ERP Systems

How to Make Your ERP Upgrade Successful

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) upgrades can easily end up in the toilet if not planned for.  Create a project plan and designate a project leader.  Allow the project leader to have autonomy over the project including the selection of the project team.  Work with the project leader to define the scope of the upgrade.  Assess whether outside help is needed.  Most Enterprise Resource Planning vendors provide consulting services for upgrades.  You might want to go with the ERP vendor from which you purchased your Enterprise Resource Planning system.

Your project team leader should get as much feedback from other employees who use the ERP system before the upgrade process begins.  This kind of feedback may help the project team leader determine where the biggest Enterprise Resource Planning upgrade problems may occur.  For example, if Sally in Supply Chain Management tells the project team leader that a large part of the Supply Chain Management module is customized, the team leader might want to prepare for upgrade issues in that area.

Document your upgrade process.  A well documented ERP upgrade process will help you when it’s time for the next upgrade.  If your Enterprise Resource Planning upgrade goes poorly, you know what not to do the next time around.  If your ERP upgrade goes well, kudos to you because now you can follow the same documented process the next time around.

Know exactly what is in an Enterprise Resource Planning upgrade before you do it.  For example, perhaps there is functionality you don’t need and never will.  If that’s the case, why waste time, money, and valuable resources on the upgrade.  However, if you think your company might grow and the new functionality will prove useful, then by all means upgrade upgrade upgrade that ERP system.

Don’t forget that upgrades can be expensive.  Upgrades generally cost companies .005% of their annual budget.  Consider that the ERP upgrade may cost more if you run into extensive road blocks or if you decide to hire unplanned consulting services.  Budget for training costs as well.  If your Enterprise Resource Planning upgrade is extensive because it has been five years since your last ERP upgrade, you are going to need to train your employees on new functionality.  You also need to think about integration and potential hardware costs.  For example, perhaps your five year old system demanded less hardware than the new one you’re upgrading to.

Written by :

johnziegler