Whether you're a local or global company, your competition gets more challenging every day with the constantly changing and growing advancements in technology and society. Therefore, the need to streamline and improve your business operations is greater than ever.
ERP system implementation is a stellar solution to this problem, but there are two important problems to consider: how do you know which ERP implementation services to choose? And how can you ensure a successful implementation?
Steps To Take For Successful ERP Software Implementation
The biggest question that every business asks before choosing to deploy ERP implementation services is this: how can you ensure successful ERP software implementation? Well, there are a few important steps that you should follow.
1. Identify Your Goals
Before implementing any ERP software, it's important that you identify your goals and determine exactly what your business needs are. Given all of the different benefits of various ERP systems, you probably know what it can do for your company, but do you know what goals you want it to help you achieve?
You need to think about your company's specific goals and objectives and find all of the ways that an ERP system can help you achieve them. If you analyze your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), you can easily identify the problems in your business that ERP implementation services will help you solve. This will also give you insight into any future business projections, so you can adapt your organization to any changes.
2. Assign Roles
There is one mistake that many organizations make when selecting an internal team to assist with the ERP system implementation. Many companies include the people who they think can be easily spared from regular work (typically the lowest performers) and then too often make the mistake of not including the key people they need to succeed.
You need to look for a capable project manager who will ensure that the ERP system implementation process goes smoothly. Hiring a professional with expertise and experience in the implementation process will guide your employees through the process more smoothly while also making sure that they fully understand its importance and the impact it will have on your business.
Essentially, you need to either find an internal employee with stellar communication and management skills that have some implementation experience for the role of a project manager or an outside professional with the appropriate skill set.
3. Find The Right ERP Implementation Services
Finding the right ERP implementation services for your business needs is maybe the most crucial step that you need to follow because not every ERP solution will provide the same benefits. What works perfectly for one company might not be the right solution for your unique business.
A one-size-fits-all solution is definitely not the way to go when it comes to choosing the right ERP implementation services. You have to consider your business needs, the industry you are in, and your system requirements, as well as any future goals or expectations.
Taking the time to do proper research will benefit you in the long run. If you rush to choose the first ERP implementation firm that you find, you might regret it.
4. Configure And Test
After deploying the software, you need to configure the ERP system and optimize it for your business needs. Depending on the software and the ERP implementation firm that you select, the amount of time this can take will vary. You need to make sure you find the right balance between focusing on the details and finishing the process quickly.
Some ERP software on the market is more robust and will require a longer implementation. Some more basic options will be ready to go "out-of-the-box." A quality vendor will spend time reviewing your requirements prior to implementation to make the process go quicker and more smoothly. Other vendors might skip this step.
After you configure your ERP system, it's time to move into the testing phase so that you can ensure that everything is working correctly. The testing phase is a crucial part of the ERP implementation process because it gives you a more clear insight into the performance of the system and allows you to make a smooth transition. You should never go live with the system before performing the proper testing.
5. Data Migration
Data migration is a vital step for a successful ERP implementation because, if done correctly, it will allow you to streamline your operations. If done incorrectly, it could take a long time to fix, so you want to make sure you get it right the first time. Before converting all of the data into your new ERP system, you should filter out anything that you find unnecessary or incorrect so that the new system is updated and accurate.
Your main goal in this step is to clean up your data and transfer only the most crucial information so that you can achieve efficiency and data integrity.
6. Train Your Staff
After the ERP system has been properly implemented and tested, you need to train your staff so that they're able to use the new system effectively. It's a good idea to hire a team of experts to provide the necessary on-site training and help all your employees understand and become proficient with the software. Your IT team should also be provided with more extensive training on the software so that they can handle any technical problems that might happen in the future.
When Are The Best Times To Begin ERP Software Implementation?
The time that you choose to implement your ERP is a factor often overlooked by many people, but the time of year you choose is more important than you might think. Below are the general best times of year you should consider choosing:
- Your Least Busy Quarter: When everyone in your company is busy, implementing an ERP system will only get in their way. There won't be enough time or attention given to the new system. Choosing to implement when your business is slower will ensure that you get your staff's full attention. This will, in turn, enhance your implementation success rate.
- Start Of A New Financial Year: The end of any financial year is a very stressful and busy time, but starting a new financial year on a new system ensures that there's less data that needs to be transferred over to the new system. Performing ERP software implementation too close to the end of a financial year will create two sets of data that will generate reports, making financial accounting and management more complicated than it needs to be.
- Implement In A Settled Environment: Successful ERP software implementation depends on the people using it. If a company is in the middle of a human resource change and is hiring new people, it will become a lot harder to define the roles of each user and train them. It's best to implement and train when the majority of personnel are settled into their roles and not burnt out or brand new.
Regardless of what time of year you choose to perform ERP software implementation, as long as you follow our simple steps, you're sure to find success with your ERP implementation services.
Erphub is a leading ERP implementation services firm that offers consulting, solution development, and administration services to ensure your business efficiency is at its optimum level. At Erphub, we provide access to informational tools, a variety of basic ERP software packages, and the option to choose a completely custom ERP solution for your business. For more information, contact us by email.