Enterprises working to resolve problems after rolling out an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system are most concerned over end-user adoption, according to a recent TechRepublic survey.

Approximately 32 percent of the 151 TechRepublic members who took the informal survey told us that addressing end-user adoption problems was their greatest concern. This finding is consistent with data from Gartner that shows that many enterprises underestimate the resources it takes to train users on ERP systems. (TechRepublic is a subsidiary of Gartner.)

Training is recognized as a top priority
In a recent report on SAP end-user training, for example, Gartner suggests that at a minimum, enterprises should allocate 17 percent of the total cost of an ERP project to training. Gartner research also suggests that companies that budget “less than 13 percent of their implementation costs for training are three times more likely than companies that spend 17 percent or more to see their ERP projects run over time and over budget.”

Second on the list of concerns was application maintenance, with 29 percent of respondents naming it as their primary concern, while future upgrades was third at 23 percent. Going over budget rounded out the list of concerns at 15 percent. (One percent of respondents selected “None of these.”)

ERP and CRM are top areas of interest
The survey, which appeared in CIO Republic, also asked respondents to list which enterprise application areas interested them the most. ERP and customer relationship management (CRM) came in at a virtual dead heat with 30 percent and 29 percent (respectively) of the vote.

Professional services automation (PSA), which helps enterprises manage projects, personnel, and budgets, was listed as the primary interest of 21 percent of respondents. Supply chain management (SCM) came in fourth with 18 percent. (Two percent of those who responded chose “None of the above.”)

Most will make use of e-marketplaces
TechRepublic’s survey also asked whether an e-marketplace would be critical to members’ procurement strategies during the next 18 months. Nearly 58 percent said that an e-marketplace would play a role in their procurement strategy, while 42 percent said it would not.

Will ERP survive?

Will ERP remain viable? We asked this question in a recent Polling Place Quick Poll and, according to the results, most people think it will be obsolete in 10 years or less. Do you agree? Read the results and start a discussion.