Genius ERP: ready out-of-the-box for custom manufacturing.
Purchasing an ERP system is a project — and needs to be managed like one to ensure a successful rollout. Establishing an organized and structured approach, along with a defined timeline, is crucial to completing your project and successfully implementing an ERP system.
The best way to start your ERP procurement project is to create a spreadsheet to serve as a roadmap. Use your spreadsheet to meticulously plan out the necessary steps you need to take — including specific dates — to achieve your ultimate goal of a successful ERP implementation. Start by determining the desired Go Live date that you want, and then work backward, outlining the series of steps and tasks that you need to accomplish to meet that target.
Up to 75% of ERP implementations are considered failures, with improper ERP selection being one of the main contributors: If you choose the wrong software at the outset, your implementation is more likely to fail. Putting in the legwork upfront will help you find the best system for you, increasing your chances of success and minimizing the risks associated with selecting the wrong ERP software for your business.
Establishing a timeline for your ERP project will not only keep your project running on time and help your team to better plan and manage their own time, but it will also help you to evaluate potential vendors to see if they can meet your needs.
A word of caution before you start your project: Make sure that you have tackled the big issues that you have and that you have well-defined answers to questions like what are the main pain points you are trying to address. In this way, you will know what type of system you are looking for, what features you need and what processes you want to improve — and you won’t be led astray by shiny sales pitches or demos. The more you have defined for yourself and the more concrete answers you can share with potential ERP vendors, the more successful your project will be.
Not sure where to start? Read on to find out the ten steps to take — along with the timeframe for each — that have been established by our ERP experts.
Choose one person, or a very small group, to be responsible for researching and finding the ERP companies you want to consider.
Now is the time to call the companies on your shortlist. The purpose of these calls is to ensure that each vendor understands your goals and to see which solutions could be a good fit for you and are geared toward your needs. You will probably disqualify some vendors at this point — which is a good thing; you don’t want to waste time on solutions that aren’t right for you.
Request that each company you are considering provide you with an estimated cost for their system to help you determine which options align with your budget and which ones are significantly beyond your means.
It’s time to narrow down the list of potential ERP partners to 2-3, as well as to establish an internal ERP selection committee. Both the partners you choose to go forward with, as well as your internal team are important and will have a big impact on your final decision, so be mindful of your selections.
Try to hold all vendor interviews within 1 week to keep everything fresh in your head. This is an opportunity for each potential vendor to do one-on-one interviews with all of the key players in your organization. While this is a time-consuming step, it will really help you to find the best solution that fits all of your needs.
This is your first real chance to see each software solution in action. Try to do all the demos within one week if you can, as keeping them tightly together helps you to better remember and evaluate all of the solutions. Also, remember to book 30 minutes after each demo to take time to talk about the software with your selection committee.
You may need to do a couple of in-depth presentations with some of your key players to get all the information you need: For example, you might need to do a technical call with a drafting technician to ensure the software has the exact technical specifics/functionalities you need. Try to be succinct to keep your momentum going.
Congratulations! You have made a final decision and picked the right ERP solution for your needs. Now it is time to get a final contract and price. Ensure you review and finetune the contract. You will also need to submit a deposit with the signed contract, so if you need financing or grants to purchase the system, be sure you have prepared this ahead of time.
This step usually takes place one week after the deposit has been received. During this stage, you will work with your vendor to set the parameters for implementation and training. Are you hosting your new ERP system on-site? If so, your server needs to be ready.
Step 10 - Implementation
Timeframe: Approximately 24 weeks (3-6 months)
Implementation methodologies vary from company to company, but at Genius ERP, we like to plan a shorter timeline of three to six months to keep your momentum going and ensure you get your new system up and running quickly.
RELATED ARTICLE: The Fail-Proof Genius ERP Implementation Process
Our methodology divides the implementation project into three phases:
Selecting and implementing a new ERP is a huge undertaking, but with proper planning and project management, you can navigate the complexities and ensure a successful and smooth transition to your new system. Using your roadmap and following these ten steps will guide you through the entire process, providing a structured approach and increasing the likelihood of achieving your desired outcome of getting the right ERP system for your manufacturing business.
