ERP may not be the ticket for supply chains

That’s the main apparent finding from a study conducted by UK supply chain advisory firm Bisham Consulting. Martin Williams, director of Bisham, says that “complex ERP offerings are an expensive hammer to crack a relatively simple walnut.” Detail is short, but five supply chain IT solution providers (Deltion, Destiny, DPS, Fleetwood and RedPrairie) have now come together to offer what Williams describes as a practical, cost-efficient alternative. These five are together running showcase events in Manchester and London next month, to put over their offerings. Says Williams: “The demands of cost effectiveness, simplicity, visibility and customer service are often not met. Although the major ERP solutions are expensive to purchase and to implement, they all too often do not meet the expected cost benefits in the supply chain.”