With advancements in technology and development in the overall economy, businesses of various industries are looking for ways to maximize their efficiency, so the business could work at its full potential and compete with other companies in the market. Consequently, one way they make that happen is by incorporating Enterprise Resource Planning management software in their organization.

Pakistan’s ERP Software market is projected to reach a revenue of US$79.27m in 2024. The increasing demand of ERP software is a testimony to the fact that business owners and managers in Pakistan believe ERP to make business functions easy to manage and streamline all the business areas effortlessly. 

If you’re a business owner considering switching from an outdated ERP program then this article is a sign as well as a guide for you. But first you should know the different factors relating to how the best ERP service in Pakistan adds value to your business, why you need to switch and the challenges you might face while switching to another software. 

Your Signs to Switch Your Inefficient ERP System  

There are numerous ERP software services in Pakistan that provide up to the mark management services. But if you feel like your ERP software is not what you needed then below are the signs which tell that you might actually be right:

No Scalability: Your ERP software doesn’t allow you to scale up or scale down your business, meaning it doesn’t have the flexibility to adjust itself and the business according to the changes in the market. The modern day market in every business is highly dynamic and organisations have to adjust to the changing demands. That’s why it’s crucial to have a software that allows flexibility and scalability 

Not Aligned with your company goals: If your ERP software is not tailored according to what your business functions require, then you have a problem. As much as ERP software should be scalable, it should also be able to fulfill your short and long term goals. Unless you don’t have an aligned ERP system, you will never be able to gain insightful data or information from the software.

User Dissatisfaction: If you have been receiving complaints about the employed ERP software in your business from employees who use and operate the software, then you might want to take that seriously. If the users and experts operationalizing them are dissatisfied then they will never be able to optimize business operations, costing your business quite a lot. 

Customer Dissatisfaction: Many times, the company’s inability to work at full optimization is reflected in its customers’ reviews. For example, in service sectors if the business is not able to streamline different areas like production or customer support, the customers will not be satisfied with the quality of the product or the service the business provides. 

Value Addition ERP Should Bring to Your Business

Everything Under One Roof

ERP software in Pakistan brings the whole business under one integrated system. It brings the various areas of a business (finance, HR, CRM, inventory management and procurement purchase etc.) on one graphical dashboard. This integrated system saves time and cost of storing each department’s data on separate softwares. 

User Friendly

A well designed ERP software is one which can be operationalized by even those who are not IT experts. This means the application has to be user friendly with an easy to navigate graphical interface. You can reduce or skip the learning curve altogether with interesting graphics like streamlined menus, graphs, sticky notes, calendars, user-boards and a number of other comprehensive interfaces.   

Cost Effective

Most open-source ERP software prove to be highly cost effective for businesses. This  means there is availability of information and data from every department on one single platform, rather than having to buy separate softwares suitable for that department only. This not only makes ERP systems inefficient but also very costly for small and large scale businesses, due to being immobile.

Business Specific Features 

You can be a business of any type or industry, ERP software services in Pakistan offer you customized ERP apps and workflows tailored to meet every business or industry’s unique requirements. For example, having inventory dashboards that are suited to record data about the kind of inventory your business holds. Such as units in the real estate industry and chemicals in agrochemical business. 

Streamlined Automated System

Best ERP software services in Pakistan offer efficient business management through its automation features. Taks like sending approvals, reminders, order updates and other related tasks are made easier with automated systems. This increases productivity, minimizes errors and optimizes workflow across different departments of the organization.

Challenges While Switching 

Data Migration

Transferring a large amount of data from one software system to another can be a very extensive task which requires brilliant expertise and in-depth knowledge about a company’s data architecture and design. In case anything goes wrong, the company can lose data during this process too. 

Before switching to a different software, the company should make sure it is well prepared for such a large scale data transformation. It should also be ready with a Plan B and prepare for the worst case scenario. 

Workflow Disruption

While switching to a new ERP software, data migration can bring additional challenges like causing disruption in business operations. This disruption can cause many workflow issues within the company and may affect services at the customers ends too. Heavy loading can slow down business processes in various areas like production, sales and procurement, marketing or customer support service. 

It would be better for the business to take some downtime for a short period and find alternates to usual business operations. 

Time and Cost 

Adopting a new ERP system is a significant investment, even if it promises long-term savings. However, companies aim to avoid unexpected delays or costs that could arise, such as downtime affecting productivity or escalating consultant fees. These challenges emphasize the need for thorough financial planning and scenario modeling. A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis provides a comprehensive view of both direct and indirect expenses, helping businesses anticipate and mitigate potential risks during the transition.

Don’t be Afraid to Switch

Switching from one ERP software to another is undoubtedly a daunting and extensive task with many challenges like heavy data migration, business disruption and high cost. However, if the business is facing loss of optimization and providing dissatisfaction to employees as well as customers and not offering any value addition then it’s better to switch to a better and strategic ERP system. 

There are numerous efficient, well designed and highly recommended ERP software services in Pakistan that can ensure optimized, automated and seamless workflow for your business. So explore your options and don’t be afraid to switch.