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ERP Software implementation decides whether your investment pays off or results in a loss. According to multiple researches, over 70% of ERP projects either fail or underdeliver, not because of the software, but because of how businesses implement it. The common reasons? Rushed planning, unclear expectations, and lack of coordination.
The good news? You can avoid these mistakes. Now that you have selected the ERP software, your real challenge begins: implementing it right. This guide brings you real-world insights, including studies of companies where ERP Software implementation failed and where it succeeded. Marin County, California, offers a striking example. The county invested $18.6 million in an ERP project with SAP but scrapped it after two years of operational failure. It failed to run basic financial functions, and launched a legal battle against its consultant Deloitte. The $3.9 million settlement that Marin County received didn’t cover the $5 million it spent on legal fees. Stories like this happen often, that's why we created this guide. Use it to proactively avoid such mistakes and implement your ERP software smoothly and successfully.
Once you know what you need from the ERP system, the next step in your ERP Software implementation journey is finding the right vendor who can deliver it.
Don't just go for the biggest name or the cheapest option. Look for a vendor who understands your industry, has expertise in your specific needs, and doesn't try to push a one-size-fits-all solution.
Check how flexible their system is. Can it handle your daily challenges without needing massive customization? Also, ask for real demos to let your team see how the actual software works in real-life scenarios.
During ERP implementation, it's tempting to customize every feature to match how you are used to working. Experts say too much customization often causes more problems than it solves. It also increases the cost of ERP implementation. As we have discussed above, you should stick to customization only, which is necessary for your business to function smoothly. If a particular screen layout or report format isn't business-critical, it's better to adjust your process than to force the software to change. The more you customize, the more time, money, and support you'll need, not just now but every time the ERP gets updated. So, before asking for different features, analyze whether it is really essential or not.
Less customization means faster ERP implementation, fewer bugs, easier upgrades, and, most importantly, a smoother ERP Software implementation journey.
Data migration is a crucial step in your ERP Software implementation journey. Shifting your old data into the new ERP is not just about copy-pasting files. If your existing data is outdated, messy, or wrongly entered, the ERP will only carry forward those mistakes if you have not paid attention here.
Start by cleaning your legacy data. Remove duplicates, correct wrong entries, and, most importantly, make sure it's up to date. Map your old data fields carefully to the ERP system. For example, match item codes, customer names, and GST numbers correctly. Although this part will primarily be handled by the expert team who will implement ERP software, these are the things you should keep an eye on. If you perform this ERP Software implementation step correctly, your software will work smoothly from day one.
Even the best ERP system won't work if the people using it don't know how. That's why thorough training during ERP Software implementation is key. Make sure everyone who will use the ERP gets proper training.
Training should be hands-on and straightforward, which should include the simulations of day-to-day tasks your team will perform. Although the expert team will provide ERP software training, you still need to stay aware. Also, have discussions with your vendor about the ongoing support after the launch. No doubt, your employees will have questions or might face issues even after implementation, so prompt action by the vendor will help them here.
After ERP implementation, check if your investment has paid off. Set up ways to measure how the system is improving your business. The best way to do it is to check whether the problems you have listed before selecting have been solved or not. After ERP Software implementation, your team will save time, make fewer errors, and make faster decisions, among other benefits. You can quantify these benefits in terms of time, money, and speed of operation and decision-making.
If you have clarity of the right vendor, clean data, trained users, and the steps for a successful ERP Software implementation, then the process will not be complicated. Follow the steps we have shared in this blog, and you will have a successful ERP implementation.
Seeing the complex nature of the implementation process, if you still have doubts regarding any step or anything in general, then please get in touch with our team. We will guide you based on your operations and business type; drop an email at marketing@ebizframe.com.
