Last week, a CFO from the medical technology sector called me: "We invested 800,000 euros in an ERP project. After 18 months, we have a system that works technically - but our processes have become slower."
This story is not an isolated case. 75% of all ERP and digitalization projects do not achieve their original goals. Not because the technology fails, but because the consulting approach fails.
Most consultations follow a predictable pattern: workshop → requirements catalog → vendor comparison → implementation.
The problem? Each step is based on generic best practices that may have worked for company A, but ignore completely different challenges for your company B.
Concrete figures from our market observation:
73% of medium-sized ERP projects exceed their budget by 47% on average
65% take 6+ months longer than planned
Only 18% fully achieve the originally defined KPIs
The second mistake: digitalization is confused with technology rollout. Introducing new software is relatively easy. Getting people to work differently - and becoming more efficient and sustainable in the process - is the real challenge.
Most consultancies think in terms of project phases. We think in terms of business results.
With CSRD and ESRS, companies are faced with a decision: Handle sustainability as a tedious compliance task or use it as a strategic competitive advantage.
The reality: companies that integrate Scope 1/2/3 data directly into their ERP systems reduce their audit costs by an average of 60% and shorten reporting periods from weeks to days.
Most consultancies tack "green" on at the end. We build it in from the start.
Why do we turn down around 30% of inquiries?
Because we only take on projects where we are convinced that we can deliver measurable results.
Our first-principle approach does not start with the question "What have others done?", but with "What is the fundamental problem that needs to be solved?"
Initial situation: A wholesale company with 200 employees managed 15,000 SKUs via 17 Excel files. Inventory management was like reading coffee grounds.
Standard consulting approach would have meant: Introduce ERP system, carry out migration, hold training courses. Hope that everything would be better with a new IT system.
Our approach with SCOReX™:
Analysis of actual decision-making patterns (not theoretical processes)
AI-supported scheduling wired directly into the ERP
CO2 tracking integrated for every delivery (CSRD-ready)
Measurable results after 6 months:
34% reduction in stock levels while maintaining delivery capability
67% fewer manual reorders
Full CSRD compliance without additional tools
Initial situation: A medical technology company with locations in Germany, Switzerland and Poland was struggling with 3 different ERP systems and manual consolidation.
The key difference: While other consultancies suggested multi-system harmonization, we identified the root cause: Each location had different regulatory requirements that led to different systems.
Our approach:
An ERP core with country-specific compliance modules
120 structured working sessions to accompany the change
Integration of all sustainability data into a standardized reporting system
Result: Harmonized processes while maintaining compliance flexibility. ROI after 14 months.
The surprising realization: The company saw CSRD as a cost factor. We recognized the potential for premium positioning through complete sustainability transparency.
Innovation: CO2 footprint per product batch in real time, generated directly from ERP data. Customers can scan QR codes and view the complete sustainability balance sheet.
Business result: 12% price premium for "carbon-neutral verified" product line. Sustainability went from being a cost factor to a sales driver.
As a CEO, CFO or CIO, you are faced with a critical decision: How do you distinguish substantial consulting from shiny packaged standard goods?
"Can you show me your proprietary tool live?" Real innovation is shown in tools that work, not in PowerPoint animations. At SCOReX™, you can feed in your real data in 30 minutes and generate live shortlists for your ERP selection.
"Who is specifically responsible for our project result?" Standard answer: "Our team of experienced consultants..." Our answer: "Dr. Harald Dreher personally for strategic decisions, Klaus A. for contract negotiations, Andrew Thompson for CSRD integration."
"How do you measure success - and what happens if you miss the targets?" We define measurable KPIs from day 1 and take responsibility for results. Example: ROI after 18 months, 30% time savings in defined processes, full CSRD compliance.
"What economic ties do you have with software providers?" Our independence is auditable. No sales commissions, no hidden license deals, no implementation revenues. Your interests are our interests.
"What is your concrete approach to our specific problem?" Standard consultations present proven methodologies. We start with first-principle analysis: What is the root cause? What unique framework conditions do you have? How can we solve what no one has solved before?
Warning signal #1: Presentation begins with "Our proven methodology..." Proven often means: copied from others. Every company is different.
Warning signal #2: Sustainability is treated as a separate workstream If "Green" is added later, media breaks, double entries and high compliance costs arise.
Warning signal #3: No live access to project data Without transparency tools, you remain in the dark until the next status meeting.
Warning signal #4: Consultants cannot provide specific industry benchmarks "Varies from project to project" is not the answer to "What efficiency gains can we expect?"
Quantitative success measurement:
Project duration: 30% shorter than market average
Budget adherence: +/- 5% deviation (not +/- 47%)
Go-live stability: <2% downtime in the first 3 months
Compliance readiness: 100% CSRD/ESRS compliance from day 1
Qualitative success indicators:
Standard consulting asks: "Which ERP system do you need?"
First-principle consulting asks: "What business results do you want to achieve?"
This reversal changes everything. Instead of comparing ERP features, we first define the business logic that differentiates your company from competitors. Then we build systems that support that logic.
Real-life example: An aerospace supplier did not need "better project management", but a solution for complex variant configuration with extreme quality requirements. SCOReX™ identified 23 critical configuration rules that would have led to workarounds in standard ERP systems. The result: customized ERP configuration that turns variant complexity into a competitive advantage.
What others do: Separate sustainability software, manual data transfer, Excel-based CO2 calculations.
What we do differently: CO2 recording directly in ERP transactions. Every goods receipt, every production batch, every logistics process automatically generates Scope 1/2/3 data.
Business result for a food producer in Aachen:
Audit preparation reduced from 6 weeks to 2 days
89% less manual sustainability data collection
First "carbon-neutral verified" product line with 12% price premium
Standard consulting: 40-hour workshops, hundreds of requirements, subjective scoring matrices.
SCOReX™: AI-supported analysis of your specific business logic, risk profiles and growth plans. A decision-ready shortlist in 4 days instead of 4 weeks. Our approach supports our experts and consultants in the analysis and scenario management. The advice is provided by the consultant. Not by AI.
Why it works: SCOReX™ analyzes not just features, but business-critical dependencies. Which system supports your seasonality? Your compliance requirements? Your international expansion?
Measurable difference: 30% shorter project duration, 67% less scope creep, 89% higher user acceptance after go-live.
The inconvenient truth: If a consultant has a solution for every problem, they don't have the right solution for any problem.
We reject projects when:
Why this is better for you: You only work with consultants who are convinced of your success.
Red Flag: Consultants who simultaneously sell ERP licenses or offer implementation services.
Our standard: Complete transparency across all business relationships. No hidden commissions, no vendor kickbacks, no implementation revenues.
Practical test: Ask your consultant: "Show me your fee model and all economic connections to software providers." Hesitation or evasive answers are clear warning signals.
Standard approach: Separate sustainability tools that are linked to ERP data months later.
First-principle approach: CSRD-compliant data structures from day 1 of the ERP configuration.
The truth about consulting: Methods can be copied. People cannot.
With us, you work with named senior consultants:
Dr. Harald Dreher takes personal responsibility for strategic decisions
Andrew T. (engineer with extensive process expertise in medical technology) translates CSRD/ESRS into ERP fields and data models
Klaus A. negotiates your ERP contracts on a vendor-neutral basis
Matthias M. implements Process Optimization for measurable KPI improvements
Mattias D. is a logistics expert and analyzes the entire supply chain and warehouse management
Transparency standard: your contacts are the same people from signing the contract to Hypercare.
Surprising insight: The most important factors for project success are defined before the project starts, not during implementation.
Our pre-project framework:
Change readiness assessment of the management
Stakeholder conflict mapping
Resource availability analysis over 12-18 months
Definition of hard and soft success KPIs
Why this is crucial: Projects fail due to organizational, not technical problems. If you don't think about this from the start, you optimize the wrong variables.
Project speed: 30% faster with SCOReX™ integration Budget compliance: 94% of all projects within +/- 5% of the original budget Sustainability: 100% CSRD compliance without additional software investments Change management: 89% user acceptance after 3 months (market average: 54%)
Our project expertise ranges from local transformation at customers (50 employees, first ERP) to international companies (several countries, many branches, over EUR 1 billion turnover, listed companies, clients based in and outside Europe)
Proven industry expertise:
Industry & Engineering: Fit-gap with production reality, energy/CO₂ data wired
Aerospace & Public Research: multi-site governance with audit trails
Consumer & Lifestyle: SKU cycle management with integrated financial transparency
MedTech & Regulated Industries: Compliance-ready from day 1
Test the difference
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