V.
Poortweg 6, 2612 PA Delft, The Netherlands
T: +31 (0) 15 215 1552
F: +31 (0) 15 262 3845
E: marketing.international@exactsoftware.com
www.exactinternational.com

This article first appeared in CXO magazine: www.cxo.eu.com/article/Issue-12/SOA-AND-Business-Technology/Making-savings-with-ERP-business-software/.