9. What types of mistakes should organizations strive to prevent when digitizing a kids’ book store?
9 Costly Mistakes Made by Children’s Books Store Owners When Selecting an ERP and How to Avoid Them
Starting or expanding a Children’s Books Store business can easily become overwhelming. One of the most important decisions a business owner will make is selecting the right enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Unfortunately, not enough research is often done to lead an informed and successful ERP selection. Here are nine common mistakes made when selecting an ERP and how to avoid them.
What is an ERP?
ERP is a business management software that stores and organizes the data related to the business. This includes everything from accounting and finance, to shop floor operations and customer relationship management. By centralizing the data, an organization can more efficiently access, manage and use the data for important business decisions.
Measurement of Successful ERP Selection
The goal of a successful ERP selection is to select an ERP that meets the current and future needs of the business. The system should be able to 1) scale with the growth of the business; 2) provide module-specific functionality; 3) integrate easily with existing systems; 4) support the internal processes of the business; and 5) streamline the reporting and auditing processes.
5 Common Mistakes and Solutions when it Comes to ERP Selection
- With a plethora of vendors offering a variety of ERP systems, it can be all too easy to go with the first system that looks adequate – Mistake 1: Lack of due diligence. The Solution: Do your own research, take demos and speak to vendors, customers and experienced partners.
- Not understanding the requirements and limitations of your current business – Mistake 2: Failing to understand the existing infrastructure. The Solution: A detailed assessment must be made to identify the needs of the business and how they should be met by the ERP system.
- Misjudging the timeline by which an ERP can be selected, implemented and operational – Mistake 3: Underestimating the timeline. The Solution: Set realistic timeline expectations to ensure the selection and implementation process is successful.
- Not involving the right people and stakeholders in the decision- making process – Mistake 4: Not involving the right people. The Solution: Make sure the decision-makers understand their roles and responsibilities and involve users who will be utilizing the system day to day.
- Not budgeting for maintenance and upgrade costs – Mistake 5: Underbudgeting for the ERP implementation. The Solution: Budget for ERP implementation and maintenance, as well as software and hardware upgrades down the line.
Summarized Table of the Mistakes and Solutions
| Mistake | Solution |
| Lack of due diligence | Do your own research, take demos and speak to vendors, customers and experienced partners. |
| Failing to understand the existing infrastructure | A detailed assessment must be made to identify the needs of the business and how they should be met by the ERP system. |
| Underestimating the timeline | Set realistic timeline expectations to ensure the selection and implementation process is successful. |
| Not involving the right people | Make sure the decision-makers understand their roles and responsibilities and involve users who will be utilizing the system day to day. |
| Underbudgeting for the ERP implementation | Budget for ERP implementation and maintenance, as well as software and hardware upgrades down the line. |
Conclusion
Selecting an ERP system for your Children’s Books Store business is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. To avoid common costly mistakes, research systems thoroughly and consult with experienced vendors and customers before making a selection. By understanding the requirements of the business and its technology infrastructure, the decision-makers can make an informed decision with confidence, ensuring the ERP system will support the business’s growth and success.
