ERP cost-benefit analysis (Learning Objectives 5, 6)
As CEO of SeaSpray Marine, Ron Greenwood knows it is important to control costs and to respond quickly to changes in the highly competitive boat-building industry. When IDG Consulting proposes that SeaSpray Marine invest in an ERP system, he forms a team to evaluate the proposal: the plant engineer, the plant foreman, the sys¬ tems specialist, the human resources director, the marketing director, and the manage¬ ment accountant.
A month later, management accountant Mike Cobalt reports that the team and IDG estimate that if SeaSpray Marine implements the ERP system, it will incur the fol¬ lowing costs:

a. $350,000 in software costs

b. $80,000 to customize the ERP software and load SeaSpray’s data into the new ERP system

c. $125,000 for employee training The team estimates that the ERP system should provide several benefits:

a. More efficient order processing should lead to savings with a present value of $185,000.

b. Streamlining the manufacturing process so that it maps into the ERP system will create savings with a present value of $275,000.

c. Integrating purchasing, production, marketing, and distribution into a single sys¬ tem will allow SeaSpray Marine to reduce inventories, saving $220,000.

d. Higher customer satisfaction should increase sales, which, in turn, should increase the present value of profits by $150,000.
The team knows that because of complexity, some ERP installations are not success¬ ful. If SeaSpray Marine’s system fails, there will be no cost savings and no additional sales. The team predicts that there is an 80% chance that the ERP installation will suc¬ ceed and a 20% chance that it will fail.
Requirements 1. If the ERP installation succeeds, what is the dollar amount of the benefits?
2. Should SeaSpray Marine install the ERP system? Why or why not? Show your calculations.