黑料不打烊

Connect your ERP strategy with your business objectives

First, it鈥檚 important to get the basics right. Tackling your ERP system is an intensive and challenging process. So you鈥檇 better have your ducks in a row before you get started. Here are some questions to consider as you take those first tentative steps:

• What business goals does your ERP strategy need to achieve?
  Basically, it starts with why. Why are you doing this? Because even though we love tackling these projects, we鈥檙e pretty sure you鈥檙e not doing it for fun. How does this new ERP system benefit your company? Once that鈥檚 clear, it will be easier to get everyone on board as well 鈥� from management to the people on the floor who will have to adjust their way of working.

• What鈥檚 business-critical and what鈥檚 鈥渘ice-to-have鈥�?
  You need to find out what sets your business apart from the competition 鈥� and how your ERP can help you gain an even bigger edge. That should be your focus throughout the entire project: does this improve my business? This is also where the bulk of your resources should go. Bear this in mind, or you will get sidetracked.
  
  
• How will you create 鈥� and hold 鈥� management buy-in?
  While they won鈥檛 be involved in the day-to-day follow-up once the ERP project kicks off, it鈥檚 important for management to be in the driving seat. Particularly at the start, to clearly define the business objectives and share their 鈥楴orth Star Vision鈥� for the company (i.e. 鈥渨here is the company going in the next 10-15 years?鈥�). However, your biggest mistake would be to dismiss them after that initial exercise. An ERP project takes a long time and has its ups and downs. Keep management in the loop with regular updates: this way they won鈥檛 be confronted with any surprises. And besides, they鈥檙e a great resource to help you keep the scope in check 鈥� so use them!

Your ERP project may encounter issues for any of these reasons. The solution? Taking the time to define your business objectives!

Harmonizing your ERP steps with management and colleagues

To open the conversation and determine your business objectives, you need to invite upper management to the table. They鈥檒l set the tone and give the ERP project a clear direction. They鈥檒l also play a key part in the selection process 鈥� but more on that later. If you have upper management on your side, the battle鈥檚 half won.

During the implementation, operational management will lead the dance. Thanks to the predetermined business objectives, they鈥檒l be able to do so without letting emotions run too high. They鈥檙e responsible for keeping scope and budget in check, collaborating closely with their chosen partner and making sure upper management stays in the loop 鈥� while maintaining consistent progress throughout the project.

Another reason to keep management involved, is to make sure everyone鈥檚 vision is aligned. By tying the ERP project to clear business objectives that make sense to everyone involved, you鈥檒l be met with less resistance along the way. After all, you鈥檙e asking people to change their way of working 鈥� so the least you can do, is tell them why, right?

Want to determine your business objectives and kickstart your ERP journey?  You鈥檒l need a Solution Assessment.

Find the right path: select your scope 鈥� and stick to it

Once your business objectives are set in stone, it鈥檚 time to talk about processes. Which business processes will need to be tackled, and which are best left alone? Here鈥檚 the best measure we鈥檝e found: ask yourself one question:

Is this process a differentiator for my business, or simply supporting?

For example: a logistics company will need a clear-cut view of its supply chain, as well as automation to speed up the process. That鈥檚 a way for them to make the difference, so it makes sense to select your ERP package on this criterion. Invoicing on the other hand is a universal supporting process: every company needs to get paid. And whatever ERP system you choose, invoicing will be included 鈥� so why invest time and resources in extra customization?

Don鈥檛 get us wrong: customization isn鈥檛 always wrong. Sometimes, it pays to tweak your ERP to fit your needs, either with a custom solution or by integrating a third-party app. Monolithic ERPs are a myth. One software to rule them all? If only! But we don鈥檛 believe in an endless patchwork of best-in-class solutions, either. As is so often the case, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. And that鈥檚 where we want to be, together in tech with you.

Let's work together in Tech?
Cegeka and Microsoft Dynamics 365: it's a perfect match! Get in touch and let鈥檚 discuss your ERP project together.

Together in Tech: there鈥檚 no I in ERP

To successfully start and finish an ERP project, we need to work on it together. Join us and our customers as we zoom in on all things ERP 鈥� from the perspective of true partnership. Check out all the Together in Tech articles here.