Transitioning to a new ERP system is a major undertaking for any organization. As with any important project, choosing the right implementation strategy will greatly increase the chances of success. An ERP system is an integrated suite of software that reaches into many corners of your organization, from accounting to manufacturing, inventory, distribution and sales. Precisely because the system affects so many parts of your business, it’s vital to carefully plan your rollout, which encompasses stages from initial analysis and design to deployment and support. When it comes to the critical deployment stage, there are several possible strategies, offering different potential advantages and risks.
An ERP implementation typically is broken down into primary stages, or phases, spread over months or, in some cases, years. The process needs to begin well before you’ve made a decision about which product to buy, and it continues after the initial rollout of your chosen system. These phases may overlap, and they’ll vary somewhat depending on the company. But in general, companies will follow this path.
Discovery
All ERP projects start with a discovery and planning phase, which includes researching and selecting a system, setting up a project team and defining detailed system requirements. The project team will handle a broad range of roles related to the implementation, including laying out the project plan and target dates, ensuring adequate resources are allocated, making product and design decisions, and day-to-day project management.
The ERP project team typically includes an executive sponsor, a project manager and representatives from the departments that will use the system. Involving senior management is critical to ensure the project gets the resources it needs and to provide the backing needed to implement change across the organization.
Design
The design phase works from detailed requirements and an understanding of current workflows to develop a detailed design for the new ERP system. This includes designing new, more efficient workflows and other business processes that take advantage of the system. It’s important to involve users in the design phase, since they have the most intimate understanding of current business processes. Involving them in the design also helps to ensure that they’ll welcome the new system and take full advantage of it.
Testing
Testing and development may occur concurrently. For example, the project team may test specific modules and features, develop fixes or adjustments based on the results, and retest. Or, it may test one ERP module while another is still in development. Initial testing of the basic functions of the software should be followed by rigorous testing of the full capabilities of the system, including allowing some employees to test the system for all their day-to-day activities. This phase should also encompass testing of the migrated data and include introductory end-user training.
Final words
While some businesses are able to function with smaller, disparate programs in order to manage their operations, many learn they need a solution with full visibility into their business data, as well as reporting tools necessary to define key performance indicators, measure performance and plan for growth. Get in touch with our dedicated team of experts – we’re here to work with you to develop and grow your business. Visit our website and fill out the contact form, and one of our experts will be in touch to have a friendly chat to find out more about your business.
