ERP Solutions

ERP Solutions Consulting

Getting Started with ERP Is A Strategic Journey, Not a Software Install

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has come a long way from the monolithic systems of the early 2000s. Today, it's about empowering your people, streamlining your processes, and building a foundation for long-term growth—especially for mid-sized manufacturers feeling the pressure from rising costs, labour shortages and global competition.

But here’s the catch: if you’re stepping into ERP for the first time, the decision isn’t just technical. It’s strategic. And it needs to be approached that way.

Let’s explore what it really means to start this journey—and how the right partner and platform make all the difference.

ERP Is a Shift in the Way Your Business Operates

Think of ERP not as a tool, but as an operating model. It touches everything: supply chain, production, finance, compliance, reporting. That means choosing an ERP isn’t about ticking feature boxes. It’s about enabling your team to work better, together.

Here’s where a lot of first-time adopters go wrong: they focus entirely on what the software can do, without thinking about what their people need. Software can automate a process, sure—but it won’t fix a broken one. That’s why ERP success starts with understanding your internal workflows, not vendor demos.

And that’s exactly why Action Advisory doesn’t just hand over a system and walk away. We guide businesses through an advisory-led implementation, grounded in deep operational insight and backed by long-term support.

The First Step: Start with People, Not Tech

Any successful ERP rollout begins with the people who will use it.

Before anything technical happens, we help teams ask the right questions:

What’s actually holding us back right now?
Where do we spend the most manual hours?
What information are we constantly chasing down?
Who feels frustrated—and why?

These questions matter more than “Which ERP has the most features?” Because real transformation happens when the system reflects how your business actually runs—and helps it run better.

Our job isn’t to impose a new way of working. It’s to work with your teams, understand what’s already working, and identify where a smarter system can reduce waste, free up time, and give leaders real visibility.

Processes First. Always.

A well-configured ERP doesn’t replace your processes. It optimises them.

Here’s the thing: if you automate a chaotic process, you just get chaos faster. That’s why ERP success depends on clarity. Together, we’ll define what success looks like—down to the individual workflow. We’ll look at your existing processes, clean up what's outdated, and align your system to how you actually deliver value.

And because Rapid Platform is built specifically for mid-market manufacturers, you’re not stuck reconfiguring a bloated enterprise suite. You get the tools you need—production scheduling, supply chain visibility, quality control—all without the clutter of features you’ll never use.

With our phased, pilot-first implementation approach, you don’t just switch systems overnight. You build confidence in stages, with real-world testing, continuous feedback, and no surprises.

Short-Term Gains Are Nice. Long-Term Partnerships Matter More.

Some vendors promise a “go-live” in 30 days. And sure, they might tick that box.

But what happens after that?

You’re not investing in ERP for 30 days. You’re investing in the next 10 years of your business. That’s why our model is built around long-term enablement, not short-term implementation.

With Action Advisory, you don’t just get a system—you get a partner who:

Knows your industry.
Stays with you after launch.
Checks in regularly.
Adjusts the system as your business evolves.

Our monthly service model is about predictable pricing as well as predictable outcomes. You know what you’re getting, who’s supporting you, and how to plan for the future.

You get the full Rapid Platform toolkit, tailored to your needs, right from the start. No upsells. No nickel-and-diming. Then we work with you on a project basis to transition and transform.

ERP That Grows with You, Not Against You

Too many ERP projects hit a ceiling. The system was fine when you were smaller, but now it’s rigid, or expensive, or simply not built for the way your team works.

We’ve seen this story before—and it’s exactly what we’re working to change.

Rapid Platform is designed for growth. It’s flexible, modular, and fully cloud-based. That means:

No servers to maintain.
Instant updates and improvements.
Access from anywhere.
Easy customisation as your business changes.

And because our consulting model is built around continuous improvement, we’re proactive. Every week, we’ll sit down, look at your data, and ask: What could work better? Then we make it happen.

That’s the difference between having software and having a system that truly supports your business.

Why Manufacturers Are Replacing Legacy Tools with ERP

Let’s get specific. Why are mid-market manufacturers embracing ERP now?

Because the old tools just don’t cut it anymore.

Spreadsheets can’t track inventory in real-time.

Manual scheduling leads to delays and cost overruns.

Disconnected systems create blind spots across departments.

Compliance is harder when records live in three places.

And when you’re managing multiple sites, supply chain pressures, and workforce gaps, you can’t afford blind spots.

An ERP fills those gaps with real-time visibility and one source of truth—so you can respond faster, plan better, and grow with confidence.

Choosing a Partner, Not Just a Platform

Let’s say it plainly: even the best ERP system will fail if you don’t have the right people guiding you through it.

At Action Advisory, we’re not a software company. We’re a business growth consultancy that happens to specialise in ERP. That’s an important distinction.

Because we don’t just implement software. We work alongside you to rethink operations, empower your staff, and set your business up for the long haul.

Our success isn’t measured in go-live dates. It’s measured in:

Fewer bottlenecks.
Happier teams.
Smoother operations.
Better margins.

That’s what you’re really buying when you start an ERP journey with us.

What Getting Started Looks Like

If you’re wondering how this works in practice, here’s a quick snapshot of how we approach your first ERP rollout:

Discovery Workshops

We work with your teams to map out your goals, challenges and workflows. No assumptions. Just listening and insight.

Pilot Programme

We start small. A core area of your business gets the first version of the system. You use it. We tweak it. You get results, fast.

Full Rollout

Once the pilot delivers value, we expand the system across your business—training your staff, refining your workflows, and ensuring a smooth transition.

Ongoing Enablement

Regular check-ins. System updates. Strategic reviews. Your business doesn’t stand still—neither should your ERP.

It’s not a set-and-forget process. It’s a living partnership.

Ready to Begin? Let’s Talk About the Future

If you’re still running on spreadsheets, patchy software or outdated systems, it’s time to ask a different question—not “Can we afford an ERP?”, but “Can we afford to keep operating like this?”

An ERP system like Rapid Platform, supported by Action Advisory’s dedicated consultants, gives you the operational control and visibility to run smarter today—and scale confidently tomorrow.

Let’s build something that works not just for now, but for the next chapter of your business.