The only significant difference between successful ERP implementations and the unsuccessful ones is planning. The more meticulously you plan, the more time you take to think things through, the better will be results. So what can businesses do to make sure their planning is on the right track and that the outcome will be as good as expected?
Here’s a quick look:
- Total cost of ownership: ERP implementations can run over budget if you’re not careful about the different costs involved. Other than the straight cost of implementing the system, it might cost you more to covert existing data into ERP-friendly format, upgrade at least some of the existing processes to integrate well, and so on.
- Employee resistance: From the perspective of employees, the ERP system is yet another task being added to their burdened scheduled. Data capture can demand a lot of attention to detail, and some employees might prefer not to use the ERP tool for convenience. Such opposition to change also delays ROI and leads to ineffective implementations.
- Project management: ERP implementation should be taken as seriously as any other project. That means the entire activity should be divided into phases and tasks, with clear deliverables for each one. Ask your vendor to prepare such a plan for your implementation, and try to look into their past project summaries to learn about possible hurdles.
Planning is the key when it comes to right ERP implementation, but proper planning itself requires good planning in advance! Follow these tips and ensure a smoother ERP implementation.
