Adopt a Strategic ERP Training Process

What happens after your enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is implemented? After the go-live date, the project leader may have a solid idea of how to use the software, but that isn’t necessarily the case for the rest of the company if a solid training process isn’t in place. All of your users, no matter their level of experience with ERP, benefit from comprehensive training. When employees have learned how to use the software correctly, your company enjoys increased productivity, mitigated risk and a quick return on investment. We’ve compiled some tips to train your employees to become comfortable with their new system.

Train for Each Role

A key benefit of ERP software is its promotion of inter-departmental collaboration. During the training process, it’s important to explain how users from the shop floor to management will take advantage of the system. This inter-departmental insight encourages users to leverage software for productive communication from end to end of the enterprise.

However, different users from different departments will ultimately perform very different ERP functions. That means that training shouldn’t be the same for all your users. Some employees will need to learn how to approve time-off requests while others must know how to manage inventory. Your power users will require intense training on various aspects of the ERP instance while other users will only be engaging with a few features. Remote users will likely need more knowledge about mobile compatibility than users who spend most of their work hours in the office. Make sure your workforce is receiving the level of education they need to incorporate the new system into their daily routine.

Train On Site

Nobody likes homework, but you’ll have to require employees to take some time to learn about the system after hours. One goal of a successful enterprise software project is to implement your system with as little disruption to your processes as possible. Your company simply can’t afford to waste too much time training during business hours.

Having said that, it’s impossible for companies to enjoy effective user adoption without delegating some time to training at work. You will have better control over questions or stumbling blocks during company time. In-house training also maintains team unity during this process. Remember: Sacrificing some business time during your project and immediately after go live to ease your users’ transition into the new system will save you a lot of stress and time in the long run.

Train Employees Continuously

Your business isn’t static, meaning the way users engage with their modules and even the software itself will change over time. Vendors make upgrades to their ERP products, and some of these changes may be quite drastic. Additionally, you may hire new employees or find pain points in the system over time. For all of these reasons, failure to provide continued training introduces risk into your business. Increase the longevity of your software instance by providing annual refreshers and educating your workforce about important changes to the system or business processes. 

Train with a Consultant

Manuals and book knowledge are no substitute for hands-on training. Working with a consultant, who understands the roles within your organization and has extensive software training experience, will help you maximize the value of your ERP investment. ERP consultants take the stress out of software. Rather than leave training entirely in your hands, pass part of that responsibility off to experts who know what it takes to ensure effective user adoption.

Wrap Up

Strategic training and change management are essential for software success. Take it from us—Datix has over 20 years of experience in building enterprise software projects for midmarket manufacturers and distributors. We earned Epicor Gold Partner status because of our comprehensive ERP solutions. From start to finish, Datix is there to serve as your one-stop shop for your enterprise software needs.

For software tips and training, reach out to our ERP experts today!

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