Active Directions helps clients navigate the ERP selection process, develop a clear business case, and then help manage the implementation partner. As a result, we wanted to share a pragmatic view of the process.
Key Components of a Successful ERP Strategy
- Needs Assessment and Readiness: The ultimate aim is to help clients have timely data and reporting to support timely decision making, so it starts with understanding operational bottlenecks, data silos, and manual processes. A quality process to understand requirements and the level of readiness is important to making the decision to starting a selection process.
- Vendor Selection: Given the cost, and implementation risks, clients have no option but to embark on quality selection process that is focused on their business. Taking shortcuts or following others blindly will slow down the process later, so we advise to go through the steps required.
- Weigh up your software and implementation partner in equal measure: Yes, you need to choose the right software, but choosing your implementation partner is just as critical. Ideally, you assess a couple of implementation partners for the preferred software platform to identify which one you will work with best.
- Implementation and Change Management: ERP success hinges on people, not just technology. Clients are encouraged to invest in equivalent internal resourcing to ensure the project is a success and the implementation partner is held accountable.
- Post-go-live clarity: Ensure there is a clear plan for post-go-live support that starts with hyper-care and extends to ongoing support to ensure the business starts to extract maximum value and the benefits set out in the original business case.
Top Three Tips to Share with Clients
- Start Small, Think Big: Recommend a phased ERP rollout—begin with finance or inventory, then expand. This reduces risk and builds internal confidence.
- Don’t Just Automate—Elevate: Encourage clients to use ERP not just for automation, but for better decision-making.
- Plan for People, Not Just Processes: Emphasise the importance of change management. ERP success depends on user adoption, so involve staff early and provide ongoing support.
Key Questions to Get the Conversation Started
- How much time does your team spend on manual reporting or reconciliations each month?
- If your business doubled in size tomorrow, would your current systems keep up?
- What insights are you missing today that would help you make faster, better decisions?
In initiating these conversations, partners can position themselves as strategic enablers—not just service providers. ERP isn’t just a system upgrade—it’s a business transformation opportunity. For mid-tier businesses, the right guidance can make all the difference.
By raising these questions, partners can open up broader conversations to understand where your clients most need support. Please book an appointment if you would like to discuss your client’s ERP challenges.
