Important considerations when implementing ERP solutions

Important Considerations when Implementing ERP Systems

 

Implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is often difficult, time-consuming and overwhelming if it’s your first experience. In this article, we will cover essential aspects that you should be aware of during your first digital transformation journey. 

An interesting observation that we made with our clients is that many project management team members and business leaders lack prior experience in ERP implementations. They may only encounter such projects once or twice in their careers, if at all. Therefore, today, we aim to share the information you need to know to effectively embark on this journey. 

 

Manage Stakeholder Expectations.

 

Often third parties may present a vision that is unrealistic and impractical. Your organisations may not fully understand the challenges of ERP implementations. It is critical that your project management team members learn to manage internal expectations.  

When evaluating proposals from vendors or partners, it is imperative to approach everything with a critical mindset and ask tough questions. It is essential to understand what it takes for the implementation to be successful. 

Seeking assistance and insight from independent benchmarks and resources will be beneficial to your team. Helping them develop a realistic plan and strategy and avoid disappointing business stakeholders.  

 

Establish Program Management 

 

When undertaking an ERP implementation, it is important to establish an internal program management function. Although, your software vendor or partner may have a project manager assigned to your implementation. You need to set up a program and project manager within your organisation. Your internal team must take ownership and live with the outcomes of the implementation.  

Creating an internal Project Management Office (PMO) will manage external parties and ensure that the project remains on track and is aligned with the goals and objectives of your business. Your organization, third-party software vendors and technical consultants may have conflicting priorities.  

Therefore, having a dedicated program management function will help align all parties involved in the project effectively. 

 

Focus on Change Management 

 

The human component of implementation. This is where change management lies. Your project management team will need to develop a clear change strategy and a comprehensive change management plan to tackle the work-stream within your organisation. 

A common case of failure for ERP implementations is the lack of alignment. Internally. Some members of your organisation may not be on the same page regarding the goals of this implementation. This can jeopardize your overall success. The members of your project team need to facilitate internal alignment.  

In other cases, organisations are excited by new technology and rush into an implementation without proper alignment. This can lead to long-term problems. Taking a step back, slowing down, and focusing on alignment will save time in the long run. It ensures everyone is on the same page and provides a clear sense of purpose. Allowing you to speed up the process later on and saving exponentially more time. 

 

Listen to the Business 

 

The most critical step to ensure the success of your first ERP implementation is actively listening to and understanding the business. You need to comprehend the business’ operational needs and current state. Understanding how things currently work, why they operate that way, identifying pain points, and recognizing opportunities for improvement during the implementation process is vital. 

Additionally, you must be conscious of internal sources of opposition and be alert to objections or push-backs. It’s crucial to keep an eye on the organization and comprehend its operational and business requirements. By doing this, you escape the trap of merely implementing new technology without taking into account the context of the organization. 

Your business and technology must work smoothly together, and this can only be done by actively listening to and comprehending the needs of the business. You can effectively bridge the gap between technological goals and corporate objectives with the aid of this strategy. 

We hope you found this article insightful and informative. If you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to drive growth, innovation, and efficiency, Microsoft Dynamics 365 might just be the answer to your business needs. Get in touch with us here and our experts will give you the guidance and support you need to embark on this journey.

 

For further information on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, don’t hesitate to get in touch with allonline365 at +27 (21) 205 3650, email us atinfo@allonline365.com or visit our websitewww.allonline365.com 

Microsoft updates for Dynamics 365 and Power Platforms

Microsoft updates for Dynamics 365 and Power Platforms

Microsoft launches 2020 Wave 1 updates for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform

Microsoft continues to add support and resources for organizations during this difficult tie. They have released updates in the 2020 Wave 1 that consists of over 400 new features and apps for Dynamics 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform. You can access the Microsoft updates for Dynamics 365 and Power Platforms here. Here are some of the updates that you can look forward to.

B2C and B2B customer journeys across sales, marketing, and service.

Dynamics 365 Customer Insights allows you to develop your customers’ profiles and learn more about their actions and behaviors in real-time. Using Dynamics 365 Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Field Service, businesses can take advantage of new capabilities. Some of these capabilities are AI-powered predictive sales forecasting, enhancement of marketing campaigns with a more personalized approach, and more.

It’s time for seamless omnichannel retail experiences

“Dynamics 365 Commerce delivers an end-to-end solution that helps organizations deliver personalized, omnichannel experiences through advanced e-commerce capabilities, intelligent product recommendations, and enhanced clienteling.” Watch the Microsoft Business Virtual Launch event to see how a well-known shoe brand, Dr. Martens, can replace all outdated legacy applications with a suite of Microsoft applications. If you are looking for a more in-depth tailored solution for retail, we suggest you take a look at LS Central which is built to integrate directly with Dynamics 365 Business Central.

To find out the full list of new features that can add more value to your business, watch the Microsoft Virtual Launch Event.

Now for the Power Platform

“Microsoft Power BI is delivering new capabilities focusing on three key areas to help businesses drive a data culture.”

  • Microsoft has added the highly requested decomposition tree AI visual, a new experience, and added a modern ribbon that users are familiar with from Microsoft Office.
  • Microsoft has added full application lifecycle management, with the ability for customers to move an app through a deployment pipeline. They have also completely opened Power BI’s semantic models by adding full support for the industry-standard XML for Analysis (XMLA) protocol.
  • Finally, to help businesses weave business intelligence deeply into the fabric of their organization, Microsoft has added support for Microsoft Information Protection and Microsoft Cloud App to protect data even when it leaves Power BI, added deep integration with Azure Synapse, and a completely revamped Microsoft Teams integration.

You can find out more about the new functionality in the event link above. If your business is in need of a new powerful solution, or you are interested in the Microsoft updates for Dynamics 365 and Power Platforms, contact us to find out how we can assist you. info@allonline365.com

Business continuity during COVID-19: A wake-up call

business continuity during covid-19

Ensuring business continuity during COVID-19. A wake-up call

As the majority of the world is on lockdown, businesses have had to follow government regulations by shutting their doors. This has been a trying time for everyone. Small and medium-sized businesses don’t necessarily have the expertise or infrastructure for a “work from home” environment to resume business continuity during COVID-19. It’s time to take a hard look at the technology systems used in business processes.

The problem

Both businesses and individuals are dealing with the stress of the unknown. Both in terms of health and financial stability as we await the unconfirmed day-to-day business continuity during COVID-19. It is important to take note of whether businesses lack the infrastructure currently to continue operations, or whether a cloud-based solution would be applicable to them. Business owners need to use this time to review and research the solutions available. Businesses need to reflect on how they can upgrade and digitally transform their businesses to ensure sustainability to accommodate online and remote working environments.

The reality

Microsoft has seen a 775% surge in the demand for cloud-based services from the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Microsoft Teams has come to be a platform that companies have become dependent on daily for communication and collaboration. Power BI, Microsoft’s business intelligence reporting platform, grew by 42% in one week due to its ability to share COVID-19 dashboards and reports around the globe. The tech giant is living up to its expectations of businesses around the world by offering powerful and intelligent tools. These tools keep companies operational and give staff and customers the comfort that it is “business as usual”.

The solution

This time, although uncertain in many respects, can be used to research and review technology solutions to not only assist, but also to ensure that you can advance and grow your business. Even during difficult times, such as COVID-19. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a product that offers you the opportunity for an end-to-end view of your business wherever you are, on multiple devices. Whatever industry you are in, Dynamics 365 Business Central can lay down standard business processes with the added benefit of intelligence. When your business grows, the Dynamics 365 Business Central solution is geared to grow with it.  Along with select add-on solutions for specific industries, which will assist in taking your company to the next level.

If you are thinking about your lack of business continuity during COVID-19, take the next step and contact us to find out more about how we can get your business online and assist with streamlining processes. All from working remotely. Email us on info@allonline365.com.

Written by: Romy Künneke, Marketing Coordinator

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