While technical challenges still plague organizations deploying enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, the thorniest ERP issues usually crop up from process and organizational change. So say recent survey results in the 2019 ERP Report from Panorama Consulting Solutions, which has been running this ERP survey for over a decade now. Conducted among 241 enterprises across numerous industries, this year’s report found that organizations that completed their ERP implementations reported the technical aspects of deployment were easier than helping lead change among people and processes.
Panorama noted that the most difficult part of managing change for these organizations tends to be in eliminating barriers that keep employees from using new ERP software. They say the most successful organizations tend to invest in lots of communication and training to ensure that ERP gains buy-in across the organization:
Organizational changes are difficult because people naturally resist change. Employees may refuse to learn new processes, or they may speak negatively about the project amongst coworkers. We recommend identifying business process owners, business sponsors, and change leaders willing to participate in the project’s success.
