Q.2 Read the Sumner (2005) case study on pages 52 – 56. Address the following questions: b. What advantages would an ERP provide to Wingate Electric? What other options does Wingate Electric have instead of adopting an ERP?
Wingate Electric case study appears to a prime example of where an ERP will shine bright and improve many of the Wingate Electric company problems. Instead of using a system patched together over the years, that may lack reliability, consistence, integrity and security, an ERP would bring a standardised systems across the company, with improved efficiency and reliability. With an ERP the company could take advantage of the new improvements that modern technology provides instead of relying on old legacy systems that have been replaced because of their flaws and problems. ERPs can not only can make Wingate more competitive and will also reduce a lot of the problems that the company is experiencing back office systems as an ERP has far superior organizing abilities then most older systems.
If Wingate Electric does not want to implement a fully integrated ERP, then the other options that Wingate can choose other then remaining with the status quo are:
· Developing their own in house ERP – Where the company develops their own ERP, takes longer, dependent on how well the company is equipped to handle the project, costly but offers a unique system that is design by the people who will eventually use it. Or a
· A best of breed system – Where a company simply buys certain select modules from different vendors to satisfy their essential needs. Cheaper, not standardised, dealing with multiple vendors, best module in each field.
