by by Joe Taylor Jr., Consultant
As recent cases in California and North Carolina illustrate, a poorly managed Enterprise Resource Planning solution can lead to human resources nightmares. Fortunately, a new generation of integrated solutions offers human resources managers the opportunity to forget past failures and to build on existing successes.
Modern ERP implementations can be installed much more quickly and cheaply than previous products, while still offering IT managers the ability to interface with legacy systems.
ERP systems impact all aspects of a company, especially its manufacturing infrastructure, distribution network, and customer relationships. However, few things can bring a company to its knees like a problem in the payroll department. After high profile failures in two of the nation's fastest growing school systems caused teachers to suffer through months of underpayments, human resource managers have started to scrutinize ERP systems that impact their departments.
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Fortunately, a growing number of easily customizable tools, like the integrated solutions featured in the Oracle Accelerate series, allow human resources managers to implement systems with proven results. For instance, when leaders at Dubai-based Gulf Food Industries realized their distribution company would grow beyond 100 staffers, they implemented a holistic ERP solution that integrated human resources with the company's other core financials. With a single information hub, managers now have greater control over the company's flexible work force while understanding the cost implications of staffing changes.
ERP Power Enables Advanced Human Resource Strategies
Modern ERP solutions enable innovating staffing and human resource programs at a variety companies, especially businesses with multiple locations. Minute Men Staffing, one of the country's largest outsourced human resources agencies, uses an Oracle Accelerate solution to deploy and to reward its highly mobile, highly flexible staff. Web-based services offer the flexibility to manage data remotely from client locations, while eliminating the prospect of data loss. The low cost of a remotely hosted ERP system gives the staffing agency the ability to meet customer demands creatively and efficiently.
Many integrated solutions can be deployed in under three months, while more complex process management platforms can be run parallel to legacy systems until all departments can be sure that potential bugs have been eliminated. When guided by company leaders who understand the benefits and the necessities of an ERP implementation, businesses with 75 or more employees can gain valuable insight without disrupting core tasks like hiring and payroll.
Sources
eWeek
Oracle
Wall Street Journal
ZDNet
As an internal consultant for a Fortune 500 company, Joe Taylor Jr. coaches business owners on technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College.
