Unit4 mentioned in Gartner 2020 Hype Cycle for ERP

Gartner has just published their latest Hype Cycle for ERP.

The Hype Cycle is a graphical depiction of a common pattern that arises with each new technology or other innovation. Although many of Gartner Hype Cycles focus on specific technologies or innovations, the same pattern of hype and disillusionment applies to higher-level concepts such as IT methodologies and management disciplines.

One of the most useful things about the Hype Cycle report is that it tracks the inflation of expectations – and the actual capabilities – of new technological trends. This is intended to help organizations like yours to make informed choices about which technologies they adopt - without falling prey to the hype.

This year, the report heralds the advent of the age of “composable ERP” – a postmodern approach to operational infrastructure that sees new technologies creating a whole new ecosystem organizations can leverage to create systems that meet their needs and lay the groundwork for future growth strategies.

We’re very pleased to report that we’ve been named as a Sample Vendor in this Hype Cycle – specifically in the context of Cloud ERP for the public sector.

According to the report, Cloud ERP for the public sector has moved beyond the trough into mainstream adoption as vendors have improved functional scope and addressed previous inhibitors such as data residency and security.

This a very strong position, as it shows that the market has reached maturity and a more stable trajectory. At the beginning of the Slope of Enlightenment (where Cloud ERP for PS is positioned now), the penetration often is significantly less than 5% of the potential market segment. According to Gartner Hype Cycle methodology, this will normally grow to 20% to 30% as the innovation enters the Plateau of Productivity. The journey up the slope may last from one to three years.

The report identifies a range of real benefits in the use of cloud for the public sector and beyond, including lower cost of implementation, faster time to benefit, reduced cost of upgrades, and lower capital expenditure compared with a new on-premise ERP implementation. For the public sector specifically, it highlights the ability to facilitate greater levels of financial transparency while also allowing organizations to embrace economies of scale and resource sharing that frees up IT resources to be refocused on the organization’s core mission.

There’s also a wealth of advice available for the leaders making the decisions around ERP strategy, from the need to evaluate cloud ERPs as part of strategic planning through to the need to negotiate for enhanced data security and be aware that provision and vendor availability might vary widely from region to region and country to country.

With so many undoubted benefits, a 1-5% market penetration suggests that cloud ERP will rapidly expand into the public sector over the next few years, and we’re confident that Unit4 will play a big part in that expansion.