Ask Slashdot: When Is It Better To Modify the ERP vs. Interfacing It?

New submitter yeshuawatso writes I work for one of the largest HVAC manufacturers in the world. We've currently spent millions of dollars investing in an ERP system from Oracle (via a third-party implementor and distributor) that handles most of our global operations, but it's been a great ordeal getting the thing to work for us across SBUs and even departments without having to constantly go back to the third-party, whom have their hands out asking for more money. What we've also discovered is that the ERP system is being used for inputting and retrieving data but not for managing the data. Managing the data is being handled by systems of spreadsheets and access databases wrought with macros to turn them into functional applications. I'm asking you wise and experienced readers on your take if it's a better idea to continue to hire our third-party to convert these applications into the ERP system or hire internal developers to convert these applications to more scalable and practical applications that interface with the ERP (via API of choice)? We have a ton of spare capacity in data centers that formerly housed mainframes and local servers that now mostly run local Exchange and domain servers. We've consolidated these data centers into our co-location in Atlanta but the old data centers are still running, just empty. We definitely have the space to run commodity servers for an OpenStack, Eucalyptus, or some other private/hybrid cloud solution, but would this be counter productive to the goal of standardizing processes. Our CIO wants to dump everything into the ERP (creating a single point of failure to me) but our accountants are having a tough time chewing the additional costs of re-doing every departmental application. What are your experiences with such implementations?

Re:No matter how common you think it is...

[msauve]

It's a simple matter of getting all hands on deck and thinking outside of the box, so they can add value to a 6 sigma paradigm, architecting it to meet mission critical business needs while driving a best of breed reprocessing, in order to improve the EBITDA and get the boss a big bonus. If we can globally revolutionize synergistic e-commerce while doing so, win-win!

I'm available

[fredrated]

15 years solid Access experience!

What?

[wonkey_monkey]

When Is It Better To Modify the ERP vs. Interfacing It?

Modify the what?

I work for one of the largest HVAC manufacturers

A what manufacturer?

We've currently spent millions of dollars investing in an ERP system

A what system?

but it's been a great ordeal getting the thing to work for us across SBUs

Across what?

(via API of choice)?

Ooh, I know that one!

Our CIO

Chief... something... officer...