If you’re considering an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation partner for your growing business, you probably have a whole list of questions: cost, team responsibilities, business processes, and more. Well, don’t fret, because we’re going to answer all your burning questions about implementation teams.
What is an ERP Implementation Team?
Taking on an ERP project is one that requires skill, experience, and in-depth knowledge. However, first and foremost it is vital to have key players in any ERP implementation. How your team will be arranged varies based on a number of factors: the size of your organization, project expectations, and specific customizations.
Your ERP team structure should have a representative from each of your organization’s departments to help the ERP implementation team members understand and adapt to your current business processes. When it comes to finding the right people, look for those who excel not only in their own department, but who also have a comprehensive understanding of the business goals and objectives.
What does an ERP Implementation Team do?
The roles and responsibilities of the project implementation team are focused on ensuring the project is a success and managing any hiccups along the way. From the very beginning, when business goals are discussed, to even after the ERP has gone live, an implementation team is crucial in securing operational results.
It is therefore very important to put together the ideal team from the start, this way all stakeholders have the opportunity to provide influential feedback throughout each phase.
One thing to note is that there are many competitors out there and not all of them will align with your vision for the future of your company’s infrastructure. Choosing the wrong implementation partner is one of the main reasons why implementations fail. That’s why you need an ERP team leader who knows about your company’s needs and the best way to integrate your new ERP to meet those needs.
Who Should be on an ERP Implementation Team?
When it comes to assembling an ERP implementation team, there are certain people that must be included. Typically a team structure has an Executive, Project Manager, End-User, Core Members, and the Implementation Partner (if your company goes in that direction). Let’s take a look below at the roles of users in an ERP implementation.
1. Executives
Every successful ERP project needs an engaged and committed executive team to readily make big decisions and answer important questions. As leaders of the company, executives must be willing to adopt the new ERP platform and stay involved throughout the implementation period.
Depending on the functionality of your business, the executive(s) will be the top decision-maker and provide guidance on the ERP requirements list.
2. Project Managers
As stated within their role, Project Managers manage projects. Their ability to communicate and oversee all business goals and processes is fundamental in ERP implementation phases, especially after the system is live.
One of their top responsibilities will be to lead the project on budget, resources, scope, and more. Their guidance and influence throughout the implementation will be important should there be any mishaps or issues.
3. End-Users
End-Users are representatives of their departments who champion the adoption of an ERP platform within the organization. Their strong leadership and communication skills will be essential when it comes to relaying concerns and helping others understand the new system. Their non-technical background will challenge the team with knowing what ERP implementation questions to ask.
For example, someone from the Human Resources department would be a key contributor to the ERP project team structure. They will often know about the roadblocks employees encounter when dealing with company-wide changes.
4. Core Members
Your core members will need to be technical experts, who in this case, will typically be IT and finance professionals. As a core member, they will need to have knowledge or learn aspects of the ERP system. They will support business processes and be responsible to address business needs and users with technical issues.
Your IT team will need to understand and learn the skills or knowledge necessary to handle the ongoing process of maintaining your ERP software. Additional training opportunities can also bring your IT team up to speed to navigate the ERP tasks given to them.
Your ERP system is going to be used by your company’s finance department for planning and budgeting, payroll, and more. So it’s a great asset to have the people actually using the software involved in the process of installing it.
5. Implementation Partner
Your implementation partner is chosen by you to represent your company’s needs and wants through the process of implementing your ERP software. As an ERP implementation executive on your team, your partner will provide personalized instruction, coaching, and guidance.
Most importantly, implementation partners have decades of experience in ERP implementation and know how to tackle complex issues. They will ensure that your project is a success and help your employees maintain software intricacies.
If you decide to work with a skilled ERP implementation partner, they will discuss the need for ERP training with your specialists, and any other required users, to ensure strategic use of the platform.
How to Build The Perfect Implementation Team
Every implementation project needs its own Justice League. And now that you know which superheroes you need, you can start building it.
Building the perfect team requires:
1. Support from Executives
Executives are the top decision-makers of a business, and when it comes to implementing an ERP, they have the most influence. It’s therefore no surprise that having their support is necessary to move forward with the project.
2. Strong Communication
Communication is essential throughout the whole project - from beginning to end. Having the right team ensures that all department voices are heard throughout the implementation and that everyone’s needs are being met.
3. Prioritization
Project Managers and Executives need to set the tone - to ensure that the ERP project team roles and responsibilities are allocated properly.
When it comes to ERP tasks it’s important to prioritize. Provide your team with the right resources, external or internal, to provide the knowledge and expertise required in order to prepare for the ERP implementation. Also, assign specific responsibilities to each team member and continue to communicate throughout the process.
An ERP implementation can be extremely overwhelming, so make sure to provide support and limit tasks should anyone feel swamped with work.
4. Roles & Responsibilities
After you have structured your ERP team, don’t forget to list off everyone’s tasks based on their expertise, experience, and time.
Key roles and responsibilities can be defined as anything involving process definition to end-user training. Knowing who should be doing what from the beginning avoids any confusion down the road.
As we mentioned above, having the right implementation partner is key. Your implementation partner will provide you with the resources you need - for business analysis, implementation, data migration, customization, training, and support.
GURUS Is Your Implementation Team
GURUS Solutions has been a 5-star NetSuite partner for 16 years running. We are NetSuite experts, offering our clients the best Cloud management software paired with a leading approach to solidifying back-office infrastructures.
We’ll help you leverage knowledge from over a decade of GURUS experience with a diverse portfolio of NetSuite projects, within many different industries.
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