How Magic Quadrants Can Derail ERP and HCM Software Evaluation Processes
We often see organizations get caught in analysis paralysis during their ERP and HCM software evaluation process. With so many options in the market, coupled with a lack of independent data on the strengths and weaknesses of these options, it’s easy to see how a project team can get stuck in the mud. Unfortunately, common […]
Hertz Bankruptcy and the Future of Digital Transformation
It has become clear in recent months that many companies won’t survive the pandemic and recession of 2020. Hertz recently filed for bankruptcy – the latest in a string of casualties in an uncertain economic environment. What did Hertz do wrong? While this may not be a surprise given that travel plummeted 90% earlier this […]
Top ERP Systems for Small Businesses
Disclaimer: Third Stage Consulting is an independent ERP consulting firm. Third Stage has no financial ties to ERP vendors, either directly or through parent companies or affiliates. Accordingly, the below analysis is completely technology-agnostic and 100% free of vendor bias or compensation. More than ever, small businesses have a plethora of top ERP systems to […]
Top HCM Systems for 2020
As we recently pointed out, HCM systems will be increasingly important because of the health pandemic of 2020. If anything, the health and economic crisis has placed unusual strains on HR departments across the world – while at the same time exposing opportunities to better manage talent. As companies navigate a post-Covid-19 world, they will […]
Top 10 Supply Chain Management Systems
Supply chain management has re-emerged as one of the most critical areas of technology investment for manufacturing, distribution, and retail organizations. The disruptions of recent years exposed the vulnerabilities and rigidity of many supply chains, and it has become clear that supply chain transformations need to look very different than they did in the past. […]
Top 10 Recommendations for ERP / HCM / SCM Implementations in the 2020s
It wasn’t long ago that we shared our top predictions for 2020. What a difference a few months can make. Instead of envisioning how they might leverage blockchain, artificial intelligence, internet of things, and other strategic technologies, many organizations are instead dealing with a new reality. For some, resources are constrained due to illness or […]
How to Lead Supply Chain Management Transformations of the Future
If the health and economic disruptions of 2020 have taught us one thing about business, it is that supply chains are not well conditioned for changing times. All the business process management, supply chain integration, and SCM software efforts of the past seem a bit irrelevant in light of today’s supply chain challenges. The challenges […]
Confessions of an ERP Expert Witness
About 12 years ago, I received a phone call from an attorney. After a few brief moments of panic trying to think of who I may have made angry enough to sue me, I realized that it was not a legal matter against me, but a career-defining business opportunity. I had just started my previous […]
How to Negotiate with Your ERP / HCM Vendor
After what may have been a long evaluation process, you have finally determined which ERP and HCM systems will help you achieve your digital strategies for 2020 and beyond. This is the technology that will drive business process improvements and your operational foundation for the coming years or decades. Now what? Now it’s time to […]
Independent Review of Workday HCM Software
Workday is one of the most common HCM systems in the market today. Along with Oracle HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, Ultimate UltiPro, and other common options, HR and HRIS departments have plenty of options to choose from. It is also one of the up-and-coming systems with lots of momentum behind it. The company and its software […]
How to Ensure ERP Success vs. Failure
It seems that ERP failures are becoming increasingly common in recent months and years. Lidl, Haribo, and Revlon are some of the more recent ones. Many of us still remember historic ERP nightmares such as Hershey’s, Nike, the US Department of Defense, and other well-publicized train wrecks (see the top 10 all-time ERP failures here). […]
Is Big ERP Dead?
The big, integrated, traditional, and monolithic ERP systems are good for some, but not all. ERP vendors will typically push the big integrated systems like SAP S/4HANA, Oracle ERP Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics, and other leading ERP systems. Best of breed providers, on the other hand, will push their more siloed technology model. Salesforce, Workday, and […]