Reasons for Failures in ERP and How to Mitigate them

Reasons for Failures in ERP and How to Mitigate them


What are the challenges that you have faced while implementing an ERP.  When can an ERP implementation fails & what steps that needs to be taken to mitigate this


The following writeup is a combination of our learnings over last 29 years. Learned from our experiences.


Demand of Too much customisation

Fact is

Each result of each ERP might be similar

Need is also similar

But, yet, Each software is built on different logic to achieve the similar result

The problem erupts when

Users do not want to see the new method, and want to dictate the ERP team on everything

They want ditto screens, ditto reports, ditto logics as the old software

Even if the results are ok, they want want the results, in a new way, they want to see the old screens, old methods only

Solution

Proper change management

Managing the users, showing them the benefit

And assuring them that they are safe. And you will yourself see the new ERP system.

Of course, we will help do proper testing and simulation, and dry runs of the system multiple times before going live


Linking with other Softwares

Fact is

Each Software is excellent individually

But when you want one ERP to take unlimited data from the other software and give same results, it creates problems

The 2nd software vendor may or maynot cooperate

The 2nd software may or maynot have all the information

Sometimes this becomes a bottleneck and a time waster

Solution

Linking with Weighing machines = ok

Linking with Printing machines using standard SCADA = ok

Linking with Biometric machines for various things = ok

But assuming , 100% linking with all other softwares becomes a big effort. Sometimes very happy, sometimes not.


Shareholders / MNC Auditors pressure

Sometimes even if our software was largely good, we faced problems of the very large Auditors or very large investors demanding change in the ERP

So, if you want only a “best-selling” BRAND of ERP, irrespective of results,  then it becomes a different situation.


Lack of top management commitment .

If top management shows little interest then everyone will see it and adopt the same attitude…

Normal Solution : get out there, walk around halls, attend requirements meetings and show that you care.

Best solution in words of Mr Sangeet Gupta, our co founder : start seeing the reports yourself, from first month itself. Enjoy every report, even if it is not perfect, start using the data, and tell everybody that old ERP reports and excel reports are not welcome anymore.


Unrealistic expectations .

Setting unrealistic ‘go live’ dates, unrealistic estimated project costs, or not anticipating the burnout factor on the core team doing the implementation and their current job, is a great way to lose your best managers and sink your project.

Solution : Be realistic. Rome was not built in a day. Go step by step, the ERP team is your friend. Partner with them

Where required, put full force and expedite

And where recommended, go slow, give breathing time

Understand the concept of predecessor/successor activities & dependencies


Poor ERP package selection –

Take a “General Package” and expect it to be customised with 10000 customisations… this does not work

Takes more time, more cost, more patience, and sometimes sad news

Solution : Take an ERP software which works in similar industry. Select a ERP team that has worked in similar environments


Inadequate project resources ( People ) –

You must have your best players working on the ERP project. And  you must also backfill their current jobs depending upon how much they are involved in the project. Many derailments, delays, tensions, postponing, and resignations have been tendered due to unrealistic expectations that a core team player will also continue to do their regular job.

There is Quite a bit of Truth in this problem

And solution is intertwined in the para above.

so, Allow them to succeed. Allow them to hire some additional resources, for the ERP changeover period


Resistance to change and a lack of employee ‘buy-in’

People love change, as long as it doesn’t affect them!

If you don’t communicate why there is a need for a new system and how it won’t be eliminating most people’s jobs (in fact, workers may be retrained and redeployed in positions with more responsibility), then employees may not fully adopt the new system.

I am sure you will manage this properly

Don’t make the people “fear” the new ERP.

Don’t make them afraid, that now the management will “know” everything


Poor project planning –

Good project management is essential for good implementation.

Just like setting up a New Factory in a New Country, you have to handle a hundred things, and yet deliver the results in time

It needs proper coordination , and proper management


Inadequate training and education –

Assuming that people will train themselves = It does not happen

Assuming that even after training they will start using = again inadequate

You need to monitor and start using system yourself. If this is done, others will follow suit on this journey successfully,