Dreher Consulting®
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ERP Consulting · Independent · DACH Mittelstand

ERP, governed end-to-end. From the decision to go-live.

Dreher Consulting delivers independent, vendor-neutral ERP consulting services across the full lifecycle — selection, specification, implementation and project management. We govern every stage from the first decision to go-live, so the choice is driven by your business, not a vendor's commission. 1,200+ projects since 1992. Retainer-paid, no vendor commissions.
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GOVERNED END-TO-END INDEPENDENT · DACH MITTELSTAND INDEPENDENT ERP CONSULTING · GOVERNS EVERY STAGE SELECTION SPECIFICATION IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT MGMT GO-LIVE From the first decision to go-live — one independent, governed line.
1,200+ projects Since 1992 Vendor-neutral DACH-focused
Why Dreher Consulting

What ERP Services Do You Need for a Successful ERP Project?

A successful ERP project requires independent system selection, clear specifications, and structured implementation. Dreher Consulting provides a full range of ERP services, from independent ERP selection through specification creation and ERP implementation, ensuring decisions are based on business requirements rather than vendor influence.

Our ERP services are designed to create a stable foundation for digitalisation, automation, and AI readiness. We support organisations by optimising processes, defining functional and technical requirements, addressing CSRD and sustainability reporting needs, and guiding the selection and implementation of ERP systems. This ensures your ERP landscape can adapt to regulatory change, technological innovation, and future growth.

Would you like to see how independent ERP consulting works in your industry?

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What we do

End-to-end support means more than implementing a system.

At Dreher Consulting, end-to-end support means more than implementing an ERP system. We look at your processes, compliance requirements, technology landscape and data flows as one connected whole — and align them with your business strategy. From selecting the right ERP platform to optimisation, automation and AI, we help you build a solution that reduces complexity, increases transparency and supports your goals long term.

Integral first step

Processes

Process optimisation should be considered before ERP implementation as it ensures the system operates on streamlined, efficient workflows. Without it, ERP systems risk magnifying inefficiencies instead of resolving them.

Process Optimisation

•Prevents automating flawed processes

•Identifies key inefficiencies to address early

•Aligns system configuration with optimised workflows

•Maximises ERP's potential for improved performance

•Sets the foundation for long-term operational success

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Future Focused

Compliance

Building regulatory compliance capabilities within ERP, especially for sustainability and CSRD, ensures the system is equipped to handle evolving regulations. Early integration minimises future disruptions and enhances long-term sustainability efforts.

The integration of regulatory compliance

•Embeds compliance tracking into system functions

•Ensures CSRD capabilities are built-in early

•Supports automated compliance reporting

•Reduces future costly system modifications

•Strengthens sustainability and regulatory alignment from the start

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Critical foundation

ERP Selection

ERP selection is a critical foundation for long-term business success. Choosing the right system ensures that operational efficiency, compliance, and scalability are addressed from the start, enabling smooth implementation and sustainable growth.

A structured and professional selection process

•Aligns system capabilities with business goals

•Reduces future costs of unplanned system modifications

•Supports scalability and future business expansion

•nsures system adaptability to evolving industry requirements

•Ensures stakeholder buy-in and sign-off

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Crucial Transformation

ERP Implementation

ERP implementation is crucial for transforming business operations by integrating key processes into a unified system. It enhances efficiency, streamlines workflows, and provides real-time data insights, driving overall business success.

The implementation of an ERP system

•Unifies business functions into a single platform

•Enhances decision-making with accurate, real-time data

•Streamlines processes, reducing manual tasks and errors

•Increases efficiency by automating repetitive operations

•Supports scalability and growth by adapting to evolving business needs

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Future Foundation

Automation & AI

The AI and Automation module focuses on leveraging technology to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making. Built on a foundation of standardised processes and clear data, this module helps businesses harness the full potential of AI and automation for sustainable growth.

•Automates repetitive tasks, increasing efficiency

•Enhances decision-making with data-driven insights

•Improves productivity by streamlining workflows

•Scales easily to adapt to growing business needs

•Personalises customer experiences

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Three decades, one discipline

We deliver the finest results with 30 years of independent experience.

For over 30 years, Dreher Consulting has supported organisations in navigating complex transformation projects with independent expertise and a practical, results-driven approach.

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Proof, not promises

Results from the firms we've worked with.

Pharma / Life Sciences

Automated, stable product tracking across research, development and production

View Case Study
60%
Reduction in manual product-tracking effort
20 %
Higher SCM and purchasing productivity — a planning figure for ROI Projected
Wholesale

Master data quality in B2B wholesale: How Hagos eG reduced the error rate by 73% with a central data model

View Case Study
73%
Error rate master data reduction
15%
Quality management efficiency increase
Food & Drink

A finance architecture that carries a doubling to 500 restaurants — across countries, currencies and franchisees.

View Case Study
24%
Projected reduction in manual finance work through standardised, binding connectors and APIs
View Case Study

Process optimization through ERP software for a successful startup

Independent biosimilars developer transitioning from research into production.

Biopharmaceutical Developer
★★★★★

The solution introduced a controlled three stage quality assurance process. Data is first captured locally with automated validation and duplicate detection then centrally reviewed against defined quality and classification rules before being formally released with a full audit trail.

Hagos eG
★★★★★

L'Osteria — high-growth Italian casual-dining franchise, ~€486M system revenue (2024), scaling toward 500 restaurants by 2030.

L'Osteria (FR L'Osteria SE)
★★★★★
The Method

Reliable and tailored process for success

ERP specifications and process mapping are the basis for success.

Escalating costs

The most common challenge faced by businesses during an ERP selection and implementation is escalating costs. Unclear project scopes, insufficient planning, unrealistic timelines all lead to unplanned expenses. It is critically important to define the project requirements from the beginning to ensure a clear project scope that all stakeholders understand.

•Define a Clear Project Scope

•Break the Project into Phases

•Maintain Regular Communication

•Invest in Training

Once you have selected your software and created a clear project plan with defined scope, it is key to constantly check in on progress. Key to avoiding escalating costs within an ongoing ERP implementation is strong communication with both the vendor and implementation team. They ensure any potential issues or changes in scope are identified early, preventing costly issues and delays later on. Last but not least is adoption through training to avoid delays caused by lack of familiarity with the new system. Often overlooked, this can make or break a project.

Selection risks

The process of selecting the right ERP system for your organisation can be challenging. There are a wide range of available solutions available across software providers and vendors, depending on business goals and industry. Each option comes with its own unique risks. Without a clear framework for ERP selection, further down the road, companies may face complications due to mismatch between system capabilities and business needs and goals. It is crucial to have a structured approach to identify what's right for your organisation.

•Thorough Requirements Analysis

•Multi-Stage Selection Process

•Independent Guidance

•Clear Goals

A robust ERP selection process is backed by a clear process to ensure internal requirements are matched with software capabilities. So that the fundamental building blocks of your business are being placed, as a foundation for current requirements and also future emerging advancements.

Operational chaos

The best planned ERP implementation can founder at the final stages due to lack of adoption, leading to avoidable operational chaos. Without dedicated leadership it is common for an ERP system to lead to confusion and inefficiencies, instead of the hoped for improvements. It is pivotal to have a champion to ensure engagement at this critical time so that the internal team is engaged and understands the fundamental importance of the new software for the company and their roles.

•Clear Company Vision

•Ongoing Support and Training

•Monitor Progress and Address Issues

•Promote Adoption — Find Champions

•Leadership and Sponsorship

A strong project sponsor is crucial to prevent operational chaos through inefficiencies, resistance, underutilisation. Planned out change management is essential to employee adoption of the new software. This is a crucial step that ensures proper utilisation, cross-departmental collaboration, data driven decision making and the long term success of the ERP system.

Missed opportunity

A key benefit of implementing a new ERP system is that internal processes can be improved and optimised. However, this key opportunity is many times missed. Poorly defined processes, lacking stakeholder alignment and resistance to change can all combine to inhibit potential improvements at this critical stage.Prior to selecting an ERP system, conduct a thorough review of your processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. To ensure, the new ERP system will be able to address these pain points.

•Map and Analyse Existing Processes

•Align ERP implementation with Process Goals

•Engage Stakeholders Early

•Monitor and Refine Post-Implementation

Another key to avoiding escalating costs is maintaining strong communication with the ERP vendor and implementation team. Regular check-ins ensure that any potential issues or changes in scope are identified early, preventing costly surprises later on. It's also important to invest in proper training and support to avoid delays caused by user errors or lack of familiarity with the new system.

By industry

Ready to find the right ERP
for your industry?

Get ERP advice tailored to your industry and growth goals. Select your industry sector below.

Food & Drink Medical Technologies Professional Services Building & Development Retail & Distribution Supply & Production Engineering Investors & Finance Start-Up

Results in months not years.

Situation Analysis
Requirement Specifications
Software Identification
Software Qualification
Ongoing Implementation Support
Situation Analysis

We listen to you. Fully understanding your challenges and goals, laying the groundwork for success.

Requirement Specifications

Together we define detailed requirements based on your current business needs and future aspirations.

Software Identification

Based on your business needs, requirements and goals, we identify the best software solution for your business aspirations.

Software Qualification

Careful evaluation of potential solutions ensures you are confident in your selection to meet your future business needs.

Beyond ERP

Where ERP touches the rest of the firm.

ERP doesn't live in isolation. Most of our ERP work feeds into process redesign, digitalisation strategy, or sustainability reporting. Here's where those connections live.

Digitalisation Consulting

Process-first redesign before system selection. Where ERP feeds into broader digital transformation.

Explore Digitalisation

Sustainability Consulting

ESG strategy, CSRD reporting and CO₂ baseline work — tied to your ERP and data infrastructure, not as a parallel workstream.

Explore Sustainability
Client work

Discover how businesses have
grown with Dreher Consulting.

Martini Sportswear

Martini Sportswear Austria, a modern family business with international operations, is committed to quality and service, a commitment shared by every one of its employees. The products of Martini Sportswear stand out for their multifunctionality, smart-casual design, and the high quality of both materials and craftsmanship.

Goal

Ensure scaleability for future growth

yfood

Yfood offers a wholesome and simple alternative for those moments when there's little time to eat a balanced diet. Today, YFood stands as the German market leader in the smart food category. It is available for order in over 30 countries and has also become an integral component of brick-and-mortar retail.

Xempus

Xempus has an innovative vision: to make pension provision simple and accessible for everyone. To achieve this, they network all participants on their independent platform, making pension provision fast, efficient and comprehensible.

Goal

Validating and Correcting ERP Selection Through an Independent Quality Gate at Xempus

Hahn-Schickard

Zein Pharma

Sunstar

Inxmail

Spryker

Frequently asked questions about Dreher Consulting

Honest answers about independence, timelines, cost and vendor choice — the questions that come up in nearly every first ERP conversation. 

1. What does independent ERP consulting actually mean?

Independent ERP consulting means the consultancy takes no commissions, referral fees, resale margins, or partner incentives from any ERP vendor. Our only revenue is your retainer. That's a contractual position, not a marketing claim — we can show you our vendor agreements (we don't have any). It means the recommendation is pegged to your outcome, not the vendor's roadmap. 

2. How long does a typical ERP selection take?

Three to nine months for a Mittelstand selection, depending on company size, process complexity, and the number of departments involved. The variance is real — a 50-person services firm with a single profit centre is fundamentally faster than a 500-person multi-site manufacturer with EDI integrations and regulatory reporting. We commit to phase-by-phase timelines after the kick-off discovery, not before. 

3. Why do most ERP projects fail?

Most ERP projects fail for one of three reasons: unclear requirements (the business hasn't decided what it actually needs before talking to vendors), missing process standards (the system gets configured around what people do today, not what should happen), or weak governance (decisions get delegated to IT, then to the vendor). Software is the symptom; decisions are the cause. That's why we start every engagement with the decision architecture — not with shortlisting tools. Industry research bears this out: the VDMA's digitalisation studies repeatedly trace failed projects to governance and requirements gaps, not software defects. 

4. Should we choose SAP, Microsoft, Infor, or a DACH specialist ERP?

The honest answer: it depends on your business processes, your scale, your industry, and your existing IT landscape — not on any vendor's marketing position. SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, and the DACH Mittelstand specialists (such as proAlpha, abas, Asseco, Step Ahead) all serve different operating shapes well. The wrong question is "which ERP is best"; the right question is "which ERP fits the decision we've already made about how this business should run." For SAP-specific benchmarks, the independent DSAG user group publishes vendor-neutral investment and adoption data worth consulting. 

5. How is Dreher different from a Big Four firm or a vendor's professional services arm?
Big Four firms charge for senior partners and then staff the work with juniors. Vendor PS arms (SAP, Microsoft) want you on their stack. We're owner-led, partner-staffed throughout the engagement, and our recommendation isn't constrained to any vendor's catalogue. We also lose the engagement if our advice is misaligned — Big Four don't. 
Start the conversation

Three ways to begin. No wrong door.

High commitment

45-minute independent strategy call

The full first conversation. Includes an initial SCOReX® assessment of your ERP situation.

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Medium commitment

15-minute orientation call

Not ready for the full conversation? A short call to clarify whether we're the right advisors for you.

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Low commitment

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Supply & Production Engineering Construction & Project Development Food & Drink Medical Technologies Pharma & Life Sciences Retail & Distribution Professional Services Start-Ups Investors & Finance