ERP Implementation

An ERP Implementation Guide

If you’re ready to make the move to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), then you will need an ERP implementation guide. There are too many things to consider and to be concerned about. You don’t want to take anything for granted. ERP implementations fail when people are not properly prepared. And this is something that you cannot always pin on the software vendor or consultant. It’s your business; your company; and your responsibility to ensure you are ready to make this transformative move.

Remember, no matter what the vendor does to influence your decision, in the end, you will be held responsible for the outcome. Depending on your needs and planning schedule, you may want to phase in integration application modules for each department, one at a time. Or, you may wish to dive in and do the big bang approach, where everything is converted all at once. This is perhaps the best way to go because it cuts procrastination and integrates all systems at once, thus helping everyone to learn the new system together, which achieves quicker assimilation and understanding of the process.

A proper ERP implementation guide would tell you to always ask the software vendor for references. It would suggest that you contact some of the vendor’s customers and ask them about their experience and how the system was performing for them. Ask about challenges you may face working with the vendor during the implementation process. Put a decision support system in place so that management personnel, the vendor and consultants are all on the same page, and stay there. Make sure that all hardware and software to be placed on the platform is compatible. Make sure your software vendor is flexible enough to make any changes in the future or, provide a platform that gives you the ability to scale up on your own when necessary.

Make sure that all of your employees are ready to make the change and that you have their full support. If your staff is not fully on board you will experience problems going forward. These are the people who will be using the system. They need to have a clear understanding of how it works and what to do when there are problems. That’s why employee training is so important when it comes to implementing ERP.

Don’t hesitate to verify the all-inclusive cost ERP implementation. Check on any hidden or additional costs that may crop up. Inquire about any additional equipment that may be needed or, that may not work with the new software setup. A good ERP implementation guide will assist you.

Written by :

Don Cooper