Deciding upon the appropriate support for an IFS ERP system is also no small decision. UK businesses have often been around for a long time with diverse operations, multiple departments, legacy processes and mountains of data. Investing in independent IFS ERP consultants UK business can trust can be hugely beneficial to derive expert guidance without fully integrating into a considerably larger consulting framework. That independence is key. You will have someone concentrating entirely on your individual requirements rather than trying to promote a standardised package or a solution that is right for someone else.
Experience Without the Big Consultancy Overhead
Big consulting companies offer many resources, but they may also offer many levels of administration, higher charges and a process that seems a little inflexible. An independent consultant often offers a different approach. With the independence of being free of any internal political boundaries, the consultant can get closer to the core issue and work with it directly. For a company installing, upgrading or enhancing the IFS software, that can be very valuable in terms of both time and aggravation. What you are paying for is the specialist knowledge and relevant contribution without the need for a long line of middlemen sitting in-between.
A More Practical Approach to IFS Software
An IFS software company will give you the platform, but once you start using the software things can become very complicated. No two companies have the same processes, reporting challenges and daily frustrations. Independent IFS consultants carefully examine each of these aspects before suggesting any refinements. Rather than tell you how the system “should” run, they question whether the current process makes sense at all. Often, it is just a matter of making a few simple adjustments to the configuration that eliminate a chronic business pain point. These small gains add up rapidly.
Support That Fits Your Actual Business
One of the greatest benefits of engaging independent IFS ERP consultants UK businesses will find is flexibility. A fast-expanding manufacturer, construction concern, service provider or engineering entity may have entirely different requirements from yet another firm operating the same IFS ERP software. Independent experts can tailor their role to suit your project‘s needs. They may be brought in to assist in areas such as implementation, configuration, integration, data migration, troubleshooting or training. They can provide vital extra technical know-how when company‘s internal teams are out of their depth. It does not always have to be a large project.
Better Visibility During ERP Implementation
ERP implementations can get very complex, and expensive, when there is lack of communication. Customers assume it was configured right, users find issues, suddenly project is late. An independent seasoned consultant can give an outside perspective of what is happening in the implementation, and spot issues before they become costly. They can also translate complicated IFS terminology into language managers and regular users can understand. That sounds simple, but makes a big difference. Staff need to know what is changing, and more importantly, why it is changing.
Helping Businesses Get More From Their IFS ERP System
Purchasing and installing an IFS ERP system is just the start. If the employee‘s utilize ten percent of the features, then the business is not optimizing its value. An outside consultant can analyze the current processes and find potential features and applications that are under utilizing. Perhaps the reporting has room for improvement. Perhaps one department is reentering data another department already has. Perhaps an integration is generating excess manual input. These are the kinds of practical, real-world issues an experienced consultant will uncover. You‘re not looking for more design and technology solutions, but ones that are useful.
Independent Advice Can Improve Decision Making
There is also another advantage which you might easily miss: an independent perspective. Your internal team will quickly get used to the existing way of working, which can lead to a blind spot when it comes to identifying outdated processes. An IFS consultant who is not involved with the business on a day to day basis brings a fresh perspective. They can challenge current processes, point out where customisation isn‘t needed and recommend a streamlined alternative. You don‘t need a new feature; sometimes you just need to stop doing something that wasn‘t very useful anyway.
Flexible Help for Upgrades, Changes and Problems
ERP systems are not static. As a business develops, or as regulatory or other changes occur there are often implications for existing systems and processes. Add-ons may need to be replaced or updated, new regulation imposed on a business will have an impact. While the vendor or a permanent outside adviser may be the ideal solution, it may not be feasible to have a dedicated full time IFS ERP consultant working on a business.. However, with the help of independent IFS ERP consultants a business can get whatever specialist help it needs at the critical time. Whether this is supporting an upgrade, diagnosing performance issues, taking a final view on configuration changes, or assisting with user acceptance testing, the dependency can be tailored around the requirements.
FAQs About Independent IFS ERP Consultants UK
What does an IFS ERP consultant do?
An IFS ERP consultant assists companies in the design, implementation, configuration, add-on development and support of an IFS ERP system. Their involvement in the project is often related to business analysis, system configuration, integrations, data migration, testing, training and support.
Why choose independent IFS ERP consultants UK businesses can work with?
Independence would also allow for greater flexibility and direct access. The business would be able to receive expert guidance tailored to their specific needs instead of a more standard consulting approach. It would also be helpful if a business only needed assistance for a particular project or technical problem.
Is an IFS software company the same as an IFS consultant?
Not quite. An IFS software developer or provider sells (or, in some cases, provides free access to) the software platform. Independent consultant is a term that might refer to someone who devotes their professional time to a company that uses, and seeks to maximise the benefit of, that platform, but it is not equivalent.
Can consultants help after an IFS ERP implementation?
Yes. Implementation support is as important as the implementation itself. Consultants can help troubleshoot problems, enhance processes, support new releases, train users, and find ways of leveraging the current system.
Getting More Value From Your IFS Investment
The right IFS framework should streamline your business processes. It shouldn‘t add to your employees’ workload. Independent consultants are not part of the business so they have the benefit of specialist perspectives but can focus on the business benefits. For UK business looking for a seasoned professional view without being burdened by extraneous issues, this may be the logical solution. Whether you are about to implement a new system, are trying to fix an issue that just won‘t go away, or simply want to see whether your existing implementation is being maximised, experienced IFS ERP consultants UK companies have reason to trust can help. Contact Sorcha System Ltd for some ideas to help you plan your next move.
