1. About our respondents
To summarise the data...
are shared
services
organisations
are still on their
centralisation and
standardisation
journey
are global or
multinational
companies
INFOGRAPHIC REPORT
How to achieve
process excellence
with multiple ERPs
3 keys to success
Research brought
to you by:
©sharedserviceslink and Kofax, a Lexmark Company 2015
73%
72%
27%
In 2015 Kofax, a Lexmark company, and
sharedserviceslink conducted a survey with
over 70 shared service professionals in the
UK and Ireland to explore whether the quality
of P2P processes varied between those with
single ERPs and those with multiple ERPs.
About half of our respondents have a single
ERP and half have multiple ERPs.
In this report we analyse and compare
processes using single and multiple ERPs, as
well as examine how those with multiple
ERPs use third party tools to improve their
P2P process.
Read on for our results
While a single ERP system can improve the
standardisation of processes, as well as visibility
across the business, companies often have
multiple ERPs or different instances of ERPs.
The ERP landscape of
our respondents
Is there a difference in the pain points for
organisations using single vs multiple ERPs?
When comparing top pain points of those with
one ERP system to those with multiple ERPs,
the biggest difference is visibility and access to
documents, such as invoices.
Single ERPs vs
Multiple ERPs
How many ERPs does your
organisation have?
Is your organisation considering
consolidating ERPs?
For those with multiple ERPs: what is
the reason more than 1 ERP is in use
today?
Which of the following pain points do
you have in your organisation?
48%
1 ERP
2 to 3
19%
6%
10%
17%
More than 10
3 to 5
5 to 10
86%
14%
86%
of companies that
have multiple ERPs are
global or multinational
companies with
subsidiaries
48%
have just one ERP and
52%
have multiple ERPs.
86%
of the companies with multiple ERPs are
large complex, global companies.
14%
of companies
with multiple ERP
systems operate in
just one or two
countries
38%
are considering or planning a
consolidation of ERPs.
The benefits of a single ERP appear to be well
understood, and it’s not necessarily the cost
that prevents companies from consolidating.
The main reason companies don’t consolidate
is that it is just not yet a priority compared to
other goals.
The top 3 pain points across all respondents are
manual entry across multiple systems,
breakdowns in workflow and disparate processes.
The biggest difference comparing pain points of
those with single ERPs vs Multiple ERPs was
access and visibility of documents such as invoices.
Only 10%
of those with multiple ERPs rated their
invoice processing as excellent, versus 21%
for
those with a single ERP.
Those with “excellent” invoice processing
Consolidation is a
low priority vs other
company goals
Each ERP addresses
different business
requirements
Multiple ERPs
provide greater
business flexibility
Effort and cost of
consolidation is too
high to justify
consolidation
Consolidation is too
complex a project
to undertake
Benefits of
consolidation are
not well understood
Manual entry across
multiple systems
Breakdowns in
workflow
Disparate
processes
Difficulty measuring
and monitoring
processes
Access and visibility
of documents
Long finacial close
process
Lack of visibility
spend across the
organisation
None of the above
Access and visibility of documents such as invoices
Disparate processes
Manual entry across multiple systems
56%
19%
17%
14%
3%
1%
50%
47%
46%
39%
47%
21%
58%
32%
61%
38%
34%
26%
21%
17%
76%
difference
58%
difference
46%
difference
ERPs alone don't show the whole technology
picture in finance. So, we also wanted to explore
the role third party technology plays, and if it's
different for those with single ERPs versus
multiple ERPs.
The ERP Landscape
About half (48%) had a single ERP, half (52%) had
multiple ERPs. Complex, global businesses are
much more likely to have multiple ERPs.
Single vs. Multiple ERPs
Common P2P pain points are much more
pronounced in companies with multiple ERP
systems, especially issues of access and visibility
of documents.
Impact of Technology
Although not optimal when compared with single
ERPs, automation provides significant benefits to
companies with multiple ERP systems.
So how can companies with multiple ERPs
enjoy the same benefits as those with
single ERPs?
This research identified three keys to success:
Using technology
alongside ERPs
What tools do you use in addition to
your ERP to manage financial
processes?
Here we compare the pain points of
those with multiple ERPs with and
without AP automation tools, and
those with a single ERP.
53%
78%
68%
75%
44%
55%
41%
47%
SingleERP
MultipleERPs
Workflow
management
tool
Manual entry
across multiple
systems
Disparate
processes
Breakdowns
in workflow
Difficulty measuring
and monitoring
processes
Access and visibilty
of documents such
as invoices
Long financial
close process
Lack of visibility of
spend across the
organisation
Invoice
automation
tools (Scanning,
OCR, Data
Capture)
AP
automation
Business
process
management
tools
Companies with multiple ERPs generally use more
tools in AP / P2P including invoice automation tools
and workflow.
Those with multiple ERPs not using AP
Automation tools have the highest percentage of
pain points, in nearly all categories. Those using
automation tools are better off, but are not doing
as well as those with single ERP systems.
Multiple ERPs, not using third party automation tools
Multiple ERP using 3rd party tools
Single ERP
Capturing structured and unstructured
information across the business is crucial for
assuring full visibility. Consider tools that capture
paper, electronic documents and forms,
transforming them into accurate and actionable
information.
Tools should be compatible with any ERPs you
are working with.
Achieve global
visibility and
insight across
multiple systems
1
Leverage
technology for
processes
improvement
2
AP technology has changed dramatically over
the last few years. Technology today features
end-to-end analytics that provide valuable,
real-time information for measuring user
productivity, optimising cash management,
enhancing supplier relationships and assuring
compliance.
These metrics contribute to optimising
processes for higher throughput, reduced costs
and improved performance.
Ensure tools are
as user friendly
as B2C
technology
3
When technology is complex or not user
friendly, user adoption will be challenged.
Device independent interfaces ensure
employees will be effective and more willing to
engage with the application from their desktop,
laptop or smartphone.
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phrase or in whole without the written permission of sharedserviceslink.com Ltd. The concept of this product belongs
to sharedserviceslink.com Ltd and cannot be re-created by a third party for the purpose of an event, article, report or
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Conclusion
About Lexmark
By leveraging user-friendly tools that both
capture all the key information and provide
actionable insights, those with multiple ERPs can
start to ‘close the gap’ and start seeing the same
benefits as those with single ERPs.
Automation of labor intensive and error prone
processes such as capture, validation and
approval; together with insight and visibility
provided by analytics, enables companies with
multiple ERPs to enjoy benefits similar to those
with single ERPs.
Technology has helped alleviate the pain points
faced by those with multiple ERPs, but
leveraging the right technology and following
best practice can intensify those benefits.
Lexmark Enterprise Software is a global provider
of software and solutions to simplify and
transform the First MileTM
of customer
engagement.
The First Mile represents information-intensive
interactions a customer, provider or partner has
with your organisation — interactions like new
customer onboarding, claims processing, patient
experience, student transcript processing and
citizen services. By making these meaningful
interactions fast, simple and accurate, you can
set the stage for enduring and profitable
customer relationships. In addition, by
automating and streamlining accounts payable,
invoice processing and other operational
processes, the business can better facilitate
hallmark customer interaction.
A friction-free First Mile, and subsequent
mutually beneficial engagements, can result in a
sustainable competitive advantage.
If you are interested in improving your
financial processes and
automation across one or a
number of ERPs, contact
info@lexmark.com
21% 10%
Single ERP Multiple ERPs
Single ERP
Multiple ERPs
Multiple ERPs, without tools
Multiple ERPs, with tools
Single ERP
30%
20%
8%
6%
24%
12%
Yes, we are
planning to
move to
one ERPYes, we are
planning to move
to just a few ERPs
Consolidating
ERPs is being
considered,
but not
planned yet
No, we have
already
consolidated
ERPs
No, we are not
looking into
consolidating
ERPs
I don’t know
69%
53%
38%
63%
47%
32%
32%
63%
47%
47%
38%
38%
38%
27%
12%
33%
15%
44%
44%
40%
21%