Steps to Connect All Parts of Your Business Easily Through ERP Implementation
If you are like most organizations, you face the complexities and challenges of monitoring your data across all parts of your company every day. And, at the same time, you are continuously searching for ways to optimize your resources and improve your operations. One of the most beneficial ways to transform your company is by utilizing ERP systems to streamline and simplify your information to make your company run more efficiently. Read on to learn how you can connect all parts of your business easily through ERP implementation.
Select a Team of Employees
Your employees need to be committed to the success of implementing an ERP system in order for it to work. One of the best ways to get everyone on board is to get them involved. You can do this by selecting an employee from every department (customer service, sales, accounting, human resources, senior management, etc.) to act as “department knowledge experts” and have them examine current business practices from their respective departments. This collective team will be a valuable asset when selecting the right options and modules for your ERP software.
Define Objectives, Set Goals
Once your department teams examine your current business practices, evaluate problems, identify objectives, and make goals to help them to function better, look for processes that can be automated, prioritize what is most important, and then decide what you want to accomplish. Once you establish your plan of action, it is time to select your ERP system and ERP partner provider.
Choose Your ERP System and ERP Technology Partner
When choosing the right ERP system (and ERP technology partner), there are some things to take into consideration to make sure you select the right one for your company. You want to make sure that the system you pick supports as well as improves your current processes, creates better efficiencies and collaboration amongst your departments, and also supports growth.
NetSuite and Infor can help you transform your current data, so it becomes more functional for you to use. It is also helpful if the ERP technology partner you choose will take care of your data migration for you and will assist you with training your employees on how to use the new system correctly.
Data Collection and Clean Up
Once you select your ERP system and partner, it’s time to now work on cleaning up your data. Remove unnecessary and duplicate information, try to keep uniformity, and strive for accuracy. Once you complete this step, your ERP technology partner can start your data migration process.
Plan for Hands-on Training
Employees are usually resistant to change – especially ones that have been at your company for a long time. To help everyone understand and feel comfortable with the new system, make sure to teach them how to use it properly and let them practice on test systems that run real-life scenarios. Platforms like NetSuite and Infor also have comprehensive models that focus on training all end-users to help them feel confident in using their platforms.
Test and Go Live
After the data migration is complete, you now need to run tests to make sure you identify any issues before you go live. You want to make sure everything is running the way it should – from your functions and interfaces to your reports and transactions. Once it all passes your tests, you are ready to go live! Just remember to have an ongoing support plan – as your organization changes and grows, your needs may as well. Make sure to have an ERP technology partner that has a support plan in place to assist you with integrating all your business functions now and in the future. If you have any questions on how to get started, we are here to help. Contact us today.
