storyy byy Kelli J. Miller,, Crown Battery, y, User Member
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o you’ve decided to implement an ERP. You’ve defined your requirements, assessed your options, proposed the best ERP for your business, secured the funding, and made the purchase. Great! Now it’s time to organize your implementation team and implement your new
ERP system. But wait—are you prepared for the emoticons that are about to emerge? I’ve been implementing software since President Reagan told Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear down this wall!” I’ve implemented large ERPs, small ERPs, document management, timekeeping, payroll, learning management, and many more software packages from many different vendors. Most recently, I have been implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. All these implementations have one thing in common: change. And change is hard! When I kick off a software implementation project, I let everyone involved know what it feels like to go through change. The most important slide in my slide deck is titled, “The Eight Emoticons of an Implementation”. It’s about acknowledging change and preparing the team to deal with their reactions to change. If you are in the middle of an ERP implementation, or preparing for one, this article is for you. Here are the eight emoticons of change and tips on how to handle each stage.
Stage One: Excited At the beginning of the implementation, most everyone involved is amped up! Whether the new ERP system will increase sales,
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