Europ Assistance USA: ERP Implementation, Benefits, and Challenges

This report analyzes the implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems at Europ Assistance Company USA, aiming to identify effective implementation strategies and assess their impact. The study investigates the current usage of ERP, the operational benefits derived from its implementation, and the challenges encountered by the company. Through a combination of literature review, survey questionnaires, and data analysis, the report examines the company's experience with the Workfront system. The findings highlight the importance of staff training, pilot system implementation, and further research. The study also provides recommendations for future research and acknowledges limitations and assumptions. The report discusses ERP's role in improving business processes, streamlining data flow, and enhancing decision-making within Europ Assistance USA, while also addressing implementation challenges and suggesting improvements.

What are the Effective Ways of executing Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in order to
fulfill Promised Benefits? – The Europe Assistance Company USA
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Executive summary
This report is aimed at describing the processes of implementing ERP application in
business organization and the best ways to guide users to the bets out of the application, this is
because of the numerous challenges that many organizations go through while installing and also
using the ERP algorithms. To successfully achieve this, the study is guided by three major
research objectives:
a. Establish the extent to which Europ assistance, USA is using the ERP system.
b. Establish the operational benefits Europ assistance, USA will get for using the
ERP system.
c. Establish the challenges faced by Europ assistance, USA for using the ERP
system.
According to our estimations, ERP modules will portray most important operation
benefits thru clarification, improving and controlling enterprise techniques such as procurement,
client offer and court cases, equipment maintenance and advertising and marketing campaigns.
To address this problem, 30 respondents are selected form the Europ assistance, and we asked to
fill questionnaires and which was later analyzed. The study proposes that we increase the
training quality of the staff handling the ERP systems, installation of a pilot system and also
conduction of future studies.
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Table of Contents
Executive summary.....................................................................................................................................1
Background Information..............................................................................................................................3
Enterprise Resource Planning..................................................................................................................4
Europ Assistance......................................................................................................................................5
Objective of the Study.............................................................................................................................7
Literature Review........................................................................................................................................7
Implementation of ERP........................................................................................................................7
Operation Benefits of ERP Systems to Organizations..........................................................................8
Research Methodology................................................................................................................................9
Research Design......................................................................................................................................9
Target Population....................................................................................................................................9
Data Collection Instruments..................................................................................................................10
Data Analysis Techniques......................................................................................................................10
Justification of the data techniques.......................................................................................................11
Ethical Considerations...........................................................................................................................11
Results and Discussion...............................................................................................................................11
Demographic Information.....................................................................................................................11
Period of Time Respondents have Worked in their Current Position................................................12
Linking results with the research objectives..............................................................................................13
Objective 1.............................................................................................................................................13
ERP system(s) currently in use by Respondents Company................................................................13
ERP Functions / Modules Currently Implemented at Respondents Company...................................14
Objective 2.............................................................................................................................................15
Justification of the Implementation of the ERP System.....................................................................15
Objective three......................................................................................................................................16
Establishing challenges of implementing ERP....................................................................................16
Conclusion and Recommendations...........................................................................................................17
Recommendations for Future Research................................................................................................18
Limitation of the study..........................................................................................................................18
Assumptions of the study......................................................................................................................18
List of References......................................................................................................................................19
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Background Information
The quantity of raw data in data firms are steadily growing and have paved way for a
need for critical and correct data manipulation and percentage statistics in the organization.
Companies should be quick in adopting new era technical advancement in order to remain afloat
in business competition in to be consistent in maintaining business surroundings and endeavors.
World leading tech and information industries-based companies are spending large sums of
money in introducing records management structures in their organization hoping that it will
make their enterprises ‘data and records access efficient and effective. Information systems
usually denoted (IS) are actually basic items that used to assist in implantation of other computer
characteristics, which are not limited to tiny electrical items or codes. (Nickerson, 2010)
A data gadget can be described as data resources that have the ability to collect, keep
method, preserve, apply statistical knowledge, proportion, delete, dispose, execute and send
information (Committee on National Security Systems, 2016). In addition Wognum et al., (2004)
noted that data gadget is founded by the fact that aim of the data gadget is to guide groups of
their informational wishes and needs. An ideal example of an excellent record is the Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which have an infinite ability in dealing with different report
execution algorithms, project observe structures, and other gearing abilities which effectively
changes the style of operating in major parts of an business enterprise. The quest for improving
enterprise 2 techniques and choice-making, integrating commercial enterprise gadgets and their
raw data in-flows has protracted records. Informational creativity and innovational advancements
have led to latest improvement in these fields and the relation technical fields also.
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Enterprise Resource Planning
According to Nieuwenhuyse, 2011, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a special
algorithm solution that integrates businesses features with data right to an unmarried gadget to be
openly accessed within a corporation. Anderson 2011 defined an ERP as an algorithm program
with databases that automates and integrates facts processing in actual time over a large range of
commercial enterprise methods and features in a business’s enterprise. Moreover, in latest years
ERP has included different enterprise add-ons including ones like the supply chain management
and patron dating control. On the other hand Dezdar and Ainin 2011 outline an ERP device as an
included algorithm program package used to manage an enterprise's resources.
During purchase ERP is bought as package algorithm instead of advanced in house
purchasing format.” Significant integrated capabilities of an ERP include human assets, finance,
logistics, manufacturing, order fulfillment, and deliver chain control”. (Mehrjerdi, 2010). ERP is
designed from production and systems used in manufacturing planning used within the industry,
ERP extended its designation to accommodate the inside to different "back-office" purposes
which include human resource, finance and production making plans (Swartz l, 2011). The
predominant intention of ERP is to boost operation efficiency and internal effectiveness by
enhancing businesses approaches in a cost efficient manner (Beheshti 2016). ERP allows special
departments with three diverse wishes to speak with every other by way of sharing the identical
information in a unmarried gadget. ERP as a result of sufficient improvements, now as the
interim ability to increase cooperation and interactions among all commercial enterprise units
within a corporation (Harrison, 2014).
Also, ERP normalizes the techniques and statistics inside a company with fine practices.
The corporation additionally streamlines records waft among extraordinary components of a
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business by using growing a one-transaction device. According to Hitt 2012, the normalized and
included ERP system algorithm presents a degree of interoperability that becomes hard and
costly to attain with stand-with myself, designed built-in systems. Normalization and primal
execution of strategies and records lets in a corporation to localized administrative sports,
increases capacity to installation new records machine capability, and lessen records algorithm
upkeep fees (Siau, 2014). Due to its benefits, ERP has emerged as the spine of commercial
enterprise intelligence for industries by allowing managers to enjoy an integrated class of
business techniques (Parr & Shanks, 2010). ERP is costumed to evolve to brand businesses needs
without problems. In spite of ERP’s guarantees to advantage companies and an enormous capital
investment, now not all ERP implementations have hit results. ERP executions often have behind
schedule a predicted time table and overrun a preliminary budget (Helo and Phusavat, 2018).
Furthermore, the literature suggests that ERP executions have from time to time did not realize
the enterprise’s goals and favored the results.
Europ Assistance
The story of Europ Assistance starts again in 1963, on the initiative of Pierre
Desnos: he become the first to pick out the emerging wishes of holidaymakers lower back then,
absolutely appreciating the scale of the modifications underway and the unheard of increase in
tourism and motoring. He invented the help concept, which in turn gave upward push to the
Group. Profoundly moved after hearing of the issues encountered through a couple of friends
who suffered an coincidence in Spain and their problem in obtaining instant help, Pierre Desnos
became aware about the dearth of safety to be had to travellers. With the help of Generali’s
French subsidiary, the insurance corporation Concorde, he based Europ Assistance and invented
a totally new idea of assistance.
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With conversation revolutionized by way of the improvement of the cell cellphone and
the Internet, Europ Assistance released an initial teleassistance answer enabling elderly and
dependent individuals to tell their buddies and own family or the emergency services in the event
that they encountered problems. Thanks to those new technologies mixed with human enter, the
Group turned into able to continuously innovate from there on to expand excessive brought fee
personal services.
This marked the start of a brand new technology. The foundations had been laid for an
actual revolution. The needs have being changing over time. Everyone turned into keen to make
the most in their non-public and own family lifestyles, and to consciousness on the things that be
counted: their fitness, their domestic, their unfastened time, their journey and their holidays.
With the Care Services, Europ Assistance reinvented the 5 traditional varieties of assistance
products by providing millions of clients a new technology of help services. This concept turned
into designed to fulfill a brand new and developing need expressed via consumers: to get hold of
personalized, continuous assistance meeting their requirement for properly-being, health and
assist with all of existence’s little every day troubles.
Europ help become the use of the Day force gadget for the Human Resource branch
functionalities however did no longer have every other ERP device integrating all the different
departments that are income and advertising and marketing, making plans, messaging, and
product improvement. They were completely guide on all the other departments till April this 12
months (2016) when they commenced imposing a system known as paintings the front. The
work front was going to integrate all the departments making the verbal exchange cycle between
distinctive departments shorter and extra comfy on account that all this is centralized inside the
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system. And in a while the Day force functionalities may also be carried out in the new device to
be implemented.
Objective of the Study
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the implementation of the ERP system
at the Europ Assistance Company USA. Specifically to:
a. Establish the extent to which Europ assistance, USA is using the ERP
system.
b. Establish the operational benefits Europ assistance, USA will get for using
the ERP system.
c. Establish the challenges faced by Europ assistance, USA for using the
ERP system.
Literature Review
Implementation of ERP
To apprehend the methods of ERP executions, some of scholars have designed costumed
ERP lifestyles conceptual framework or manner modules. Ehie and Madsen (2015) proposed a 5-
level ERP execution procedure designed from numerous scholarly works including: assignment
training, commercial enterprise blue print, affirmation, final training, “Go-Live” and aid. Project
instruction which relates to a systematic plans making phase that results in a venture group with
management duties, unit’s finances aims, and describes the undertaking 12 goals and plan. In the
commercial enterprise blue print section, the present day enterprise process is analyzed in
element as a way to pick out the precise ERP system. An undertaking crew then is skilled on
capability and configuring of the selected ERP gadget. Information of the chosen ERP system
enables a mission crew to increase insight to redesigning its enterprise approaches.
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In the belief section, an assignment the group is concentrating on executing an ERP
machine along with abilities to modify, develop interfaces, and statistics relation, while
simultaneously each manner layout is undergoing a test on the conference room piloting. In the
very final implementation phase, the whole algorithm is completely included and tried during the
organization with full facts and diverse situations. Final users and product consumers are skilled
in this segment too. Finally, inside the “go-stay” and support phase, the ERP gadget is checked
for stability and inclusions of possible data extension for competition advantage. Rabaa’i (2019)
researched preceding studies figuring out crucial achievement elements (CSFs) for ERP
implementation, which contains:
Super control dedication and aid, exchange control, undertaking management, enterprise
method redesigning and machine customizing, education, ERP crew composing, vision setting
and making plans, representative choice and courting, verbal exchange plan, ERP module choice,
ERP systems integrates, and post-implement evaluation techniques. Excellent ERP execution
relies on control that prepares it for future challenges that is probably can get confronted by
(Motwani, 2012), together with highly skilled managers who're involved in basic strategy of the
enterprises.
Operation Benefits of ERP Systems to Organizations
ERP modules have portrayed most important operation benefits thru clarification,
improving and controlling enterprise techniques such as procurement, client offer and court
cases, equipment maintenance and advertising and marketing campaigns. There has been a
significant reduce in monetary resources spend which has led to savings inside the commercial
enterprise strategies. Previously with the employer simplest been able to allocate handiest the
productive resources prices to each activity. The aid management module of the device will be
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capable of manipulate the cost of the provider employees. In terms of paperwork there may be a
considerable discount in flip lowering the person occupation times and also offering record
perception to the supervisors. Communication and records switch could be properly taken care of
as there might be immediately get admission to actual-time statistics of all the documents and
reviews regarding their paintings. The consideration of the user get right of entry to control
might be installed place. With the employer having plenty of sales and promoting services, each
quantitative piece of information on every promotion could be used to growth the performance of
the sales department. (Chen 2011).
Research Methodology
Research Design
This study was performed using Survey Research Design. Margaret (2019) defined
survey studies method as a method wherein exact records concerning a social phenomenon is
gathered by means of posing inquiries to respondents. The survey has established to be a
powerful device in amassing statistics approximately the reviews, attitudes and intentions of
people concerning exclusive social, cultural, economic and political issues. The study applied
both quantitative and qualitative procedures. Quantitative approach became used for records
accrued the use of questionnaires from the contributors. The quantitative technique was justified
because it allowed analyzing troubles in-intensity.
Target Population
The target population was Europ assistance, USA that adopted ERP modules use in its
services delivery. Target population is the entire population with statistical interest; in this case
all the employees of the Europ assistance institutions. Sample population of this study was 30
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respondents who consisted of administrators and heads of ICT from the different EA locations in
the USA. The target population was 30 participants who were diligently sampled and selected for
this study since they had verse information in ERP execution.
Data Collection Instruments
The data was collected from the 30 research respondents using a research
questionnaire which was divided into two major parts. The first part was the introduction part
which included the purpose of the study and the ethic consideration included in the data
collection process.
The remaining section of the research questionnaire contained multiple questions used for
examining the factors which the organization considered concerning the adoption and challenges
of ERP system. The researcher applied for a permit from the council of national science and
technology to conduct the research. The questionnaire was then distributed through drop and
pick method and post office mail. The respondents were given a period of one week to answer
the questions after which the questionnaires were picked from the respondents.
Data Analysis Techniques
The data was collected then harmonized carefully into SPSS analytical software for
further analysis. To determine measures of central tendencies and descriptive statistics, mean and
mode was calculate and determined. On addiction to the simple statistics performed standard
deviation was calculated to represent the measures of dispersal among the data.
The findings were presented using tables, graphs and pie charts. The analyzed data was
reported on three main classifications which included; summary of main findings, conclusions
and recommendations.
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Justification of the data techniques
The data technique chosen is quantitative since the study is aimed at quantifying ERP
systems basing on Europ assistance, USA. It is purposely conclusive in nature.
Ethical Considerations
The researcher ensured that the ethical considerations were put into place. The
respondents were informed that their participation in this study was voluntary and that they were
asked to agree to the research requirements by signing against it. Confidentiality and personal
data privacy was maintained. This turned into being achieved by not revealing the identities of
the respondents and their details. The researcher is also reputable to the participants’ selections
on what data to present. In this case, the researcher did no longer coerce the respondents to offer
any information or medical doctor their remarks. The objective of the study turned into defined
that it's far for educational use simplest. Finally, the researcher explained to the contributors that
he turned into extra than inclined to percentage or deliver comments of the study’s findings to
the respondents.
Results and Discussion
Demographic Information
Figure 4.1: Respondents Gender
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