5 Ways to Reduce Downtime: Preventive Measures Every Company can take

Despite having a sturdy infrastructure, there are many organizations which face database, software and hardware downtime which lead to shorter periods of shutting down to longer days of non-functionality. What exactly is a downtime period? It is basically an ‘unplanned event which stops production caused by either by human error or machine dysfunction”. System outages are common, but can your company afford this downtime? Here are 5 preventive measures to downtime that companies can follow.

Calculate the expenses of downtime

For any manufacturing unit, the biggest mistake would be not to calculate the ‘real’ expenses of downtime. The calculation should include loss in the production of actual goods, loss in productivity, and the number of man hours which needs to be further devoted to rescheduling. Not to forget the unexpected expenses of repairing equipments and the time which needs to be devoted to satisfy the customers. But the most fatal of these expenses would be reputation damage.

Go for a risk audit

The most effective way to reduce downtime is to go for a risk audit. According to statistics it has been proven that obsolete machines and equipments used by the manufacturers can stall operations leading to sudden downtime. For most outdated or old machines, parts are not available or take weeks to deliver. Think about your support network and get a thorough idea about the availability of the spare parts. A risk audit will ensure that problems are highlighted and you come up with solutions which can help you when you go down.

Prepare your data and reporting systems

Many manufacturers have manual methods of data collation and data management. When you evaluate your current data collection system, do they pinpoint to the macro causes of downtime? A vague report on a non-functional machine is not enough. What you need is real-time access to the entire operational data. Expand smERP is one integrated software which resolves this issue immediately. Once the IT and operational systems are integrated, it helps the manufacturer to know the exact moment when a machine breaks down. Once the cause of downtime is known, it helps in faster and accurate responses.

Updating your documentation

Update all documentation on your equipments like machine history and procedure and up-to-date drawings of an equipment which can be used as easy reference in case of an error. Proper documentation is the key to address unplanned downtime. When the operators have the right information, it becomes easier for them to address the issues. Working without context never helps. You need an integrated software like ExpandERP to show people how proper documentation can improve overall performance of an unit.

Adopt a proactive method

Proactive thinking will allow you to adopt new habits and systems which will stop problems even before they occur. Expand smERP is one such example of proactive thinking. The idea is to automate your processes and maximize the value of those processes leading to increase in operational value. To know more, you can click on Expand smERP

5 Unexpected Things To Expect Before ERP Implementation: Can Selecting Right Vendor Help?

Remember, a good ERP system ‘ideally’ should have an impact on every part of your business. Here we are talking about an ‘ideal’ condition. Reality can be far from ‘ideal’. With countless ERP softwares available in the market, it becomes almost impossible to select the right ERP solution which fits your organization. When you are a first time buyer, the choice becomes more difficult as you can face a number of challenges. Identifying these challenges in the planning stage can solve a lot of problems; the primary being selecting the right vendor.

Do not be confused with too many options

As a business owner, it is crucial to establish, define and understand the unique business processes of the company. If required, prepare a list of questions for the ERP vendor. You not only need the right software, but also the right vendor. Remember, when it comes to ERP solution, it’s not a one-size fits all situation. For example, if you are in the manufacturing or export industry, you will need a reliable ERP software like Expand smERP. With an expert ERP solution like ExpandERP, you will be promised end-to-end solutions which will fulfill the specific requirements of your business

Enquire about the technology specifications of the ERP solution

While selecting the right ERP, think of the technology that the ERP solution is using. Ask whether the ERP solution is turnkey or will be customized as per the organization’s business processes. If the ERP solution is scalable, will it be able to adapt to the growing users or increases in data? Ask about the speed of the product and how it will impact the end user. Another major concern of the organization is whether there will be possible support for multi-company or multi-site environments if the company wants to work on multiple operations. Now, this is where ExpandERP is different from other ERP solutions; as it is hosted on cloud it helps to quickly migrate legacy systems and implement most advanced technology features across different processes and departments effortlessly.

Think about data quality control

Two of the most common data challenges that a company faces while implementing a new ERP system is replacing legacy data and think about a process to consolidate separate solutions. A business should decide on the kind of data which needs to be collected for business processes and operations. This will be closely followed by the clearance of any duplicate or inaccurate data which was part of the previous system.

An expert vendor like eDominer will help you to guide you through the entire process and map the migration of the newly refined data to the new file format. It is absolutely crucial that all data is balanced prior to going live. Remember that the data integrity of the new system can either make or break the implementation of ERP. With Expand smERP, there is absolutely no requirement for in-house IT infrastructure or upgrades. You need not worry about data backup of security.

Talk about the true expenses of the ERP solution

Before you select the vendor or sign a contract, you need to determine the rough estimate of ROI. As a business owner you are likely to evaluate the cost of the ERP platform and whether it is okay to pay that amount, considering the functionalities it will offer. Also, many organizations have the concern whether the charges will be one-time or if they will be recurring. In case, it is the latter, you need to figure out whether or not the organization can afford that amount. You also need to find out about the annual maintenance charges.

Once you evaluate all these expenses, do a quick review about the ROI; your investment should not be more than the projected returns. The Expand team takes care of any user query over remote desktop and phone support at zero expense. As it is a cloud ERP, there will be automatic statutory updates. New reporting changes and new features will get rolled out instantaneously at zero cost.

Will the ERP solution adapt to the business?

A successful ERP implementation depends on the users and their willingness to adapt to new processes and systems. The best way to manage ERP is from top down. It is essential that managers and executives are integrated to the system, so that employees can follow them.

Check out edominer and Cloud ERP Software for one of the effective ERP solutions for your business.