Today we’ll explore what many organizations have to face at some point in their ERP system life cycle. And it can be a difficult decision, likely expensive, and disruptive to business. However, sometimes the convenience of keeping a legacy system is outweighed by the risks involved in maintaining it, keeping it compatible with your current business systems and strategy, and being left behind your competitors with the advantages offered in newer systems built for the modern business environment.
Widely used industry solutions such as Deltek GCS have had a good run, and customers across the government contracting industry have squeezed every last bit of life out of the system. According to industry experts at WJ Technologies, “GCS has been a good and stable software solution for government contractors for years. It was first released in the mid-80’s, as System 1, with various capabilities added throughout the years. In or around 2000 the system was released as GCS Premier with a ‘gooey’ interface. Subsequently it was bundled, and then offered in the cloud as DFS-GovCon. Since then there have been no significant revisions to the product. The platform is not supported by Microsoft any longer, and GCS is now slated for de-supporting.” Is that a risk your organization is willing to take?
Here are some of the key considerations when evaluating the replacement of your legacy ERP system:
Cost: Many systems are retained because of the cost of replacing them. The time and effort required to implement a new system, go through the training process, and still do your day job can be daunting. However, you will come to realize that many of the features and capabilities of a new system will ultimately outweigh the costs. Modern, cloud-based solutions can be more adaptable to your changing needs. Whether it be mobile capabilities for a workforce on the move, seamlessly working with primes, subcontractors, and partners, or meeting the strict security standards required to keep your critical data safe.
Compatibility and Security: All systems should meet the functional needs of a company, and legacy systems will have built up this functionality over time to meet the changing needs of the government contractor. While that may be the case, the cost and risk of maintaining these systems. According to industry experts at Raffa P.C., “It is also important to evaluate how an outdated system may be hindering your organization. As technology continues to evolve and innovate, older systems can be left behind, incompatible with new systems and applications. As this continues, updating your legacy system becomes more expensive as the tools needed to migrate your data also become dated over time. Eventually, replacement becomes necessary, and is often a good way to help move your organization forward.”
Implementation Time Commitment: You’re always going to be busy, and there is no “perfect time” for a change. However, waiting until the last moment when you’re forced to make a change can be a risk to your business. The move to a new system will require an implementation. According to industry experts at WikiUp Consulting, “Regardless of what solution you select for the future, the move is an implementation that requires design, configuration, training, and testing. We recommend allotting 2-3 months minimum duration for the implementation for even the smallest clients.”
If you are considering the options when replacing your legacy systems such as Deltek GCS, you have much to consider. Learn more about why JAMIS Prime ERP could be a good option for your business by signing up for our next webinar HERE.
