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Summary: Full-scale ERP implementation is a resource-heavy process that takes a significant amount of time. It involves transferring critical business data into secure data repositories, monitoring the implementation process to find inefficiencies and loopholes, and providing extensive training to end-users who will eventually use the software. However, if you efficiently execute the parameters mentioned above, your ERP implementation process will be successful.
This article will focus on the seven crucial steps in the ERP implementation plan by providing critical resources, information, and templates to help you in the process.
Begin by creating an ERP project team that will oversee the entire implementation process. Its primary duties will involve:
ERP implementation process is a resource-intensive and time-taking exercise that requires collective efforts from each department.
The infographics below show a few examples of stakeholders you should include while implementing the ERP software.
Should you take the services of an implementation consultant?
Hiring makes sense if you don’t have an in-house ERP expert. An experienced ERP implementation consultant has rich experience solving complex challenges that might show up during the implementation phase. But hiring one can become a problem if your finance department is tight-fisted.
Remember the following points while designing the ERP implementation blueprint.
Another crucial thing is that ERP implementation might disrupt the normal functioning of your organization for some time. But you can reduce the impact by:
Forecasting the ERP implementation cost is a complicated question to answer. Many companies struggle to keep the implementation costs in check because only a few managers volunteer to manage the project.
The above infographic suggests that more than half of ERP implementations exceeded their budget. Therefore, you should consult with numerous experts before finalizing a budget.
An excellent point to begin will be by assuming that the ERP implementation cost will be at least 1% of the organization’s yearly gross revenue. Other factors that will impact the cost are:
Your ERP implementation cost will depend on multiple factors like business size, the number of users, industry type, infrastructure cost, and many more.
According to a recent report by softwarepath, the average cost per user for an ERP project is USD 9000 in 2022.
Also, remember that all your business departments will experience productivity loss during the implementation phase irrespective of how hard you try. So, get ready to bear some disruptions and loss in efficiency.
The actual implementation begins from the data migration stage, where you migrate your business-critical data to the new ERP system. You need to be extra careful during this stage because you will have a solid foundation to carry the implementation forward if you do it right. If not, the implementation will fail, and you will lose time, effort, and money.
The application analyst will supervise this stage. Go through the infographic below to understand further.
A suitable user training plan is critical to ensure your ERP implementation turns out to be successful. This training can be divided into two categories, namely “in-person” and “e-learning”.
Here are four essential features of all successful training programs irrespective of the training methods you implement:
Gamifying the training lectures can be of great help. According to a survey by TalentLMS, 89% of surveyed people say that a point-based system will boost their engagement. Another 62% say that a competitive environment with a ranking system will motivate them to perform better. You can use these statistics to your advantage by building a suitable platform for addressing user needs.
The go-live stage of ERP implementation is the most difficult as it requires significant effort and time investment by the whole team.
The list below shows what you need to plan on the go-live day:
Communication plays a pivotal role while going live and after the implementation process is complete. Therefore, you should develop a flawless communication platform for sharing crucial information and solving technical issues as and when they arise. In addition, it will also help monitor who is doing what and track the goal completion rate.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Other metrics involve the following:
Remember that every company is different. Your requirements, short-term goals, long-term objectives, customer base, and the resources you have are different from your competitors. Therefore, ERP implementation techniques, schedules, templates, and success parameters will vary across companies and industries.
At Sage Software Solutions (P) Ltd., we are home to world-class ERP software and CRM software that will solidify your business tech support fundamentals and enable you to build a customer-centric organization. You can also write to us at sales@sagesoftware.co.in.
Disclaimer: All the information, views, and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and their respective web sources and in no way reflect the principles, views, or objectives of Sage Software Solutions (P) Ltd.
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