Process Harmonization: Variant 1
- Start with an analyis of the current processes using data from the current ERP systems. Together with new requirements resulting from future strategies we get an overview of the needs.
- Analyze the company structure with a focus on inter-company business. Using new processes in this field can lead to big efficiency gains.
- Categorize these requirement using well knows process schemes (make-to-stock, assemble-to-order, make-to-order, engineer-to-order).
- Start the “negotiation” for processes based on this categorization. Here, Arumba plays the role of the critical challenger. Our goal is to define proceeses with high automization potential.
- Add return and reversal processes where neceeary
Process Harmonization: Variant 2
As an alternative we start with just one process variant and “negotiate” additional processes. Reasons for additional process variants must be very solid. Also here, we play the “critical challenger”.
Sometimes, this approach is easier than variant 1 because people do no “loose” process variants during the workshops.
Some Important Tricks
- Have a very flexible process for all the “others”
- Look for rules in your processes. If you can define rules, you can automate (the most expensive rule is: “It depends”. This rule calls for a human for all decisions)