Redesigning an ERP: A practical guide

Refonte erp

ERP software (Enterprise Resource Planning) ensures the optimization of commercial and operational processes within a company, especially on a CRM. It is essential for any company that wants to better manage its activities. Managing your business processes with a traditional ERP software is not always a good idea. Even with a powerful and robust solution, you have to adapt with change. The implementation of a new ERP management software is the best way to adapt your processes to the modern market. However, the success of this project requires good organization and a precise methodology. But how should you go about it? In this guide, discover everything you need to know to successfully redesign ERP software.

Assess the needs and gaps in your existing ERP

For a successful transition, you must take the time to study your ERP project in detail. Concretely, it is a question of determining the needs of your company while considering the limits of your existing ERP software. A thorough analysis of your company’s current business processes are required. This review helps you better understand your business goals, target audience, and customer expectations. It will help you conduct a thorough study of your organization’s workflows and functional requirements.

You must then identify the inefficiencies and problems with your current ERP software. Don’t hesitate to collect feedback from key users (CIO, ERP integrator, Project Manager, etc.) of the tool. Ask for their opinions in order to understand real needs and frustrations. At the end of this step, you can easily determine the unsuitable or missing functionalities in the existing ERP.

ERP redesign planning

The redesign of your ERP must take into account all aspects of your business, and for this you require good project planning.

Define your objectives, KPIs & success indicators

ERP makes it possible to optimize your entire information system and data within the company. The integration of this software must therefore meet the specific challenges of your company or sector. It is necessary to establish clear objectives to successfully redesign the ERP. At the same time, you must define measurable success indicators that will give you the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the redesign.

Opt for a suitable ERP system

Choosing an ERP system for your business should not be taken lightly. You have to make sure that the new software offers better performance. To do this, evaluate the different options of ERP systems available on the market.

Shop around for vendors and rely on a trusted publisher. You can consult online reviews and existing customers of ERP vendors on the quality of service and implementation. Do not hesitate to compare the functionalities, the flexibility, and user-friendliness of the ERP solutions proposed to you.

Organize your resources and deadlines

Redesigning an ERP represents a significant investment. You need to estimate the costs and expenses associated with implementing your project. This will help you allocate the necessary human, financial and technical resources for the redesign.

Once this step is completed, you must organize yourself for a smooth transition. Then establish a realistic schedule by considering the constraints and dependencies of your business.

Implementation and change management

After you select your new software, it’s time to define an effective organization plan, to gradually deploy the ERP. This undertaking is carried out in different stages.

Data migration

Transferring data from the previous system to the new software is an essential step in the success of your transition. Thanks to this migration, the information will be accessible to all departments of the company. Then assess the quality and relevance of the existing data before planning the transfer.

Finally, migrate the data to the new ERP system by following a very specific process. As part of a transfer to the cloud, you have to choose a good platform and above all have a high-speed internet connection.

User training

The change applies to all stakeholders in your business. To help users adapt to the transformation, you need to invest in their training. This requires the development of a learning program for key ERP users. Offer personalized support to facilitate their adoption of the new ERP system.

Test, deploy and monitor

Perform the necessary tests to ensure the efficiency and stability of your new ERP. Depending on the results, you can gradually roll out the software. After the redesign, regular ERP performance monitoring is essential to continually develop the transformation. The redesign of an ERP must take the needs of your company into account. Achieving this project requires careful planning and change management to assist the process. Its success will improve your company’s productivity, facilitate decision-making and contribute to the optimization of your business processes.

Tags: ERP

Sarah C

Sarah oversees all things inbound marketing, exploring the many business uses and topics surrounding digital adoption. Her previous experiences include B2C and product marketing in the social listening space, uncovering emerging industry trends.