Plan Ahead and Be Patient with ERP Implementation
7/12/2010 at 9:15 am by
When Michael implemented a suggestion box on The Office, he made some major mistakes. To start, he didn’t check the box unless there was a particular issue he wanted to resolve – often related to his personal life. But by the time something of interest came up, the box had fallen out of common use and Michael wasn’t able to find the answers he sought (how to ask a woman on a date).
Maybe a “suggestion box” is something that would be pretty hard for anyone other than the wacky Scranton manager to mess up, but the broader issues behind Michael’s mistake are common errors. You can’t implement a new system and have unrealistic expectations about what you’ll get out of it, nor can you expect to get anything out of it without paying it due attention.
These are things business owners should remember when implementing ERP systems. Expert Eric Kimberling says one of the best ways to make sure the management software lives up to expectations is to carefully consider the most important components of the program for a company. Entrepreneurs should make sure they select a system that caters to individual business needs.
Then, it’s important to get team members on board. Project managers should offer relevant updates to all employees who will be impacted by ERP systems to keep them engaged with the software. This will promote employee investment in the success of the system, which will likely translate into faster results.
Hopefully – unlike Michael – you won’t be looking to decide whether or not to call a love interest, but effectively implementing ERP systems can give you insight on when it’s time to reconnect with loyal customers.





