There’s no doubt about it: your employees are a driving force behind your consideration of cloud-based ERP software. They’re the people using your business systems, after all, keeping the workflows flowing…making it all work, even if legacy systems are slowing them down with workarounds and manual inefficiencies. Are they ready for a change? We have some insights inside their grumblings.
The Enterprisers Project cites Forrester’s prediction that by the end of 2018, more than half of global enterprises will rely on at least one public cloud platform for digital transformation. The reasons are varied, from eliminating data silos and going mobile to teeing up for growth and managing customer expectations. But meeting the needs and expectations of employees is another goal driving adoption of cloud-based software—and it might not get the attention it deserves.
Cloud-Based ERP: The Employee’s Pick
You see, as consumers of mobile-friendly, on-demand digital media and communication tools outside of the office, your employees know what they’re missing in the office: mobile-friendly, on-demand access to the data and tools they need to do their jobs effectively. Here’s how—and why—cloud-based ERP software rises to the challenge:
- It Delivers a Better Technology Experience
Consider your employees’ experience at your workplace, from both cultural and technological standpoints. Deloitte Insights examines the trend that companies, in an effort to boost engagement and satisfaction, are developing a focus on improving the entire employee experience—and this includes providing technologies that align with people’s “there’s an app for that” expectations. They want to use software that’s accessible, intuitive, and all around user-friendly.
This might help explain Dell’s Global Adoption Index 2015 revelation that organizations with employee satisfaction as a goal are more likely to expand their cloud usage. Of course, a cloud-based ERP in and of itself is not a panacea for waning employee satisfaction, but implementing a modern solution for managing business system data and processes—and giving employees easy access to their software tools—are undeniable steps in the right direction.
- It Offers On-Demand and Self-Service Flexibility
If the rising prevalence of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) programs is any indication of changing employee preferences and corporate priorities, the demand for mobile-accessible business software is also on solid ground. As we discuss in 5 Mobile Office Productivity Statistics You Need to Know, mobility and productivity go hand-in-hand, and IT leaders are taking note.
Mobility is one of the most employee-loved features of cloud-based software. Due to its home on the web, users can access their apps from any computer or connected device, at work, home, or on-the-go. As such, an always-accessible ERP system is an incredible boon to the work/life balance: employees have the ability to access their software tools and data around-the-clock, not just when they’re logged into their desktop computer during office hours.
- It Builds Today’s Tech Skillsets—and Champions Innovation
As we addressed already, proving employees with up-do-date workplace technology is one way to engage employees; but it’s also a way to attract and retain them. Top talent, especially from the ranks of the millennial and Gen Z generations, will have most likely used cloud-based software in past jobs (and most certainly at school). They will have built their business software skills on this type of technology, and will expect to use it moving forward in their careers.
What’s more, cloud-based software, by nature, cultivates innovation. Its architecture is flexible and the code is designed for easy app integrations, meaning it easily accommodates the need for new functionality and new users. As a side effect of enabling more flexible work practices—thanks to automation and mobility—the technology paves the way for a more strategic-minded employee who works more efficiently and has time to focus on driving business results (not wading through piles of paper and waiting for reports to run). In fact, Frost & Sullivan research found that companies can increase productivity by as much as 400% by investing in collaboration technologies, like those that come standard with cloud-based business software.
If you’re ready to delight your employees with the cloud-based ERP software they may be clamoring for, contact us to learn how to start your transformation to cloud computing.
Additional ERP Resources:
4 Actionable Insights into the ERP Implementation Process
6 Signs It’s Time To Migrate Your Legacy IT Environment to the Cloud, Part 1
6 Signs It’s Time To Migrate Your Legacy IT Environment to the Cloud, Part 2
