Skill-sets of a Successful ERP Project Leader

Importance of effective ERP Training for Employees

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become a mainstay for businesses since last few decades. Not to forget, behind a successful organisation that uses ERP solution is its workforce, which is well-trained and proficient in using the system to the fullest. Optimum employee training plays a pivotal role in successful implementation and adoption of an ERP solution.

Inefficient or inferior training to employees might result in delays in ERP adoption followed by increased costs. Proper and efficient training thus helps to avoid the risks of delayed adoption and implementation, bugs, breakdowns and other roadblocks.

Following are a few factors that play a huge role in effective ERP training session for employees for successful implementation:

Allocation of time for training

For effective training, allocation of sufficient time is a must. Training should cover all aspects of the ERP’s features requires for the end-users. Classroom base training should be conducted to understand the concept of ERP software. It is advisable to kick-off the training sessions at least 40-45 days before the go live date.

Super user training

Even though you are conducting training session to every stakeholder in your company, it is imperative to identify super users or experts from your workforce and arrange an extensive training for such users. This helps in smooth support to end users before the system goes live.

Highlighting business process

ERP training session ought to be devised in line with business processes. It should explain day-to-day jobs of employees that they would perform within the ERP system. It should contain inputting data in the ERP software, extracting information from the system and sharing of information from one user to the other within the ERP system.

Mode of Training

Learning abilities differ from one person to other. This is why ERP training should not be limited to classroom training alone. Training database should configure for Test transactions as well. User manual, presentation slides and video tutorials should be made available for all.

Technical Training

A selected number of IT users should be trained for mastering the technical aspects of the ERP system, so that they can write the script, generate reports and run queries in the database for specific requirements as well for taking database backups.

Why Employees in an organisation must have genuine understanding about ERP?

Implementing a new ERP system is certainly an expensive, time-consuming or complicated task that an organisation makes. Nevertheless, successful implementation of an ERP system can help an organisation to streamline the workflow and achieve business goals easily and efficiently. To ensure that the ERP solution works efficiently, it is necessary for every employee in the organisation to be aware of the system’s process flow that helps to minimize potential problems that may occur while using the system. Failing to do so might result in employees disrupting the value of enterprise resource planning and the efficiency it offers.

Employees include everyone from the clerical department to higher-level executives. Even the lowest level employees, who perform tasks like administrative assistants need to have a basic understanding about the functioning of the ERP modules. This will help them understand how the reports are printed based on how the inventory of an organisation is distributed, which in turn helps them to know about some minor issues that may occur while printing the records.

Other personnel include people working in the accounting or finance department, who are responsible for executing and managing monetary transactions. At a certain point, issues might occur for them in transaction level, where they might find a need to examine the records. If these employees have an understanding about the finance modules of an ERP system, they can easily find out how materials, funds and resources are interrelated to each other.

Then there comes the high-level executives such as managers or supervisors of an organisation, who deal with only the outcomes. Sometimes these executives might find the need to go through the workflow of an ERP system and its data/transactions, here they need to have some understanding about the ERP, as this would save time for them as well as their subordinates.

ERP implementation may take time, but getting it to work for the organisation will always be beneficial. This calls for sheer dedication from employees in understanding the system. Note that, employees are the only ones, who are the end-users of the software.

ERP is a powerful and integrated software that effectively manages and automates crucial business processes improving productivity and operational efficiency. ERP software helps to collect and organise data from various business operations providing the management with vital insights into Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in real time, which in turn helps them make informed business decisions.

If you are to implement a new ERP project, it is essential to have a project leader, who can guide and steer the entire ERP implementation and adoption for your business. Project leaders play a pivotal role in achieving all the key objectives that a business intends to attain with an ERP solution.

Below are few important traits of a successful ERP Project Leader

Communication

ERP project leaders should properly communicate their ideas. In fact, they ought to be crystal-clear with their goals and objectives pertaining to the Implementation. Even a good plan can fall back in no time if the communication is poor. Project leaders ought to boast ability and proficiency in interacting with the end-users and should give ears to t heir requirements and concerns.

Organised

ERP project leader should be highly organised to ensure that everything is taken care of including the documentation, contracts, email communications, sign-off documents, change management documents, etc. This helps in optimum ERP adoption across the organisation.

Team Management

Putting together right group of people is another vital trait of a strong ERP project leader. In addition, it is equally important for a project leader to make every employee understand the ERP system. It also plays vital role in the overall success of ERP solution for a business.

Time Management

This is another crucial aspect of a great ERP project leader. This helps ensure higher productivity. Managing time effectively is a useful skill. Leaders should plan and create effective time management strategies for their crew.

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Decision-Making

Here comes the most essential trait of great ERP leaders. Yes, they are excellent at decision-making. They know how to balance things and make decisions that have positive impacts on themselves, customers and their organisations. During ERP implementation, there will be queries/concerns that should be sorted out intelligently and quickly. This is where a smart project leader comes into picture.

Resolve Conflicts Shrewdly

There are chances of disagreements during the implementation process. Therefore, a project leader should act in a reasonable and diplomatic manner. Simply put, great ERP leaders are skilled in resolving conflicts during implementation and adoption.

Knowledge Sharing & Training

It is very vital for project leaders to share their knowledge and expertise when it comes to training the users for the newly implemented ERP system.

Confidence

An effective project leader is confident in his ability as well his team members in achieving the common goals. This is why a great leader always adheres to best project management practices and change management process.

Manage Client Expectations

Managing expectations that arise during the initial and final phase of implementation is extremely challenging. Project leaders should monitor and manage client expectations and concerns followed by taking corrective actions.

Strong leadership is one of the pre-requisites for a successful and highly productive team. Successful ERP Implementation requires the guidance of an expert project leader to execute the project in a seamless, efficient and timely manner.

To learn more about how your business can enjoy successful and efficient ERP implementation, click here. You can also SMS SAGE to 56767 or simply drop an email at sales@sagesoftware.co.in