Aligning around what matters: epic ERP’s Strategy Day

The epic ERP team recently came together for a Strategy Day with one clear purpose: to align around the future we are building and the principles that will guide us there.

Before the strategy day, the work had already been months in the making. Guided by industry veteran Francois Bedeker, whose experience in driving strategic and operational success spans numerous organisations, our executive team worked together to define the next chapter of the business.

But this wasn’t an executive-only exercise. Every member of the #epicTeam played a vital role in shaping the operational projects and initiatives that will bring our strategy to life.

The result is a strategy built not only on a clear vision, but on practical execution – ensuring we continue to deliver world-class outcomes for our customers, partners and people.

Our strategic goal is ambitious, but grounded in what matters most:

To attract and develop the best talent, earn our clients’ trust as genuine partners in mutual growth, and build an ERP company whose reputation creates enduring value.

This statement gives us a shared destination. Our Strategy Day was about making sure every part of the business understands the role it plays in getting us there.

 

Four connected perspectives

We structured the day around four key perspectives:

  • Client
  • Organisational capacity
  • Finance
  • Process

Like the pieces of a puzzle, each perspective is essential on its own; but the real value comes when they work together.

Our client perspective keeps us focused on delivering meaningful outcomes, earning trust and building long-term partnerships in the industries we serve.

Our organisational capacity perspective recognises that great client outcomes begin with great people. Developing talent, strengthening capability and maintaining an epic culture are fundamental to sustainable success.

Our finance perspective ensures that we grow responsibly and build a resilient business with the capacity to invest in our people, clients and future.

Our process perspective focuses on quality delivery and operational control — creating the consistency, clarity and excellence that allow us to scale without losing what makes epic ERP distinctive.

Throughout the day, teams explored these perspectives, shared feedback and contributed their experience of what is working, where we can improve and what we need to focus on next. The result was not simply a strategy developed by a few people; it was a shared conversation about the business we want to become.

 

The values that bring the strategy to life

 At the heart of our strategy are the values captured in BE EPIC:

B uild trust

E mpower people

E xecute with excellence

P artner for mutual growth

nnovate with purpose

C reate lasting value

These are more than words on a page. They are the behaviours we expect to see in our relationships with clients, in the way we work together and in the decisions we make every day.

They also connect directly to the future we are building: an ERP company with strong capabilities, quality delivery, trusted client partnerships and sustainable growth.

 

A shared foundation for the future

Strategy Day created space for the team to step back from the day-to-day, listen to one another and align on the bigger picture.

The most valuable outcome was a renewed sense of shared purpose. We have a clear strategic goal, a common language for the priorities that matter and a set of values to guide how we move forward.

The next chapter is about bringing this strategy to life…..together.

Why ERP Partnerships are not like Marriage

Why ERP is like a Marriage

Business Relationships are like Marriages:

 

A business relationship is often likened to that of a marriage requiring a long-term commitment and compromises from both parties. However, the partnership between organisations and their enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors are significantly more nuanced. Using the wedding analogy, It requires commitment and consideration from the entire family.
 

Unlike a marriage where what others think do not matter, ERP implementations need to be cognisant of the expectations of all business users. It is such a mission-critical element of the organisation that the sentiment of every stakeholder needs to be considered before embracing a new system or upgrading an existing one. In the past, ERP installations were driven by IT departments and others had to fall in line. Modern organisations require a different, more integrated approach that welcomes feedback from all users.
 

And while you are unlikely to share your significant other with someone else, business-critical systems benefit from working with partners who have relationships with other organisations. Just consider the experience they have addressing unique scenarios and being able to customise the ERP system accordingly. Chances are if you are having a specific challenge, such an experienced partner would know how to solve it. If you restrict your partner to an ‘exclusive’ relationship with just your business, you lose access to all that intellectual capital,
 

Embrace change:

 

The rewards of a healthy relationship are often intangible. But do you really want your business to not know the value derived from its ERP implementation? Measuring the success of the partnership should be done in the real-world terms, either in financial returns or other business benefits. If there is no real return on investment from your ERP vendor, then there really is no point in working with them.

 

Part of this is having the capacity to upgrade. While people can evolve and change, you cannot ‘plug’ new features in to them. However, with ERP systems your business should expect such continuous enhancements that reflect changing technology patterns. With digital transformation impacting on all aspects of the organisation, ERP must be able to adapt to more flexible approaches. Your service provider must be able to customise the implementation while you remain focused on your business strategy.

 

Some might think that, like marriage, your commitment to your ERP vendor should be made upfront and be a lifelong partnership. Realistically, very few business relationships last the distance. Instead, you should be able to work with the service provider at your own pace and in such a way that brings value according to your business priorities.
 

Transforming your Solution:

 

In many respects, this also means your ERP partner should be there to take care of your organisational needs. While our spouses cannot spend all their time looking after us, the vendor partnership is one that must be focused on pro-actively identifying issues and helping your business overcome them.
 

This brings us to the power of communication and accessibility. While we will not be able to maintain a successful marriage by only talking to one another remotely, with ERP this is critical. Being able to embrace mobile and cloud technologies will empower you to have access to the data you need and have conversations with your partner irrespective of physical location and time.
 

The digital world is all about personalisation. And while a successful marriage is not about correcting each other, the ERP partnership requires that. You should be able to have a customised offering that reflects your immediate needs with your partner able to enhance it as those needs evolve and the business market changes.
 

Partners in Growth

 

While personal relationships are exactly that, it will be advantageous for your business if your ERP provider works with other organisations. This provides your business with a partner that has a broader perspective of not only challenges specific to your industry but to others as well. Using this experience, the partner will better be able to deliver business value to your organisation.
 

Ultimately, sharing your ERP partner will only make for a stronger relationship. This can happen both external to the organisation as well as internal. Getting all stakeholders involved will result in improved employee supplier relationships but also better customer satisfaction.

Ethics and Relationships: You’re Invited to a Marriage!

Ethics and Relationships

Join Epic ERP: Exposing the Flaws in Traditional ERP Relationships:

Our MC, Gavin Sharples, is known for his non-traditional take on motivation and relationships.

Top psychologists will take on the task of comparing vendor relationships to those in a marriage: Ethics and ERP can co-exist!

GIBBS Doctoral Candidate will advise on how to tell when costs start outweighing benefits – it’s time to exit!

Some ERP implementations fail. How do you avoid making an epic mistake when choosing your vendor?
 

Event Date and Time:

  • Tuesday, 28 November 2017 13:00PM
  • La Toscana, Montecasino

 

Why Should YOU Attend?

  • This is the most innovative ERP event of the year! Never before attempted and first of it’s kind.
  • Additionally, as a guest, you will learn whether your relationship with your technology vendor is really working. Which, saves you and your company money!

 

You will gain Expert Opinions in:

  • ERP and Ethical Relationships within the industry
  • Whether or not you’re in an abusive relationship
  • Due to those never-ending ERP costs, at what point should you divorce your ERP vendor?

 

Contact us For More Information:

Find out at the event! RSVP today or call: +27 11 367 0620
 
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