ERP - CMMS - CAPM: Gain productivity thanks to ergonomics

Digital tools such as ERP, CMMS or CAPM play a central role in the company, involve all departments and are part of the daily work tools of many employees. However, they are not unanimous and for good reason:

• difficult navigation;
• interface that lacks clarity;
• inadequate solution compared to the sector of activity;
• presence of superfluous information and functionalities.

To avoid the frequent under-utilization (or misuse) that results, it is essential to choose a high-performance but above all ergonomic solution.

It is observed that most software intended for industrial operations are either:

• single-task: and in this case only fulfill a single function;
• multi-task: such as most ERPs do not fully meet the needs of mobility and interaction.

Sectors of activity such as industry or construction are complex work environments that require effective production management, team coordination, monitoring of project progress and the status of company resources. To improve the productivity and profitability of operations, it is essential to choose a tool that is ergonomic enough to allow you to achieve these objectives.

The more ergonomic your interface, the more you can take advantage of the functionalities of your tools to allow you to better manage time, tasks, communication with your teams, monitor performance or even reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace.

Why is ergonomics a key factor for the success of your software?

Ergonomics is not only associated with the appearance of work screens, but is a crucial aspect in digital applications. Ergonomics aims to offer applications that are both useful and usable for users.

Ergonomic applications must meet the real needs of users:

• be efficient in carrying out the work;
• bring mobility and availability;
• offer a pleasant and easy-to-learn experience;
• include useful and relevant functionalities in relation to the activity;
• integrate consistent user interfaces;
• offer simple screen transitions and an immediate view of important information.

The goal of ergonomics is to simplify daily work, facilitate learning, and make people want to use the application. Improve the user experience by ensuring optimal ergonomics for your ERP.

Some examples of use that require ergonomics to fully benefit from your tool and gain productivity:

• Production management.
• Inventory and order management.
• Equipment management and tracking.
• Real-time communication between teams.
• Performance monitoring.
• Reduction of risks related to employee authorizations.

Mobility and ergonomics: a winning duo

More and more ERPs integrate mobile interfaces available in particular on smartphones in order to adapt as well as possible to activities that tend towards ever more flexibility. Many employees also have a smartphone and have become accustomed to using it whether in a professional or private setting.

The mobile interface therefore becomes a prerequisite for business software because it is perfectly in line with the technical developments and uses of recent years. The mobility of your ERP then becomes a key element in the choice of this tool. If it is mobility-oriented, it can prove very effective in allowing you to gain productivity. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of situations where mobility can reinforce the gains brought by the ergonomics of your ERP:

• consult your stocks in real time during an intervention at your customers;
• allow technicians on site to update data in real time;
• carry out stock entries/exits directly via a smartphone.

Improve user adoption for successful ERP software

When considering replacing software or for a first implementation, it is essential to consider the adoption of this solution and the resistance to change that may occur at that time.

On a daily basis, each user and each department is concerned by the use of the software. Their role is crucial and their involvement will ensure the performance and proper functioning of the software implemented.

Preparing, training your teams and involving all stakeholders in the deployment process of your solution is essential to appease resistance to change. In addition, it will be important to ensure that users perceive and understand the added value of this new tool in their daily lives.

User ownership and adherence are therefore fundamental to the success of the company with ERP software and this requires ergonomic software.

Simplicity at the service of performance

High-performance features may not bring the expected results if they are difficult to use. Indeed, "complete" still rhymes too often with "complex". Ergonomics is then a means of ensuring the accessibility of complex processes for the greatest number of users, regardless of their profile.

By creating applications that follow a logic understandable to users, guiding them through the steps necessary to accomplish their work, we can offer a comfortable working environment that benefits the user and the company.

In addition to saving time, user adherence guarantees full use of the software's functionalities, avoids incomplete management via external tools, and ensures that the latter is correctly maintained and updated.

The ergonomics of the ERP software is a key element for its performance, contributing to the appropriation, adherence and loyalty of users. In short, the more ergonomic your tool, the better its use will be and consequently the more likely you will be to gain productivity.

In short…

Essential but yet very often put in the rank of option, ergonomics is an asset for your ERP.

In an industry that is increasingly digitizing and where a multitude of software are part of the daily life of the company, ease of use must be put on the same level as the complex functionalities required by your activity.

By offering simple solutions with intuitive interfaces to your employees, their use will only be better.

Exploiting the full potential of your tool by choosing ergonomics will allow you to achieve optimal efficiency in the use of your ERP and thus gain productivity.