• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ultra Consultants

OUR INDEPENDENT ERP CONSULTANTS DELIVER 100% CLIENT SATISFACTION

  • Services
    • Back
      • Business Process Improvement
        • Business Process Reengineering
        • Business Process Analysis
        • Business Process Documentation
        • Business Process Mapping
        • Business Process Review
      • Enterprise Software Selection
        • ERP Selection
        • ERP RFP (Request for Proposal)
        • ERP RFP Preparation
        • ERP Readiness Assessment
        • ERP Selection Criteria
        • ERP Requirements Definition
      • Enterprise Software Implementation
        • ERP Implementation Plan Creation
        • ERP Data Conversion
        • ERP Reports
        • ERP Implementation
      • Industry Compliance Services
      • Business Process Transformation
      • Organizational Change Management
      • Enterprise Project Management
      • Get your roadmap for business process improvement
  • Industries & Clients
    • Back
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Automotive
      • Chemical
      • Consumer Goods
      • Distribution
      • Electronic & Equipment
      • Food & Beverage
      • Industrial Equipment
      • Medical Devices & Products
      • Metal Fabrication
      • Pharmaceutical
      • Plastics
      • Read about driving ROI in your ERP project
  • Software & Vendors
    • Back
      • ERP
        • Discrete Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Process Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Distribution ERP Software
      • ERP Software for Sales and Marketing
        • CRM Software
        • Marketing Automation Software
        • eCommerce Solutions
      • Supply Chain Management Software
        • Demand Management Software
        • Transportation Management Software
        • Advanced Planning & DRP Software
        • Finite Scheduling Software
      • Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
      • Warehouse Management Software
      • Manufacturing Execution System Software Vendors
      • Field Service Management Software Vendors
      • Learn about software selection decision drivers
  • Education
    • Back
      • Resources
        • Events & Webinars
        • White Papers
        • ERP Case Studies
      • Media
        • On-Demand Webinars
        • ERP Podcast
        • ERP Videos
      • Take Your Free ERP Health Check
  • Company
    • Back
      • About Ultra
        • Our Team
        • History
        • Awards
        • Careers
        • Independent ERP Consultants
      • News
        • ERP Media Coverage
        • Press Releases
        • ERP Newsletter
      • Read about choosing an independent consultant.
  • ERP Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Back
Home / ERP Blog 07.30.16 / Project Management / Get Ready for a Rapid and Successful ERP Implementation
07.30.16

Get Ready for a Rapid and Successful ERP Implementation

ImplementThere is a tendency for companies selecting an ERP system to think about the process in a linear fashion. The company first identifies the need for new ERP software, executes an ERP selection project and then starts the implementation process. But there are a series of implementation steps that a company must perform regardless of which ERP system is selected. These steps can be accomplished during the ERP selection phase, thus increasing the speed of implementation and building momentum going into the implementation:

  1. Make sure your key implementation team members and possible super users are part of the selection process. Identify your key team members and involve them early in the ERP selection process. This builds involvement and project momentum.
  2. Define data standards for the new system. Chances are your legacy ERP system contains a mix of multiple part numbering systems, work center names, multiple methods for naming customers and suppliers and inventory location schemes.  In the new system, these standards will be the same no matter which ERP software is chosen.
  3. Data conversion – if there is one area where there are always surprises (not necessarily good ones) during ERP implementation, it is during data conversion.  Do a dry run of a data extraction into a format such as Excel. Better to find out early if there are going to be issues with this critical process.
  4. Data cleanup – do you really want to bring over data from the legacy system that hasn’t been accessed in years? Customer and Suppliers that have been inactive for years or finished goods that haven’t been sold in years? The organization should establish standards for what data is relevant and what is not. Remember, the legacy ERP system will still have all the legacy data should the company want to access it.
  5. Process flows – the company’s new process flows are going to be roughly the same regardless of the new ERP system. What does the company want to achieve with the new system in terms of customer service, inventory control, scheduling and shop floor reporting? Brainstorming these processes will not only get the team ready to implement the new system, but also help the company select the new system by establishing clearer requirements.

Starting some of the ERP implementation planning steps during the ERP selection phase can both assist in the selection of the new ERP system and avoid surprises during the implementation phase.

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: Project Management Tags: ERP Project Management, ERP Projects, ERP Software Implementation, ERP Software Selection

Related Articles

  • 04.12.16

    Getting Ready for ERP

    Posted in: Project Management
  • 03.16.16

    Leaner Times Means Leaner Staff

    Posted in: Project Management
  • 07.03.16ERP Success – Make it Happen!

    ERP Success – Make it Happen!

    Posted in: Project Management

About Phil Pitkin

Phil Pitkin

Phil has over 20 years technology-related operational experience in manufacturing and distribution companies. This experience includes operations, strategic planning and business process improvement. He has supplemented this experience with a deep background in technology and systems.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Let's talk about
improving your
processes >>

Read an ERP success story >>

View white
paper library >>

Subscribe to the Ultra ERP Blog

Insight right into your in-box! Enter your email address for email notifications of new posts and be "in the know."

By filling out this form, I acknowledge that I have read, consent to, and agree to be bound by, the terms of Ultra's Privacy Policy, and that I am subscribing to Ultra's ERP Newsletter.

As an independent consultancy, Ultra does not endorse vendors participating in educational content.

Categories

  • Careers
  • Continuous Improvement
  • ERP Best Practices
  • ERP Software Vendors
  • ERP Success Stories
  • News and Events
  • Project Management
  • Stories from the Field
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Technology Evaluation
  • The ERP Industry
  • Uncategorized

Stay Connected

Stay informed about ERP evaluation, selection and
implementation. Subscribe to Ultra's eNewsletter.

Social Media

FacebookTwitterYoutubeLinkedin

312-319-1411 | Copyright © 2020 Ultra Corporation | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap |

Website by Web Savvy Marketing