Implementing an ERP system is a big move for any organization. It includes more preparation, financial resources, and change management. For any substantial purchase that requires a significant upfront investment, ongoing maintenance is critical to ensure the product’s sustainability for years to come. Also, the things that users can do to make sure that things are running smoothly. Periodically, there are issues that should be brought to the attention of a professional. Whenever something goes not appropriate, it should be noticed quickly to avoid the problem escalating down the line.
Some important tips that every business should know when it comes to the maintenance of their ERP system are:
Work on Maintenance Plan
Like you thoroughly prepared for your ERP implementation, so too must you plan for its maintenance. Learn the ins and outs of your system, read the software manuals, familiarize yourself with the vendor, and understand the system’s upgrade path. Also, we make sure about how the software aligns with your business strategy, organization’s goals change.
Analyze your Internal Capabilities
Some businesses have ERP specialists within their IT departments and some have not. Analyze it that will your in-house team can handle the ERP maintenance duties or not. If they can’t, find out whether it will be handled through a third-party consultant, or by an ERP vendor. Many businesses find it beneficial to utilize a team of third-party experts who specialize in delivering solutions for their ERP system.
Set the Parameters of SLAs
Service level agreements are a significant part of contracting for maintenance services. For a third-party service or direct maintenance by the vendor, you must insist on a clearly explained SLA policy. SLA normally characterizes different levels of severity for when problems arise. The level of the problem directs how quickly your service provider will respond and how fast they will provide a solution to the problem.
Keep Your ERP System up to Date
It may seem like your system introduces a new upgrade every few months. Do not skip them. They are critical to keeping your ERP free of bugs, secure, and operating at peak functionality. Ensure you know which software version you are using at any given time and when the next update is expected to launch. Upgrade milestones in your maintenance plan can act as strategy check-ins, too. When it is time to update, confirm that your software is still supporting your organization’s goals, or pivot if it is not. It is important to update your hardware periodically too if applicable.
Maintain Security
Keeping appropriate security measures by performing regular backups and system restorations. To avoid cyber hacks and data breaches, install patches as soon as they arrive from the vendor. This will help your business organization from becoming a victim of cybercrime.
Ready to bring in a maintenance partner? MetaOption, a Microsoft gold partner, has a deep bench of talented ERP software experts who work with clients. From ERP implementation to maintenance and support, the MetaOption team is dedicated to service and training excellence. Contact us today to learn more.