The right team will reduce ERP stress and set up your business for a faster, smoother implementation. Here is what you should consider when building your all-star team.

 

Getting your new ERP in place is a big project. From evaluation to selection to implementation and beyond, the process requires focused attention and careful decision making.

Getting it wrong can have high stakes. A bumpy process can lead to budget overruns, missed deadlines, and staff resistance in adopting the ERP. Any of these can result in a slower ROI.  

One of the best ways to avoid all these issues is to have the right ERP team backing your project every step of the way. Here’s how you can start planning for your all-star ERP team now.

Who Should Be on Your Team?

Since an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a software solution, many companies assign ERP project management to their IT team.

This is a mistake.

Although IT understands how to make your software more productive, they might not know how to make your company more productive. That’s why the backbone of your ERP team should be the staff members who will use your ERP software every day to make your business more productive.

You can get more in-depth information in the white paper “How to Build the Best ERP Project Team,” or gain a quick overview with the following examples of people to include in your all-star team:

• An executive sponsor

This will be the person who provides the vision and commitment to keep the project moving forward, no matter what other demands may arise. Look for someone who can inspire the ERP team and support them by allocating additional resources when needed.

• Your “ERP Champion”

Your ERP Champion acts as the glue between your executives, your staff, and your partner. They ensure everyone stays informed, on track, and accountable. Most of all, they maintain project momentum and enthusiasm, even after go-live. This person will likely be one of the internal team members mentioned below.

• The project leader

Both project management and leadership skills are desirable in this role because this will be the person who keeps your ERP team organized and on track. Look for someone who you can trust to lead status meetings, communicate clearly with all stakeholders, and serve as the bridge between the team and the C-Suite.

• One of your accounting staff

Your accounting staff will be the most frequent users of your new ERP, so it’s best to have their valuable input on your all-star team. There’s no need to assign your CFO to this role, but make sure you choose an accounting staff member who handles a wide variety of tasks so they can provide a balanced view.

• An operations manager

Base this choice on your company’s main revenue drivers. Manufacturers will want a shop floor manager on the team. Distributors may want a warehouse manager. You get the idea. Make sure you choose someone who feels comfortable asking their subsidiaries for a little input, so you can gain more insight.

• Your partner

The right partner will support all these roles. They will be trustworthy, responsive, honest, excited about your project, knowledgeable about your new ERP and its alternatives, and creative problem solvers experienced in your industry.

Quick tip: Testimonials like this one for Accounting Business Solutions (ABS) show that you’re on the right track for finding your perfect partner:

“ABS understands our business and what we’re trying to do, which saves a lot of time. I have confidence and know that if I turn an issue over to ABS, I won’t have to deal with the problem – I’ll just get the solution.” (Read the full Turn2 success story for more.)

An Executive Sponsor Is Critical to Your Success

Note that we mentioned your executive sponsor first. This is because executive buy-in is critical to ensure that your ERP project is a success.

Aside from providing the necessary funds and resources to keep the project going, this person will help keep the entire company excited throughout every step of the ERP journey.

The right partner will assist them and make your executive sponsor’s job a breeze. A good partner will provide regular information updates, assist with project management, ensure that the overall roadmap is clear, and make sure that everyone knows about upcoming milestones.

Your partner may also be able to help your executive sponsor determine appropriate ways to celebrate ERP achievements. This is a good way to make sure everyone at your company feels like they have a stake in the project’s success.

How to Select Your “ERP Champion”

Second on the list for your all-star ERP team was your ERP Champion. We mentioned that this person will probably serve dual roles. Perhaps they will also be your project leader, or maybe they’ll be one of your operations managers.

But those recommendations are vague. You deserve more guidance to ensure you find the perfect person to fill this role.

To determine the best person to be your ERP Champion, think about the members of your ERP team in terms of their:

• Time: Your ERP Champion will need enough freedom in their schedule to allocate a part-time job’s-worth of hours to this role, so make sure you don’t choose someone who is already overloaded with professional or personal commitments.
• Soft Skills: Choose someone who gets along with others and inspires confidence. This person doesn’t have to be a natural leader, but they should be friendly and well-liked. It’s great if the executive sponsor already knows and likes them.
• Interest in the Project: Is there someone with a personal passion or deep curiosity about the new ERP? This is a good sign that the person will stay dedicated to the tricky task of nurturing the project over every hurdle.

When you find someone who combines all 3 of these traits, that person is likely to be your perfect ERP Champion. Of course, remember to ask them if they are okay filling that role.

Have Some Ideas for Your Team? That Means It’s Time to Start Planning Your Project.

Once you have assembled your team, it is time to start the initial phase of your project: system selection. After that, you will move on to system evaluation and implementation… but remember that the project doesn’t end at go-live. Today’s modern ERPs encourage you to keep evaluating and adjusting your system’s capabilities as your business evolves, which makes this an ongoing project that will last throughout the decades as you grow with your ERP.

It’s a lot to handle, which means you need a plan.

Start your ERP project the right way with this white paper presented by ABS.

The white paper provides helpful information to ease your selection and implementation processes, and it also offers a more in-depth look at selecting your perfect ERP Champion. As in all business initiatives, preparation is the key to success in your ERP project, so begin your preparations now using the information in the white paper.

Access the White Paper and Start Planning

 

Accounting Business Solutions is a respected accounting and business management software solution provider. We provide experienced sales, consulting, implementation, training and support services for small to medium-sized companies located in south central and southeast Texas. Our portfolio of solutions includes cloud based, hosted and on-premise options.