Many organizations have burnt their fingers with half implemented ERP systems or excessive delay in implementation. Valuable management attention gets drawn in correcting a half baked ERP implementation. ERP implementations, though rarely, may also face last mile issues if the change is not handled well. Below are some guidelines that can help you guard against this risk:
Wrong choice of Product
While selecting a ERP software one must pen down business priorities. During the vendor selection process, it is easy to get lost in the vast offering that different ERP companies provide; this could be mobile compatibility, compliance with new statutory requirements, easy customization, cloud based solution, industry specific solution, user friendly interface, global operations compatibility, business intelligence tools etc. Knowing what is important to your business helps in the long term.
Inadequate involvement of senior management during implementation
It is a misnomer that ERP implementation is the job of the IT function. A comprehensive ERP often touches all departments in an organization. A deep drilled software implementation may expect changes in processes. Involvement of senior business representatives will ensure processes across departments are tied and ration atomization to keep business focus.
Implementation timelines get extended
Implementation timelines can get extended because of inadequate initial analysis i.e understanding of current processes v/s desired processes for better business capability. In the absence of a priority list of customization requests, the client will guide efforts as per his/ her frame of reference. A good ERP vendor will freeze requirements with department heads and further prioritize the list with the help of the ERP champion/ steering committee.
Change of members of ERP implementation steering committee
It is often experienced that members of the ERP steering committee are allocated other important assignments before completion of ERP implementation; sometimes key members may leave the organization, both of which bottlenecks critical implementation results. Every member of the steering committee is chosen carefully and has a role to play in a successful implementation.
Parallel off-line processes running too long
Even months after the ERP has been implemented, you may find executives maintaining offline records. They may be spending expensive executive time to keep offline & system records tallied. This could happen due to rigidity of ERP product or due to lack of internal processes. Business representatives involved in the ERP implementation need to drive, early on, customization and/ or process discipline. Good ERP vendors generate a full set of online reports from each module before announcing it as implemented.
Devesh Gor, has over 25 years of experience in ERP sales and implementation and is currently associated with SymcoPlus.
Symco, a pioneer of software packages in India, is engaged in ERP systems and development of industry specific systems.
Symco Plus is a consultancy unit specializing in building ERP driven financial care monitoring systems for business organization. In the highly competitive business scenario, they provide a comprehensive structure and processes for planning and control for SMEs' specific business and a sound deployment of modern day technology facilitating management of operations with real-time anywhere access to key information.
Symco Plus is a part of a group of service units engaged in providing diverse services which collectively and comprehensively form financial care for business organizations including Information systems.
Symco Consultants Pvt Ltd (SCPL)
Altius Advisory & Management Services
Shreejikosh Services Pvt Ltd (SKSPL)
To know more about Symco visit their website www.symcoplus.com
Wrong choice of Product
While selecting a ERP software one must pen down business priorities. During the vendor selection process, it is easy to get lost in the vast offering that different ERP companies provide; this could be mobile compatibility, compliance with new statutory requirements, easy customization, cloud based solution, industry specific solution, user friendly interface, global operations compatibility, business intelligence tools etc. Knowing what is important to your business helps in the long term.
Inadequate involvement of senior management during implementation
It is a misnomer that ERP implementation is the job of the IT function. A comprehensive ERP often touches all departments in an organization. A deep drilled software implementation may expect changes in processes. Involvement of senior business representatives will ensure processes across departments are tied and ration atomization to keep business focus.
Implementation timelines get extended
Implementation timelines can get extended because of inadequate initial analysis i.e understanding of current processes v/s desired processes for better business capability. In the absence of a priority list of customization requests, the client will guide efforts as per his/ her frame of reference. A good ERP vendor will freeze requirements with department heads and further prioritize the list with the help of the ERP champion/ steering committee.
Change of members of ERP implementation steering committee
It is often experienced that members of the ERP steering committee are allocated other important assignments before completion of ERP implementation; sometimes key members may leave the organization, both of which bottlenecks critical implementation results. Every member of the steering committee is chosen carefully and has a role to play in a successful implementation.
Parallel off-line processes running too long
Even months after the ERP has been implemented, you may find executives maintaining offline records. They may be spending expensive executive time to keep offline & system records tallied. This could happen due to rigidity of ERP product or due to lack of internal processes. Business representatives involved in the ERP implementation need to drive, early on, customization and/ or process discipline. Good ERP vendors generate a full set of online reports from each module before announcing it as implemented.
Devesh Gor, has over 25 years of experience in ERP sales and implementation and is currently associated with SymcoPlus.
Symco, a pioneer of software packages in India, is engaged in ERP systems and development of industry specific systems.
Symco Plus is a consultancy unit specializing in building ERP driven financial care monitoring systems for business organization. In the highly competitive business scenario, they provide a comprehensive structure and processes for planning and control for SMEs' specific business and a sound deployment of modern day technology facilitating management of operations with real-time anywhere access to key information.
Symco Plus is a part of a group of service units engaged in providing diverse services which collectively and comprehensively form financial care for business organizations including Information systems.
Symco Consultants Pvt Ltd (SCPL)
Altius Advisory & Management Services
Shreejikosh Services Pvt Ltd (SKSPL)
To know more about Symco visit their website www.symcoplus.com
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