Genius ERP: ready out-of-the-box for custom manufacturing.
Want to learn the true secret to a successful ERP implementation? We asked one of our top ERP implementation experts to answer all of your burning questions.
Maxime Larose has helped guide over 50 companies successfully through the implementation process. Read on to find out all of his do’s and don’ts, plus Maxime’s number one tip for success.
The concise answer to this question is you should have a short implementation timeline — four to six months is the ideal timeframe for an ERP implementation project. Anything longer puts you at risk of not completing it.
The more nuanced answer is that you should do an ERP implementation project in phases. Pick your top priorities — ones that you can realistically accomplish in four to six months — and work on putting those features in place first.
A phased approach will ensure that you complete your implementation project — plus, it will give you a high ROI right from the get-go: You will not only have learned how to use your new system, but you also will have improved upon some of your biggest challenges.
After successfully putting those first few features in place, you can begin a second phase bringing more modules on board. It might take a bit longer to get your ERP up and running with this approach, but it is almost guaranteed that you will successfully finish your project – all the while continuing to improve your plant.
RELATED ARTICLE: The Fail-Proof Genius ERP Implementation Process
Ultimately, you need to pick one person to be your internal ERP project champion.
While it is crucial to have all key users and stakeholders on board and involved from the start, picking the right person to lead your project is a critical factor to a successful implementation.
Having a single project champion will improve communication both internally amongst your staff and externally with your ERP provider. Everyone will know who to go to for answers — and can rely on that answer to be the correct one.
Selecting a champion for a project as big as an ERP implementation isn’t easy. You need to choose a person with both the right technical skills and great communication and interpersonal skills. If you pick someone your staff doesn’t feel comfortable approaching with problems and issues, little hiccups might not get dealt with in a timely manner. These minor issues can quickly turn into major problems and potentially derail your entire project.
An internal champion will also be important long after the implementation process is complete, as it will give you someone who can internally oversee the system for you. Of course, you can always turn to your ERP provider with questions and issues after your implementation is finished, but your shop will run much smoother if you feel empowered and can tackle issues on your own.
The resounding answer to this question is yes! When planning your ERP implementation, we highly recommend defining your pain points and major issues and tackling those priorities first.
When you move onto the second phase of your project, do the same thing: Identify your next biggest issues and implement those solutions. An ERP is meant to help your company become more streamlined and efficient. Even though they are overarching systems, ERPs are based on modules to give you the flexibility to build the system that is right for you. Don’t waste your time — ever — putting in parts of an ERP system that do not work for your business.
First, ask yourself, was it the system or the implementation process that let you down? If you feel that the system was good, but you failed during the implementation phase, you need to look at how any new potential ERP system handles implementation and training.
Some systems will be DIY — and that may work for you if you have the right resources on your team that can lead the entire process for you. This can be a great way for you to get a good ERP system at a great price, but you need to be honest with yourself: Can you really handle it all on your own?
Most ERP providers will have a training and implementation plan built into their processes (and cost). You must ask any potential vendor how they handle implementation and what their defined training processes are: What methods do they use? Is it flexible? How do they measure knowledge progression? Are you able to work through simulations in the system? Do external consultants and trainers handle it?
The last is an important question because external consultants and trainers may be very skilled at their work and can provide your staff with great training. But your implementation project will run into difficulties if it isn’t tailored to your shop and your needs.
It’s best if you can work directly with your ERP provider. As manufacturing experts, they can help you define your priorities. Then they can create a tailored plan and roadmap to ensure you get the right features put in place from the start. Only after this detailed roadmap is created should you start any training.
Implementing an ERP is hard. The good news is — if done right — it’s worth it. An ERP can genuinely transform your shop’s efficiency, reduce operational costs, and increase on-time deliveries. The number one tip that Maxime has for a successful ERP implementation is planning and perseverance. If you take time to plan out your implementation process and carefully plan what should be done first and what training you need, your project will be successful.
Perseverance is also vital, as your project will run into some problems and hiccups along the way — even with a carefully crafted plan. Remind yourself why you need an ERP system and push yourself through the tough spots to get where you need to go. The reward will come, but you need to be willing to take on the challenge.
Want to hear all of Maxime’s tips? Watch his webinar here.
