Working with a system which is nearing end-of-life isn’t all bad news. There are both positive and negative aspects; the extent to which it is still suitable for business requirements depends on the strategy and requirements of your business.

PROs: On the up side, older systems are often settled and therefore stable; any bugs are ironed out and for those companies that don’t need to change business processes, stability means lower cost of ownership. Support is easier, as users are familiar with the system; maturity also means depth of functionality and also depth of skills in the market (although the persons providing that support may themselves be aging and because of their seniority more expensive).

CONs: The major disadvantage is the inability to take advantage of new ways of working; specifically, concepts like web accessibility, cloud computing, better integration of value chains, and the associated features of software as a service may be out of reach. Difficulty may also result when using new technology in other areas of the business with the ERP system, while compatibility issues may result with new operating systems and other peripheral systems which have faster refresh cycles.

Ultimately, it is as important to examine the reasons for making the decision to remain on older technology, as it is to evaluate the case for moving to new. What should be ascertained is whether or not the current system is inhibiting opportunities, and whether new technology will add value to the company. Will it save costs – and can new technology enable changes to the business which can boost performance? Does the business have requirements that traditional ERP systems do not address? The answers to these fundamental questions should guide the corporate ERP strategy.