Today, we’re going beyond the typical “on premise vs cloud” debate and delving into specific experiences we’ve seen among our clients during their transition from legacy systems to cutting-edge cloud-based ERP solutions. A digital transformation of such magnitude represents a critical step for businesses, usually driven by the need to future-proof operations, streamline workflows, and gain scalable growth. We hope that by hearing firsthand from some of our real-world client examples, you’ll better understand how embracing modern ERP solutions can fundamentally reshape business and help establish a solid foundation for years to come.
In no particular order, the first benefit we’ve seen from our clients who have moved from an on-premise legacy system to a modern cloud-based solution is the need for far less tech support. For our clients in the cloud, we generally see a drop in support calls to one-third of the on-prem volume because the cloud solutions are so easy to use that they don’t need a lot of help from us post-implementation. Essentially, cloud solutions boost our client’s self-sufficiency. Clients also no longer deal with infrastructure/network errors and latency by moving to a SaaS. We find they don’t need us to build them custom reports because they can do this themselves. They also don’t need server updates because the cloud automatically pushes out updates virtually. Lastly, our clients don’t ask for unique configurations because their cloud solution has been customized specially for their business during implementation.
With a modern cloud ERP, you’re not just upgrading your system, you’re increasing productivity with uninterrupted access from anywhere. Plus, you cut down on costs and save time on server maintenance that sometimes causes conflicts with your ERP which also bring down productivity.
Time and time again we hear from clients that newer, more modern technology is so much easier to learn than their clunky legacy system ever was. Don’t believe us? Just ask any millennial or Gen Zer. Some 88% of Gen Zers and 89% of millennials expressed interest in using new technologies, while Gen Xers (78%) and baby boomers (69%) agreed in strong but still smaller numbers. For our clients who are hoping to attract and retain top talent, they want to focus big on the digital employee experience which is what they can do with modern cloud technology.
User adoption on a cloud-based system is so much easier and faster because our clients can usually figure things out on their own. A modern system’s interface is intuitive and user-friendly, meaning things are where people expect them to be. Additionally, there are great Help files if a user does get stuck in a workflow. They access these files on their own and it’ll walk them through how to work out the issue from the comfort of their desk (without having to call and wait on hold with a help desk).
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While we love hearing from our clients, we understand they have a lot of other things on their plate where time could be better spent. This is especially true when building dashboards. While we can build custom dashboards for clients, a modern ERP system allows the end-user (read: you), to create their own dashboards immediately rather than outsourcing (read: paying) to a partner.
Clients have said that because they’re able to build their dashboards themselves, they gain much faster access to insights. People can simply build a report or drill down into the data if they’re curious about something or need more in-depth details, rather than having to decide if it’s worthwhile to pay for a new report or dashboard and delaying the time it takes to get the details they need. Streamlining reporting and having critical real-time data at your fingertips provides numerous benefits that transform decision-making and enhance operational efficiency. We’re not just saying this – 80% of companies surveyed report revenue uplift due to real-time data analytics. We’re happy to report that one of our clients experienced this too. Robert Berman, CFO for CASA/LA says “Previously <with Sage 300>, I had to download the report data and bring it into Excel to get what I needed. Now, I have the precise reports I need in a single step. As a result, we can complete the whole monthly close process much more quickly, using the time we save for other tasks.”
Modern cloud solutions allow our clients to streamline their month-end close processes from multiple days to quite literally just a click of a button.
They’ve also mentioned the ease of adding a new entity when they need to. If you’re an organization with multiple locations, this is a game-changer. With a legacy system, this is generally a daunting task and adds a whole host of complexities that suck up valuable time. Quickly setting up new entities in your software highlights the scalability and flexibility of your business’s infrastructure. Your finance team’s time is worth more and should never be stalled by administrative drama.
One of our clients reduced their General Ledger (GL) from thousands of accounts to a much more simplified and efficient Chart of Accounts with less than a hundred accounts. GLs can become convoluted and hard to manage, especially with thousands of lines, as we’re sure you’re aware. Transitioning to a cloud ERP system brings it back to a more manageable size.
These benefits that our clients have gained aren’t necessarily due to on premise vs cloud differences, but more like a demonstration of the benefits of legacy vs modern solutions with cloud-hosted accounting software reducing operating expenses by up to 50%. As you can see, the accounting efficiency gains with modern technology are unparalleled. With a more modern ERP accounting solution, your finance team can better focus on strategic analysis and jump on opportunities rather than drowning in time-consuming month-end paperwork like manual reconciliations.
In the dynamic and competitive business world, embracing modern technology solutions becomes more than on premise vs cloud. It’s the path that sets you up for adaptability and resiliency. If you’re interested in hearing more or are curious about how you can modernize your workplace, contact us today.
