Category: Digital Transformation

The Art of Selecting the Perfect ERP

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As we are well-aware, it is a known fact that Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) tools have helped businesses to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth. Hence Choosing and implementing a right ERP becomes a critical task.

However, with a wide range of ERP solutions available in the market, it’s essential to understand that one size does not fit all. Selecting the right ERP solution can be a challenging task, especially when considering the unique needs of different industries. From manufacturing to retail, finance to healthcare, each line of business has specific requirements that must be addressed by its ERP system.

Do any of these questions resonate with you?

  • Are you fully leveraging the capabilities of your current software?
  • Do you rely on multiple software applications to manage different business functions?
  • Is your ERP system becoming difficult to maintain?
  • Does your software seamlessly integrate with all operational areas of your business?

These are some of the primary & critical questions that a decision maker must think about before investing further time & Energy in choosing the ERP software. Let’s try to understand what current ERP software looks like and what our key considerations should be.

 

The Modern ERP Landscape: Key Needs and Trends

Cloud based accessibility (Going further Mobile accessibility)

  • As more and more business and business users start operating remotely, demand for Cloud based methodologies has increased drastically. Furthermore, they offer Scalability, Flexibility & can reduce infra cost as compared to traditional on-premises software.
  • Some ERP systems are even accessible via smartphones and tablets, allowing employees – the access to critical information and flexibility to perform tasks from anywhere.

Enhanced UI/UX (User Interface & User Experience)

  • Better UI/UX helps in reducing learning curves and improving tool adoption ratios. With the ERP tool operational amongst, wide range of employees with varying expertise, an “easy to navigate” ERP is needed of the hour.

Real – time reporting and analysis

  • Monitoring KPI, making agile decisions, customizable dashboards, predictive analysis, — these are some of the key needs of business that should be catered.

Modular Systems supporting easier Flexibility

  • A modular system refers to a design approach where a larger system is divided into modules. These modules, either individually or combined, help forming a complete system web.
  • Having a modular system in place helps scale business solutions and incorporating customizations.

Adaption of Emerging Technologies

  • A lot has been discussed about AI/ML and their endless capabilities. One would surely want to have new technologies easily embedded into ERP.
  • These would surely help in gaining predictive insights, automate business processes & improve operational efficiency.

Please do have a look at the insight below on how Generative AI is shaping the cloud ERP systems:

Generative AI in Action: Comparing Use-Cases Across Cloud ERP Systems

The Importance of Implementation Approach and Vendor Capabilities:

Selecting an ERP without considering the implementation process and the vendor’s capabilities can lead to mismatched solutions, cost overruns, and operational disruptions. When evaluating ERPs, include:

  • Implementation timelines & methodologies (for e.g.: Big bang, Phased or Parallel).
  • Vendor stability, industry reputation, and future-proofing capabilities.

By prioritizing these aspects, businesses can ensure the ERP system not only aligns with their current requirements but also supports long-term growth and innovation.

Uncovering the Root Causes of ERP Failure:

Whilst we have covered most of the aspects, let’s sneak-peek at common reasons observed so far for ERP failures. This may help in the strategic planning of the overall project.

Inadequate planning

  • Lack of clear goals/objectives can hinder the entire ERP implementation cycle. One needs to have an active track of what is the current need vs what is being implemented.

Poor Change management:

  • Adoption of newly implemented tools is one of the key reasons for failure. Business users should be clearly communicated about the benefits of the new system. Implementation programs should incorporate user training programs.

Customization vs Standardization

  • Every software has its unique strength, and this is crucial in leveraging standard features and helps in avoiding unnecessary customizations. Avoidable customizations can sometimes cause overhead maintenance activities. Use of standard features is well backed by ERP provider and any updates can help business stay ahead of themselves.

Data Migration – A well-known factor!!

  • Overlooking legacy data cleansing and integration challenges leads to inefficiencies. Hence there should be a strategy that has to be designed in order to have the source cleaned up first so that new data generated for migration is clean.

Inadequate Vendor Support

  • The program should be well designed to get the best vendor support throughout the implementation process. For e.g.: There must be dedicated team assigned in “hyper-care” phase for smooth transition. This helps in ironing out technicalities which have been ignorant so far!

Please refer below snapshot to understand top reasons for failures:

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337905839_ERP_issues_and_challenges_a_research_synthesis

 

To wrap it up, choosing the right ERP is not just a technical decision—it’s a strategic move that can unlock new levels of agility and innovation. By embracing the latest trends and ensuring seamless integration, businesses can turn their ERP system into a competitive advantage. The key lies in thoughtful implementation and staying ahead of potential challenges, making sure the system evolves with both your needs and the market. If you’re ready to explore how the right ERP system can transform your business, contact us for a personalized consultation.

The right ERP isn’t just a tool; it’s a catalyst for future success.

Cloud ERP & Pricing Strategies

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In the world of Enterprise Cloud Technologies, there are two main pillars: Product Development and Technology Consulting. Each comes with its own unique pricing strategies that shape the way businesses operate. Let’s break them down.

Product Pricing

Flat Rate Pricing: This is like a nostalgic trip back to the early days of software. You pay once for a specific set of features, and that’s that. If demand for your software explodes, well, sorry—you won’t see those extra profits rolling in. A classic example is Parallels, which offers a “one-time purchase” option. You get what you pay for, and that’s the version you live with. Future updates? Those are not part of the deal, unless you want to pay again. Think of it like buying a car—what you drive off the lot is what you’re stuck with, no matter how many new features the next model has.

Pay-As-You-Go: This is where things get interesting, especially in cloud-heavy environments like Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. You pay based on how much you use, whether it’s transactions processed, memory consumed, or tokens spent. It’s like having a pay-per-view movie marathon—you only pay for what you watch, but if you end up watching all the movies, make sure your bill doesn’t look like a mortgage payment! This is where services like Orbrick’s SAGE help to optimize usage by analyzing license consumption and usage patterns.

User-Based/Seat-based Pricing: This one scales based on how many people in your organization will actually use the software. You’ll see this in tools like Microsoft and Oracle Enterprise applications, where you can buy individual or business plans depending on how many seats you need. I often deal with Enterprise Performance Management systems, where my clients are highly specialized teams—like FP&A or Risk Management, with maybe 30 users per department. They usually go for an enterprise plan for 100 users, covering 60 actual users, some IT and admin accounts, a couple of testing logins, and some room to grow. Of course, some organizations will try to “economize” by sharing logins, but as product creators, they know all the tricks to prevent that from happening (or at least make it super annoying).

Hosted Employee Pricing: This model is not just for HR systems (though it fits well there). It’s designed for scenarios where the number of users is not the main cost driver—instead, it’s the number of entities or records being managed. Take an HR system as an example: you might have only 40 HR team members logging in, but the system is tracking data for 5,000 employees. Hosted employee pricing means you’re paying for the number of employees being managed, not the number of users logging in. This model works in other areas, too, like customer management platforms, where you might be tracking thousands of customer records but only have a handful of active users. The bigger your database, the bigger your bill.

Land and Expand: The bait-and-switch of the pricing world. You start with a low entry price to lure the customer in, and then once they’re hooked, you start selling them more. Think of it like offering someone a free sample at the grocery store, and then walking them through the entire frozen food aisle. Before they know it, their cart is full. This strategy creates deeper relationships and plenty of cross-selling and upselling opportunities. If done with the right intent, this could also be a great way for both product and service firms to showcase their quality and build trust before more work is taken on.

Captive Pricing: Here’s the trick—you offer a low base price for the core product, but the necessary add-ons are where you make your money. It’s like buying a printer for cheap, only to discover that the ink costs more than the printer itself. The customer is locked into your ecosystem, and suddenly, the line from Sholay, “ab tera kya hoga Kaliya?”, starts making a lot of sense. They’re your captive audience now, and every future purchase flows back to you. Think printers that only work with expensive ink cartridges that are sold only by the printer manufacturer!

Sliding Down the Demand Curve: This strategy capitalizes on early adopters. When your product first hits the market, you price it high. Over time, as newer versions come out, the price drops, making the older version more affordable to a broader audience. It’s like when the first edition of Harry Potter came out—people paid top dollar for those copies, but as time went on, paperback editions were everywhere, and suddenly, that once-exclusive price tag looked a lot more approachable. This is also known as Price Skimming.

License Subscription-Based: Pay per license on a periodic basis.

Service Pricing

Time and Material: This one’s all about billing for every hour worked. Simple and transparent, it’s perfect when the scope of work is as fluid as your coffee consumption. If the client needs flexibility, this model allows them to adjust as they go.

Cost-Plus Pricing: It’s as straightforward as it sounds. Take your costs, add a 15% markup, and call it a day. No frills, no surprises—just good old-fashioned math.

Fixed Scope Offering: When the project’s boundaries are well-defined, you go with a fixed price. Any changes along the way are handled through change control, and yes, they come with extra costs. It’s like ordering a set meal at a restaurant—if you suddenly decide you want extra fries, don’t be surprised when you see them on the bill.

And now here’s where things get creative. Orbrick Consulting has some unique, well thought out pricing strategies which are not designed to extract the most consumer surplus. They are tailored to their customers’ needs and also show Orbrick’s confidence in their consulting quality.

At-Risk Pricing: This is where the real gamble happens. You agree on specific KPIs at the start, and payment only comes if those KPIs are hit. If not, no dice. It’s like agreeing to pay your personal trainer only if you lose those 10 pounds—no results, no payment.

Pay If You’re Pleased: A portion of the payment is held back until the client is truly happy with the service. It’s the ultimate satisfaction guarantee, but you better believe you’re working hard to keep that client smiling.

Subscription-Based Consulting: Clients pay a monthly subscription for a team of consultants, and the exact nature of the work is flexible within a pre-agreed scope. It’s like signing up for Netflix—you pay a flat rate, and what you watch is up to you.

When it comes to pricing in Enterprise Cloud Technologies, it’s not just a business decision—it’s an art form. Ultimately, each customer is on a unique journey and firms need to work with customers to reach a pricing arrangement that works best for that journey.

No matter how you slice it, if you can’t make your offering irresistible, you can at least make the price entertaining!

The Spark of Innovation: Why Startups Matter More Than Ever

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After a decade in the industry, I’ve seen firsthand the power of agility. Nimble organizations, unburdened by the weight of established giants, can achieve incredible things. But why are startups so crucial for societal betterment? Let’s dive in.

Big ≠ Better: The Innovation Slowdown

Large organizations often prioritize stability over groundbreaking ideas. Layers of bureaucracy, strict processes, and a fear of failure can stifle innovation. Disruptive and radical changes, the kind that truly move the needle, often come from smaller players. Think Uber, Airbnb, Paytm – all companies that challenged the status quo and redefined industries.

If you will look at the type of innovation – normally it falls in the below quadrant.

Most of the Disruptive & Radical innovation has been driven by a startup/small company barring a few exceptions.

Startups: Champions of Customer Focus and Fresh Ideas

For startups, every customer is a lifeline. Their success hinges on exceeding expectations and delivering exceptional experiences. This laser focus on customer needs leads to creative solutions and a constant drive to improve. Additionally, unburdened by past limitations, startups bring fresh perspectives to the table. They aren’t afraid to ask “why?” and challenge the way things have always been done.

In Orbrick we believe in 1% improvement and encourage to bring innovative ideas.

Why Work with a Startup? A Win-Win Proposition

Here’s why startups are a compelling choice for both customers and employees:

  • Customers:
    • Unwavering Dedication: Your success is their success. Startups go the extra mile to ensure a win-win outcome.
    • Fresh Ideas: Say goodbye to “business as usual.” Startups bring innovative approaches to the table.
  • Employees:
    • Impact Over Brand: Make a real difference. Your work has a tangible impact on the company’s direction and success.
    • Unique Challenges & Big Rewards: Tackle exciting problems that haven’t been solved yet. The sense of ownership and potential impact is unmatched.
    • Personalized Growth: Forget rigid hierarchies. Learn directly from the founders and leadership team. Your mentors are just a walk (or Slack message) away.

The Balancing Act: Growth vs. Agility

The challenge? As startups grow, they risk losing their agility. The very structures and processes that streamline operations can stifle the nimbleness that made them successful in the first place.

What set apart successful firms was the creativity and autonomy employees showed.

A World of Nimble Problem-Solvers

I dream of a world where passionate entrepreneurs tackle fascinating problems with lean teams, constantly pushing boundaries and making a positive impact. It’s a lofty goal, but one worth striving for. With a focus on agility and a dedication to solving real-world problems, startups hold the key to a more innovative and impactful future.

What are your thoughts? Do startups play a vital role in societal progress? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

Beyond Buzzwords : Elevating A Digital transformation Exercise

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In today’s fast-moving digital world, no company can afford to miss the bus of digital transformation. With rapidly moving market, existence of businesses comes into question if they fail to digitally transform themselves to compete and capture new markets. But as the world is rapidly moving towards digital transformation, with the constraints of resources are they getting the expected outcome/ROI? Are they able to make the required impact on all the stakeholders?

The above study by McKinsey’s digital practice clearly states that although 89% of the business are or have undergone business transformation and as an end result only 30% of them got the expected revenue increase, 25% of them could got the expected cost reduction, strange, right? Surely there is something in this approach that is clearly missing. What is the magic ingredient that ensures that the organization gets the anticipated outcome of the digital transformation? Well, there is no single ingredient but a collective contribution of “all” stakeholders of the organization and when we say all it is literally all; any one missing either by intent, design or capabilities can cause less than expected outcomes from the transformation. Below are few of the findings that can help organizations to ensure they are in the journey with all the right intent, plan, technology and team.

Purpose

One of the major reasons for failure is that the “Purpose” of the digital transformation is not clear, consistent or carefully governed. Top guns of the organization play a vital role as the “Why” comes from them. When we connect technology to a profound sense of purpose, we unlock its true potential and embark on a journey of meaningful progress, not just technological advancement. A well-crafted purpose shall help the organizations visualize, define and document who will they be post the transformation and align all levels of the organization. Purpose simplifies and binds the organization as often transformations tend to go directionless.

Change management

Changing and running at the same time always needs balance and thus change management cannot be avoided. A well-defined purpose clears way for top-down communication and reduces the risks of change management. The holistic approach to address the end-to-end business alignment and not the immediately impacted areas shall ensure business readiness and faster adoption. Resistance to change can be avoided if during the transformation, the front liners are involved, as they have insights into customers’ pain points and the solutions that can be levered. Going beyond traditional skills training and nurturing a culture of continuous learning is the key. Upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce shall ensure early and easy adoption. The most effective way to embrace change is by involving the top management in business process change, tech awareness etc. Before, during and after the transformation.

Approach

To optimize performance and impact, organizations must engage in rigorous self-assessment, scrutinizing their team composition, technological assets, financial constraints, and timeframes. Post-goal analysis enables informed prioritization between “Big Bang” transformations and siloed improvements, fostering learning and adaptation. The focus? Internal or frontline systems? Global or regional implementation? The answer lies in a nuanced blend driven by a holistic understanding of micro and macro factors. Ultimately, success hinges on striking a balance that maximizes value creation, elevates customer experience, and ensures business feasibility, scalability, and technological readiness. This comprehensive approach empowers organizations to navigate uncertainty and achieve impactful, sustainable progress.

Technology and talent

The digital revolution has irrevocably altered the landscape of every industry, and at the heart of this seismic shift lies technology. Far from being merely tools, cutting-edge technologies like AI, ML, IOT & Big Data are the very engines driving digital transformation, propelling organizations towards unprecedented levels of efficiency, adaptability, and customer engagement. This isn’t just about replacing analog processes with digital equivalents. It’s about reimagining workflows, disrupting outdated models, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation. Technology provides the foundation upon which organizations can build new value propositions, enhance existing products and services, and forge deeper connections with their customers. Technological innovations are individual pieces in a complex Digital Transformation puzzle, powerful but incomplete. It’s the human talent – the architects, analysts, builders, and navigators – who understand how these pieces fit together, who bridge the gap between potential and reality. Their expertise in data analysis, cloud architecture, user experience design, and agile methodologies are the brushstrokes that paint the canvas of a successful transformation. Think of tech as the enabler, talent as the artist: think of the digital platform as a blank canvas. It offers possibilities, but without the artist’s vision and brushstrokes, it remains just an expanse of white. Talent, with its skillsets and creativity, transforms that canvas into an immersive digital experience, talent breathes life into technology, making it sing. The organizations need to either upskill or reskill, attract and retain new talent or partner to ensure they have the right talent.

Most common mistake made by the organization is the assumption that digital transformations are short lived, digital transformation is not a destination; it’s a permanent state of evolution. The point isn’t to become digital; it is to generate value for the business. And that can only happen if top management act as digital guardians of their companies’ transformations and are clear on how they can best affect the change that will embed digital DNA into their organizations.