{"id":148086,"date":"2025-04-25T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T08:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/?p=148086"},"modified":"2025-04-25T08:00:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T08:00:46","slug":"what-to-consider-when-choosing-an-erp-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/2025\/04\/what-to-consider-when-choosing-an-erp-system\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Consider when Choosing an ERP System"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flexibility, resilience, and whether a solution is genuinely cloud-based are among the most important aspects to consider when choosing an ERP system for your business.<\/h1>\n

MyBroadband asked prominent ERP system providers in South Africa about the most important elements when choosing an ERP product for businesses.<\/p>\n

According to Bernard Ford<\/a>, regional head for Acumatica Africa<\/a>, modern, true cloud ERP systems are essential.<\/p>\n

He likened non-cloud-based ERP systems to analogue technology and truly cloud-based systems to digital technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody pretends to be cloud-based. 80% of them are not. They\u2019re old technology. They may look digital, but if you look under the hood, they\u2019re analogue,\u201d said Ford.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen selecting ERP, the first thing you\u2019ve got to ensure is that it\u2019s modern technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that true cloud-based ERP systems are built from the ground up for the cloud. Ford said some providers\u2019 systems were built a while ago and have been modernised.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got a cloud-based look and feel, but they\u2019re actually not. The technology is old. Those systems will become redundant, and they are already becoming redundant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI call these products zombie ERP because they\u2019re dead, but they don\u2019t know it. They\u2019re the walking dead and they\u2019re being sunsetted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ford explained that cloud-based systems are prioritised not because they are hosted but rather because they operate across cloud services and platforms.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can host anything. For example, say I want to refresh my exchange rates. I don\u2019t want to have to go and download something from the bank and import the file,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the multi-cloud, I can click a button, and the system gets the rates from the Internet for me from the best source and automatically pushes them into the system. It does this in the background.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also explained that cloud-based systems allow for quicker implementation, allowing businesses to score quicker wins and solutions at a lower price point.<\/p>\n

Ford said implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in ERP systems through the cloud is a game-changer and is becoming essential in modern ERP systems.<\/p>\n

AI can act as a business assistant and information provider, and automate complex tasks within an ERP system.<\/p>\n

Syspro<\/a> agrees that cloud adoption in the ERP space is essential for modern systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncreasingly, manufacturers and distributors are recognising the benefits of cloud ERP \u2014 flexibility, accessibility, faster deployment, and reduced infrastructure costs,\u201d it told MyBroadband.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ERP landscape is no longer about digitisation for its own sake. It\u2019s about choosing a future-ready platform \u2014 like Syspro \u2014 that empowers your business to thrive amidst constant change.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also highlighted aspects, including resilience and agility, as key considerations for businesses choosing an ERP system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe past few years have shown us how critical it is to have systems in place that can quickly adapt to supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes, or shifting customer demands,\u201d said Syspro.<\/p>\n

Other important considerations include:<\/p>\n