Danielle Bakker, our newest consultant at Stratus Consulting Group, brings a wealth of experience from the other side of the table. With a background as a CPA accountant and finance leader across ASX-listed companies and small businesses, Dani has been in the trenches of ERP implementation. Having successfully navigated the complexities of systems like EXO, Time Trak, NetSuite, OpenAir, ConnectWise, and Acumatica, she’s got solid advice for anyone looking to make their ERP journey a success.
Dani has walked the walk. She’s been the customer implementing these systems, and she knows the ins and outs, the challenges, and the triumphs that come with it.
Recommendations for Project Success
1. Understand the Requirements:
Begin by thoroughly understanding each individual’s daily responsibilities within your team—yes, every role and task matters. This is essential for documenting key operational processes, which will later serve as your testing script. This step should be initiated as soon as you decide which software will be replaced or consolidated. And those reports you depend on? Ensure you are clear on which ones are truly necessary and why.
2. Manage the Implementation Step-by-Step:
ERP implementation is more of a gradual process rather than a single task. Treating it as a project lets you stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed. Start by getting your team involved early, ensuring everyone knows their roles, and keeping communication open through regular check-ins. With everyone wearing multiple hats in smaller businesses, some tasks can be overlooked, so having a clear plan helps keep things moving smoothly. Focus on preparing clean data and defining what needs to be included in the system. Starting the data cleanup early will save time and avoid unnecessary delays later on.
3. Ensuring Success After Go-Live:
Go-live is an important milestone, but it’s just the beginning of your system’s journey. The true success of your project lies in how smoothly your team adopts the software and processes. Identifying system champions early on and having a structured plan for testing your critical processes is helpful. While it’s smart to set a timeline for this phase, the journey to proficiency differs for all customers. Stratus has a 180-day post-go-live plan.
4. Clear Methodology and Communication:
Stratus has a clear and visible methodology for customers. It’s not just about following steps; it’s about making sure everyone involved understands the process and their role in it. And if you’re worried about data security, let’s bust that myth right now. The idea that the server is safe and stable is outdated—continuous platform maintenance and regular upgrades are what keep your system secure and functional. Plus, concurrent access is a game-changer in the world of work-from-home and flexible arrangements.
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