Implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) in your company can seem a daunting task at first–but it doesn’t have to be. With the right planning and resources at hand, your chosen ERP solution can be smoothly integrated with your daily operations.
ERP is a cutting-edge technology for streamlining your business processes and making day-to-day operations more efficient. Below are steps to help guide you in implementing an ERP platform in your company.
Step One: Be Clear About Your Goals and Expectations
Before you start the process of finding an ERP solution for your company, it is important to be clear about your goals and objectives. You need to have a good understanding of what you want to achieve with the system before moving forward.
Some common goals that executives expect to be met with an ERP platform include:
- Improved efficiency and productivity
- Greater visibility into company data
- Reduced costs
- Streamlined processes
Make sure you understand what you're expecting from an ERP solution before moving onto the next steps. In addition, include key personnel in the decision-making process and clearly explain to them the benefits an ERP can offer the company.
Step Two: Find the Right ERP Solution for Your Company
Once you have a firm grasp on your goals, you can start to refine your search for the right ERP solution. There are many different ERP solutions on the market, so it is important to find one that best fits the needs of your company.
Some items to consider when evaluating ERP solutions include:
- Ease of use
- Functionality
- Ability to be customized
- ERP integrations
- Pricing
Consider each option carefully and take your time in making a decision, as you’ll need to find a provider that can help you with the implementation of your chosen ERP solution. For example, we offer SAP Business Bydesign implementation.
To help you narrow down the options and better evaluate ERP solutions, take a look at our recent post on the key features of modern ERP platforms. Once you've selected a solution, move to the next step.
Step Three: Prepare Your Team for Change
ERP implementation can be a big change for your company, so it is important to prepare your team for the transition. Make sure to communicate the goals of the project to your team and help them understand how the new system will benefit the company. Give them the tools to communicate the change to the rest of your organization.
It is also a good idea to provide training on the new system before the go-live phase–this will help your team feel more comfortable using the system and minimize disruptions during the implementation process and initial launch.
Most experts recommend creating a small team with a project manager before providing company-wide ERP training, and the project team will be able to help with day-to-day management of the implementation and act as a resource for employees. In addition, make sure your IT department gets extensive ERP training on the system you chose. They will need this information as they are responsible for fixing any technical errors that may arise.
Step Four: Implement the System
Once you've selected an ERP solution and prepared your team for the change, you can begin the process of implementing the system. One crucial part of this phase is data migration. Data migration is the process of moving data from your old system to your new ERP platform–this can be a complex and time-consuming task, so it’s important to plan carefully.
It's also important to be smart about the data you're going to migrate to ERP. Not all data is important, so you need to make sure you're only migrating the data that is necessary to business operations. This will ensure that your new system is uncluttered and fed with the most relevant and up-to-date data.
Step Five: Go Live
After your team has been trained and the system is up and running in a test environment, it's time to go live. This is the final stage of ERP implementation, and it marks the point where your company starts using the new system.
During this phase, it is important to monitor the system closely and ensure that everything is running smoothly. You will need to provide support to your team in case they run into any unexpected issues or problems. It's also a good idea to have a contingency plan in place should something go wrong during the launch–this could include having a backup system or reverting to your old system for a period of time until the kinks are worked out.
ERP Implementation Simplified
By following these steps, you can ensure a successful ERP implementation in your company. Just remember to take your time, plan carefully, and involve all team members and stakeholders in the process.
