Flying by the seat of your pants can certainly be fun, but it rarely makes for good business practice—especially when it comes to ERP implementation. So we asked our experts this simple question: What knowledge would help companies achieve optimal ERP implementation results? Their answers? Your project team, your implementation partner, and your strategy for going live.
We took their explanations and created three free guides that will get you fully prepared for your step to the Cloud. Before you give the go ahead to ERP implementation, make sure you’re prepped for success by considering these three things.
Building the best ERP project team
In this guide, you’ll learn the importance of an executive sponsor, a strong leader, clear objectives, and sufficient budget and resources to make your team run smoothly. An ERP project team isn’t exactly like any other project team. Most of the members should actually come from the user community. These are the people who are going to use the system day in and day out—and who are really invested in making good things happen.
In addition to describing the role of the sponsor, project lead, and team members, the free guide also explains the importance of having a plan and maintaining good communications. Frequently reviewing and updating the plan, as well as letting team members and other users know about the project’s progress, are simple but essential steps to ensuring a successful system implementation.
Trust us, getting all your ducks in a row early will really pay off when it’s time to go live. But before that, you’ll need to decide who to partner with to get your business ready.
Download the Guide: Building the best ERP Project Team NOW!
Choosing an ERP implementation partner
As if choosing the right software isn’t hard enough, you also have to pick the right implementation partner (and by “right,” we mean “experienced”). Download this guide to learn about four critical qualities to consider:
- Honesty: The partner’s estimates should be realistic. They should also prove to you that they really understand the issues at stake in your industry.
- Quality Consultants: Think of the importance of the consultants as you would think about your own employees—and be sure that the consultants you meet are the ones who will be assigned to your project.
- References: The names of the companies on this list should resemble yours in size and complexity. Also, ask for references for the consultants themselves, not just for the company.
- Focus: Look for a potential implementation partner whose business is just right. Too small, and it may not have enough experience—or experience in your industry. Too big, and it may not prioritize your implementation in comparison with larger businesses.
The search for the partner with the focus that matches your own isn’t always easy, but it’s vitally important to appraise your candidates thoroughly so you choose a partner who’s on the same page. ERP touches your entire business, from your clients to your bottom line. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the role your implementation partner plays in achieving your success.
Download the Guide: Choosing an ERP Implementation Partner Now!
Going live with your new system
“Going live” is the thing you’ve been planning for—the time when you bring your new system online and use it every day in your business. Figuring out ahead of time which approach to going live is best for your business will help you make your system’s first steps smooth and confident.
- The “Big Bang” or all-at-once transition can be good and bad. Good because it’s quick and clean, bad because potential errors in data conversion and other obstacles have to be overcome right away.
- The phased roll-out transition also has pros and cons. It’s good because going live in steps mitigates some of the risk, but it’s bad because users can be confused by using pieces of two systems simultaneously.
- The parallel operation transition method is the least recommended. In it, both systems are active at once so it has almost no risk, but it requires users to duplicate their work until the legacy system is phased out.
This free guide fully explains the ins and outs of each of the implementation methods and helps you analyze which one would be best for your company. After all, you know your needs better than anyone else, and it’ll be up to you to make an informed decision.
Download the Guide: Going Live with your System Now!
Want more information about Cloud ERP software? Contact Acumatica’s Partner, CompuTec Integrated Solutions for a product tour or additional information.
Blog written by Michaela Terrenzio, Operations Marketing Manager at Acumatica
About Acumatica & CompuTec Integrated Solutions:
Acumatica is a leading provider of Cloud ERP and Cloud Accounting software that empowers mid-size businesses to unlock their potential and drive growth. Built on the world’s best cloud and mobile technology and a unique customer-centric licensing model, Acumatica delivers a suite of fully integrated business management applications. CompuTec Integrated Solutions is an Acumatica partner with over 21 years of ERP experience.