What is ERP Implementation?

The process of transitioning to a new ERP system varies by project and requires planning and strategizing to best fit the needs of your company. Choosing the right ERP implementation strategy is key to finding success with your new system. Implementation is an important part of any ERP project. The time and financial investment involved depends on several factors, including deployment model, system complexity, implementation strategy, company sizes and the resources dedicated to the project. Done poorly, an implementation project can eat up valuable resources. Done well, an ERP integration can set your company up for an exciting new level of success. Learn more about the steps of a successful ERP implementation below.

ERP Implementation Steps

At each step in QAD’s scalable ERP system integration process, teams should review all milestones, deliverables, and commitments and report on progress. Our strategy, called Effective On-Boarding (EOB), makes the ERP system implementation fast and easy. This EOB strategy includes the following steps.

During the planning phase, we engage stakeholder groups and form the project team, which will draft a plan with milestones, deliverables, as well as vendor, customer and partner resources. Governance structures such as the Steering Committee and relevant processes around change control, risk, and issue management are agreed upon and set up during this stage as well.

Design

Next, we hold business process workshops using built-in process maps designed around major manufacturing industry best practices. During this time, we review how closely the customer enterprise follows these industry standard processes and fill any necessary gaps, which may involve alternative process configurations or designing extensions.

We also gather customer-specific requirements for subsidiary services, such as interfacing, EDI, eInvoicing, etc. and complete the technical work to include those subsidiary services.

At the end of these workshops, we have an agreed-upon functional scope at the process-step and work-instruction level. We then configure our software with those process steps and amend the detailed work instructions accordingly to meet a customer’s specific requirements. Domain and data workshops also occur to identify data structures, cleansing and migration issues. Static data is also loaded into the system.

QAD conducts two conference room pilots (CRPs) as well as user acceptance testing (UAT). At each testing step, errors are addressed and should become fewer with each test. The first set of CRPs usually take three to four weeks, with less time needed each round.

Deploy

Once UAT is complete, the team plans for the data cut-over and go-live. We draft a detailed plan for when to stop the old system and start the new to minimize any disruption. During go-live, we institute a period of highly focused customer care and support. After this hyper-care period is over and the system is fully handed over to the customer, we conduct an extensive post-project review to ultimately ensure the benefits to the customer have been realized.

ERP Implementation Strategies

There are multiple strategies for a successful ERP system implementation, each with advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of the most common strategies to consider.

Single-Step Method

When using the single-step method, all users move to the new system at once. ERP benefits occur more quickly, but there is a greater risk of errors that can be harder to smooth out later in the process.

With the single-step ERP implementation strategy, you can quickly reap its benefits, such as increased productivity, improved insights, and lower operating costs. This ERP implementation strategy is ideal for users who have strict time constraints and need to complete configuration, testing and training by the projected go-live date.

Phased Rollout

In a phased rollout, the deployment of features, tools, and components is carried out over a period of weeks to months. This more measured approach allows for glitches to be caught and addressed more smoothly, but it does take more time to see ERP benefits, and there may be additional costs to maintain two systems at the same time.

Phased rollouts are a safe and effective ERP implementation method. Phased rollouts give organizations more time to learn core functions first and expand from there. This ERP implementation option helps give organizations peace of mind as they iron out any kinks and migrate away from their previous systems.

Parallel Rollout

A parallel rollout involves using a legacy system in parallel with the new system for an extended time. Parallel rollouts are typically the least risky way to implement an ERP system because it enables users to revert to a legacy system in the event of any roadblocks. This implementation method ensures that users always have access to vital functions regardless of any problems that occur.

While there is less risk involved given the legacy system is still in operation as a backup, it can be an expensive and time-consuming approach to run two systems.

Hybrid Approach

This approach draws from all of the above. A company may choose to do a single-step rollout of one system module but perform a more phased or parallel approach with other more complex or high-stake modules. This ERP implementation approach enables organizations to save time and money on transitioning certain functions while safeguarding vital modules that may require additional troubleshooting.

Engage

In this step, we meet with the customer to understand requirements, define the scope of work, set expectations, and identify timing, costs and resources. We then commit to a signed statement of work which acts as the foundation of the project.

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