Enabling ERP modernization for the US Army
A US military organization undertook an enterprise-wide modernization of its business systems. Its existing ad hoc collection of nearly 600 businesses was fragile and relied on outdated technologies and platforms. Wilson Perumal & Company provided an independent, holistic evaluation of the current IT enterprise architecture and advised senior executives on the creation of a strategy for modernizing both its IT systems and IT architecture (along with processes and organizational structures) to support the future mission of the enterprise.
A US military organization had built a highly complex architecture consisting of hundreds of enterprise business systems, including several of the most complex ERP implementations ever created. The existing architecture was developed with a primary focus on domain-specific monolithic solutions, which lack effective systems and data integration. This fragile IT ecosystem limited the organization’s ability to quickly implement new functionality or adopt modern technologies.
Facing the end-of-life support for some of its major ERPs, the organization decided to modernize its entire IT ecosystem with a focus on:
1. Rationalizing systems
2. Improving integration between systems
3. Supporting agile software development
4. Leveraging advanced analytics
However, the complexity and fragility of the architecture posed significant operational risks and the cost of transformation would have to be managed within the existing budget. In addition to the technical challenges of modernization, the organization was not designed to support an enterprise-centric effort. The organization was highly siloed, with multiple decision-makers across various groups, each with unique budgets. The client relied heavily on direction and support from legacy vendors and contractors, as the organization lacked the awareness of the organic skillsets and modern technologies required to transition to an effective and modern IT architecture.
To best develop an overall IT strategy and paint a clear picture of current-state complexity, our team created tools the client could use as it planned its modernization. These tools were designed to support decision-making at the senior leadership level and influence the design approach being developed at lower levels.
Using a holistic approach to understanding the nature of the client’s challenge, WP&C developed recommendations to support the modernization effort:
During the engagement, the client implemented a number of our recommendations to support its modernization effort:
A US military organization had built a highly complex architecture consisting of hundreds of enterprise business systems, including several of the most complex ERP implementations ever created. The existing architecture was developed with a primary focus on domain-specific monolithic solutions, which lack effective systems and data integration. This fragile IT ecosystem limited the organization’s ability to quickly implement new functionality or adopt modern technologies.
Facing the end-of-life support for some of its major ERPs, the organization decided to modernize its entire IT ecosystem with a focus on:
1. Rationalizing systems
2. Improving integration between systems
3. Supporting agile software development
4. Leveraging advanced analytics
However, the complexity and fragility of the architecture posed significant operational risks and the cost of transformation would have to be managed within the existing budget. In addition to the technical challenges of modernization, the organization was not designed to support an enterprise-centric effort. The organization was highly siloed, with multiple decision-makers across various groups, each with unique budgets. The client relied heavily on direction and support from legacy vendors and contractors, as the organization lacked the awareness of the organic skillsets and modern technologies required to transition to an effective and modern IT architecture.
To best develop an overall IT strategy and paint a clear picture of current-state complexity, our team created tools the client could use as it planned its modernization. These tools were designed to support decision-making at the senior leadership level and influence the design approach being developed at lower levels.
Using a holistic approach to understanding the nature of the client’s challenge, WP&C developed recommendations to support the modernization effort:
During the engagement, the client implemented a number of our recommendations to support its modernization effort: