ERP implementation is a complex undertaking in an organization. First and foremost, it is difficult to propel all employees on one platform to adopt the new and big change in the office environment. ERP implementation is undoubtedly an overlong and engaging process, and teams take time to enforce it carefully.
First, let’s look at an ERP from a layman’s definition.
Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP software helps integrate multiple organizational functions, such as HRM, accounts, sales, marketing, etc., into one system. It helps regulate operations from one unified solution where every department associates and collaborates efficiently. Implementing ERP increases employees’ working efficiency, reduces errors, maximizes employee productivity, centralizes employee or customer data, and much more.
ERP implementation aims to drive your accessibility and collaboration from anywhere. It helps to save tons of data and provides high-end security as it is a totally cloud-based software. That is why it takes time to implement in an organization if you never did before.
Before implementing it, companies build a strong ERP system strategy to overcome challenges throughout the process. However, you do not need to worry if you have a professional and experienced development team. Whether you can outsource ERP or build your own, building your own ERP can engage your huge resource in one task, and you may lose out on your efficiency in dealing with your customer.
Instead of making it an in-house project, you must try external ERP development services with trusted and renowned companies like Captals. Captals provide fully managed cloud ERP software for all types of businesses, including startups, SMBs, and enterprises.
It includes high-tech feature-rich functionalities, easy deployment, and an exceptional support and maintenance team. You can get all in one from one platform from ERP development to ERP implementation. Also, we provide a unified solution of ERP and CRM that is the cherry on top.
To implement ERP effectively, we have split the process into 6 steps to minimize errors or misconceptions. In this blog, we will let you know about our 6 steps in ERP implementation strategy that can help businesses adopt an ERP solution in their business operation. (without any hassle)
6 Steps To Effective ERP Implementation
Discovery & Planning
ERP projects require critical and analytical skills to figure out why an organization needs ERP, and it is worth it to invest in. Your investment in ERP should be worthwhile for the long term rather than be abandoned halfway. Plan your execution with a maximum number of reasons and discover the world of ERP before starting your project. It needs a competitive analysis to find out what your competitors are using and how you can make your ERP unique by adding more features and functionalities.
Moreover, aligning your project with capable team members is another challenge. You need a tech-savvy team that knows the thick and thins come across ERP implementation. Specify roles for the team members and make them accountable to ensure every deadline meets before the day’s end. Everyone must be clarified with their task and be collaborative in terms of project completion.
Designing
It is one of the complex steps while building a strategy for ERP implementation. Everything sums up in the design phase, from appearance to navigation and workflows. In this stage, everyone knows how your ERP system feels and looks and how it will function when a single button hits.
Designing process starts with simple paperwork in which the designer draws a first draft of the ERP. It is less clear but acceptable to draw attention to all the features and functionalities you will add. The next design phase step elaborates low fidelity design that redefines the workflow by choosing the right wireframe. Design a framework to shift on the high-fidelity design to build a functional prototype of your ERP. The whole process requires testing in every stage and reviews from the internal team.
Development
Once the previous stage is done, it’s time to shift a static design into a functional and realistic solution. Development is based on coding, programming languages, frameworks, APIs, and more that can convert a format into a working computer system. It can only happen flawlessly if you have a tech-savvy professional team who knows the possible tech stacks required in building ERP software.
The development process can include customized feature development, third-party API integration, data migration, and deployment. Every stage of development requires unit testing to create error-free development. However, in this stage, every individual team, such as designers, developers, and testers, needs to come into one platform to ensure collaboration.
Software Quality Testing
Testers are one of the prevalent teams needed in the development process to ensure the code quality meets the expectation. They also provide the design and development to go parallel, and everything is going fine from both sides.
Testers are the identifier of bugs or errors that helps developers to know where they are going wrong and what improvement is required. However, testing teams have to command multiple types of testing to ensure the software quality of ERP and go parallel with the development process. All types can help notify at-the-spot information about bugs or errors from unit testing to regression testing. It is an effective way to save time and developer’s efforts.
ERP Deployment
And here the day arrives! Deployment should be the last stage of the ERP implementation process. So be ready to face complex issues, questions, and potential challenges that can let you down from sky to earth. But take a chill pill!
It’s normal. You just need to gather all team members, prepare yourself to answer the question, & help users to understand the system. In ERP implementation, users may lose previous data but hold on; some data can be migrated gradually, so keep them informed. You can also run the old system in parallel to minimize the risk.
Support and Maintenance
Where the development process ends, here are the support and maintenance services required to make your ERP scalable and ever-lasting. No matter how proficiently you build your ERP, it always needs backend support to make it up-to-date. Moreover, real-time upgradation is also one of the best approaches to enhance the performance of your ERP.
On-demand, features configuration can also be the need for future ERP scalability. If you have a trained team to support your ERP, they must install periodic software updates. Otherwise, if you outsource your ERP development, your vendor is responsible for providing real-time support and maintenance.
Wrapping Up!
ERP implementation may be complex, but it helps maximize your business efficiency and allow employees to work productively. At Captals, we strictly follow each step with careful consideration. Our professional team has been working on complex projects and providing customized business ERPs. We have a pre-built ERP solution that is custom-made for every industry. So let’s save time and deploy ERP in your running operating system.