What's the Best Team, Timeline for
Our ERP Project?
Podcast Episode
Episode 2: (8:40)
The Ultra independent ERP consultant team is often asked "what's the best team, timeline for our ERP project?"
Today’s edition of ERP Insights Podcast looks at the optimal team make-up and timeline for an effective ERP project.
Host Jeff Carr notes that in general, an ERP project will consume the better part of a year for a midsized company. It can take longer if multiple sites, countries, and companies are involved.
An average breakdown is as follows:
- Business Process Assessment
- Technology Selection
- Implementation – involves 5 phases – 6 to 8 months breakdowns as follows
- Preparation – 1 month
- Design and Configuration – 1 to 2 months
- Build – which includes testing, developing modifications, and data conversion – 3 months
- Deployment – end-user training, documentation, and final data conversion – 1 to 2 months
Key Takeaways
Jeff shares background on different roles requiring different time requirements.
- The steering committee should allocate 10% of their time to the project through all phases
- The ERP project manager will start at 75%-time commitment but will quickly ramp to 100% once you enter the selection phase
- The business process owners will spend about 25% of their time in business process assessment and technology selection phases. Their time ramps up to 50% in early part of implementation ramping again to 75% in the build, deploy and go live phases
- The subject matter experts will start at 10% in business process assessment and technology selection phases. Their time ramps up to 20% in early part of implementation ramping again to 25% in the build, deploy and go live phases.
Expect to expend approximately 13,000 man hours on the project or roughly 7 full-time equivalents.
Jeff Carr shares a real-world look at recent projects at a $65 M metal fabrication company, looking at the optimal team and timeline.
Also included is a summary of an active ERP project at a $100 M Plumbing Supply company with many branch offices.
Listen and learn about the optimal team and timeline for this successful ERP software selection and implementation.
