ERP isn't about IT in the SME market by Ken Eybel

ERP is about streamlining processes and integrating a tool into your business effectively and efficiently. The people charged with selecting and implementing the software should not be IT personnel but the people who are going to be using the system. Don't get me wrong in some cases the IT person(s) know the processes of companies intimately and understand how the end user needs to work with the system. The key word in that statement is some.

While it is important for IT to be involved in the process, there role should be very minor. In smaller organizations this person is usually a one man show or an outside contractor so charging them with this task is a stretch from the get go. The people who need to be involved besides the ultimate decision makers are the key users of the system. What does the software do for these people, how will it improve their departments and the overall performance of the system.

In smaller companies these "key users" or power users are generally the busiest people so their time is precious, there is no doubt. Having said that to have them waste it when the wrong solution is chosen is more of a travesty. Get them involved early and often through out the process. Ensure that their needs are being met and if not what if anything can be done to meet them. This also helps greatly with buy in, if the are part of the decision they will be more likley to be involved and lead the way.

SME's can't afford to make mistakes or waste a lot of time implementing software. I am sure everyone know someone who has purchased the wrong system, spent way too much money and way too much time to try to make it work. Only to be left with nothing at all or a completely different system. Do your self a favour and make sure the people who will use and benefit most from a system are the ones who decide what system you will use and the functionality you will use.

ERP is not about IT, it is about the continuous improvement of your administration, tracking and execution of day to day activities. No one knows more about improving and maintaining those things than the people that do them every day.

About the Author

Ken is in the marketing department of IntegrateIT,,, provide affordable ERP software to Small Business Contact Ken by email at keybel@integrateit.ca. Request a demo by sending an email . Need some ERP advice or definitions