As a cloud based solution, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offers a great way to have your ERP solution secure, up to date, and easily accessible. The advantage, however, that a cloud model provides does not change the need to take the right steps when implementing. The cloud, after all, is a delivery method. You still need a Trusted ERP Advisor to guide you through the selection and implementation process. You still need to make sure your software is configured correctly.
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In this post, we will delve into the mistakes companies must avoid when selecting or implementing ERP systems.
1) Poor Requirements Gathering
The first step in any ERP software selection is identifying what you need the software to accomplish. Requirements gathering is the stage of the project when a company identifies the needs of the users and project. When done correctly, you will identify the critical success factors of an implementation, and probably uncover tasks that need to be added. Unfortunately, many companies do not spend sufficient time pinpointing what they actually want or don’t identify pain points. This starts the project on the wrong footing, and can often lead to failure.
2) Wrong Choice of ERP Providers
As noted above, in order to properly evaluate your needs, you need the early involvement of outside help. While that can be a hired consultant, in most cases it will be the ERP implementation partner. Therefore, choosing the right partner is crucial. A good ERP partner will dramatically increase your chances of success, and will help avoid trouble after you go live. You should ask an ERP provider for references of clients who have been using their service. You should get in touch with those clients to learn more about the merits and the challenges they have faced with this provider.
3) Unrealistic Time Frame To Implement
We see this quite often – a client identifies what they need, and the race is on to get it implemented so that the benefits can be quickly realized. But be realistic! You have a business to run, you have other priorities. How many internal resources can you allocate? How will you be able to handle scope changes to the project? Many projects will fail for the simple reason that the company did not accurately estimate cost and time of implementation. A project plan can always be drawn up to implement quickly – but ask yourself: is it realistic?
4) Not Involving the End Users
Successful implementations involve input from different departments. Keeping those that will use the software – even light users – in the implementation loop will guarantee a smooth implementation of the solution. Involving employees who will often interact with the system during the planning phase helps ensure that the correct requirements are documented. Securing approval from top management is critical, but it can’t be the only priority. You need input and buy-in from your entire organization.
5) Poor Communication
Those charged with making the implementation a success must communicate clearly and as effectively as possible. While this may seem obvious – it is often overlooked just how complex an ERP implementation is. You have consultants, developers, end user users, supervisors, project managers and a project team. When information is not relayed correctly among the various stakeholders, the time of implementation and quality of output is affected. Make sure you set up a team with members from various departments who can communicate all aspects of the project to their respective departments.
When implemented correctly, Business Central will be an asset to your company, and can help save money while facilitating your day to day operations. By playing close attention to the potential pitfalls, you can help guarantee success.
