Hulinska Yevheniia / Mika Besfamilnaya / Shutterstock.com How PPAI Chose And Implemented Its New ERP System Making the shift from legacy software to an integrated enterprise resource planning system offers the Association a more holistic approach to managing resources and operations. By CW Karstens OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I have covered what innovation is, where innovative ideas come from, how to build a culture of innovation, common pitfalls and measuring success when implementing innovation. But as PPAI’s director of digital transformation, I think it’s time I brought all that together and explain how the Association has actively put those philosophies into action – how we put our proverbial money where our mouth is. In those same months that I’ve been preaching about the foundations of innovation, PPAI was preparing for a logistical undertaking that requires some degree of cooperation from basically every department: the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system. The biggest motivation was somewhat simple: PPAI had an aging financial system. At some point, something was going to have to change. We looked at migrating to the suggested replacement software solution but felt a thorough search of alternatives would be wise. Why Choose ERP? Eventually, we looked beyond financial software – which focus specifically on managing financial processes and transactions – and expanded our search into ERPs, which provide a comprehensive suite of integrated applications that cover a wide range of business functions. ERP systems offer a more holistic approach to managing resources and operations, making them better at streamlining processes and improving efficiency across departments. That comprehensive nature that ERPs aim for makes choosing the right one crucial. In that decision-making process, an organization has to factor in a potential ERP’s strength, 28 • JUNE 2024 • PPAI Voices | Innovation
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