How to ensure a seamless upgrade of your ERP system

The upgrade of an ERP system is a significant step for organizations that are keen to increase their team’s productivity and optimize their resources. But many organizations face constraints that cause them to be reluctant when it comes to upgrading their system.

Self-created barriers

It is true that an ERP upgrade is not always an easy process. Most common constraints are that it’s a time-consuming exercise, the fear to lose data, users are comfortable with the current software and it gets the job done. But these constraints are self-created barriers that stop business owners or leadership teams to achieve company goals.

An outdated ERP system is not just slowing the company’s efficiency but it also affects the revenue streams of the organization. Down the road, the old ERP system won't perform to the full potential of your end user. It will stop users to integrate data from other systems into the platform or support will not be available and it will lead to expensive customizations/enhancements. In addition, if the company changes new hardware due to technological advancement, the ERP system will not run effectively on the new machines.

Upgrade seamlessly

Pay attention to these 3 simple steps and you will experience a seamless upgrade of your ERP system:

1. Plan: Have your ERP partner evaluate or audit performance every year and give you the optimization report. This will help you analyze if in near future the company needs an upgrade and it will allow to strategize ahead.

2. Design: Review the functionality of all departments and focus on areas of process improvement. Testing is a crucial aspect of an upgrade process. Re-evaluate your key users and make sure to dedicate the right personnel for testing who knows complete ins and outs of the software. Understand the new standard features of upgraded software that can minimize customization.

Involve your end user with the support team and have the support team customize their personal dashboards to increase individual’s productivity.

3. Evaluate: After a successful transition, perform success checks. Make sure the end users are adequately trained with the new software. Check with all departments if their process got impacted by the upgrade. Make sure the upgraded ERP system is configured to cater the company’s needs.

Noor Shaikh is Marketing & Sales Executive in North America at Dysel and knows all about the challenges equipment dealerships encounter when it comes to ERP software.