ERP Solutions

Uh Oh!  What a Blunder! Part two

Another blunder when selecting and implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning solution is to choose the wrong ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) selection team.  Don’t choose executives only.  Select some technical folks, functional folks, and all different levels of management for your selection team.  This way the ERP selection team is well rounded and you will get all different kinds of input and feedback.  Including a few executives on the ERP selection team is a good idea because they can help to predict the long term affect of the ERP solution, future return on investment, and the overall benefit the company will get out of the solution.  Executives are also nice to have on the Enterprise Resource Planning selection team because they add credibility to the project.

Organizations with Enterprise Resource Planning solutions typically use a little over fifty percent of the functionality provided by the ERP solution.  This is due to lack of employee training.  It’s typical for some employees to resist change instead of embracing it.  A way to get employees to embrace your new Enterprise Resource Planning solution is to make them confident with the system.  The way to make employees confident is to train them.  That way you get as much out of your ERP solution as you possibly can.  After all, why buy a huge expensive Enterprise Resource Planning software solution only to use half the functionality that solution offers.  It’s like buying a pair of shoes and only wearing one of them.

Lastly, don’t blunder the implementation method.  Implementation methodologies vary from company to company.  What might work for one company might not work for another.  The hard and fast rule here is to stick with what you know and what works.  This is not a time for creativity.  Don’t take shortcuts, don’t scrimp on money, and take your time testing before you launch your new Enterprise Resource Planning solution.  We all get excited to use new software, but testing the software first is an absolute must. 
Enterprise Resource Planning solutions can be one of the most valuable pieces of software a company purchases.  However, an ERP solution can also turn out to be a pain should you select the wrong Enterprise Resource Planning solution.  Take your time and be picky before you sign up with any ERP vendor.

Written by :

kristine H