ERP projects are known for their high rate of failure, with some analysts finding nearly 75% of projects failing! Not only is this a waste of time, but the cost of these failed ERP projects often goes into the millions of pounds.
So, how does an ERP consultancy successfully deliver projects each year?
We believe that the three key areas covered below are the difference between success and failure.
1. Preparation
The first thing any ERP consultancy does to successfully deliver projects is a lot of preparation work. From the moment the consultancy is engaged they are planning how to tackle the project.
This usually starts with finding the right consultant for the job – one who has experience in the client’s industry brings a wealth of knowledge on specific issues that can arise.
Then it is making sure that the goals and objectives of the projects are clear to everyone involved. It is too easy to say, “we are putting in a new ERP system to work better” and not specify what that looks like for your company. An ERP consultancy will prepare tangible outcomes, such as better automation of tasks or improved reporting functionality. These outcomes should also be supporting your business’s overall goals. For example, automation of tasks frees up employee’s time to better look after customers, improving customer satisfaction and retention.
2. Methodology
A set methodology for working is one of the biggest factors in an ERP consultancy successfully delivering projects. It ensures a logical order to projects and helps to reduce the chance that vital information is missed.
Let us look at Optimum’s methodology as an example. We start with a Blueprint that looks at a client’s “As Is”, or how they are currently functioning. This ensures we know how the company operates and how people do their job, highlighting work arounds and where systems are being underutilised. We can then use our industry knowledge to create a “To Be” picture of what best practice within the client’s business could look like. Together, this helps build requirements for any new ERP system, shows a clear end state, and ensures we know how the business operates and do not just base it on how others in the industry operate.
Having this clear way of working is vital across the length of the project and is often the missing piece of in-house knowledge that cripples ERP projects.
3. Teamwork
Having worked across hundreds of projects, an ERP consultancy knows the importance that teamwork plays in a successful project. Often employees are resistant to change within their business and can feel a sense of fear or hesitation. If they have experienced a badly done project before then these feelings are heightened.
An ERP consultancy will work to get people onside and understanding that the project outcome should be of benefit to them too.
Setting the Stage for Success
It can feel overwhelming when first considering an ERP project for your business, especially when failure is all too common. But an ERP consultancy can successfully deliver projects on a consistent basis and can help take the pressure off internal teams.
To find out how we can help deliver your ERP project, get in touch with us today.