ERP Implementation: 5 Steps to Success

If your business wants to buy an ERP system The next step prior to you beginning the process of implementation is the process. It can be a daunting process for someone who is a first-time purchaser, or too expensive for companies with a software system in place. But a well-planned ERP project implementation can bring about a lower timeline for implementation, and a lower cost by putting the best methods in place to support software, protecting your data’s security, and decreasing the need for future support expenses.

What is ERP implementation?

The process of ERP Implementation is the procedure of setting up and installing ERP software, transferring your data from the previous system to the new system and educating your employees to utilize the new system correctly and in the way, you want it to. The implementation of an enterprise resource planning project is viewed as the management of change for your company considering the various ways to help prepare, assist and assist employees, decision-makers, and other entities to make changes in your organization.

The process begins in the pre-deployment stage, where you get technical advice regarding your specific requirements, and then compared it to best practices in the industry. Project management assists your team members to define the project’s scope, develop timelines, plan schedules and meet important milestones. Then, the system’s implementation, as well as the configuration, is the process of deploying software exactly as you want it to be.

Certain ERP implementations are very quick. This implies that an ERP solution is usually functional “out of the package”. This means that it needs little or no modification and no additional capabilities are required. Other requirements for business, for example, having different applications or managing multiple entities, may need a gradual rollout and more involvement by your team for implementation.

The steps to a successful ERP Implementation

The five key steps to an ERP implementation include:

• Installation
• Configuration
• Customization
• Conversion of Data
• Integration

Sometimes, these steps could be running concurrently and, at times, you may not be able to begin until the first stage has been completed. A few steps not mentioned (but equally crucial) include pre-deployment company and technical consultation, determining the scope of your project, and the training of the newly installed ERP system.

1. Installation

After the program has been installed on your system, it can be regarded as “installed.” However, there are some prerequisites to be met by project managers must meet to simply install the program.

Finding the correct hardware Your ERP provider will establish your server requirements for you. A majority of ERP providers publish exact minimal hardware requirements in their documentation. There are seven distinct attributes of a hardware system that should be considered when planning system requirements: availability potential capacity and performance security, scalability, and accessibility to services.

The hardware must be prepared properly. This includes ensuring there is enough storage on the disk, making sure the network is properly configured to manage the server’s availability and making sure the server is backup before making changes, and taking care to address the necessary operating system-specific settings.

2. Configuration

It is the procedure of adjusting the functions of the program to meet the specific security requirements of your organization such as workflows, preferences, and personal preferences.

One of the security needs is the access rights of users. The permissions will allow different levels of access to be granted to employees based on their position and department level.

The second step in the configuration is to make your software compatible with your workflow. A substantial amount of time will be needed to ensure your program is functioning as it should. This involves a number of steps, such as entering the company’s details, determining the currency and exchange rates and setting up your chart of accounts, defining inventory levels, establishing bank integrations, and many more. In any system that is set up, there are dozens or perhaps hundreds of these types of configurations.

3. Customization

Customization is a term used to describe instances in which you’re altering or adding to the code of the software. In the case of ERP software, the customization options are more restricted than in other software systems.

Software companies handle the majority of modifications since the majority of ERP applications aren’t open-source ERP programs. When adjustments to the base system settings and configurations don’t offer the functionality needed to satisfy requirements this could be W4. Data Conversion

Importing data from your existing system is an essential part of the successful implementation. One of the biggest challenges is that there isn’t a single common way to store data. The databases that keep track of financial records — for example are different between ERP systems and the next.

Manually entering data, or reformatting exported data dumps to fit the new format could be tedious and expensive. ERP software providers could have the expertise to help you, or software tools to make the process faster (sometimes the two). There are companies (such as CloverETL) that specialize in the process of converting and migrating data.

5. Integration

Integration defines the way your new software communicates with the existing platforms of your software. If you have a previous CRM system, while implementing new ERP software, the business must want the data of your customers to be modifications made in the CRM system to be recorded within the ERP software.

Real-time integration allows for changes to one system to be immediately reflected on the second. This can be accomplished by the use of an integrated database. Additionally, many applications offer APIs (application programming interfaces) that pre-configure an instruction set that permit changes to the database of one program in response to actions taken in another.

From a functional standpoint, real-time integration is always the best but it may not be always feasible or economically viable. Another option is that you can create reports and transfer updated data from one system to the other. Although it is less costly to implement the process, it can cause problems when different data is present in two systems before the reconciliation process has been initiated. If the batch processes are performed often enough or the data isn’t frequently updated the process may be able to work however there will be situations where this could be a major drawback.

The benefits of ERP implementation

There are numerous high-level benefits to businesses that come with a well-managed ERP implementation.

Shorter Implementation Timeframes

Poorly managed ERP implementation could be a nightmare to manage and take a long time to complete. If delays result from the need to address hardware deficiencies or preparing unexpected changes to business processes or training that is not planned properly delays can delay the time when you’re ready to reap the benefits of increased efficiency. Effective planning can cut down on delay and ensure that the most important employees do not have to be removed from their jobs for a long time.

Implementation of Cost Management and Reduction

ERP implementations require planning, and input from employees as well as how much resources are allocated required to complete. Each one of these could cause costs to increase when not managed properly. A contract with a vendor is an opportunity to set an exact cost for the services of implementation.

Software Support for Corporate Best Practices

The proper way to identify, define, and prepare for software that will help with best practices is essential. Think about software that offers robust capabilities to purchase requisition. It is important that the approval, reports, and review processes must be defined and implemented for the best use of software in identifying savings opportunities in the buying process. Integrating the software tool into your own processes can be where your rubber hits the road when it comes to the success of your project.

Data Security

Changes to ERP are accompanied by the risk of business continuity, which includes security risks for data. The best practices to ensure that data is secure have been developed over time using existing systems. The implementation that is well-executed will ensure the proper security measures and user permissions are transferred and enhanced.

Optimization to Reduce Future Support Costs

Effective implementations that make use of ERP software can reduce the cost of support for ongoing operations with appropriate preparation. Establishing workflows for support and establishing user-accessible documentation and taking into consideration the requirements that are required to scale can significantly cut down on ongoing support costs.

Tips for the Success of an ERP Implementation

Check for vendor certifications and certifications. Alongside ensuring they’re an official vendor of the software Many ERP suppliers must remain up-to-date with the latest changes to the end-to-end code. Check to see if your supplier maintains a partnership with the vendor so they’re up-to-date with the latest patches and releases that your ERP.

Make sure that the support team is competent. A well-trained sales team is often the decisive factor in an organization’s decision to select one company over another. But, once the ERP software is purchased the only interaction that your company has with the vendor will be assistance. It is essential that the vendor’s support team is as proficient as their sales team.

Keep track of references. A well-established ERP vendor will be happy to give you testimonials from satisfied customers. This will give you the chance to ask questions that you might be hesitant to ask directly.