If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation for the first time.
Or, your solution is failing and you’re looking for a remedy before everything grinds to a halt.
Whatever the case, the implementation process for an ERP system can be complicated for a business. Whether you want to replace an older system, upgrade, or start from scratch, many questions will arise.
The most important being, “Who’s involved with all this?”
Let’s go over some of the key people involved in an ERP implementation.
Senior Management
When you talk with a potential ERP partner about installing a system, you might hear this question asked: “Do your bosses know about this?”
If your response is “No,” or, “We’re trying to discuss this further with them,” then that’s a problem.
If you embark on an ERP selection odyssey, chances are you’ve experienced problems for some time. If your company is using an older ERP, then these issues may be time-sensitive and steadily increasing.
At that point, the number of voices complaining shouldn’t be that of only one person.
From the beginning, it’s crucial to get your senior staff members involved in this process. Some higher-ups might put system changes off, saying it doesn’t concern them at all. Others may just reject it as a waste of time or too expensive.
Yet, what you’re undertaking is far more critical than they imagine.
Let’s compare a business to a living person and an ERP system to the heart. Installing, upgrading or implementing a solution is the equivalent of open-heart surgery. When your partner is trying to fix these problems, they’re effectively performing a procedure on your organization.
The question becomes, whose support do you want when you reach this important junction? Whose involvement can provide a better understanding of what’s needed to have the best possible outcome?
That’s the strength of having your senior management involved during an implementation.
I.T. Department
No matter how much they may tease you for needing help updating Windows, your IT staff serve an invaluable purpose.
In day-to-day operations, they resolve countless different issues affecting your technology. All of which allows your firm to continue its daily operations on a regular basis.
When it comes to an ERP implementation, these staff members have much to offer.
If you’re using an older system, your IT department has played a critical role in keeping it going over the years. In viewing where improvements are necessary, they can determine what’s needed to provide a superior solution.
At the same time, as the implementation is ongoing, you’ll need people who can support training other staff. They can alleviate some concerns, while describing specific simulations of how your system will function. Your ERP partner should be able to take much of the burden off of IT during the training process by working directly with your company to answer questions and offering a tailored demo. That said, I.T. will inevitably need to support training and responding to questions from other employees. With our business-first approach, Datix takes the time to understand staff concerns and create a solution based on your specific company objectives. Learn more about working with Datix.
Depending on which deployment option you select, you’ll need someone to draft a security plan for your solution. If your system is On-Premise, I.T. will be responsible for most of the security needed to keep it protected, although your ERP consultant can help. If you opt for a cloud ERP, it is usually easier to outsource more of your ERP security maintenance.
No matter how you decide to deploy your ERP, IT will be integral to moving the project forward.
Your ERP Partner
An ERP consultant should make the process of implementing or updating a new ERP easier and take some of the burden off of you.
By receiving the vision for the organizational changes the ERP system should bring from leadership and gaining specific feedback about logistical issues from IT, an ERP partner can make you a comprehensive plan for success.
At Datix, we have implemented thousands of ERP solutions, so we bring our expertise to the planning process. There may be ERP functionalities that your company would desperately benefit from that you simply don’t know about. Our staff know what is possible and will support you every step of the way in gaining a new ERP solution. From the planning to the implementation to training and beyond, we take care of our clients’ ERP needs.
Your Staff
We first asked who is involved in an implementation, and despite this blog post, there was a simple answer.
In truth, everyone’s involved.
By the time the installation is underway, your staff and your ERP partner need to have plans for everyday use. What’s being implemented in your company will be used by everyone on a regular basis.
As a result, training people to properly use the system will be a critical component to the process. While some colleagues may put up a fence, the truth is they can’t avoid what’s soon to be a reality.
Everyone, from your CEO to that accountant with the tuna sandwich fixation, will have a role to play. The question is, will you be ready for your ERP implementation?
Wrap Up
An ERP implementation doesn’t need to be stressful if you have the right support.
Find out what it means to work with the ERP experts at Datix
About Datix
With 25 years of experience, we understand what it takes to maximize software. Datix will work with you to understand your unique business needs to support your goals. Our team of experts promises to be by your side throughout your implementation and beyond.
