If you’re in the process of deciding to migrate to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and hope to have it in place by the end of the year, i.e., 2012, don’t wait any longer to make the decision.
Count on at least four to six months depending upon the complexity of your business — unless you have a dedicated team working on the implementation nearly full-time. December and January may still seem far away. However, in the world of ERP implementation, it’s not far at all!
If you’ve already decided to roll out xTuple ERP, where do you start?
First, sign up for the August training class — now — before it’s full. In our collective experience of implementing hundreds of customers the “Setup, Configuration and Operation” training class is one of the most critical components of starting your implementation the right way. Those who take the class save lots of time compared to those trying to learn the application on their own. Self-taught learners usually end up engaging an xTuple expert to give them a hand and fill in the training gaps.
Second, consider the use of xTuple implementation experts, another area that needs to be locked down as soon as possible. Many, many customers opt to push for year-end “go live.” It’s our busiest season! Consultants’ schedules fill up quickly the second half of the year — and that includes xTuple partners. xTuple experts will save you a great deal of time working with your team, using proven xTuple implementation methodologies and assisting with details such as business process mapping, data migration, report editing and user training.
Third, advanced planning and scheduling will set expectations and put everyone at ease that you will survive the holidays. Don’t forget about those holidays! If you begin planning now, you can work with your team to schedule project tasks around them. November and December can be a challenge when it comes to scheduling team members. Having key people out of the office makes it tricky when trying to accomplish critical work on a tight schedule.
And, last but not least, there’s year-end accounting. Rolling out a new ERP and doing year-end work can put loads of stress on your staff — particularly those hardy (and hearty) souls in accounting. Again, early planning and proper staffing will help the team manage the work load. While the first person we talk to is often in IT or operations management, we always encourage implementation teams to involve an accounting resource from day one and include them in the training. After all, accounting is the backbone of an ERP system. These individuals will help provide proper guidance related to business processes and prepare everyone for crunch time at the end of the year.
A year-end “go live” can be done — with the right level of commitment from your business, training, proper resources and early planning. xTuple and its partners stand ready to provide the necessary assistance to help make your implementation a success. Let’s get started!
Anne Cote
Greater Seattle Area. A results-oriented project leader with experience spanning Fortune 500 companies to startups. Adaptable collaborator brings expertise managing complex projects in enterprise system modules including accounting, inventory control, sales and purchasing. Exceptional interpersonal skills establish and maintain relationships and credibility quickly with vendors, consultants and cross-functional teams alike while remaining a calming force in stressful situations. Highly organized mentor builds rapport with co-workers and customers at all organizational levels. Specialties: Budget Management, Cross-team Communication, Business Analysis, Documentation, Agile, SDLC and Waterfall Project Methodologies, Lean Software Development, On-time Project Execution, Technical Implementation, Vendor Management, Contract Negotiation. She holds a B.A. from Western Washington University in Sociology and Psychology and is certified in Database Management from Georgia Institute of Technology. Anne is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) who has spent many years managing technology projects for a wide range of companies from Philips to Microsoft.