ERP and CRM digital implementation projects – what is the most effective approach?

These days, there is a multitude of reasons to create huge digital implementation projects. To be honest, each and every single argument to add to your project scope can make sense, there is no doubt about that!

Sure, this situation is tempting! You work with an older, outdated ERP or CRM solution that needs to be replaced urgently. Or you use an older version of a modern solution and there is pressure to upgrade to the latest version. Of course, this is also the perfect moment to modernise your legacy business processes and fix the broken ones. Needless to say, your data needs to be cleansed. Your end-users must be trained and inspired to get more out of the available functionality than in the current system. And yes – with this long-awaited move, a wealth of innovative new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things finally comes within reach. After all, you don’t want to miss the boat, right?

However, the question is what have you learned from the ERP or CRM digital  implementation projects that we’ve seen in the past say 40 to 50 years.

To help with your thinking:

• Customers are often optimistic when it comes to estimating their available time, skill sets, focus and motivation
• During the implementation, it’s not easy to stick to the initial plan
• Implementation projects have the tendency to take longer than expected
• These so called ‘big-bang’ implementations have caused disruption and sometimes even temporarily paralysed entire organisations
• In today’s fast changing world, initial project principles can quickly become outdated

Conclusion is that huge and long-lasting digital implementation projects with a wide and flexible project scope are ineffective. Unfortunately it is more often than not that the problems become greater than the benefits and the possible disruption of your day-to-day operation can cause a reduction of customer loyalty, or even worse.

Implementing new software, adapting and modernising your business processes and creating a fresh, new company culture means an enormous effort for your organisation and it demands a lot from your teams. Especially because you also have a business to run. So the alternative for a big-bang approach is to split the project into several smaller steps. And have the discipline to stick to the plan.

A series of smaller project steps delivers numerous advantages. A shorter ‘time-to-value’ and the possibility to adapt more quickly to changing circumstances are certainly two of them.

In today’s fast changing world, we all have to get used to constant change. Change as the only constant. So, you no longer have to implement a perfect ERP or CRM solution that you then use for 5 or 10 years. It’s more effective to consider your digital transformation journey as a process rather than a project, and most likely as a process that is never completely finished.

Approaching your next ERP or CRM project in this way is a great move towards this new way of thinking and working.

About Us

Xperience is a digital transformation specialist. We put our clients at the heart of everything we do, helping them accelerate performance, strengthen data security, increase agility, create streamlined processes and become data driven businesses. That’s why we have over 1,000 clients who are more efficient, more productive and more profitable just because they work with us. And, it’s why 95% of our clients say they would recommend us.​

We remove the challenges associated with siloed working, legacy systems and platforms, manual processes and inaccessible data helping businesses better serve their clients. We deliver a range of solutions including ERP, CRM, cloud and managed IT across functions from IT to finance and from sales to operations giving businesses the ability to transform throughout the organisation.​

Contact us: [email protected]