You're navigating ERP upgrades. How can you maintain transparency and clarity in communication channels?

Ensure that the organization has a key-user team that acts as a bridge between the ERP system and the user organization. Key-users are the ambassadors who can make suggestions for improvements in ERP on behalf of the users and support during the development. As ambassadors they can promote and transfer the realized upgrade and help users to adopt and use it. A well functioning key-user team can really be the 'key' to define the joint chain business needs for upgrades of ERP. Also this a key-user team can ensure a well-founded realization of the upgrade and a qualitative transfer to the business (users) of it.

It's also essential to secure buy-in from all users, highlighting the importance of their support and involvement. By clearly understanding and communicating your needs to the ERP provider, you can ensure that these requirements are addressed during the upgrade process, leading to a more successful implementation.

Based on my experience in migrating a legacy system into an ERP system for one of the largest groups in Indonesia, one of the key success factors in assessing business needs was to involve key business process owners (BPOs) The BPOs played crucial roles in explaining to the ERP functional team what the current processes, data, and reports were; and what they would like to see improved in the new system. Therefore it was also important to educate the BPOs on the new system functionalities before the phase of business needs assessment started, in order for them to be able to perform their roles.

From the technology point of view, there are already set examples & road maps which are very well defined and articulated for a successful upgrade, one needs to find which example & which road map is best suited for their technology and their organizational behavior. Users who are using the ERP need to be guided & demonstrated fully on the journey on what is coming from the new upgrades (if any) after the tech team and core business team has signed off the UAT at the testing beds. At the demonstration a well documented process flow needs to be handed over to the users of "what was and what is to be'' from go live day. This way users also can raise a proper pinpointed ticket if something is wrong after the upgrade at the live servers.

1. Establish a Clear Communication Plan 2. Create a Centralized Communication Hub 3. Foster Open Dialogue 4. Leverage Technology for things like communication, collaboration, updates etc. 5. Continuously montior, measure and adjust

Planning is critical for any project. But ERP upgrades and migrations require far more robust planning and with enough margins to accommodate surprises and setbacks for replanning. The end users must be included in the planning of go-live date selection and user acceptance tests schedule. Their comfort level with the dates and schedule is directly proportional to their commitment and thus, is linked to the success or failure of a project.

With my experience, I would recommend keeping simple plans and executing them. This is most important aspect of ERP upgrading: 1. Identify Key Stakeholders 2. List of Teams to be involved with accountability & ownerships 3. Tools / Project plan / budget required to achieve your goal 4. Drill down top level plan to granular level planning, so that the communication & required information flow to teams well 5. List all objects as part of migration with classification like Mandatory functions, Nice to have & Optional. This will help a lot on where to focus 6. Keep milestones and also plan B approaches if required 7. Keep a note on dependable and parallel activities 8. List of "Plan DO Act" (with blockers & Time lines) Hope it helps

Maintaining transparency and clarity in communication channels during ERP upgrades is crucial. Create a comprehensive communication plan that outlines who needs to be informed, what information needs to be shared, and when updates will be provided. Establish a regular cadence for updates, whether through emails, meetings, or project management tools. This keeps stakeholders informed about progress, challenges, and decisions. Document key decisions, changes, and project milestones in a centralized location accessible to all stakeholders. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures everyone is on the same page.

When planning an ERP upgrade process we need to be as clear as possible and have to have some space to manoeuvre as well. One issue with upgrades that I have seen is a deadline that is tight on the plan and so strict on the personnel that at the end people just try to get by and get a passing checkmark instead of having a quality upgrade either to their business or their daily duties. Always be prepared to move accordingly to the issues that may arise, try to foresee them and keep an open communication channel no matter how much of a hassle it can be.

Planning is also a crucial factor in Navigating ERP Maintaining clear and concise documentation such as project plans, timelines, meeting minutes, and status reports helps achieving it by making these documents easily accessible to stakeholders so they can refer to them as needed.

Engaging users during ERP upgrades is essential for successful adoption and satisfaction. Involve users from the beginning of the project. Seek their input during requirements gathering and solution design phases to understand their needs and expectations. Communicate clearly and consistently about the project's objectives, timelines, and impacts on users. Use multiple channels such as emails, meetings, newsletters, and intranet updates to keep them informed. Provide comprehensive training tailored to different user roles. Offer hands-on workshops, online tutorials, and documentation to help users understand new processes and systems.

User engagement is another critical aspect of the project, it is at this phase one can come to know whatever understanding that has been gathered is translated into the system or no. There are any gaps then functional document can tweaked and system can redesigned to meet the end result. If this phase properly carried out then chances of understanding vs end result can be filtered out or else all the timelines, efforts, money will go for a toss

Engajar os usuários finais é crucial para o sucesso de uma atualiza??o de ERP. Involucrá-los desde o início e ao longo do processo, por meio de sess?es de treinamento, ciclos de feedback e testes piloto, é essencial. Isso permite resolver preocupa??es rapidamente, gerenciar expectativas e assegurar que o produto final atenda às suas necessidades. A comunica??o transparente com os usuários resulta em taxas de ado??o mais altas e uma atualiza??o mais bem-sucedida.

Manter a equipe motivada, empolgada, engajada, faz toda diferen?a! Comunicar, fortalecer, confiar, delegar, s?o a??es chave para o envolvimento das pessoas! Crie boas rela??es!

Engaging users is also a crucial factor in Navigating ERP and this can be achieved by Identifying key stakeholders including project sponsors, department heads, end-users, and IT teams and to execute this one needs to develop a communication plan that outlines who needs to know what, when, and how.

1. Identify and track KPIs right from the start. Things like timelines, budget, milestones, testing, development etc. 2. Use proper project management tools 3. Publish regular status reports 4. Have established communication channels and continuous feedback

Monitoring progress during an ERP upgrade is critical to ensure that the project stays on track and meets its objectives. Define specific milestones and objectives for each phase of the ERP upgrade. These milestones should be measurable and aligned with the overall project goals. Utilize project management software or tools to track tasks, timelines, dependencies, and resource allocations. This helps in monitoring progress in real-time and identifying potential bottlenecks. Schedule regular status meetings with the project team, stakeholders, and key users to review progress, discuss challenges, and make decisions. Ensure these meetings are productive and focused on resolving issues.

Monitorar o progresso durante uma atualiza??o de ERP é essencial para manter a transparência e a eficiência. Estabele?a métricas e benchmarks claros para acompanhar o sucesso e compartilhe relatórios regulares com todas as partes interessadas. Isso ajuda a identificar problemas precocemente e mantém todos informados sobre o status da atualiza??o. Acompanhando de perto o progresso, você garante que o projeto permane?a no caminho certo e que quaisquer desvios sejam comunicados e resolvidos rapidamente.

Monitoring progress is also a vital factor which plays an important role in Navigating ERP upgrades during ERP upgrades, changes to processes and workflows are inevitable and one needs to communicate these changes clearly, outlining the benefits and how they align with organizational goals.

>Establish regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms. >Use dashboards, status meetings, and progress reports. >Keep all stakeholders informed. >Identify issues early and communicate adjustments or delays.

When managing an ERP upgrade, it’s crucial to engage with all stakeholders early and keep them constantly updated through a well-planned communication strategy, ensuring transparency and allowing for adjustments as needed. Additionally, thorough risk assessments, diligent change management, comprehensive testing, and strict project oversight are essential to identify and mitigate potential issues, ensuring the upgrade proceeds smoothly and remains within scope and budget.

When it comes to upgrading an ERP system, managing risk is key to keeping business running smoothly. Things don’t always go as planned, so it’s important to be prepared. If an upgrade didn’t go as expected, having a plan to quickly revert to the previous stable state is vital. By following best practices and robust information security protocols, you can minimize downtime and prevent data loss. This not only keeps your operations safe but also reassures your stakeholders. Having rollback procedures and a solid contingency plan in place means you can tackle upgrade challenges head-on, ensuring your business keeps moving forward efficiently.

Gerenciar riscos é crucial em uma atualiza??o de ERP. Identifique potenciais riscos no início e desenvolva estratégias de mitiga??o. Comunique claramente esses riscos e as medidas adotadas para abordá-los, mantendo a confian?a das partes interessadas. Ao lidar proativamente com os riscos e ser transparente sobre os desafios, você pode minimizar interrup??es e garantir a continuidade do processo de atualiza??o.

Risk management is like a balancing act. You need to be clear in the risks that you see but at the same time you can not scare the other party into inaction. Best way that I found to bring issues forth is break them down into smaller ones. That way you have pinpoint accuracy and you motivate people since they will have more issues solved than not.

>Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. >Communicate risks and mitigation plans to stakeholders. >Foster trust by being upfront about challenges. >Ensure preparedness for contingencies.

In my experience, training is highly important to make usage effective because many times users are not aware about the features and due to that the required data could not be gathered.

Training is key. A company employee should lead the project, not consultants. Also when you train there should be data loaded in the mock system while doing hands on or training becomes irrelevant. Having been through 2 ERP changes, inadequate training has created more work when trying to review historical data. Turnover plays a part, simple things such as disregarding populating data fields continues to be an issue 5 years into the latest ERP system we use. This has caused countless hours of wasted time having to do research, while if done properly the ERP system becomes a well oiled machine.

>Invest in comprehensive training programs. >Provide clear and concise training materials and sessions. >Tailor training to different user groups. >Ensure user comfort and reduce errors and frustrations.

We tend to underestimate what effective training can do in the long run. If we train the user to feel like he is control then in the future you will have a client that is not only proficient but also trusts your knowledge and skills.

1. In the periods of transition of new ERP system, maybe have 2 systems run in parallel . 2. To avoid interruption of daily operations, may require the team to OT or bring in more manpower to practise. 3. The period of transition cannot be too long, 1 month is ideal period, otherwise everyone will be too tiring. 4. Have intensive and effective communication between the core team for ERP implementation

?????????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????? Clearly communicate how the upgrade solves specific business problems and its measurable impact. Highlight the benefits users will gain ?????????????????????? ?????????????? Provide a detailed timeline with phases, expected downtime, and service disruptions. Reduce surprises ???????????????? ???????????????? Develop tailored training for different user roles. Ensure everyone understands how to leverage new features ?????????????? ???????????????? Engage early with users to understand their needs and worries. Use this feedback to shape com and training

Important for ERP Upgrades Awareness: Understand Functional Process, Process Variables, Process Controls, Reporting Needs, Current Issues & Growth Plans across the organization Evaluation: Easy to use, Scalable, Affordable Application. Leads System Oriented Process, Data Visibility, Controls, Improves Productivity, customer reach & Business Decision Process. Approach: Migration Strategy, Implementation Scope, Appropriate Go Live Date, top driven Communication to Commitment & adherence? Resources: Core Team Expertise to evaluate requirements, Change Needs, Testing ability, Sensing issues to fix, Rapport with Stakeholders/User’s and Update Status User Acceptance: Training Plan at Appropriate Time, Manuals for better acquaintance

Show don't tell is the principal that works best with an upgrade process. Once people see your words in action they start to not only believe but see the benefits that you bring.