The more time that customers of the three “titans” of Tier I enterprise resource planning (ERP) software take to implement their systems, the lower their self-reported satisfaction rates according to Clash of the Titans: An Independent Comparison of SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics, a report issued today by Panorama Consulting Solutions. The online survey found that while Microsoft Dynamics had the longest average implementation duration (14 months), it also had the lowest satisfaction rate (33-percent). Conversely Oracle, which has the shortest average implementation duration (11 months), had the highest satisfaction rate (80-percent). Although SAP implementations took only slightly less time than Microsoft (13 months) and were ranked with a slightly higher satisfaction rate (39-percent), they had the lowest cost overruns (8-percent) compared to Oracle (15-percent) and Microsoft (14-percent).
“ERP implementations typically take more time when clients haven’t adequately documented their business processes or devoted enough resources to manage their ERP project,” said Eric Kimberling, president of Panorama Consulting Solutions. “Timeline management is a good indicator of the overall health of the project. An organization that is having trouble managing its timeline is likely having trouble integrating the system into its business and will understandably experience less satisfaction with its chosen ERP system.”
The top reasons cited by respondents who experienced extended durations with any of the three vendors indicated organizational rather than functional issues and included expansion of the initial project scope (17-percent), organizational issues (14-percent), data issues (14-percent) and resource constraints (13-percent).
“Both the success of an implementation and the satisfaction with an ERP system is within the customer’s control,” said Kimberling. “Companies who manage their expectations correctly and who seek third-party assistance with selection, implementation and organizational change will ultimately enjoy greater benefits regardless of the software chosen.”
The research also provides analysis of Oracle, SAP and Microsoft Dynamics in relation to market share, listing rates, selection rates, payback periods, project costs and benefits realized. A summary of each vendor’s strengths and weaknesses is included.
To offer further analysis of the study results, Kimberling will present a free webinar on Thursday, November 3 at 10 a.m. MST.
Download Clash of the Titans at http://panorama-consulting.com/resource-center/erp-industry-reports/.
About Clash of the Titans: An Independent Comparison of SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Dynamics
Research for Clash of the Titans was conducted by Panorama Consulting Solutions via online polling on its website. Participants include more than 1800 professionals from 57 countries. The full report (and additional industry research) can be accessed at: http://panorama-consulting.com/resource-center/erp-industry-reports/.
About Panorama Consulting Solutions:
Panorama Consulting Solutions, a division of The Prescott Group, LLC, is an IT consulting firm specializing in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) market for mid- to large-sized organizations around the world. Independent of affiliation, Panorama facilitates the evaluation and selection of ERP software, manages ERP implementation, and expedites all related organizational change to ensure that each of its clients realize the full business benefits of their ERP systems.
Panorama is a MWOB (minority- and women-owned business) and is certified as a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), a women’s business enterprise/woman-owned business (WBE) and a minority business enterprise (MBE).
