Technological advancements have led to numerous changes in society but the nearly complete transformation that new technology has brought to manufacturing practices over the past few years no one could have predicted. Where computer-controlled processes, equipment, and machines are concerned, new technology almost always leads to an increase in productivity and efficiency. However, when it comes to changes to business processes greater levels of agility and flexibility are required from employees. Individuals who are willing to adapt, learn, and indeed thrive as they seek to find innovative new uses for technology investments are more likely to be drawn to organizations that embrace change.
Cloud deployments, real-time collaboration, and 3D printing are just some of the methods forward-thinking manufacturers are using to stay ahead of the game. Unfortunately, this new age of manufacturing brings with it added complexity. Fortunately, however, the next generation of ERP solutions, designed to take advantage of these new and innovative technologies and their industry-specific technical capabilities, are proving to be helpful in simplifying this complexity.
In order to glean the best advantages from new strategies such as business intelligence, deep analytics, and collaboration through social media, manufacturers need a level of agility and flexibility that homegrown applications or previous-generation ERP solutions cannot provide as they are monolithic in nature and unable to easily accommodate change. Unless a system was purpose-built for a specific industry, it was likely heavily modified in an attempt to meet specific requirements making it difficult to upgrade. That is why seeking a modern solution is so important to the vitality of an organization. Selecting a system out of the box that can keep up with future market changes will offer your organization a better return on investment.
Getting down to business
Many find the idea of selecting and implementing an ERP system daunting as the risks are often seen to outweigh the benefits. Organizations have many unanswered questions when implementing ERP solutions including whether they have the right partner; the right team; the right infrastructure, the right selection criteria; and whether the organization is committed enough? It is very important at the start of the implementation process to stay focused on the business objectives of the organization while keeping the following principles in mind:
10 Tips to Ensure a Successful ERP Implementation
1. Scope is Key
Carefully define the scope of your project and focus on specific system requirements and business processes. The more upfront and specific you are the more detailed your vendors can be with their proposals.
2. Align Teams Early On
Align early on with the corporate decision-makers in your organization and involve a cross-section of teams during the evaluation stages. Ensure that a concise charter for the project is clearly documented and supported by the entire internal team, including C-level officers.
3. Obtain Specialized Treatment
Choose an ERP solution that fits the particular needs of your vertical industry. Selecting a solution that already contains functionality to address terms, regulation compliance, and industry-specific processes will effectively eliminate the need for costly modifications. A site such as Abakion.com can help and provide this sort of solution.
4. Think Long-Term
Select a flexible ERP system that will accommodate changing business requirements and unforeseen future business needs.
5. Think Out of the Box
At all costs avoid customizations by thinking out of the box. Customizations make ERP systems difficult to upgrade and cause a continual need to update these modifications. One of the best ways to make the most of an ERP is to use it alongside other software. For instance, if you’re looking for marketing software to complement your ERP you can use one such as evolution360.com - this sort of off the shelf software can complement your current system.
6. Be Efficient
Rather than trying to change the ERP system to accommodate your organization’s workflow, adopt the best workflows and practices of the ERP. By adopting the integrated strategy for operational flow of your ERP, the organization will achieve maximum efficiency. By trying to mold a new ERP to your old processes you risk losing the built-in efficiencies of the solution.
7. User Experience
User experience reigns supreme. When selecting an ERP be sure to consider the ease of use of the system and the overall user experience. A highly intuitive solution speeds up the implementation process and reduces the amount of training required.
8. Training is Essential
During the implementation phase of the ERP allow adequate time for employee training and make sure that all users are brought up to speed on the system’s new functionality and how it will benefit them. This will encourage employees to fully engage in the transition and encourage them to embrace rather than resists the coming changes.
9. Realistic Expectations
Try not to speed up outcomes by rushing or skipping necessary steps of the phased implementation.
10. Communicate, Collaborate, Document
Keep track of decisions relating to the expectations, scope, and concrete deliverables of the implementation. Collaborate with the ERP vendor regarding successful implementation strategies and take advantage of the lessons they have learned from previous projects.
Although ERP projects are never the same, often tactics that have been proven to work for other organizations can be leveraged.