Implementing a new ERP can be a stressful time for all involved parties. No matter how quickly an ERP can be introduced and made functional, there are going to be at least a few bumps along the way. This is just the nature of a business changing its back-end functionality. There are also issues that can bring your whole business grinding to a halt if they aren’t remedied as soon as possible, which can devastate employees, customers and managers alike. Here are 5 ways to avert an ERP disaster.
Get Everyone On Board
If you can’t get your employees to see the value of switching to a new ERP, your efforts may be doomed before even getting started. There is almost always internal resistance from staff when faced with a changing protocol. Try to see things from their perspective. This transition is going to completely alter the way your employees spend their days. Make it clear how the switch is going to improve their daily workflows. Otherwise, resistant employees are less likely to put their best effort toward learning new software, which will increase their likelihood for mistakes down the line.
Take Advantage of Implementation Services
There’s no reason for you to try to do everything on your own while adopting new ERP software. Good ERP providers offer their customers comprehensive implementation services, which are designed to simplify the transition process. Never be afraid to ask questions. Failing to do so can lead to critical errors.
The extent and availability of implementation services is also a good indicator of the quality of an ERP provider. You need a service that will be responsive to your needs throughout the entire time you use the ERP, not just while you’re setting it up. Pay close attention to how your ERP provider of choice handles your questions and concerns. It will be a good indicator of what life will be like when they’re responsible for a massive part of your business’s productivity and workflow.
Choose the Right Software for Your Company
With such a wide array of ERP offerings, there’s a best fit for just about every business. The protocols of each ERP software will greatly affect how your company operates for years to come. It’s key that you and your management team sit down and do some comprehensive research before deciding on an ERP. While missing the mark won’t always lead to an outright disaster, it will hamper your organization’s daily operations, which will lower productivity in the long run.
Customization Isn’t Always Better
While there are obviously benefits to a customizable ERP, going overboard on this front can actually be detrimental to your business. It’s much better to go with an ERP that satisfies most of your company’s needs in its basic state. Having to do too much customization to your ERP is just opening your business up to potentially disastrous consequences if a certain aspect stops working. It’s much more difficult to troubleshoot a highly customized ERP than one that uses mostly standardized features.
Create a Realistic and Flexible Timeframe
Transitioning your business to a new ERP is a highly involved process, requiring cooperation and integration from every part of your company. Trying to force the switch into an unrealistically short time frame will almost certainly lead to disastrous effects. Most ERPs at least take weeks to get up and operational. Sometimes the process can actually take years. If you don’t account for unforeseeable roadblocks in your timetable, there’s a good chance you will pay for it later in the process.
It’s impossible to avoid all issues that might arise while implementing a new ERP. However, there are definitely steps that your business can take to will lower the chances of an ERP disaster.
