Most buyers of new ERP/CRM software systems make the same persistent mistake. Because they have put off replacing their software system for so long, they want to implement way too much functionality at once. They oftentimes overestimate their own capabilities and skills. At the same time, they underestimate the complexity and size of their projects. The consequences of these choices are evident: delays, frustration, damage in many areas and sometimes even serious legal conflicts.
Organisations all over the world trip over their own ambitions to make a new implementation succeed. Again and again, simplicity as a crucial success factor is forgotten. It often starts with nailing down the scope of the project. The broader the design and the more users, departments and third parties involved, the greater the chance of failure.
It’s a good idea, of course, to choose your solution and implementation partner with care. But it is also equally relevant to determine which features are priorities and to set goals. Implementing all the desired functionalities at once can be bad.
Especially when implementing cloud software, your implementation project should be less of a big-bang approach like we’ve seen a lot in traditional projects. With cloud software you can choose for an ‘ever-green’ format with a stream of frequent small, incremental improvements. So that your implementation is no longer a fixed project, but becomes more of a continuous process.
So do limit the scope for the first phase. Choose a short implementation duration and enjoy the first benefits as quickly as possible. And determine the next steps consistently.
Keeping your ambitions under control during the start-up phase reduces risks, increases your success chances and delivers the first benefits more quickly. Most importantly, it keeps energy and budget in reserve for the crucial next steps in this continuing change process.
