What are the three erp implementation choices?

24th June 2019

Once your ERP is chosen, the time for implementation begins.  Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” We do not want our ERP implementation to fail so here are some best practices for your plan.

Create a plan

Start with the prioritized requirements you set when selecting your ERP.  Ensure these are visible to all throughout the implementation so that none are inadvertently missed in the process.  Develop some KPI or key process indicators for the implementation and communicate these indicators with the entire enterprise.  All will know what your team is doing and how you progress during the implementation phase.

All your implementation team should completely understand the flows of your chosen ERP.  When a new sales order is entered, what happens next? What happens when a transaction to add labor to a production job causes an error signal?  You will need the support of your ERP vendor here as they should know already and can help lead you through the processes. This understanding is critical.  The programmed flows will not match your existing process flows completely. They are not wrong; there is more than one way to accomplish the desired results.  

Check out our complete 7 step ERP implementation plan so you don't miss a single stage of your implementation

Manage change

All of us, as people, resist change to some extent.  That resistance to change can take many forms ranging from a little hesitation until the change is understood to a complete emotional breakdown in a very few.  Be prepared to help all your users adapt to your new ERP.

Communicate regularly with executive management and all your users.  Why is the enterprise making this significant change? What problems or concerns do you expect to resolve?  What other benefits should be expected? Ideally, there should be benefits for every user but the change should be neutral at the worst.  No user should see the future as bleak.

Lay out a training plan that provides every user with grounding in their own transactions as well as precursor and successor transactions other users will make.  There should be an overview training course for everyone that demonstrates the overall system for the business and basic transaction and screen navigation.

Be smart with your legacy data

Your legacy system(s) have data that might go back for decades.  Users are familiar with that data and know how to find what they need.  That data requires storage space and might exist in a variety of formats so this is the time to clean up historical data and choose what data you will load into the new ERP.

There is static data, such as customer or supplier names and addresses.  In addition, there is dynamic, transactional data such as the shipment of an order to that customer sometime in the past.  

With your static data, weed out those customers who have not done business in the recent past.  If they place another order tomorrow, simply treat them as a new customer. Examine all the records you plan to migrate and correct any errors now so good, clean data is populating your new ERP.

Clean up the dynamic data too if there are problems.  The important choice here is how much data to migrate.  Generally, the current year and perhaps the previous year are enough.  If there is a need to dig deeper into the past, keep the legacy system working in a read-only mode as long as needed.

File layouts in the new ERP will not match the layouts in your legacy system.  There could be legacy fields that the new ERP will not need. There might be fields needed in the new ERP that do not have a precise match and must be built up through a manual system.

These are not the only implementation practices but you should get the idea how to develop your own implementation that leads to a success for your business.

Deciding to migrate your business to an ERP solution is one of the most important decisions that your business can make. Here are a few things to consider.

What are the three erp implementation choices?

So, you’ve gathered your cross-functional team throughout your organization, you’ve amassed several promising candidates through a successful RFP process, and together you’ve identified your goals for enterprise technology adoption. Now you’re left with one important decision: How do you decide between your top three choices for a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution?

Deciding to migrate your business to an ERP solution is one of the most important decisions your business can make. Invest in the right solution and your business will have access to the benefits used by bigger businesses. You’ll compete beyond your weight class with formalized processes and accurate inventory. At the same time, you’ll connect those pesky data silos within your organization that would otherwise stunt growth and prevent your business from reaching its goals. Choose the wrong system, however, and your business could lose money and suffer unnecessary downtime.

A few things to consider:

Is the ERP Partner Experienced?

Most ERP solutions are sold through channel partners, so it’s a good idea to do a background check on the partner tied to the ERP solutions you have on your shortlist. An equally important question to ask yourself about the top three ERP contenders: Is the associated ERP implementation partner experienced enough to implement your software? Whether the software can meet your needs is one thing, but it’s vital the associated implementation partner is experienced, formalized, and has the necessary resources to carry out a professional implementation.  After all, you’re placing your trust and your business in their hands.

Does the ERP Partner Offer a Dedicated Customer Support Program?

ERP is a robust category of business management software. The specific programs your chosen ERP solution partners offer should also factor into your decision on narrowing down that shortlist. ERP implementation doesn’t end once the system is installed. You’ll need to consider how to train your staff to use the new system and ensure high user adoption. An ERP partner that offers a dedicated customer support program is essential. Knowing an ERP partner offers customer support is a sign of customer dedication and indicates you’ll be in good hands following the implementation phase.

Is That Price Tag Too Good to Be True?

While some of the alternatives on your ERP shortlist may appear to be competitively priced, it’s important to consider the real cost of choosing the wrong combination of ERP solution and ERP partner. You’ve probably heard the expression “you get what you pay for.” Make sure your chosen ERP solution is backed by an ERP partner that has experience and a deep understanding of financial processes. The right pick will be able to back up their claim of delivering on successful ERP implementations through customer success stories, testimonials, and industry accolades.

Did You Miss a Step?

Want to ensure that you’ve done your due diligence in ERP selection before presenting your recommendation to your superiors for approval? Download the Vision33 ERP Software Selection Guide: 6 Steps to Choosing the Right Solution for Your Business. The guide contains firsthand information from the experience of Vision33’s implementation consultants and hundreds of accounts from our valued customers. Access it below!

What are the three erp implementation choices?

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