If your ERP isn’t keeping up, your operations are at risk

Ben Franklin famously said the only certainties in life are death and taxes. If the founding father were alive now, he might add one more item to that list: You will eventually have to update your ERP solution. 

And when you do, you need to migrate to the cloud. 

Current research shows that more than half of companies are using ERP solutions that are at least 5 years old. And, in 2017, 59 percent of businesses said they would consider a cloud-based ERP model in their next implementation—the first time that interest in cloud-based solutions topped that of on-premises solutions. 

What that adds up to is that – ready or not – cloud ERP solutions are the new normal. 

If your company is still operating with an on-premises system, you probably know why. But the reality is that companies using on-premises ERP systems are falling behind – they are less likely to meet internal deadlines or have data at their fingertips when they need it to make timely decisions. Of course, the result of all that is obvious: Those companies are needlessly bleeding profit. 

To staunch that blood loss, companies need to be faster, smarter and more streamlined – all features the cloud, and Microsoft 365 in particular – can give you. Built on and for the Microsoft Azure cloud, Dynamics 365 unites the finance, manufacturing, inventory and transportation management areas of your business through an intuitive user interface. 

The cloud also provides your company: 

Ease of updating. The business world moves faster than it ever has, and new technologies almost continually emerge. But SaaS models like Dynamics 365 drastically reduce the preparation required for configuring upgrades, even in highly customized systems. And as a result, your company saves money whenever it is time for the next inevitable upgrade. 

Reduced operating costs. Cloud-based systems are more efficient and more secure. But they also offer significant savings in part through increased efficiency and in part by reducing a company’s dependence on internal IT departments. While it’s true that migrating to a new, cloud-based solution requires initial investment, that investment can be incremental, with the updates likewise occurring in phases. This saves both money and headaches. Regardless of how it is implemented, a cloud-based system will result in savings over the long term. 

Agility partnered with functionality. Remote employees. Global offices. Customer demands that continue 24/7. These are all a reality in today’s market. Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows for real-time connectivity from anywhere in the world—and from almost any device. It also enables higher rates of real-time, cross-departmental collaboration, as well as the ability to share and integrate data across your company’s departments. 

There is no doubt: Cloud-based solutions are here, and they aren’t going away. So, unless you want your business to go away, it’s time to consider how the cloud can make your operations more efficient and up-to-date – and save you money in the long run.