Why do you need employees to get on board for your ERP implementation?

Visual South has spent over two decades doing ERP implementations and we’ve learned more than a few secrets to success along the way. Our project leaders and implementation consultants have managed customer teams that were cooperative…and others that weren’t so cooperative. The success of the project greatly depends on getting your implementation team members on board and employees to buy in. An ERP implementation is a team activity. As with any team, if one person fails to do their job, there will be breakdowns and mistakes that not only affect that person, but the entire team. One person can cause a phase or entire project to fail. It is as simple as that.

Understanding the steps to ensure success

Visual South has put nearly 25 years of implementation expertise into many resources for both our customers and those seeking knowledge on ERP implementations. For example, download our e-book “Clear Focus: 6 Steps to Successfully Implement ERP.” The first step of that process is to build an effective implementation team—without a good team that believes in the project, it will be difficult to achieve success.

There are many other resources that include advice on how to have a successful implementation and get the employees on board. Here are some of our most popular blogs:

ERP Implementation Strategy: Advice From 30+ Years of Experience

Common Structures of an ERP Team

ERP Implementation Roles & Responsibilities: How to Build Your Team  

Ways to get employees on board for the ERP implementation

The simplest way to get employees on board is to have executive management show full support for the project and make the new ERP a mandate, not a suggestion or an option.

However, it is critical that the employees know the positive aspects of the new system. Many times, the connotation with a new process or technology is that employees will have to change how they do their job. That change can be significant (and intimidating) for veteran employees that have built their own “systems” and a new ERP is typically met with reluctance.

The implementation team needs to partner with the executive team to consistently deliver the positive message of how the new system will help the organization run better and make employees’ jobs easier. A better-run organization and happier employees will lead to a more competitive company, which can lead to improved business performance. The improved performance can lead to job security, upward mobility, and improved wages for all employees in the company. This message of both short- and long-term benefits needs to be delivered frequently to maintain and grow buy-in during the trials and tribulations that are common with the roll out of a new system and change management.

Summary

Getting employees on board for an ERP implementation is a task. However, it is a task that is absolutely mandatory for success. While the ERP implementation is something that requires change and change is not always something that is welcomed, the positive effects will improve the employees’ productivity, efficiency, work environment, and performance.

We are also more than happy to provide a free consultation about managing your ERP implementation, evaluating ERP, or just wanting to get better with your current ERP. Please reach out to us for a free assessment.