So, you have invested in Unit4 ERP, and you have suddenly realised that your current in-house resources do not have the skills, technical knowledge or time to integrate, test and set live a software system of this magnitude.
Maybe you have been advised you need an Unit4 implementation partner (commonly referred to as outsourcing), and you are wondering where to start. Well, let’s start from the beginning.
What is outsourcing?
Outsourcing is a business practice in which a company or organisation hires a third party to perform tasks, handle operations or provide services for the company.
It is a business strategy that can allow you to achieve better results from existing resources. It can be used to save money and/or to improve performance in your organisation.
What are the benefits of outsourcing your Unit4 implementation?
Outsourcing the implementation of Unit4 software is a great way to free up your internal resources so that they can focus on other business-critical tasks. We often find that even those staff who are given a small part to play in the role of IT integrations struggle to find the time to ‘fit it all in’. Why take the risk of taking the in-house staff’s eye off the ball?
Outsourcing can help you to maintain and grow your business by giving you access to more experienced developers who have worked at companies with similar needs, goals, and/or challenges.
Why do companies choose to outsource?
Here are the top 3 reasons why you should consider outsourcing to a software company for your business:
- Bring in domain knowledge and expertise. Consultants don’t become experts in their fields overnight! It takes several projects or years of effort to obtain the level of knowledge that most consultants have. Most consultants have seen or heard everything, from best practices to pitfalls; this ensures that when issues arise, they can quickly come up with a solution.
- They can supplement the staff. Some businesses have discovered that by hiring consultants rather than full-time employees when they need extra help, they can save thousands of pounds per week. You may have an in-house team which well-rounded knowledge, but experts with niche experience can provide invaluable information at a lower expense than recruiting new employees.
- They can be long-lasting professional partners. Hiring a consultant doesn’t have to be a short-term commitment. Depending on the type of project, you may find that you need continued help after completion. If you work with a consultant, especially as a mentor, you can build a trusting relationship with that expert. This makes it simple when you have issues or questions, as you already know who to ask! If you have future projects of the same type, your consultant will already understand your business concerns.
At Equinox Consulting Ltd, we like to think of our consultants as part of your internal team externally. We get INVOLVED in your business.
We endeavour to integrate with your team and other external members to learn about your company and work fully with your team to create bespoke development solutions.
The benefits of outsourcing
1. No recruitment process
Regardless of the nature of an organisation’s business, recruitment can be one of its most time-consuming tasks.
Channelling your businesses’ finances and energy into finding one suitable service delivery partner can not only provide you with an optimum level of service within your budget but also enable you to have a support service up and running within a much shorter time frame, with there being no need for you to go through the time-consuming recruitment/notice period process.
2. Reliable service
Whilst some businesses may like the idea of their Unit4 Business World support service being in-house, it is unlikely they are going to have the resources to hire a full-scale team, instead relying on two or three members of staff who each bring their own skill set.
With responsibility placed on such few shoulders, the personnel factors that come along with any member of staff (annual leave, sickness, disciplinary. etc.) can become even more of an issue, with businesses leaving themselves vulnerable at being left short of cover and expertise in a critical area of the business at extremely short notice.
If you lack the internal resources or time to provide adequate technical support on Unit4, you may need to consider hiring an external Unit4 support provider such as Equinox.
3. Extra resources
As touched upon above, businesses that rely on their own internal support desk can be severely hampered when staff members are absent. Whilst, of course, external service suppliers suffer from all the same staffing problems that any business does, the difference lies in the resources that they have available to them.
They have a large support staff, including numerous consultants and other specialists. If they do have to deal with last-minute staff absences, they are able to hand off some of their projects to one of these other specialists and minimize the disruption.
Staff issues aside, dedicated ERP service suppliers, due to the specialised nature of their work, will also be better equipped with the latest support tools, predominantly due to the fact they must stay abreast of the latest technological advances in their industry to ensure their offering remains attractive to prospects and customers.
When deciding whether to outsource your Unit4 management software support, you should also consider that you will not need to invest in the necessary technology.
4. Remain focused
Whether it is recruitment, meetings, investment considerations or another task, any business that decides to have their ERP support desk in-house is likely adding to the workload of numerous members of staff and the IT team in general.
Outsourcing your Unit4 Business World (Agresso) support requirements to a team of specialists frees up those at the top end of your business from another distraction, enabling them to focus on the business’s core objectives as much as possible.
How can we help?
- Equinox is the go-to choice of implementation partners for Unit4 ERP , we provide specialist consultancy in a way other businesses cannot.
- ERP systems are often the most crucial business system, so they must be fully and properly integrated into your company’s operations.
- We can work with your team to understand how to make Unit4 software meet your business needs at every stage of its development.
- This means you can start seeing results sooner while also getting maximum value out of the product.
Equinox can help businesses at the beginning of their journey with ERP software systems or aid during your installation period via help or training. We can also help organisations that have a system installed but need support due to internal business changes such as staff changes.
Businesses sometimes install Unit4 and then find it difficult to determine where to begin. That’s where our managed services come in. We embed ourselves as part of your team. Unlike other consultancy businesses, once your service is complete, we will not disappear into the horizon.
We have extensive experience across all the software and all the key industries, meaning we are perfectly placed to not only help you uncover how Unit4 ERP (Agresso) could benefit your organisation but also how to make the most of the software through our expert services.
Enable your Digital Future with Equinox
With over 7+ years of experience and a team of highly skilled consultants, we offer a range of services to help your business grow and thrive.
From end-to-end IT solutions to enterprise resource planning (ERP), we’re here to provide comprehensive support for your organisation.
If you’re looking for the best, most flexible consultancy, give us a call. We offer fast service and competitive prices to help your business systems remain up-to-date and applicable.