How to De-Risk Your ERP Implementation

ERP failure—one of the biggest fears of any business considering an enterprise software implementation. There’s no denying that ERP failure happens, but the reasons behind the pitfalls are often buried. Botched implementations rarely result from problems with the software itself. The cause is usually an oversight in the project’s execution. Perhaps the project team was rushed, the consultants didn’t have the required industry experience or business goals were ignored. There are a lot of moving parts in ERP projects, and without carefully managing every step, your implementation is susceptible to failure. 

However, that doesn’t mean this process isn’t worth the end results. An ERP solution can powerfully enhance your business performance by streamlining operations and improving insight. By following our tips and teaming up with dedicated consultants, you can de-risk your ERP implementation and set your business up for future growth!  

Business Process Modeling

Rather than approach your ERP implementation as just a software project, regard it as a new chapter for your entire enterprise. An ERP instance unlocks new opportunities to improve efficiency and plan for growth. But if you install the system without taking into account how it will fit in with your business goals and processes, consider your investment wasted. Gaps in your business strategies won’t magically disappear after a simple plug-and-play. It takes a thorough look and modification of current processes to reap the rewards of your ERP system. 

Business process modeling (BPM) is the key to aligning ERP with your organization. BPM is a strategy to identify your operations, analyze workflows and find areas for improvement from end to end of your enterprise. It’s a truly holistic approach that uses automation and industry best practices to ensure companies get the most from their data and optimize their ERP functionality. By making BPM a central role of your implementation, you can leverage your system for sweeping business improvements. 

Proactive Approach 

Businesses have a habit of jumping into implementations without taking care of all the necessary considerations and planning at the front end of the project. If you don’t take a proactive approach to you ERP implementation, there’s a good chance that unforeseen problems will creep up and delay your go-live or even harm your investment altogether. From the beginning, organize your project team and each member’s roles, understand your business needs and determine which customizations or configurations will be necessary.  

You also want to figure out your implementation’s level of risk. Are you planning on including a large number of customizations? Are your employees quick to adapt to changes? Does your project span across several sites? For complex projects, consider undergoing a phased implementation. An incremental approach mitigates risk by enabling your IT team to respond to issues on a single module, department or location at a time rather than detect and fix errors across your system and enterprise. 

Thorough Testing 

When time starts to run short or budgets run thin, testing is often the area where project teams cut corners. However, failing to undergo critical tests puts you at risk of serious downtime. It’s best to address any problems in test environments. Conduct various tests to ensure every nook and cranny of your system is ready for go-live. Check that backup processes, workflows, APIs, the database and everything else are good to go. As tedious as this step of the implementation can be, you’ll be thankful you did it once you deploy your error-free ERP instance. 

Expert Consultants 

Your IT team should play a major hand in your ERP implementation, but it shouldn’t be left on its own. IT personnel doesn’t have the extensive ERP experience or expertise in business processes to anticipate possible risks to project success. Expert consultants, on the other hand, possess both the technical and business skill to take the lead role on your implementation. Consultants leverage years of experience with ERP software and your industry to align the system with your needs and understand the nuances of the project. By teaming up with ERP consultants, you’re more likely to gain a return on your investment and take the pressure off your IT department. 

Wrap Up 

Any major business decision entails risk, but with thoughtful consideration and a thorough strategy, you can make changes seamlessly and discover new opportunities. The same goes with ERP implementations. As a major business decision, the project shouldn’t be taken lightly. When approached carefully, an ERP implementation can optimize enterprise performance. 

This doesn’t mean that ERP projects have to be a challenge. When you work with Datix, you gain a team of experienced ERP consultants committed to simplifying the implementation process, so you can reach ROI in no time. Datix is an Epicor Gold Partner, making us one of the top experts in Epicor ERP, the premier solution for manufacturers. Using business process modeling and our proven strategy, we’ll guide your project to success. After the system is live, we’ll offer continued maintenance and upgrades as well as integrations, ensuring your software grows with your business. 

 To make sure your Epicor ERP implementation goes off without a hitch, get in touch with Datix today!