Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose touch with the people you love. It’s just as easy to forget all the great features and functionality that caused you to select your ERP system. According to research published by the University of Waterloo in Ontario, unless people use information consistently after learning it, they forget between fifty and eighty percent of what is learned after a single day. Thirty days later, that retention rate drops down to a meager two to three percent. If you've lost sight of all the features included in your ERP system, here are a few ways to rekindle the relationship.

1. Act Like You’re in a New Relationship

When we’re in the throes of a new relationship, we take the time to get to know the other person and learn what makes them tick. To keep a relationship strong, it’s a good idea to revisit this technique frequently.

The same holds true for your ERP system. Check out the vendor’s website or have a chat with your support team to find out what’s new, or to see if there are more current ways to accomplish certain tasks that have become routine for you.

2. Pay Attention to your Significant Other

Your ERP system is one of the most important parts of your business, so you want to make sure it’s well taken care of. To keep your system in good shape, be sure to upgrade your software frequently. Keeping ERP fresh will help your users continue to find new ways to use the software and, in turn do their jobs more efficiently. You will always get more benefit from a system that users enjoy using, so don’t neglect regular upkeep! A little attention goes a long way in keeping the spark alive in any relationship.

3. Share New Experiences

Relationships get stale when you do the same old thing the same old way every time. This principle applies to your business systems as well. Depending on how long it’s been since your ERP system went live, you may find that newer versions of the software are equipped with new tools or new ways to accomplish tasks. There may even be new modules you weren’t aware of, which could open up whole new avenues of productivity. Invite your vendor to come on site to demo features or modules you may be unaware of, or have a consultant look at your current processes and recommend changes.

4. Always be Kind

People respond to kindness, and so does your team—and your ERP system. Try to remember a time before you had an ERP system, and remember how much you saved in time and efficiency since the upgrade.  Kindness and gratitude help make every interaction a win/win.

5. Put your Affection on Paper

This Valentine's Day you may give a loved one a card or a simple note, as a tangible expression of your feelings. Show some love to your ERP system by documenting your processes and procedures properly and consistently. Remember how quickly people forget things. Don’t let your hard-won system expertise fade over time. Writing down processes and procedures will help you get new employees up to speed faster, and even old hands can benefit from an occasional refresher on seldom used processes.

Use these five simple steps to keep your love alive—whether the object of your affection is a person or your trusted ERP system.