Success is a nebulous concept. After all, how can we define it? Do we measure it in happiness, money, power or something else entirely? Success in life depends as much on an individual’s construction of it as it does on any outside factor. Measuring the success of an ERP system, however, is much simpler.
Of course, there are still nuances to determining the success of an ERP implementation. As with most things in life, it depends on your viewpoint. What was your company looking to achieve by implementing an ERP system? Were you looking to eliminate clutter, streamline business processes and make your company run smoother? Were you looking to increase profits while decreasing costs?
A good ERP system should do all of these things. Here are a few tips to make sure that your ERP measures up.
- Have realistic and workable ERP goals. Don’t expect ERP to instantly turn your business into the next Microsoft or Google. But know that a great ERP system can still be successful without making you a trillionaire overnight – any system that helps keep your company efficient and helps build your revenue is going to help you reach bigger goals.
- Work with an ERP consultant to understand the subtleties of ERP implementation. Unless you’re an ERP expert, there are likely some parts of this whole process that are confusing to you. That’s okay – nobody expects you to know the ins and outs of such a tremendous business strategy overnight. An ERP consultant may be a worthwhile investment to make sure you’re getting the most out of your system.
- Make sure your ambitions are reasonable. Sometimes teams get carried away and expect ERP to solve all of their problems in one go. ERP systems aren’t a silver bullet that will repair every aspect of your company immediately. Give the system time to gradually improve your business.
- Prepare yourself for the costs. ERP can be expensive, but it pays off handsomely. However, don’t let yourself get caught unaware of maintenance and training costs. They can easily be budgeted for if you prepare for them in advance, and they’ll ensure that your system runs as smoothly as possible.
- Speaking of ERP training, make it a priority. ERP systems work best when all employees, from the CEO to the receptionist, understand how to utilize them. Employee training is critical, especially to businesses new to ERP.
If you follow the steps above, your investment in an ERP solution is more than likely to pay off nicely in the years to come. If you still need to invest in ERP, contact us today and let us help you choose the right solution for your needs.