Most Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations are born out of immediate necessity. As the business grows, revenues increase, team sizes explode, old software platforms become obsolete, the tech stacks of one-trick tools are now impossible to manage, and the need for software upgrades become essential for the company to continue growing.
Implementing a new ERP promises to meet these challenges but it has its own serious challenges, such as:
Identifying which processes need to be integrated.
Knowing which processes would benefit from an ERP integration, especially in companies with competing divisions, can be difficult and time-consuming. Decisions are often made from fragmented data and may ultimately waste employees’ time more than what came before.
Rigid systems.
It’s crucial to choose software that can adapt to ever-changing company requirements and future-proof disjointed integration challenges. An ERP system that does not adapt to company needs will not improve efficiency. The last thing you want is to spend time and resources, in perpetuity, reverse-engineering your processes and infrastructure every time a new business need arises.
Restricted functionality.
Only once the ERP system is fully integrated can a company realize its full functionality and how it affects existing processes. A lot of companies will find out only after implementation that the software does not have all the functions needed.
Change management.
This resistance to change often stems from users not fully understanding the importance of new systems or a fear of technology making their roles redundant. Taking the time to train staff before implementing new software is key to demonstrating how this tool is here to make their daily tasks simpler and more efficient, rather than complex and arduous.
How to tackle the implementation
ERP systems are incredible tools for improving operational efficiency, but only if they are implemented correctly. A successful implementation always starts with selecting the right solution that fits the needs of the company and can adapt to ever-changing best practices and workflows. The best ERP systems are also modular, allowing for external additions like mobility packages, business intelligence layers, and workflow management tools.
1. Don’t rush the planning phase.
While the implementation and benefits of ERP systems can be exciting, budget extensive time for the planning and discovery phases. This will help the team with building a strong foundation on established goals, existing processes, and determining a sufficient budget.
2. Understand the limitations of a single ERP.
It’s important to understand that no single ERP system will have all the functionality needed for a growing enterprise. The modular nature of a good ERP system allows for growth. For example, if maintenance teams want to interact with work order processes at the frontline, a mobility solution like Datch can be integrated into the existing ERP.
3. Establish a data migration plan.
Not every bit of data needs to migrate to the new databases. A transition to a new ERP system offers an opportunity to clean up databases. Create a data migration plan to prune old, obsolete data while preserving valuable data.
4. Don’t forget the end users.
The end user should be considered a main stakeholder during the entire process. Understanding their current workflows and the challenges of old methods will inform the improvements of new ERP workflows. Continued training, tech support, software additions, and process improvements will help organizations reap the full benefits of their new systems.
Want to see for yourself how Datch interacts with ERPs and empowers frontline workers? Schedule a demo with us, today.
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
What’s a Rich Text element?
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
- List item one
- List item two
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
