Is Your ERP Ready for 2026? Critical Gaps You're Missing

Your ERP system runs your business. But here's a problem: 60% of North American SAP users haven't started moving to newer systems, even though support ends in 2027. The global ERP market will hit $78.4 billion by the end of this year. Companies still using old systems are getting left behind. 

You already know something needs to change. Your system crashes when you're closing the month's books. Maybe getting a simple report takes three days instead of three minutes. Your team spends more time fixing problems than actually getting work done. These aren't just annoying. They're signs your ERP system can't handle where business is going.

Good news? You're not alone, and there's still time to fix this. We're going to show you the real gaps companies miss when checking their ERP readiness, which enterprise resource planning trends actually matter (not just the hype), and how to build an ERP system in 2026 that works for your business.

What ERP Readiness Really Means

Understanding Your Current System

ERP readiness isn't about having the newest ERP system 2026. It's about whether your system can support how your business works today and where you're headed tomorrow.

When we check ERP systems with clients, we look at three main things: Can your current system handle how much work you do? Does it connect properly with the other tools your teams use? And can it change when your business needs change without taking six months of programming?

Research from NetSuite shows that checking ERP readiness needs to go beyond just the technology. You need to know if your people and processes can handle the workflow changes and communication shifts that modern ERP systems require.

What Happens If You Wait

Let's talk about real numbers. The average return on ERP projects is 52%, meaning for every dollar spent, companies get $1.52 back. Companies usually see returns in about 2.5 years. But here's what happens when you delay:

Old ERP systems cost more to keep running than modern ones. You're paying for computer servers, electricity bills, special IT staff who know outdated systems, and expensive emergency fixes when things break. One healthcare company we studied found their old system costs were eating up money that could have paid for a complete move to cloud ERP.

The bigger cost isn't money—it's lost opportunities. While you're manually putting together reports, your competitors with modern systems are making decisions right away. While your team waits three days for IT to pull data, other companies are responding to market changes the same afternoon.

Problems with Old ERP Systems

Can't See Your Data Clearly

Your old ERP probably keeps data in separate places. Finance has their database. Operations have another. Sales and marketing use spreadsheets because getting data from the ERP takes too long. This separation creates real problems.

We worked with a distribution company where different departments reported different inventory numbers. Why? Each system updated at different times, and nobody could see what was happening right now. Matching everything at the end of the month took a full week because staff had to check records between systems by hand.

Modern cloud-based ERP systems give you real-time data access across all business operations. This means faster decisions, better planning, and actually knowing what's happening in your business right now, not three days ago.

Can't Connect to Other Tools

How many different software tools does your business use? CRM for sales, separate website for online orders, Special software for inventory or project management, accounting tools, HR systems. The list keeps going.

Old ERP systems struggle to connect with modern apps. You end up with manual data entry, duplicate records, and nobody trusting the numbers because they know information gets lost. Connection problems rank as one of the top barriers to successful digital change.

One manufacturing client told us they had staff literally retyping order information from their online store into their ERP because the systems couldn't talk to each other. Eight hours per week of manual data entry. That's over 400 hours yearly just moving information from one system to another.

Can't Grow with Your Business

Remember when you set up your current ERP? Your business probably looked different then. Maybe you had fewer locations. Simpler products. Smaller teams.

Old ERP solutions typically can't grow easily as business needs change. The rigid software that seemed fine five years ago now holds back growth. Adding new users, locations, or product lines requires expensive programming and long setup times.

According to IDC research, by late this year, 65% of organizations will use AI to bring immediate value to employees and business operations. Old systems can't support these new tools without major overhauls.

Big Changes in Enterprise Resource Planning Trends

Moving to Cloud ERP

The shift to cloud ERP isn't coming—it's already here. Over 60% of ERP setups are now cloud-based, up from 40% just five years ago. The cloud ERP market is expected to grow from $87.73 billion this year to $172.74 billion by 2029.

Why is everyone moving to the cloud? Lower starting costs. Automatic updates. Access from anywhere. Better backup if something goes wrong. Predictable monthly pricing instead of huge upfront payments. One mid-sized company we worked with cut their IT costs by 40% within the first year of moving to cloud ERP.

Cloud ERP migration isn't just about technology. It changes how your team works. Sales reps can check customer data from their phones. Finance can close books remotely. Managers can check important numbers without being in the office. This flexibility became essential during recent years and it's staying.

AI Making Things Smarter

Artificial intelligence in ERP isn't science fiction anymore. 65% of ERP vendors are adding AI and machine learning into their platforms. We're seeing AI handle forecasting, approve processes automatically, and predict what might happen next.

Real example: A client added AI forecasting to their ERP. Their predictions got 20% more accurate, and they cut operating costs by 15%. The system looks at past patterns, market trends, and outside factors humans might miss.

Adding robots (RPA - Robotic Process Automation) to ERP systems has led to 30% increases in efficiency for rule-based tasks and 25% fewer manual mistakes. Think about processing invoices, entering data, routine approvals—tasks that take time but don't need human judgment.

NetSuite's recent updates include better forecasting, AI-powered month-end closing, and talking quote features. These aren't just nice additions. They change how businesses work.

Building Blocks Instead of One Big System

The old way of doing ERP was all-or-nothing. Buy one massive system that does everything. The problem? You get features you don't need, pay for stuff you won't use, and changing one thing affects everything else.

Composable ERP setups are changing this. Instead of one giant platform, businesses put together ERP environments from smaller, independent pieces that can grow or get replaced without messing up everything.

Benefits include flexibility (use only what you need), faster upgrades (update specific pieces separately), and better connections with special tools. Think Lego blocks instead of a solid concrete foundation.

Made for Your Industry

Generic ERP systems try to work for everyone, which means they work perfectly for no one. Manufacturing companies make up 47% of ERP software buyers, but their needs are totally different from distributors (18%), services (12%), or construction (4%).

Modern ERP providers offer features built for specific industries. Retail ERP includes cash register connections and selling through multiple channels. Manufacturing ERP has production planning and quality checks. Healthcare ERP handles rules and patient data protection.

This focused approach means less custom programming, faster setup, and better ready-to-use features for your specific business.

Checking If You Need a Legacy ERP Upgrade

Signs You Need to Change

Not sure if you need to modernize? Here are clear signs:

Your system crashes a lot. If your ERP crashes monthly, weekly, or during important business times, that's not normal. Modern systems run stable with 95%+ uptime.

Everyone uses workarounds. When your team creates complicated spreadsheet systems because the ERP can't handle certain tasks, that's a problem. You're paying for ERP but working around it.

Can't get the reports you need. If basic business questions need custom programming or IT help to answer, your ERP isn't doing its job.

Security worries. Old systems face bigger danger from hackers and viruses. If your vendor doesn't provide security patches anymore, you're at serious risk.

Can't support remote work. Systems needing VPN access or office-only connections limit how flexible your business can be.

Research from ASUG found that 49% of users say changing business processes is the biggest barrier to moving, while 44% worry about custom features. These concerns make sense, but staying on unsupported systems creates bigger risks.

Ways to Move to Cloud ERP

When planning cloud ERP migration, you have several choices:

Switch Everything at Once
 Move from old to new system all at one time. Risky but fast. Works better for smaller companies or those with simpler processes. Needs lots of testing and strong change management.

Move in Stages
 Migrate parts or departments gradually. Start with less important areas, learn, adjust, then move critical operations. Lower risk but longer timeline. Many organizations prefer this way.

Keep Some, Move Some
 Keep some systems in your office while moving others to the cloud. Often used when the main company runs one system and branches use cloud solutions. Needs strong connection abilities.

Levi Strauss & Co.'s move started in 2018, with the first major setup in late 2020 and second in late 2021. The investment in technology seemed scary at first, but the result was real-time insights, automation, and globally aligned processes.

Moving Your Data

Moving data is one of the trickiest parts of changing ERP. Gartner research shows 50-75% of ERP projects fail because of data migration challenges.

Common problems include:

Messy data. Years of built-up errors, duplicates, and inconsistencies in old systems. One company found out 30% of their customer records were duplicates.

Different formats. Each ERP system has unique ways of organizing data. Translating between systems needs careful planning and changing.

Connected information. Your data isn't isolated. Customer records connect to orders, which connect to invoices, which connect to payments. Breaking these connections while moving causes serious problems.

Not enough resources. Many organizations don't give enough time, money, or skilled people for data migration. This creates rushed moves with poor results.

Best ways to do it:

Check your data thoroughly before moving. Clean and standardize information first. Run practice migrations multiple times. Check data accuracy at each step. Don't skip this—clean migration data means accurate reports and following rules.

Modern ERP Features You Actually Need

Live Reports and Analytics

Modern ERP features include live dashboards showing how well you're working, financial performance, and business numbers. No more waiting for IT to run reports. No more wondering if the numbers are current.

According to Softengine research, modern systems provide detailed tracking for regulated industries, sales and operations planning using AI to predict demand, and what-if analysis for supplier problems or cost changes.

One client set up real-time inventory tracking across multiple warehouses. Stock levels update instantly when items move. Automatic reorder happens when quantities hit certain points. Warehouse staff see available inventory on mobile devices. The result? 40% fewer stockouts and 25% less excess inventory.

Access from Phones and Tablets

Your workers aren't stuck at desks anymore. Sales reps work from client sites. Managers travel between locations. Remote teams access systems from home offices.

Mobile ERP solutions make everything visible and accessible across the company. They speed up business processes, boost productivity, and save time and money. Mobile ERP apps include tools for field service, delivery confirmation, warehouse management, point-of-sale, purchase approval, and employee attendance.

Think about a field technician closing service tickets from their phone, or a sales manager approving purchase orders while traveling. This isn't luxury—it's what you need to operate.

Better Security

Modern cloud ERP providers spend heavily on security. Two-step login. Encryption when data moves and when it sits still. Regular security checks. Compliance certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR).

Compare this to old systems where you're responsible for all security. Do you have dedicated security staff? Regular testing for weak spots? Immediate updates when patches come out? Most organizations don't, creating vulnerabilities.

Cloud providers also offer better disaster recovery. Your data copies across multiple locations. If one data centre fails, others take over. Try matching that with office servers without massive investment.

Easy Connections

Modern ERP systems come with tools to connect easily with popular business apps. CRM connection means sales data flows automatically to finance. Online store connection gets rid of manual order entry. HR system connection keeps employee data in sync.

Advanced connection tools simplify processes, making real-time data flows and unified company-wide analytics possible. This connection enables true digital change where systems work together instead of creating more separate databases.

Building Your ERP Modernization Plan

Check Everything First (Months 1-2)

Start with honest evaluation of where you are:

Write down pain points. Talk to actual users across departments. What slows them down? What breaks? What workarounds exist? Write everything down.

List all connections. Write down every system that connects to or exchanges data with your ERP. Understanding these connections prevents surprises during moving.

Check data quality. Run data quality checks. How many duplicate records? How many incomplete entries? How clean is your data?

Define what you need. What do you actually need from an ERP? Not want—need. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves.

Calculate total costs. Add up everything: license fees, computers, maintenance, IT staff time, workarounds, inefficiencies. Compare this to modern alternatives.

Plan Everything Out (Months 3-4)

Pick the right solution. Research vendors meeting your requirements. 53% of businesses consider ERP a priority investment. Don't rush this decision.

Request demos focused on your specific workflows. Generic demos look great but might not address your actual problems. Bring users from different departments to check usability.

Check references from companies in your industry with similar size and complexity. Ask about setup challenges, ongoing support, and whether they'd choose the same vendor again.

Make an implementation plan. Define project scope, timeline, budget, and resources. Identify project team members and their jobs. Create clear milestones and success measures.

Address change management. Deloitte reports 38% of ERP failures happen because people don't adopt the new system. Plan training, communication, and support strategies now, not after launch.

Set Everything Up (Months 5-12)

Configure system. Set up modules, workflows, and business rules. Balance setup with custom programming—avoid recreating inefficient old processes just because they're familiar.

Move data. Execute your data migration plan. Extract, clean, transform, load. Check at each step. Run old and new systems together during testing to confirm accuracy.

Test thoroughly. Functional testing confirms features work correctly. Integration testing makes sure systems communicate properly. User acceptance testing checks if the system meets business needs.

Train users. Hands-on training workshops. Job-specific instruction. Create documentation and quick reference guides. Set up super-users who can support their departments.

Go live. Choose how to start (all at once vs. in stages). Have a support team ready for problems. Watch system performance closely.

Keep Improving (Ongoing)

ERP modernization doesn't end when you go live. Continuous improvement includes:

Watch system performance and user adoption. Track numbers you defined during planning. Are you getting expected benefits?

Gather feedback regularly. What's working? What's not? What additional tools would help?

Stay current with updates and new features. Modern cloud ERP providers release updates regularly. Take advantage of improvements.

How GO-Globe Helps with ERP Changes

ERP modernization means big change for any organization. At GO-Globe, we help businesses handle this change with services that balance technical know-how and practical business needs.

Our approach starts with thorough checking of your current situation, business requirements, and readiness for change. We help you build realistic plans that consider your timeline, budget, and what your organization can handle.

During setup, we provide project management, technical guidance, and change management support. We've seen common mistakes and knew how to avoid them. Our goal is reducing risk while speeding up when you get value.

After you go live, we offer improvement services making sure you're getting full value from your investment. Many organizations set up ERP but use only a small part of available tools. We help close that gap.

Ready to check your ERP readiness? Contact GO-Globe for a complete evaluation and practical plan for modernizing your enterprise resource planning system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between cloud ERP and keeping servers in my office?

Think of cloud ERP like Netflix—you pay monthly and access it through the internet. You don't need to buy or maintain computers in your office. Updates happen automatically. Your team can work from anywhere. Office servers (on-premises) are like owning DVDs—you buy everything upfront, you control it completely, but you're responsible for fixing problems and keeping things running. Cloud costs less to start and works better for remote teams.

How much does ERP really cost when you add everything up?

The software price is just the beginning. You also need to pay for moving your data, training your team, customizing the system to fit your business, and getting help when problems happen. For medium-sized companies, expect to spend about 3-5% of yearly revenue. Research shows 57% of ERP projects end up costing 189% more than originally planned, so always budget extra for surprises.

How long does it take to get ERP up and running?

Small to medium businesses usually take 3-9 months. Larger companies might need up to 18 months. How long depends on how complicated your business is, how much data you have, and whether you switch everything at once or move in stages. Moving in stages takes longer but is safer. You'll need time for testing and teaching your team how to use it.

What's the difference between ERP and CRM?

ERP acts like your business's central nervous system, connecting finance, inventory, manufacturing, and operations into one system. CRM focuses just on customers—tracking sales, marketing campaigns, and customer service. Think of it this way: ERP manages what happens inside your company (making products, managing money, tracking inventory). CRM manages how you interact with customers outside your company (sales calls, emails, support tickets). Some companies need both.

Can my team use ERP from their phones or home?

Modern ERP systems include mobile apps that work on phones and tablets. Sales reps can enter orders from client meetings. Managers can approve purchases while traveling. Warehouse workers can update inventory counts right from their phones. If your team works remotely or travels a lot, make sure to test the mobile version before buying. Not all ERP systems have good mobile access.

Will my team actually use the new ERP or ignore it?

This is the biggest problem with ERP projects. 38% of ERP failures happen because people don't use the new system. To avoid this, explain clearly why the change helps them (not just the company). Let employees test it before launch. Train people based on their actual jobs. Pick someone in each department to be the "expert" who helps coworkers. Make sure the new system actually makes their work easier, not harder.

What happens to our custom features when we upgrade?

Not everything transfers automatically. Some custom features might already exist in the new system as standard options. Others can be rebuilt using simpler tools. Some might need to be completely redone. This is actually a good time to ask: "Do we still need this custom feature, or was it just fixing a problem with the old system?" Modern ERP systems focus on setup options rather than heavy custom programming.

What if the project goes over budget or takes longer than expected?

This happens a lot. 50-75% of ERP projects face budget or timeline problems, usually because moving data is harder than expected or the company didn't realize how complicated things were. To protect yourself: work with companies that have done this before, ask about fixed prices, plan everything carefully, and always budget extra time and money. Check progress every week to catch problems early.

Does my industry need special ERP features?

Yes. Manufacturing companies need production planning and quality control. Retail needs point-of-sale and inventory tracking. Healthcare needs patient data protection and regulatory compliance. When shopping for ERP, ask vendors how many customers they have in your industry. Talk to companies like yours who use that system. Make sure industry-specific features are built-in, not expensive add-ons you pay extra for.

How often does ERP need updates and will that break everything?

Cloud ERP updates happen automatically, usually every few months. The vendor handles it, and you barely notice. These updates include new features, security fixes, and improvements. Office-based systems need manual updating, which you control but must manage yourself. Good news: modern cloud systems update smoothly without breaking things or requiring you to shut down during business hours.