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How shared ERP responsibility leads to better outcomes, stronger systems, and a more resilient business
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In small to mid-sized Canadian businesses, it’s common to see one person wearing all the tech hats, tackling everything from printer jams to managing complex ERP ecosystems. This “one-person tech band” model often begins out of necessity: lean teams, tight budgets, and an urgent need to keep things moving.
At first glance, it works. Your tech lead knows the system inside and out, and everything stays afloat.
But what happens when your company starts to scale? When operations expand, compliance demands increase, or new integrations are needed. The same structure that once felt nimble can become a serious bottleneck—and a potential point of failure.
The Breakdown
The Limits of the “One-Man Tech Band” Model
It’s not uncommon for Canadian companies to rely on one or two people to manage their ERP environment, as well and internal IT tasks. Sometimes that person was part of the original implementation. Sometimes they’re a long-time IT lead who’s picked up ERP as part of their growing responsibilities.
But here’s what often happens:
One person becomes the bottleneck
They’re constantly in reactive mode: putting out fires, fielding helpdesk requests, managing updates, leaving no time for higher-level thinking. If your one ERP administrator goes on vacation, gets sick, or leaves the company, who steps in? Downtime, missed updates, and loss of system knowledge can quickly derail operations.
Innovation stalls
ERP platforms like Acumatica are constantly evolving. But if your team is stuck in “firefighting mode,” there’s often no time to explore new features. Without someone pushing ERP strategy forward, it’s easy to miss out on new features or fall behind on performance and usability improvements.
Security gets sidelined
ERP systems house sensitive business data—financials, payroll, inventory, customer records—and security isn’t a one-and-done exercise. It requires active monitoring and updates. One person cannot stay ahead of every new cyber-threat or keep pace with compliance changes (like PIPEDA or PCI DSS). That opens the door to breaches and liability.
Knowledge silos form
Custom workflows, integrations, even basic day-to-day procedures often live in one person’s head, especially in lean teams. If that person goes (for whatever reason), critical knowledge goes with them. This can slow down issue resolution, delay reporting, and create confusion for other team members. Without thorough documentation or shared ownership, your business is left vulnerable to downtime, rework, and a steep learning curve for any replacement.
Team morale suffers
No one likes to feel stuck. Expecting one person to manage everything, day in and day out, leads to stress and disengagement. If they burn out, you risk losing a valued employee, and your ERP operations take a hit. And when processes are clunky, reports are late, and there’s always “just one guy who can fix it,” it slows everyone else down. That’s an environment bound to cause burnout.
The Canadian SMB Reality: Why One Person Shouldn’t Do It All
In Canada, small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 98% of all businesses1. Many of these companies run impressively lean teams and pride themselves on efficiency and resilience. But when it comes to managing mission-critical systems like ERP, relying on one person isn’t a sustainable long-term strategy.
Here’s why:
Multi-role overload
Your internal tech lead might be managing ERP, IT infrastructure, vendor relationships, cybersecurity, and more.
Limited access to training
Keeping up with modern ERP functionality, security updates, and compliance requirements is a full-time job.
Hard to find replacements
Canada’s tech talent market is competitive. Losing your key ERP expert could leave you scrambling.
In other words, even the most capable individual can only do so much, especially when tasked with running the digital backbone of your business.
Recent studies indicate that a significant portion of Canadian workers are experiencing burnout, with heavy workloads and understaffed teams being primary contributors. For instance, a survey by Robert Half Canada revealed that 47% of Canadian professionals report feeling burned out, up from 42% in 2024 and 33% in 2023.2
The top factors contributing to burnout include:
39%
heavy workloads and long hours
38%
emotional or mental fatigue from high-stress tasks
28%
insufficient work-life balance
How ERP Partner Support Services Fill the Gaps
…and then some.
Partnering with a Canadian ERP partner support team helps mitigate these risks while delivering real operational advantages.
Here’s how:
A Deep Bench of Local Specialists
Your internal lead doesn’t disappear; they just stop having to do everything alone. Your local ERP support team becomes their go-to resource for anything too complex, too time-consuming, or simply outside their expertise.
The ideal ERP support team should include specialists in:
Industry-specific workflows (like construction, manufacturing, or distribution)
Business intelligence and reporting
Cloud performance and system configuration
ERP-integrated apps like Velixo, Shopify, or ADP Workforce Now
And yes, they can help with password resets too. But the real value? Helping you use ERP to work smarter, not just maintain status quo.
Security and Compliance Expertise
When your ERP system holds your most sensitive data, from financials to payroll to customer records, security is foundational.
But staying on top of cybersecurity trends, evolving privacy laws (like PIPEDA), and compliance requirements can be a full-time job. And if you’re relying on one person to juggle ERP and security, gaps start showing.
A support team will have deep expertise in securing cloud-based ERP environments, so you have one less thing to worry about.
They’ll help ensure:
Data access is tightly controlled
Audit trails are maintained for accountability
Updates and patches are deployed on time
Your system aligns with industry regulations, including data residency requirements
Search locally, find an ERP firm that works with Canadian companies every day, so they understand the specific compliance pressures you face.
Security shouldn’t slow you down; it should give you confidence.
Proactive Maintenance and Monitoring
ERP support isn’t just about solving today’s problems; future-ready ERP helps you spot tomorrow’s opportunities.
Rather than reacting to outages or errors, your ERP support team should run regular health checks, monitor for system slowdowns, review usage logs, and proactively recommend updates or improvements.
For example:
Spotting areas where automation could save hours each week
Flagging unused modules that could add value
Identifying customizations that are creating tech debt
And if you’re already dreaming up improvements? They’re the team to build them.
Custom Development and Automation
ERP shouldn’t force your business to fit a mold. In fact, the most effective ERP systems are the ones that adapt to your workflows, not vice versa.
That’s where a development team comes in.
Whether you’re looking to automate project costing reports, build a seamless integration with Shopify or another ecommerce platform, or streamline warehouse operations with barcode scanning, specialist Acumatica developers have done it. Every solution should be purpose-built, with a deep understanding of your industry and goals.
ERP Support services partner with your internal team to:
Automate client invoicing for service-based businesses
Create real-time dashboards for field service teams
Integrate Shopify orders with warehouse picking workflows
Build custom manufacturing BOM management tools
Develop project tracking modules for construction firms
It’s development that goes beyond just meeting the specs; it moves your business forward.
What ERP Support Looks Like in Action (Canadian Use Case)
Let’s take a real example.
The Lark Group, a construction and development firm based in British Columbia, had a growing need for better reporting and streamlined workflows in their ERP, but lacked visibility into their construction projects. Their internal lead had done an incredible job but was overwhelmed, facing manual processes and development requests.
The Answer Company’s ERP support team stepped in to:
- Automate monthly reporting
- Develop a real-time project status dashboard
- Integrate their document management system into Acumatica
Their AP Manager, Sarah, chatted with our Director of Software Development, Kulvir Kaila, and expressed:
What The Answer Company really did for us, that really benefited the entire operations side, was implementing the subcontract log. We use that on a monthly basis with all our subcontractors to ensure that our records are aligning with their records and we use that as kind of a safeguard to ensure that we're not overpaying people and that all our records align. I think that's really wonderful. It was highly requested from our construction team and we rolled that out in no time.
What changed? Their team got time back. Their data got cleaner. Their reports got easier. And their ERP system became a source of insight, not just a system of record.
The Bigger Picture: What Businesses Gain from ERP Support Services
Beyond day-to-day ERP support, here’s what you’re really getting:
Resilience
No single point of failure. A full team covers all bases.
Speed
Faster fixes, faster improvements, faster innovation.
Insight
Access to ERP specialists with deep business knowledge.
Scalability
As your business grows, so does your support.
Security
Stronger data protection, user access controls, and compliance support.
Why a VAR Is More Than Just Support
It’s important to note: ERP partner support services are not just reactive help desks. When you partner with a top-tier Canadian VAR like The Answer Company, you gain:
Industry expertise
We serve clients in construction, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services, so we understand your business challenges.
Dedicated account managers
You’ll have a consistent point of contact who knows your systems and your goals.
Strategic roadmapping
We help you chart a path for digital transformation, whether that means introducing automation, AI tools, or new integrations.
Continuous improvement
We’re always looking for ways to optimize your ERP so you get more value without more effort.
It’s not just support; it’s a strategic partnership designed to drive growth.
Here’s what our clients tell us they value most:
- We don’t just fix, we advise. Whether it’s budgeting for the next upgrade or streamlining approvals, we help you build a long-term roadmap.
- We care about the people using the system. Our solutions work in the real world, for the real people doing the work.
Building a Future-Proof ERP Strategy
If you’re still relying on one person to manage your entire ERP, it’s time for a change.
By moving beyond the one-person model and embracing an ERP partner’s support services, Canadian businesses can achieve:
- Greater system reliability
- Better team collaboration
- Increased confidence in business continuity
- The ability to scale without adding unnecessary risk
You don’t have to give up control—you just gain the backup you need to move faster, smarter, and more securely.
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