During Unanet AE ERP implementations, many firms choose to begin with basic accounting functionality. This can be a practical strategy, particularly for firms with limited staff resources. It helps to ensure core accounting processes and consistent cash flow take top priority. Once these foundational processes are well-established, though, it’s time to leverage Unanet AE ERP's full potential by expanding its use across other roles within the company to reach a full return on investment.
Which accounting tasks should your implementation handle first?
Concentrating first on critical accounting tasks—such as tracking time against projects, processing vendor invoices, and sending and collecting client invoices— minimizes disruption to cash flow. For staff already operating under tight constraints, this approach ensures that core accounting functions run smoothly before introducing additional features.
Once staff members are comfortable with these basic processes, the next step is to introduce additional Unanet AE ERP functionalities.
Next: the key Unanet AE ERP features to establish
Expanding access to specific ERP features, tailored to various roles within the firm, unlocks opportunities to optimize processes and maximize value.
Some key functionalities to consider adding in subsequent phases include:
- Opportunity tracking: The project lifecycle begins with an opportunity, such as a potential project, proposal, RFP, or RFQ. Unanet enables the setup of Opportunity projects, with defined stages to track progress through the Opportunity process. Additionally, an Opportunity Dashboard, available in the Unanet Marketplace, provides insights into Opportunity metrics like hit rate.
- Project Planning and Project Central: Unanet’s Planning and Project Central functionalities allow project managers the ability to budget, schedule project resources (internal and external), and manage key metrics for their projects. With the ability to access these functionalities in the desktop and web applications, project managers have visibility into their project’s status and profitability from almost anywhere!
- Dashboard development: Role-specific dashboards, tailored to individual needs, provide concise, actionable data. These empower team members to make timely, informed decisions, aligned with their responsibilities.
- Customizations: Unanet AE ERP offers extensive customization capabilities. By collaborating with a qualified programmer, you can develop tailored reports and actions that significantly enhance process efficiencies, unlocking nearly limitless possibilities for optimization.
When it comes to implementation, a phased approach is the best approach
Adopting a phased approach allows firms to methodically transition to Unanet AE ERP while ensuring both operational stability and continuous improvement.
Fully integrating all parts of Unanet AE ERP ensures an optimal return on the firm's investment while enabling firms to operate more efficiently and effectively.
