Make you first ERP implementation your last by following these steps when selecting and implementing ERP.
1.Know what your company needs and wants
2.Look into the future, plan for it
3.Be committed from the top down
4.Try before you buy
5.Pick a partner that understands your business
6.Monitor the progress to ensure focus
7.Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Know what your company needs and wants
What does your company need ERP for? What major areas of your current structure are letting you down. These are things that your company needs to have in order to function properly; there are other things that would be nice to have be may not be a necessity though be sure to consider these once the fundamentals have be accounted for.
Look into the future and plan for it
When assessing your company software needs take some time to look at what you would like to see in the future. Short sighted planning opens organisations up to things like replacing systems, or spending a lot of money to meet future demands. Your ERP systems should support your company and employees in achieving growth.
Be Committed from the top down
If the owners and managers aren’t serious about the integration of their business and the installation of an ERP system the likely hood of success is minimal. The people who run and own the business have to be the driving force behind it at times. How it should be set up, who should do what, breaking down departmental barriers, signing the checks. Buy in is important from the top down. Employees will follow your lead.
Try before you buy
There are many different ways to try before you buy such as trials and full demonstration in using your own data. It is very important that you see that way your companies’ data will flow and how your people will use the system in there day to day jobs. Just because a software package does something, it doesn’t mean it does it the way you need to.
Pick a partner that understands your business
The software you buy and the company you buy it from are not necessarily the same. There are many software salesman out there who know how to navigate the software and talk the talk, but they really don’t understand your business processes. Your partner should offer advice when asked, they should bring business process value to your organisation. Anyone can tell you how software works but you need to find someone to tell you how software could best work for you. IIS have implemented over 200 SAP Business One implementations in almost every business sector and we continue to support our business partners within them.
Monitor the progress to ensure focus
Someone at a high level has to monitor the progress, ensuring that internal staff and vendors are progressing at the proper pace. You will also want to ensure the budget is on track based on the progress of the implementation. You need to ensure that things aren’t sidetracked and if they are that they are scheduled for in the future and the reason that this is happening should be valid.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
ERP is important and effective in many areas. SME’s often have key people who where many hats, if you try to do too much you will these people will be overloaded. Focus on what is going to give you most return for your investment first and then expand the system. Copyright of Integrate IT 2010
Copyright of Integrate IT 2010
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