The increasing interest on the part of SME customers in collaborating on ERP projects with Infor's business software is a motivation for TCI to rapidly expand this area. Here too, M3 and LN customers are looking for TCI's proven approach of providing vendor-neutral advice and taking a holistic approach to projects, including processes. Above all, however, TCI contributes its leading transformation expertise and extensive ERP experience from other ERP projects in its community.
M3, LN and more: TCI expands its ERP consulting service for SMEs to include Infor systems
On the Infor M3 User Group Faiveley Transport presented its successful efficiency enhancement project together with TCI partners Martin Bergmann and Andreas Weißer at the 3rd conference in Munich in March. Faiveley highlighted the professional cooperation with TCI in their strategic framework program "Increased Efficiency through the use of M3 in a Company of the Railway Industry" in front of more than 50 participants.
For TCI, this event was a pleasing milestone in the expansion of its ERP consulting services for SMEs to include Infor systems. Infor, a global provider of business software, offers ERP systems such as M3 and LN, the latter of which is better known under its former name Baan. At M3, Martin Bergmann, the main contact person for prospective M3 customers, can now point to eight satisfied customers. For LN, Achaz von Arnim is well on the way to building up top-class consulting expertise.
Comprehensive ERP consulting for SMEs
Martin Bergmann sees the goal and added value of the consulting services for Infor projects primarily in the holistic approach to supporting SMEs: "The ultimate goal is satisfied customers - not only during the project period, but also later when using the implemented systems in everyday life". The following overview shows what TCI understands by "holistic":
Together with the customer, TCI works out the specific current and future requirements and expectations in the ERP transformation. It is helpful that many TCI partners themselves have many years of management experience in the SME sector. They know the importance of consistent professionalism in requirements, audits and reviews, Project Managementchange management and the anchoring of continuous improvement processes to ensure sustainable success.
Synergy effects between Infor and TCI
At its user conference in Dortmund 2017, Infor announced three key business objectives:
- Operational Efficiency
- Customer Engagement
- Employee Engagement.
To achieve these goals, Infor named levers, so-called "key digital levers", all of which are covered by TCI's expert knowledge:
The best conditions for good cooperation! This is now also supported by Infor TOP Management through an upcoming alliance with TCI as a strategic consulting partner.
Further steps in the development of Infor consulting expertise for SMEs
With Infor M3, TCI can already look back on several successful customer projects and has 15 experts who regularly exchange information in a community every 14 days and thus also generate added value for their customers. Similar activities on Infor LN have been underway for several months, with Martin Bergmann and Achaz von Arnim working closely together to achieve further synergy effects. After realizing the TCI membership in Infor LN User e.V.Achaz von Arnim's declared aim is to quickly establish an LN community comparable to M3. TCI partners with the required expertise have been exchanging ideas intensively since April in order to define the optimum consulting portfolio for customers.
Infor systems and ERP: What added value do SMEs still appreciate?
In line with the introduction and improvement of the ERP landscape and its processes, other topics are also very important for SME customers. These include, for example:
- Customer Experience
- Change Management / Training
- Innovation management
- Product Lifecycle Management - Variant configuration
- Agile project management.
TCI can provide very good support here thanks to the wide range of TCI partners. This takes place on three levels:
- Advice from TCI partners who were previously responsible for this topic in medium-sized companies or corporate groups.
- TCI forums / specialist conferences to which decision-makers are specifically invited to learn about innovations and exchange ideas.
- TCI seminars, for example on the subject of Agility, Scrum and so on.
Other colleagues and interested customers are very welcome. Please get in touch with the contact persons Martin Bergmann, Achaz von Arnim and Frank Bunge.
You are also welcome to attend our symposium "Service 4.0 - Digitalization drives Customer Service Excellence" on 17 September 2018 at the Schlosshotel Monrepos in Ludwigsburg. Our invitation-only event for managers who recognize the requirements and challenges of customer centricity in the face of increasing digitalization and want to successfully address them in their company. Further information can be found directly on the TCI news page and in the event flyer.
(Cover image: © yurolaitsalbert | fotolia.com)
