Horror stories of companies implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems unsuccessfully are found everywhere. These stories are tainting the world of technology and business solution companies. Companies are starting lawsuits against ERP implementers and vendors because these companies spent more money than they anticipated and still do not get what they paid for.

The purchased product is however, not always the reason for the success or failure of the system. The truth is that the success or failure of an ERP is decided long before the system goes live.

QBCon is a business solution provider that develops and implements a customised ERP system called QBCon Enterprise. They have implemented ERP in the agricultural, logistic, services, manufacturing and retail environments. Their fifteen years of experience have helped them to identify critical factors that companies need to know when deciding to implement an ERP.

• The planning stage of an ERP project determines how smoothly the implementation will go and how much value the system will add to the business.
• To implement an ERP system successfully you need to have a thorough understanding of what your company needs. It is important to focus on business needs and processes first since each company has specialised business requirements and a specific way of running business operations.
• Implementing an ERP system is not just a matter of walking in and pushing a start button. It requires the involvement and commitment of all the relevant parties that will use the system.
• It is important to give proper training to all end users and to give them time to become comfortable with the new system. ERP systems involve big changes for people and can fail because the end user lacks the necessary confidence and skill. Therefore, spending time on training will make sure the system is utilised effectively.
• Any project that is not supported by top management will not succeed; therefore, an ERP project also needs the commitment of the company executives. Projects may seem to run without any errors, but problems occasionally arise and it is expected of the entire management staff to be on board to deal with these difficulties.
• Lastly, do some research before you collaborate with an implementation partner for an ERP system. This will give you an understanding of the functionality used and appropriatness for your industry. It is also useful to check out the company’s track record as this will show the quality of the actual work done.

“By using these factors as guidelines when implementing an ERP system, you are closer to getting the benefits of lower costs and higher returns. These guidelines will help you to get all the information your company needs at your fingertips,” says QBCon’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Gustav Piater.

QBCon has implemented their ERP system in a number of well-known companies, including Barneys Paint, AFGRI and the Namibian retail company Woerman and Brock.