TechGear Manufacturing, a mid$-$sized company specializing in electronic components, has experienced rapid growth over the past five years. To improve efficiency and streamline operations, TechGear has decided to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning $($ERP$)$system$.$ The organization$$s goals include integrating core functions such as finance, supply chain management, human resources, and customer relationship management into a single platform. TechGear faces challenges typical to a growing company: siloed data, outdated software, and inconsistent processes across departments. For example: $$Finance experiences delays in financial reporting due to fragmented data from various departments. $$Supply Chain Management struggles with inventory management and procurement, leading to frequent stock$-$outs and overstock situations. $$Human Resources finds it difficult to manage employee data and payroll efficiently. $$Customer Service cannot access a consolidated view of customer interactions, which affects their ability to deliver personalized service. Recognizing these inefficiencies, TechGear$$s leadership seeks to integrate its operations through ERP, envisioning improved data consistency, streamlined processes, and better decision$-$making across departments. After a thorough evaluation, TechGear narrowed down its options to SAP and Microsoft Dynamics $365.$While both platforms offer robust ERP capabilities, the company eventually selects Microsoft Dynamics $365$due to its seamless integration with other Microsoft products already in use and its flexibility for a mid$-$sized enterprise.

$1.$ What are the core challenges TechGear faced that led to the decision to implement an ERP system?

$2.$Discuss the criteria that TechGear used to select Microsoft Dynamics $365$over other ERP vendors like SAP.

$3.$Explain the role of different ERP modules $($Finance$,$SCM$,$HRM$,$CRM$)$in addressing TechGear$$s operational needs.

$4.$What steps in the implementation plan are most critical to ensure the success of an ERP system? Why?

$5.$Identify and evaluate at least two benefits TechGear gained from the ERP implementation. How do these benefits support their business objectives?

$6.$What are some of the potential risks associated with ERP implementation, and how did TechGear mitigate these risks?