“If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete.”

Your competitive advantage is what keeps you out in front. What are you doing to strengthen your organisation’s competitive advantage?

Competition.

It’s part of your DNA.

It dictates your survival.

When the lion starts chasing, you need to be faster than the runner next to you.

It’s the same with your ERP system. If it’s holding you back, then you’re the slower runner.

But how do you know if that’s you?

• Chances are you inherited the ERP you’re using.
• Chances are you’re comfortable with it. You know it, the workarounds, the things you need to do off-line, and you’re used to it.
• Chances are you haven’t stopped to think about how fit it is for what you need to do. […to run faster than the competition, remember?]

“What’s there to think about?” you ask. [There aren’t any lions around here.]

“My ERP system does everything I need.” [I’ve got two legs like the other runner.]

Then why do you struggle with x, y, and z?

Have you stopped to think about just how good the ERP modules you use are?

• Are they up with the best-in-class?
• Do they meet your needs?
• Do they keep you running faster than the competition?

Your “one-stop-shop" ERP system is convenient. It’s convenient for your IT department. It’s most convenient for your ERP vendor. But when you start to look at what it does in comparison to what is available, is it convenient for you? Does it enable you to work as effectively and efficiently as you could? The closer you look, the more you’ll see it’s more of a Jack-of-all-trades, and master of none.

Let’s be fair here…

ERP systems, like the one you use, represent the standard option. The standard option does the job. Like a standard car, a yellow taxi for example, it covers your basic needs. It has the standard ‘legs’ to do the standard job. But can you rely on those standard legs when you need to run? And run faster than whoever is running next to you?

Competitive struggles

You lead the supply chain. Confronting the organisation's competitive struggles is the job of Sales and Marketing. Right? Wrong! You’re a critical team member. You’re expected to transform your supply chain. You're not a mere cost centre. You're expected to transform it into a competitive advantage for your organisation. You must be innovative, minimise costs, and deliver benefits to the customer. Sure, you and your Supply Chain team are committed and hardworking. But do you and your team have the tools to work as effectively and efficiently as you could?

This is where you need to consider a purpose-built option over the standard option.

A Purpose-built option?

Let’s consider your ERP’s standard Warehouse Management System module. It's built for a purpose - to be everything to everyone. It may or may not have the features and functionality you and your team need. It may be over-engineered with features you and your team doesn’t need. It’s not the most cost-effective option. It’s the standard option - a simple pair of legs. Not your choice of legs when you’re chased by a lion.

If your WMS is purpose built, it's built to meet a specific need. It has what's needed for tasks you need to execute. Built to deliver improved inventory visibility and control. Built to reduce overheads. Built so you can use your resources more effectively. This makes it the most cost-effective option. It’s a pair of legs made for running - legs you’ll need when chased by a lion.

Remember, it’s all about survival.

When you start work tomorrow morning, you need to be running faster than the competition. Your competitive advantage keeps you in front. But a competitive advantage isn’t guaranteed. It’s not up to Sales and Marketing to create and preserve it. It’s up to you, too.

You lead the supply chain. What are you doing to strengthen your organisation’s competitive advantage? It’s what keeps you out in front. Is sticking with the standard option going to keep you in front?