The next great revolution in enterprise technology will be the migration to true cloud-based ERP solutions. This migration path will displace many third-party add-on applications that create expensive clunky integrations between their application and “dinosauric” ERP software. The rise in no-code “intranet” portals will quickly accelerate enterprise value in cross-departmental processes enabling power user adoption by employees. The new vehicle of integration will be API calls and webhooks between both next-generation solutions.
This “Great Migration” is fraught with obstacles, and it is important that Value Add Resellers (VARs) and technological consultants ensure these issues are addressed fully with proper strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
The Intranet’s role in Cloud ERP’s migration
Workflow tools like Omnidek can offer an initial step to begin cleaning up work processes around purchasing, time collection, receiving, daily reports, and so on. The importance of this is not to compete for feature to feature with existing apps but to position a company for an easy transition to cloud ERP.
Just think about the alternative. You purchase a new cloud ERP system that offers all of the new robust integrations, you spend all of your time trying to re-establish connections across 5 to 10 existing outdated bolt-on apps requiring weeks of custom development. By establishing workflows into an intranet portal and beginning the implementation, you save tons of hours during this transition because migration becomes more of a back-office function. The workflow tool simply unplugs from legacy ERP and plugs into the new cloud ERP platform with virtually zero disruption from the office and field.
The Intranet’s role in Smart Data Enterprise Content Management
Not all intranet and workflow tools are created equally. It is important when choosing an intranet portal that it has the capability to become the Enterprise Repository for content. In order to do so it must be able to meet 3 fundamental demands.
- Capable of capturing valid data (via forms) from any person that would ever interact with your company. This means not just internal forms processing, but also extranet portal functions; such as new hires, subcontractors, customers, and others – coming to your portal to create, validate, and self service.
- The intranet portal must offer dynamic data usage and extreme flexibility to meet cross-departmental or even job specific requirements. Big Data has been one of the key buzzwords for businesses everywhere over the last few years, but has lacked the overlaying structure and proper tools to seriously leverage it’s potential. The power of a truly flexible platform will allow for dynamic organization and structure to be re-purposed. Fixed featured work processes inside a single provider is not the same thing.
- It must offer public API access and web hooks to enable all data captured via forms I accessible for integrations and analytics.
If you get these 3 fundamentals right in your intranet portal you create a robust strategy for transitioning away from paper driven content management towards what is called “Smart Data Content Management”. This is when every data point in your company is accessible, reportable, and condition able for real time visibility and alerting. In turn you are eliminating the idea of filing all together.
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