Using an ERP system is a great idea, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Implementing a multi-site ERP system is not easy, if anything it will always add its fair share of demanding situations. Generally, implementing an ERP system is a project that takes place over multiple phases. You have to redesign the business processes to ensure they can use the new features, but also migrate data, configure the ERP software and so on. That alone poses its fair share of challenges.
Challenges of Multi-site ERP Implementation
- Project planning
One of the issues here is that planning the timeline and budget can be very difficult. Sometimes the implementation can be more complex and it might take more time. Or, as it happens, it might involve additional costs. You must create a realistic plan and also leave room for extra time and an additional budget. If not, it might be very hard to eliminate any downsides and problems here.
- Change management
When you switch to a new ERP, it’s not just switching to a new software. And that’s what a lot of businesses fail to do. They don’t overhaul the process to ensure that they take advantage of all the benefits and features that might come from the new system. You want to change the mindset and business processes to take complete advantage of the ERP solution. That way you will get the best return on investment from this.
- Data quality
Some companies don’t identify all data sources, and that can lead to missing information. You always want to accumulate all the data first and ensure it’s processed accordingly. Otherwise, this can lead to problems and a variety of issues down the line. You need to ensure data quality, otherwise the migration process will not be successful. You also need to test the new data before you go live with the ERP system, as that will tackle any potential errors.
- Data integration
When it comes to data integration, you always want to ensure proper planning comes into play. A lack of data is, as we said earlier, extremely problematic for any business and it will lead to a bad ERP implementation. On top of that, you also want to ensure you compile the data and integrate it one step at a time. Doing that will stop any issues, and it will also negate a multitude of potential challenges that appear.
Conclusion
The implementation of the most popular ERP system system can be challenging, and it certainly has its vast range of demanding situations. It will take a bit of trial and error to narrow down the best options, but the outcome can indeed be exceptional. Which is why we think it’s very important to take your time and always focus on understanding what challenges appear, and how you can solve them. These tips and tricks shown above will improve the implementation of an ERP system, while also helping you take better advantage of your data!
