Saving on ERP costs and implementing on a limited budget

Unit4 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Nonprofit, Global

from Unit4 Communications September 28, 2022 | 4 min read

Panorama Consulting Group recently published an article in which they give 5 top tips for minimizing ERP costs and implementing on a budget. Here at Unit4, we think they are right on track, and we wanted to give you our take on a strategic modular implementation that offers your business the ERP it needs while keeping costs to a minimum.

Keeping ERP costs low

Plan and budget

With a comprehensive plan and budget, your ERP project won’t spiral out of control, rack up costs, or go beyond the original scope. Consider the cost of your software, your change management strategy, and your approach to data transfer. Will there be any hardware or network costs? Who will work on the project? Answering these questions before you start while carefully planning and budgeting is crucial to controlling your implementation costs.

Choose ERP software based on your business needs

Choosing an ERP system that meets your specific business needs and challenges will save you money. Select an ERP system that needs little in the way of customization but is flexible enough to adapt to changing business requirements. A modular system will allow you to only purchase the functionality your business needs. But be sure to choose a solution with a long-term roadmap that can extend functionality in the future, offering value for money.

Avoid excessive customization

While some customization may be needed, it can be costly and unnecessary. It can take longer to implement and can also make upgrades difficult. Focus on your most immediate business needs and learn how to use different best practice processes within the system. Low code or no code extensibility is the way to go, so there is no need to replace all your best-in-class apps.

Look at long-term ROI

Determine your ROI (return on investment) before you start the project so long-term effects can be considered. Focusing on low upfront costs can end up having a detrimental effect on strategy, risk, and long-term profitability.

Make the most of your ERP solution provider’s expertise

At Unit4, our experts nurture long-term partnerships with our customers, delivering value right across the organization. When you partner with an ERP solution provider, you should rely on them for their technical expertise. They should be involved in all aspects of your ERP project, from process management to implementation and change management. You can also maximize their expertise by getting help in training and ongoing support with the product.

The right implementation

Whether you decide on a typical time-and-materials implementation, lean implementation, or fixed-fee implementation, each has advantages and disadvantages. Determine what is right for your organization and your ERP goals. If you are upgrading or migrating to the cloud, your choice will be different than if you are implementing ERP for the first time.

Unit4 Industry Models

ERP for nonprofits

We’ve developed our nonprofit ERP software platform specifically for people-centric charitable organizations. When it comes to ERP, one size does not fit all, which is why we’ve developed specific “industry models” for the implementation of our solutions. These take advantage of our experience working alongside key industries for decades and our knowledge of their particular needs and requirements.

Our ERP for nonprofits gives you a better way to manage projects and programs, grants and funding, and the people who make it all happen. With an intuitive and flexible cloud-based platform, your people can stay focused on what matters—delivering more impact to achieve your mission. It does this by:

Using specialist nonprofit industry and technology knowledge.
Delivering a faster time to value for all projects.
Reducing your total cost for your tech investments and maintenance.
Improving data integration to speed up decision-making.
Future-proofing your technology against the changing needs of the sector.
Satisfying donors and retaining talent through better experiences.

You will make more impactful decisions to help optimize projects, manage partners and volunteers, and understand resources more easily. And you do all this while simultaneously maximizing available funding and building trust and accountability across your entire organization.

ERP for public sector organizations

We help public sector organizations boost productivity, reduce costs, effectively plan for the future, and improve citizen value. Our industry model provides finance and HR teams with solutions that transform how people work, freeing your people to spend more time focusing on the work that matters – serving citizens. We provide public sector-specific capabilities that help you deliver more responsive services, increase efficiency, achieve regulatory compliance, transform public services delivery, and empower the people who make it all happen using an intuitive and flexible cloud-based platform.

Unit4 is the vendor of choice for public sector organizations:

Specialized knowledge of the public sector industry and the specific technology needs.
Fast time to value – a faster and reduced risk implementation process means benefits are realized more quickly.
Improved data integration – the flexibility to integrate with multiple and changing technology stacks.
Future-proof your technology – we are committed to investing in best-of-breed tech that helps you meet your changing needs.
Satisfy citizens and retain talent – deliver user-friendly digital experiences and automation to delight your citizens and your people.

Customer stories

Medical Teams International

Unit4 provides Medical Teams International with a single, connected ERP platform to maximize resources, reduce costs, and increase accountability, ultimately driving more impactful programs. The modern cloud-based system means staff has trusted data at hand to better manage people, projects, grants, and funding.

Read the full story here.

Oxfam America

As part of a business transformation program, Oxfam America needed to replace a fragmented suite of legacy ERP systems and disconnected manual people and finance processes. Their Unit4 cloud-based system connects, automates, and streamlines end-to-end operational processes and provides instant, trusted insight into finance, project budgets, people, procurement, and more.

Read the full story here.

How Unit4 can help your organization

With Unit4’s ERP software systems, you can adapt and optimize the way your people work to help you manage complexity and focus on the things that matter. Unit4’s next-generation smart ERP software solutions are built for people in the business of helping people. With us, you can ‘Experience Real Purpose’ with an adaptable solution that’s right for you, now and in the future.

To discover more, click here to book a demo and see what our ERP solution can do for your public sector or nonprofit organization yourself.