ERP Implementation Issues and their Solutions

According to the Oracle Netsuite a business's financial management, human resources, sales, and manufacturing processes are all integrated by an ERP system to provide benefits including enhanced productivity and efficiency.

ERP implementation refers to the procedure of organizing, setting up, and implementing an ERP. Because an ERP system supports and automates a wide range of operations, the procedure normally lasts for a few months and is complicated.

The organization must carefully identify its requirements, decide how to restructure procedures to take advantage of the system, set up the ERP system to support those processes, and rigorously test it before releasing it to users in order to assure a successful installation. Careful planning and an organized, staged implementation strategy are required for completing all those phases successfully and on time.

Issues & Solutions

Issue 1

Not taking advantage of the complete features of the software

Solution

ERP systems today are more useful than ever. The features list is extending and developing. Not utilizing the software's capability to its fullest extent is a common error made by businesses. The new system must be properly understood by you and your ERP implementation team, and you must ask the vendor as many questions as you can. The ERP system for your company must be used effectively by your workforce. Utilizing every aspect of your ERP system for all of your business activities is the best approach to achieving the greatest return on investment from it.

Issue 2

Not properly planning your requirements

Solution 

Because your company's business procedures and needs are unique, they should serve as the beginning point for the decision-making process for a new ERP system. These processes and requirements should be documented and thoroughly understood before making an informed decision among the several ERP systems on the market. 

With this examination, a more fruitful conversation with the software vendor may be initiated. You now know exactly what you want, and the merchant has a better idea of how to assist you. The vendor can assist you in deciding which of the many possibilities and choices best suit your firm.

Issue 3

Unwanted Expectations, many companies want ERP to solve all their problems and they never see the bigger picture or the effort behind this process.

Solution

An ERP system demonstrates that the investment was worthwhile in the long term, despite the fact that implementation is not without difficulty and hardship. You can raise the bar for optimal results, but not for immediate fulfillment of your demands!

Issue 4

Lack of proper leadership and team coordination

Solution

As previously said, ERP deployment is a massive undertaking that represents a significant change for each employee. A common reaction to this transition is resistance. Strong leadership, building consensus, and including employees in the selection of a new ERP system can all help to improve the quality of the deployment. The more individuals who are involved in the decision-making process, the more they want the implementation to go smoothly and are prepared to go the extra mile.

Issue 5

An implementation team that is not formed at the start of the project and/or does not include the right people.

Solution

The involvement of the most crucial individuals in the implementation team finance, operations, production, inventory, warehouse, and IT is frequently prioritized over board approval in many businesses. Alternatively put, the system's intended users. If you involve them, they'll work diligently to develop an effective ERP system.

Issue 6

Data Quality Issue

Solution

The company can begin considering data migration to the ERP system once it has identified all of the data sources. But doing it might require a significant data hygiene exercise. Organizations frequently have duplicates of the same information in their systems because different departments work with the same clients, goods, and orders. 

Inconsistencies in the information, such as misspellings of names or addresses, may also exist. Some of the information may also be outdated, such as lists of clients or vendors who have subsequently gone out of business.

Issue 7 

Not looking at the bigger picture

Solution

Choosing an ERP system is also an opportunity to examine your business operations critically and see if they can be made more efficient. Perhaps the new technology allows for better inventory monitoring or allows you to make your workflow more flexible. Be willing to adapt your processes as you select and adopt a new ERP system.

Issue 8

Managing Change through ERP

Solution

More than simply moving to a new software system is involved in an ERP setup. In most cases, it entails reorganizing corporate procedures to benefit from the increased productivity and efficiency offered by the new solution. For many employees, this calls for a change in perspective and routine work procedures, which poses typical change management difficulties.

Issue 9

Data Integration

Solution

One of the main benefits of ERP is that it gives the entire organization access to a single, reliable source of data. Data migration, a crucial phase of ERP deployment, usually entails transferring information from several outdated systems into the ERP database. You must first locate all of your data, though. You might not anticipate how difficult this will be. The data might be dispersed widely throughout the company, hidden in accounting software, department-specific programs, spreadsheets, and possibly even on paper.

Issue 10

Cost Overruns

Solutions

After implementation begins, ERP projects are notorious for blowing past their budgets. Many businesses misjudge the amount of effort involved in switching to a new business system, which leads to overspending. These cost overruns frequently appear in a number of places.

Businesses frequently use a software vendor's services team or outside consultants more than anticipated when internal resources are short. This is especially true if the solution needs to be significantly customized to fit the requirements of your business.

Expert ERP consultants often charge between $150 and $175 per hour plus travel costs, whether they are employed directly by the vendor or as a component of a third-party consultancy. Data migration is another expense that can blow a budget, accounting for up to 10-15% of the whole project cost, according to ERP Focus. Another cost to take into account is the cost of training. While ERP suppliers sometimes provide free basic training to clients, you could need to pay for additional training sessions or classes during or after the deployment.

The Bottom Line

There is no doubt that an ERP solution can significantly help an organization, despite the ERP obstacles. It can go rather well if you have the correct software partner to recommend the best software and provide you with ongoing tech support after implementation. Your external team or the team at EWall will handle these issues while you continue to concentrate on expanding your company.

Article Reference: Oracle Netsuite