If the current software you’re using is responding slower than before or working inefficiently, then it may be time to upgrade or consider an ERP performance assessment. If you are having issues with your current processes or data, then starting fresh with up-to-date software can remedy that and help your business get back on track. You know why you implemented your first ERP system—to help When and why you should upgrade your ERP technology can be a significant investment for small- and medium-sized businesses. There’s a temptation to delay upgrades because of the perceived inconvenience and cost. But when it comes to your ERP system, failing to implement new advances can stall your company’s growth. ERP upgrades, therefore, ought to be seen as a valuable asset that ensures you save money over the long term. Is It Time to Upgrade? If you’re like most business owners, you may have grown accustomed to your ERP’s little quirks. But if those little quirks are preventing your company from satisfying more customers, perhaps you should consider an ERP upgrade to increase efficiency. Your ERP should, at a minimum, support your company’s growth and not impede your extended reach into more markets. Your ERP might be too old when any of the following apply: You can’t get new updates. Users of many legacy systems find that the company that created the software has stopped supporting their version with new updates. While the product may still work for you on a day-to-day basis, this lack of incremental improvements is a sign it will soon be outdated. If you just bought new hardware, like a laptop, and can’t load the ERP, that’s a sure sign the technology you need to run your ERP is leaving it behind. You still have multiple systems. ERP by its nature should prevent duplication. But perhaps a company merger or acquisition has left you with several versions of ERP. Your data should be in one place and be easily accessible by people with the right credentials across the organization. If you have to look in more than one place for whatever piece of information you need, it’s time to upgrade. You still have to manually input information more than once. ERP is supposed to solve this data entry issue. But for a number of reasons, you may be in a situation where you have to start from square one with your information. Remember—duplication is never something you want as it increases the possibility of errors and adds extra work. You are not satisfied with your reporting and data analytics functions. These are vital to modern business and likely a reason you switched to your legacy ERP from your previous IT system in the first place. But reports that gave you up-to-date, relevant and user-friendly information.