Preparing an ERP project
ChoosemyERP helps users to ask the right questions, be specific when briefing in functional requirements and be equipped with as much information as possible about ERP technology possibilities.
ERP project methodology
Define company goals and objectives
Outline your long term company objectives before implementing an ERP system to ensure the business management tool you select supports the projected growth and overall goals of the business.
Identify your current and future ERP needs - plan for future scalability
It is essential to have a long term vision for the company in order to calculate ROI, do you want to continually invest in new ERP systems, or do you want a solution that will grow with your business?
As important as it is to take into consideration and analyze your current needs; as you will be using the ERP software for some time, it is essential to consider the needs you are likely to have in the future as the business grows and develops.
Small incremental investments over long periods of time can soon add up so it is worth looking at how future-proof your solution may be.
When trying to find the right solution, and the right ERP software partner, it is important to ask the right questions, for today and tomorrow, so that the software solution can effectively meet the ongoing demands of your business. Make sure that the solution is scalable, both in terms of adding users or additional functionality.
Define the scope of the project to outline the most important needs and requirements for your business. Who will need access to the system? What every-day tasks do you want the system to cover? Do you need the ERP system to replace an existing system?
Identify your current and future ERP needs - plan for future scalability
Establish a budget and resource requirements
An ERP project can be implemented in weeks or it can take longer depending on complexity, therefore it is important to find an ERP provider who is clear about what to expect in terms of budget, time and resource requirements; having established a list of functional requirements will help your ERP provider to estimate this for you.
Prepare a business case for ERP
You will need to place these business needs in a commercial context to put forward a robust business case for ERP investment. Set some parameters for measurements in your business plan (which you can reflect back to throughout your implementation) – these can be aligned to:
- Company growth (increasing your customer base, revenue increase, improving your win rate, maximizing cross and upsell opportunities)
- Operational efficiencies and supply chain optimization (streamlining and automating, improvement of processes, cost control, systems integration)
- Objectively qualify the benefits (and validate the ROI) gained by addressing these business needs and prioritize and include accordingly (this is a must within any business case)
- Competitor analysis – quantify the benefits in terms of differentiating against competitors to streamline operations across your supply chain and optimize customer experiences
- Set out a change management strategy to lessen risks of project failure; this should include strategies for people, processes, and technologies with clear responsibilities and timings defined
Prepare a business case for ERP
Assign an ERP project team
Having a project manager who has a clear outline of what the entire business needs to develop and grow as a company is essential.
Key skills/ role profiles in your core ERP project team or steering committee (either in-house or outsourced to your IT service provider) should include:
- Senior management sponsor / stakeholder
- Stakeholders by role / business unit
- Project manager
- Functional consultant
- Technical consultant
- Development
- Testing
- Administrative support (data cleansing for example)
Define your ERP selection criteria
Choose the best ERP software for your business by determining the key requirements of your company.
So that you decide on the ideal solution to meet your business requirements, you need to have established and considered selection criteria before deciding on your ERP software and your ERP partner.
It is not unusual to shortlist several suppliers who can meet your functional requirements; therefore it is also important to prioritize your selection criteria, which may include:
- Ease of implementation and timescale;
- Software and consultation costs;
- Scalability;
- Level and type of resources and support available from the software provider (skill sets and SLAs);
- References.
Define your ERP selection criteria
Navigate your ERP project: from initial research to final selection
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Step 1
Researching ERP technology
- Review the scope and benefits pages of this site to prepare for shortlisting your ERP solution
- Download relevant whitepapers in order to undertake research into ERP technology and best practice
- Read selected ERP articles and review the ERP experts page for up-to-date ERP trends, to ensure your conversations with ERP providers are relevant and forward-thinking
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Step 2
Getting ready for an ERP project
- Look into ERP providers who offer more than the technology integration, ask for pre and post-project services such as Business Process Optimization to map your current data sets plus Security Assessment for Business Applications to carry out a health check and ensure the ongoing security of your ERP use
- Consider your project expectations, an agile and phased approach is best practice in order to focus on the must-haves of features and functions to get you started in order to build from and see quick ROI and better user adoption
- Read more on Criteria when selecting an ERP (Anchor link on this page)
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Step 3
Start the questionnaire – About you
In order for us to suggest the best ERP application for your needs, tell us about your organization, your focus and your existing infrastructure and capabilities.
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Step 4
Complete the survey
With a few questions around timescales, specific functionality you need, you now have the outline of an ERP project brief. You can now take a look at the suggestions for the best ERP for your needs.
