Don’t Just Switch but Master your ERP transition Learn 9 Key Strategies from an Industry Veteran for a flawless switch.<\/p>\n
Switching to a new ERP system for the first time or from another system is a significant and daunting task for an operations team.\u00a0 You might be a new and growing company looking for an ERP solution for the first time that can help you grow and scale or you are an existing business already using an ERP but you need to switch to something with more features and functionality or pricing of your current system is getting overwhelming.\u00a0 Either way, both situations require well-thought-out strategies to ensure minimum disruption to the business while doing an ERP switch.<\/p>\n
If you are an inventory-based company selling goods across multiple channels ERPs are vital to managing the business.<\/p>\n
From there, create a list of must-have<\/em> features (these are non-negotiables for your business) and nice-to-haves<\/em> (those features that would be great but won\u2019t make or break the decision). It’s tempting to go for all the bells and whistles, but remember\u2014costs can add up quickly, and some \u201cnice-to-haves\u201d might need to be deferred until your budget allows for upgrades.<\/p>\n I can’t stress this enough: mapping your processes is absolutely crucial. Missing this step is a killer for most SMBs that are searching for an ERP.\u00a0 Without a clear map of how your operations flow, you’re basically flying blind. If you don\u2019t know how your company ships products, manages orders or handles financials, how can you choose an ERP that fits your needs?<\/p>\n Take time to document your workflows\u2014even if it\u2019s just a high-level outline. This will be the foundation for assessing which ERP features are critical and which processes might need tweaking. Don\u2019t be afraid to modify some of your existing processes. ERP systems can often bring more efficient workflows, so be open to change if it improves operations.<\/p>\n What exactly is your goal in switching to a new ERP, is it to save money, streamline your operations, better inventory management(WMS), better order management (OMS), and better manufacturing visibility (MES)?\u00a0 Do you need a system that can handle everything on one platform?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>The time has come and you need to pick the platform that your company will live on for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n Avengers Assemble!<\/em><\/strong> Assemble a team of one person from each department if possible so that information is flowing from top to bottom on the new ERP that is coming<\/p>\n Designate one person as the project manager. This person will be your go-to for ensuring that the project stays on track, on budget, and on time. If you don\u2019t have the bandwidth for a full-time project manager, at least have someone dedicated to this role part-time\u2014and invest in a project management tool like Monday.com to keep everyone aligned.<\/p>\n Audit your data.<\/strong> This is your shot to weed out bad data, and bad habits in data collection and clean up financials that need to migrate over.\u00a0 ERPs only work as well as the data you put in; crappy data in, crappy data out!\u00a0 Make sure the data you migrate is cleaned up and exactly how it should be, not how it currently is, do not migrate bad habits to your new system it will only make the transition more difficult than it needs to be.<\/p>\n Also while you are cleaning up data, make sure any other systems that need to be integrated with your new ERP, like CRM, or Payroll (HRMS), have data cleaned up as well for a smooth transition.<\/p>\n Start to configure how you want the system set up based on your workflows and processes.\u00a0 This is where your previous step in mapping out your process will save you so much grief and heartache.\u00a0 Make sure you assign the proper permissions for your team members so that they have access to the modules they need to do their jobs and to ensure operational security.<\/p>\n TEST, TEST, TEST<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>This<\/span>\u00a0step should not be rushed.\u00a0 I know how you feel, you are in the Red Zone and you just want to go live because this expensive software you purchased needs to start paying for itself.\u00a0 Don\u2019t skimp on the testing phase!\u00a0 Whatever you don\u2019t fix or find fault in the testing phase you will find in your go-live phase, and it is much easier to fix in the testing phase! Believe me!!<\/p>\n The moment of truth! <\/em>What will your strategy be? All at once or in phases.<\/p>\n A phased approach will tend to be smoother and you can fix issues as they come up easier.\u00a0 If you can do this type of implementation then have good timelines and benchmarks that must be hit, otherwise, you could prolong a lot of pain.<\/p>\n A phased approach might not be possible, especially if your team is smaller.\u00a0 All at once will generally cause some operational pains and some confusion but if you planned your steps well and everyone has a clear understanding of their workflows it shouldn\u2019t be painful for very long.\u00a0 I have done the \u201crip the band-aid\u201d approach many times and found it to be very effective in small team environments when phased in just isn\u2019t viable.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be scared of either approach.<\/p>\n Good ERP vendors will offer support for several weeks after going live, take advantage of that support, monitor your performance, and hold regular meetings with your team leads to make sure there aren\u2019t issues, and if there are issues make sure your team isn\u2019t just working around them.\u00a0 Too often I have seen people just go with the flow and work around issues never telling management there are issues, this just prolongs the pain for no reason.\u00a0 Make sure your team knows that can address any and all concerns and encourage that.\u00a0 ERP systems are meant to simplify tasks not make them harder!<\/p>\n Japanese for Change(Kai) Good(zen).<\/strong> Always be improving your process and making sure you involve all employees in that process.\u00a0 Collect feedback and use that to make adjustments in the ERP.\u00a0 Continuous improvement ensures best practices are followed.\u00a0 Bad habits at the beginning of this process only lead to even more bad habits down the road, correct them as soon as possible otherwise your organization will suffer.<\/p>\n Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum – if you want peace prepare for war! For business, this means if you want a smooth transition, prepare for all that could go wrong. <\/em>Switching to a new ERP doesn\u2019t have to be a nightmare. With careful planning and a thoughtful approach, it can be a smooth and rewarding process.<\/p>\n And while it may not be all sunshine and rainbows (because let\u2019s face it, no business transition ever is), if you\u2019re prepared, you\u2019ll come out the other side with a system that makes your operations run more efficiently and gives you the tools to grow. But also don\u2019t be so rigid in the process, some things will go according to plan and some won\u2019t, just like any in business those who adapt will survive!<\/p>\n I hope you found this article useful in your search, I know I wish I found something like this years ago when I was planning my first ERP switch, oh the pain I could have saved my younger self!<\/p>\n Do Business on the Move!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Make your businesses hassle-free and cut the heavyweights\u00a0sign up for the Versa Cloud ERP today!!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n2. Map your processes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Have clear goals and objectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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4. Choose your ERP solution<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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5. Create a Project Team<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Integration and Data Migration<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Configuration of the System<\/strong><\/h3>\n
8. Go-Live and Post-Go-Live<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Kaizen<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Take the First Step Towards Transformation with this ERP Switch Strategies Guide!<\/h4>\n
\ud83d\udce7 Email:\u00a0sales@versaclouderp.com<\/a><\/strong>
\n\ud83c\udf10 Instant Demo Registration:\u00a0Demo Registration Link<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\nEffectively Switch your ERP and manage your financials, multiple channel inventory, and production workflows with our award-winning ERP.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Let\u00a0Versa Cloud ERP<\/a>\u00a0do the heavy lifting for you.<\/strong><\/h3>\n