An ERP implementation is a major project, requiring businesses to invest large amounts of time and resources to ensure the new software will represent a good ROI.
So, it’s natural that you’ll have plenty of questions about the process – after all, the consequences of wrongly estimating the go-live date, for example, could have serious repercussions for your company.
In this blog, we answer some of the top FAQs about implementing an ERP system:
Unfortunately, ERP software isn’t cheap and prices vary depending on:
All of this means small to medium sized businesses can expect to pay anywhere between £53,363.63 ($75,000) and £533,878.90 ($750,000) for implementation. Prices for larger businesses range from £711,713.38 ($1 million) to £7,120,000 ($10 million).
If you think your business can’t afford a large up-front implement cost, consider choosing a cloud deployment. They don’t require hardware installation and may not offer as many customisations.
For starters, it helps add value to your business by ensuring the accurate traceability of every ingredient through processing, packaging, warehousing, transportation and storage at the end retailer.
This means you can not only make sure your operations are efficient, but improve productivity, reduce waste and ultimately, increase profits.
An industry-specific solution such as Aptean Food and Beverage ERP can:
You can read more into the benefits here.
ERP implementation involves not just technology, but people as well. Common challenges include:
ERP implementation projects consist of multiple phases (e.g. discovery and planning, design, testing, deployment, etc). Strong project management capabilities, which include setting realistic time frames and expectations, are vital for success.
A key advantage of having an ERP system is that it provides one version of the truth for everyone inside an organisation.
But first, you need to move your data from multiple older systems into your new ERP database. This can be an arduous process if information is spread far and wide across your business (think buried in spreadsheets, held on disparate systems or perhaps even on paper).
A well-planned data migration will help keep your ERP implementation project on time and on budget. Plus, it’s an opportunity to remove obsolete or redundant data that might be lurking in your legacy systems.
ERP implementation projects usually involve some adjustments to business processes and changes to how your employees work on a daily basis. This can present challenges, so get buy-in from your employees right from the very beginning of the implementation process.
Some ways you could do this include:
ERP projects can run over budget once implementation has begun as a result of companies underestimating the amount of work required.
To avoid this, factor in:
Your steps to a successful ERP implementation should look like:
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that your ERP implementation journey is now done and dusted. For it to be truly successful, you need to continuously work on it.
You need to:
The four most common approaches are:
There’s no straightforward answer to this question, I’m afraid – it really depends on your business. It can take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years. Implementation time depends on:
Firstly, you need to have clearly defined processes. If not, the implementation team will fail to consider these aspects of your business when mapping out your system. This means that during the validation stage, leaders will find users aren’t performing tasks as they expected, resulting in modifications being made to system and lengthening the project time.
Secondly, those designated a role in the project need to be held accountable for completing the tasks they’ve been assigned on time. Without this, implementation will inevitably take longer than expected.
And lastly, your business must be careful when choosing customisations. The chances are the software won’t completely fit your business out of the box, but you should only include customisations that are needed to meet your most important objectives. You can leave any other customisations until after your ERP has been fully implemented.
Alternatively, take the pressure off your in-house team and outsource your ERP implementation project to a digital transformation agency who specialise in the food industry. That way, you can gain access to high quality resources and mitigate the risk of any unforeseen complications or delays to your project.
Every business is different. So, when you think about, taking a one-size-fits-all approach to solutions doesn’t really suit anyone that well.
That’s why as a food business, we strongly insist that your focus should be on implementing appropriate food industry ERP software. Our guide lays out the key differences in functionalities of a generic ERP system in comparison to a food-specific alternative.
Download it below.