Any time is a good time to implement an ERP solution in a company. Whether it’s an SME or a large enterprise, digitization is absolutely necessary.
However, not everything goes in this process. Thus, in this ZTalent blog post we tell you five tips to get the most out of an investment in an ERP solution.
1- Review and define
This is the first step before starting to do anything. Evaluate the functionality and capabilities of the company’s current solution and how it fits with the direction of the business, as well as review the five, ten or fifteen-year growth plan. It’s also a good idea to compare that plan with the capabilities of the current solution to determine whether or not the desired ROI will be achieved.
On the other hand, you also need to think about the whys and wherefores. Ask yourself questions such as what you want to achieve by having an ERP solution, what your business objectives are, or what problems an ERP can solve. Defining a clear purpose and understanding the value of an ERP solution will help you get the most out of your investment.
2- Choose an ERP manager
Designating one employee to oversee and control all aspects of the ERP solution promotes quality control and consistency. Assigning someone in a management position to interact with the implementation partner ensures that the company stays on top of any solution updates, changes and training opportunities.
In addition, the ERP solution manager should hold weekly, monthly or semi-annual training sessions to keep users informed.
3- Simple and customized processes
The solution should be configured so that data entry, retrieval and export is streamlined and easy to perform. This means having descriptive and accurate labeling, field values, categorization and reporting principles. Adding too much complexity at the outset will lead to unnecessary errors.
In addition, many ERP solutions are one-size-fits-all and do not meet industry-specific requirements. Most solution providers offer industry-specific customizations as well as uniquely developed customizations that meet specific business needs, such as integration with other applications. Evaluate how the current system meets the needs, and determine if the current ERP solution is customizable.
4- Quality and cleanliness data
The data a company stores about customers, suppliers, distributors, employees and transactions is its most valuable asset. Therefore, it’s beneficial to ensure that all data entered into the new ERP solution is accurate, relevant, up-to-date, easy to decipher and value-added.
On the other hand, keep the ERP solution free of junk data by performing daily, weekly or monthly audits. Analyzing and cleansing data is essential to keep the solution optimized and running smoothly. Accumulation of junk data can result in decreased system performance, leading to slow response times and system delays.
5- Look to the future
The ERP solution must be able to scale and grow with the company, as well as align with your growth strategy. Always use the latest version and extend its functionality, for example, by integrating it with an e-commerce solution or implementing self-service portals is a good tip for doing so.
Finally, involving employees in the ERP solution will improve its adoption rate. Any type of training available, both internal and external, is welcome. Opportunities such as webinars, face-to-face teaching sessions, demo videos, product release briefings, newsletters and in-office training sessions will lead to greater employee buy-in and user experience.
