Why You Need an ERP Implementation Plan

As you are likely aware, incorporating an ERP system into your alcoholic beverage manufacturing business is going to create some challenges along the way. Adding a system this complex to your team’s workflow is helpful and necessary in the long run, but it will directly impact every team member as you make the transition and afterwards.. 

Strong ERP implementation processes allow for an uninterrupted transition into the future of your team’s work. Finding an implementation partner you trust is important when planning a successful, stress-free shift for your business.

Due to the all-encompassing nature of an ERP implementation process, it’s important to prepare your team for the transition. Note that involving key members and subject matter experts from your team in the project from the beginning has been shown to make this smoother in the long run, vs. asking them to get on board after the decision has been made. 

What Makes a Good ERP Implementation Plan

At Doozy Solutions, creators of Crafted ERP, we use a five-phase proprietary approach to implementation. This helps us better equip your team and set you up for success post go-live. This five-phase approach helps you avoid ERP implementation delays while providing a harmonious transition period. 

Our implementation methodology includes the following: 

• Initiate –We work with you to create positive excitement about the upcoming transition and prepare your team for the tactical work. 
• Configure – Together, we develop the plans and general structure for the process to make data migration easier. 
• Validate – This phase includes live demos and user testing to ensure we build the best solution. 
• Deploy – We migrate all the data, train your new users and refresh all your business processes as you make the change. 
• Optimize – As you settle in, we will decide how to best support your organization in real time, every day and into the future, as you grow and scale. 

For every project we work on, we help you proactively plan around ERP implementation delays and enable you to keep the process moving. 

4 Tips to Avoid ERP Implementation Delays 

1. Plan for Every Scenario 

Most ERP implementation delays occur because of something as seemingly simple as missed deadlines. Something as simple as not sharing data at the right time or forgetting to send over workflows can end up holding your project back. 

One easy way to protect your project timelines is to involve the team as a whole and plan extra wiggle room into your ERP implementation. 

2. Maintain Open Communication 

Getting teams to work efficiently can be challenging, but you can make the task a lot easier by promoting collaboration early and often. This process does not usually serve companies well if they choose to work in isolation as they undergo the implementation. 

Use your partners and communicate with them as you learn how this tool should support your team. Changes can always be made, but without open lines of communication, it can be challenging to create a system that will work smoothly for everyone. 

3. Intentionally Migrate Data 

Depending on how long you have been using your current systems, there may be a lot of unnecessary data taking up space. When planning this transition, use it as an opportunity to go through the data you have and keep only what is crucial. 

Yes, it’s quicker to export and import without any changes, but why not give your team a fresh start by taking time to sort through (and clean up) your files? Chances are, most of those records aren’t as important as you think they are, and it’s possible to condense the records you choose to move. 

4. Overtrain and Support 

When it comes to teaching your team how to use this new system, it’s important to provide ongoing support and training. Most employees will not be ready to go with a quick demo or short training. Take time to educate your team on the new use cases and best practices you want them to follow when it comes to this system. 

Remember, this is an opportunity for you to reinforce good habits and get rid of some bad ones. Don’t rush through the training and support. Once implementation is done, this will be a tool every member of the team is touching, and they should know how to use it successfully!