You're facing client demands for extensive ERP customizations. How do you handle their expectations?

Heavy customisation will lead to technical debt at later point. To maintain the heavy customisation you will not get right skill from the market as it may not be market standard. Integration will be a problem for heavy customisation.

The key fact is that most customer don't know what they want, so its best to first present a practical-based demo first showing the process of how the software will address some of their pain point. You will eventually see that there isn't a need for customization.

Balancing client demands for ERP customizations while maintaining a sustainable system is crucial. I achieve this by deeply understanding client needs, prioritizing requests, and promoting best practices. I advocate for using ERP’s built-in configurations over custom code to ensure smooth upgrades. Implementing customizations in phases allows for iterative feedback, while thorough documentation and governance maintain integrity. I design modular, scalable solutions and conduct regular reviews to optimize performance. This strategic approach ensures we deliver maximum value while preserving the ERP system’s long-term viability.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to document business requirements and go deep down from level 1 (high level) to level 3 (low level) or 4 (lowest level) so that they become quantifiable. After this exercise, have experts in different domains like order to cash, procure to pay, finance or subscribe to cash, go through them, work with the business and bifurcate these requirements into fit vs gaps where “fit” means that they can be achieved via standard functionality in ERP and “gap” means that the requirements are either report, interface, conversion, enhancement or an output form development. At the end of this exercise, we will have certain number of “fit” along with a number of “gap” and this will help in sizing the work.

é fundamental comunicar ao cliente que as personaliza??es podem resultar em tempos de implementa??o mais longos, custos adicionais e possíveis complica??es nas atualiza??es do sistema. Ofere?a uma análise detalhada dos benefícios e desvantagens para que o cliente possa tomar uma decis?o informada e consciente. Em sistemas SAP esse já n?o é um problema, hoje, em dia, com solu??es como a da Tachyonix.

Personalizar ERP presionado por los negocios de la compa?ía, impulsar el uso del standard; o desarrollar sistemas satélites fue, es y será una decisión difícil, no solo de tomar, sino también de consensuar. Los excesos son siempre malos, aferrarse al estandard, desarrollar todo la lógica del negocio fuera del ERP o personalizar en demasía haciendo costosísimo las futuras migraciones. Cada consultor traerá consigo su experiencia y los logros obtenidos que serán los valores con los que aconsejara mejor a sus clientes

Understand the core needs behind customization requests. Set realistic expectations on costs and timelines. Address high-impact customizations first. Break down delivery into manageable stages. Keep clients informed and involved. Offer standard solutions when they fit. Record all requests and agreements. Effective management of customization demands ensures alignment and delivers value.

Firstly, evaluate whether the existing ERP system can support the requested customizations. Consult with your technical team to identify potential challenges, integration points, and system limitations. Perform cost analysis and provide the detailed report to the clients and explain the costs and return on investment in developing each customization. Also, explain the time that is going to take to build customizations so that they will have clear idea on the costs, timeline, ROI, and the impact.

é crucial avaliar o impacto das personaliza??es nos sistemas de nossos clientes. Na MyTracking, nos esfor?amos para comunicar claramente os prazos e custos potenciais envolvidos, assegurando que cada personaliza??o n?o apenas atenda às necessidades imediatas, mas também se alinhe com a evolu??o a longo prazo do cliente no cenário de negócios dinamico de hoje.

Cuando la demanda viene desde distintos sectores de la organización es imprescindible establecer un ranking de prioridades. Dado que nos podemos encontrar en un escenario donde para todas las gerencias las necesidades son prioridad cero y contribuirán en la rentabilidad de la compania o harán mas eficientes los procesos. Es allí donde buscaremos un nivel superior que nos ayude definir las prioridades, de acuerdo con le plan estratégico de IT.

The priority is a well functioning system that delivers the needs of the People of the Organisation and the Customers too. Don't get caught up in being dragged down into the mire of change requests. Or you will end up building a replica of the system you are replacing. Do you really want that?

It’s crucial to identify which customizations will deliver the most significant benefits and prioritize them accordingly. We work closely with the client to rank the customizations based on their urgency and potential impact on business operations. This collaborative approach ensures that we focus on delivering high-value changes first, which can make an immediate positive difference. By breaking the project into manageable phases, we can also show continuous progress, which keeps the client engaged and confident in the project’s direction.

Some customer process desires may be handled better by a third party tool, or modification of the customer's business process. If this isn't the case, you need to evaluate whether customization is business critical or a convenience. As a project manager, you need to weigh the situation and determine what is best for customer, their project and their pocketbook. You and your customer need to work together to keep the project within cost/outcome expectations as best you can.

Handling client demands for extensive ERP customizations is like guiding someone through a menu with limited ingredients ???. In one company, clients wanted complex customizations that strained resources ??. The project manager offered alternatives, like out-of-the-box features that met their needs ??. They explained the benefits of standard solutions, such as faster implementation and lower costs ????. By showing how these options could still achieve their goals, clients felt satisfied and the project stayed manageable ??. This balanced approach kept expectations realistic and the project on track ??.

During solution, always watch out for alternatives. Propose client with Pros and Cons. Give options and let client choose right option, support client in their decision

El conocimiento de los proceso de negocios de una compania, la experiencia en su implementación y las novedades de las nuevas versiones del ERP son las herramientas para encaminar a los clientes hacia la mejor solución. Desde el punto de vista del negocio, siempre dentro de un nivel de costos acorde al presupuesto disponible.

Importance of considering alternative solutions in the context of ERP systems. 1.Cost Savings: While ERP packages can be a significant investment, exploring alternatives can save you money. 2.Flexibility and Agility: ERP alternatives tend to be quicker to implement, more flexible, and easier to onboard employees. 3.Enhanced Decision-Making: ERP systems integrate core business functions, providing real-time data. 4.Efficiency and Productivity: By automating processes, ERP frees up employees' time. They can focus on value-adding activities, such as innovation, customer experience, and strategic partnerships. Remember, choosing the right solution depends on your specific needs and goals.

Not all customization requests are straightforward. In some cases, the desired changes might be complex, costly, or even technically impractical. When this happens, we explore and suggest alternative solutions that can achieve the same or similar results. For instance, we might recommend leveraging existing ERP functionalities, integrating third-party tools, or using customization options that are more cost-effective. Offering these alternatives demonstrates our commitment to finding the best possible solutions within the client’s budget and technical constraints.

Establish a clear scope for the customization project and communicate it effectively to the client. Define the boundaries of what will be included and excluded, and set realistic timelines and budgets. Use change management processes to handle any additional requests or modifications. Managing scope diligently helps prevent scope creep, ensures that the project remains focused, and maintains alignment with the client’s original objectives.

Gerencie o escopo com foco no "BOM", essa regra é infalível. O "ótimo", além de ser inimigo do bom faz o projeto atrasar. Um Líder do projeto, com vis?o global e financeira da empresas, pode ajudar a detalhar o BOM.

Managing the project scope effectively is essential to avoid scope creep, which can derail timelines and budgets. We define the project scope clearly and ensure all stakeholders agree on it before starting any work. Throughout the project, we monitor any new requests and assess their impact on the overall project plan. If additional changes are necessary, we discuss their implications with the client and seek formal approval before proceeding. This disciplined approach helps maintain control over the project and ensures that we meet the agreed-upon objectives.

Customizations is very extensive area for ERP softwares. Approved scope and with clear vision of deliverables. Sometime we feel that customization is enhancement and actually it may be bug in the system. Hence, bug or enhancement need to be identify clearly under the scope. Impact analysis may lead some more enhancement which also need to clearly state before agreement.

Uma das tarefas mais difíceis de um projeto é o gerenciamento do escopo. Quando comprovadamente for a demanda, cria-se o plano de melhorias para execu??o futura evitando o ótimo e garantindo a entrega do bom no prazo com resultados positivos.

Clear and ongoing communication is key to managing client expectations effectively. Keep clients informed about the progress, challenges, and any changes that may affect the scope or timeline of the ERP customisation. Transparency builds trust and helps clients appreciate the complexities involved in their requests. Regular updates and open dialogue ensure that clients feel involved in the process and are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome. This proactive approach fosters a collaborative relationship, aligning client expectations with project realities and enhancing overall satisfaction.

It is very important to correctly understand the customer's business processes. After all, he himself often does not know what he needs. Well, of course, a smile!

Non-technical articulation is critical to success - take your stakeholders along on the journey so they can see why certain items are prioritised the way they are.

Clear communication is key in managing ERP customizations. Maintain transparent, jargon-free dialogue with stakeholders, regularly update them on progress, and address concerns promptly. Document all decisions to prevent misunderstandings and ensure everyone is aligned with the project's scope and timeline. This approach builds trust and keeps the project on track.