What you need to know before selecting an ERP system, choosing a solution partner, and investing in change management.
Making the move or upgrading to a new ERP system is a significant undertaking for any business. From extensive planning and development to testing and user training, the investment is high—and so is the risk. But with the right software in place, the rewards are even higher. You will be able to automate core business processes, boost day-to-day operational efficiency, and deliver a better final result to your customers.
With nearly 10 years of experience helping global companies implement and adopt ERP and CRM technologies, we have learned that the key to a successful ERP implementation happens in the early stages of planning and requirements gathering. To help you prepare your business for this large-scale investment, we have shared what stages to expect in an ERP project and provided 5 steps to help you get organized before moving forward.
What’s Included in an ERP Implementation Project?
Although no two businesses are alike, most ERP projects follow a similar structure. This is because ERP technology extends to every part of a business and can be complex to manage without the right people and processes in place. Extensive planning, testing, and training are required to install and adopt this type of business management software properly. That’s why experienced solution partners have methodologies or plans to alleviate the risks and ensure a certain level of consistency with each project.
A standard ERP implementation typically follows this path:
Each of these stages can range in duration and density, but they are all critical to the success or failure of an ERP software implementation. The biggest issues arise when there is not enough time and energy put into the Analysis stage. This is when you define goals, gather technical and functional requirements, assign responsibilities, and establish expectations.
Make Planning a Priority
To reiterate the importance of planning, keep in mind that 50% of business technology projects fail or need to be reworked by the time they are finished. There is a lot of room for error, and that’s why we are sharing our expertise in ERP project requirements gathering. Requirements gathering is the process of determining what your project needs to achieve and what needs to be created to make that happen. To successfully implement, adopt, and benefit from ERP software, these are 5 areas where we recommend you do your due diligence and get prepared in advance of selecting a solution or partner:
Download our tip sheet to discover these critical 5 areas!
Take the Next Steps Towards Implementation Success
The purpose of requirements gathering is to decrease the risk of project fatigue and business disruption. By taking the time to complete these 5 steps before software and partner selection, you will significantly increase your probability of ERP implementation success.
At OnActuate, we want your upcoming ERP project implementation to be not only on-time and on-budget but also provide measurable value and a return on your investment. As a gold-certified Microsoft partner, we have extensive experience planning, implementing, and customizing ERP and CRM for diverse companies around the world. We can help you evaluate your business requirements and select an ERP solution that delivers the results you are looking for.
To get started, book an ERP consultation with our experts.
