Like their peers in most other industries, manufacturing IT leaders are under pressure to innovate in the face of shrinking budgets. And their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors aren’t helping matters. More pushers than partners, many ERP vendors mandate costly upgrades and migrations that offer little to no ROI.
For some IT leaders, these vendor-driven roadmaps lead to dead-ends. But many successful manufacturing leaders are getting back in the driver’s seat and regaining control of their IT roadmaps, reclaiming control and redefining their approach to IT. And it starts with an important shift in perception, from viewing IT as a cost center to recognizing its potential as a strategic enabler capable of generating efficiencies to fuel growth and profitability.
This shift in mindset requires a fresh perspective on ERP systems. Such systems rarely serve as strategic platforms for growth. Instead, see them as mission-critical utilities that must function well, but only with a minimum level of effort. This, in turn, frees teams from rigid vendor-driven roadmaps to align more closely with the distinctive business needs of manufacturing organizations.
How are manufacturing IT leaders shifting mindsets to regain control of their IT roadmaps? Let’s explore.
Why manufacturing IT leaders are taking back control of their IT roadmap
Manufacturing leaders are increasingly taking charge of their technology and software strategies in response to concerns and challenges arising from enterprise software vendors mandating unnecessary upgrades that disrupt operations and require costly adjustments. In many instances, such upgrades and adjustments are misaligned with business needs.
Additionally, the pressure to adopt vendor subscription models has raised deep concerns among IT leaders. In fact, according to a recent Censuswide survey “Organizations Want More Control Over Their IT Roadmap,” a staggering 99% of respondents have voiced concerns about the implementation of vendor subscription-based licensing models. Many of these models offer little to no ROI, as 72% of leaders cite dissatisfaction due to inadequate support and service. Lack of accountability (62%) and limited expertise (46%) were also cited by experts in terms of their mistrust of subscription-based models.
The high costs and intricate nature of vendor-led upgrades, along with the complexities and expenses tied to managing multiple IT service providers, have pushed manufacturing leaders to explore more cost-effective and flexible alternatives. Leaders are actively seeking software solutions that provide greater flexibility, affordability and responsiveness. Regaining control is the path to follow, ensuring that IT investments align with business goals and offer tangible benefits without unnecessary disruptions.