A standard ERP won’t cut it for the disposal industry

Most people are aware that an ERP selection and an ERP introduction project are quite challenging. Nevertheless, the path to going live is relatively clear – compiling requirements and verifying which standard ERP meets these requirements. Then selecting an implementation partner that understands your business, and you’re set to go.

There is more than one answer. If you’re not willing to miss the advantages of standard ERP solutions, there’s only one option remaining: an industry package. The ERP thus becomes a disposal solution, and the company acquires proven functionality. Furthermore you will keep all the advantages of a standard solution. This way also minimizes the service cost for programming additions and it removes a major unknown variable from the equation, since the software is already existing.

The disposer knows right away whether or not the industry functionality and company requirements fit together.

Beware of bogus “industry solutions”

Industry extensions are not all the same. This issue is strategically relevant with regard to the software life cycle. Some so-called industry solutions actually just misuse a standard ERP as a development platform. The processes for the disposal industry are recreated in parallel, and basic functions of the standard are no longer used.

This entails the risk that the supposedly safe investment in a standard solution could turn out to be a proprietary solution. So no one profits from the functions of the internationally proven standard software anymore. This fraud logically leaves the company severely dependent on the so-called “industry solution provider.” After a few years, instead of an upgrade, a whole new system probably makes more sense, since no standard upgrade path will be effective.

How much does the disposal solution help people?

If the software helps employees in their daily work, the company is rewarded with clean data. In other words, any software development ultimately has to focus on people first. Only providers who understand this will be able to survive on the market in the long run. You can tell right away from the software interface. And, of course, a good partner considers this aspect in the implementation process, too.

Call in the professionals

If the disposal company manages to get the right industry experts on board, they’ve already laid the foundation for a future competitive advantage. The proven solution should ideally come with a partner who understands disposal processes and works with you on equal terms. This makes the project work much more focused right off the bat. In particular, it takes much less work to compare the requirements.

Why is this different with standard ERP projects? The reason is that a partner might specialize in the manufacturing industry, for example. This might be a certain orientation, but it’s not an actual focus. This partner generally can’t contribute the same level of expertise in the modeling of food production processes and bicycle production processes at the same time. Industry experts in the waste industry contribute know-how on each individual business process of disposal. The project experience they've accumulated so far serves as a benchmark for new projects. So from the first day on, you can discuss potential improvements and not waste time explaining how a disposal company actually works.

To implement an ERP is never easy. That’s why it’s one of the most exciting types of company projects. The disposal industry has a harder time than others, because there are core components missing in the system standards. The right disposal solution closes these gaps and puts people first. Ideally, the right consultants also join up at the same time. The result is greatly minimized project risks.