Don't Major In The Minors: Staying Focused On Your ERP Project
By Katie Foley
Have you ever heard the phrase "don't major in the minors"? In a general sense, it means don't less trivial details distract you from the big picture. I was recently reminded of this while listening to a podcast and it got me thinking, how can this be applied to the ERP world?
Applying This Lesson To Your ERP Project
This lesson, "don't major in the minors", is a great reminder for ERP world not to get so bogged down in the little stuff that you forget the big stuff. Do details matter? Yes, of course. But sometimes details have little to no impact and it's important not to waste too much time on those minute details.
What Should ERP Project Leaders Focus On?
- Core Business Functionality - When it comes to selecting an ERP system, start with the core business functionality needed to run your business. In the manufacturing industry this typically means finance, engineering, customer service, planning, operations, and reporting. Any system that doesn't have robust functionality in these areas should be eliminated from the search.
- Overall Cost - Consider your budget. What goes into the cost of an ERP system? This typically includes licensing, implementation, and annual maintenance. If you're looking long term this might also include further training for new staff and/or customizations if needed. Deciding whether you want on-premise or cloud-based deployment is also a 'major' factor that deserves timely consideration.
- Vendor Support & Future Viability - Choose a vendor that has a solid history of supporting its clients and also has a strong sense of its future roadmap? You don't want to invest in an ERP system only to have it no longer supported a few years down the road.
What Should ERP Project Leaders Pay Less Attention To?
- User Interface Aesthetics - User Interface can play an important role if it impacts functionality or impedes an employees ability to learn and adopt the system. However, hyper-focusing on user interface just for aesthetics is not a worthwhile use of your time.
- One-Off Situations - Focus your overall design and implementation on everyday use and the business processes that your team relies on day in and day out. Will there be rare, one-off situations that come up from time to time? Yes, but don't get too bogged down in worrying about issues that may never arise.
- Over-Customization - Customize with caution! While customization can enhance your ERP system's fit to your organization, over-customization can result in higher costs, longer implementation time, and more maintenance.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing an ERP system, focus your efforts on the features and processes that will provide the highest return on investment. While the little details matter, it's easy to get swept up by them and lose sight of the big picture. Getting bogged down in minor issues can cause implementation delays and added cost. Be sure to zoom out every once in a while and look at your picture from afar remembering the overall goal of ERP is to increase efficiency and production.
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