Easy ERP: 8 tips for a successful transition to SAP

The reason is usually pages of training material that doesn't really help you. The information you are looking for is far too difficult to find and, if it can be found, is not up to date. This means that you cannot use the new ERP system in everyday work. That is frustrating! A central platform is needed on which you and your colleagues can collect all information in a clear and structured way and update it at any time. An interactive management system provides such a platform and thus the ideal basis for a successful introduction of the new ERP system — and for even more economical processes.

The employee in the focus of the management system

Hang on: Introducing two new systems at the same time only creates more chaos. Or? But just the opposite is the case! Perhaps you still remember the introduction of your current ERP system: That was certainly an extensive project and a major change for you and your colleagues. Something like this involves many ambiguities and questions, costs time, money and the nerves of everyone involved. An interactive management system offers significant advantages in this situation.

In general, such a system takes the approach of shifting process responsibilities from the QM department to the knowledge holders themselves. The people who actually carry out the processes therefore contribute their knowledge directly to the system and pass it on to others. For your specific use case, this means: In the interactive management system, you and your colleagues bundle all relevant information, clearly structure your business processes and provide feedback on the new ERP processes for everyone to see. The fact that all employees are actively involved in process design ensures both a continuous improvement process and greater acceptance of corporate guidelines. With this basis, you minimize time, costs and strained nerves.

In this case, introducing two new systems therefore ensures more success and less stress. The key is up-to-date process descriptions and work instructions that help you in your day-to-day work and thus ultimately increase the productivity of the entire company.

Interactive cheat sheet for the entire company

If you introduce an interactive management system first, your chances of a smooth implementation of the ERP system increase significantly. The two main reasons for this are:

1. Less reactive power

Introducing a new ERP system is complex because you and your colleagues need to be trained. This creates new (process) knowledge and results in new best practices, which are usually not documented. In an interactive management system, however, this knowledge is recorded consistently and sustainably right from the start. In this way, the following employees can immediately draw on the findings of their colleagues, use, supplement, improve and update them. This makes it possible to gradually optimize process documentation at any stage of the ERP project. In this way, you avoid idle power, simplify the introduction of the ERP system and speed up your processes.

2. Process-oriented documentation with real added value

In the interactive management system, you document best practices continuously and across departments along the process chain. This breaks down silo thinking and automatically creates a process-oriented knowledge platform from which the entire company benefits. Instead of taking part in one-off frontal training courses, you create work instructions that provide you with acute support in changing the affected processes and in the long term throughout your working day. This makes the management system a central knowledge platform with process descriptions, tips and tricks for your colleagues.

With reduced reactive power and process-oriented documentation, two elementary hurdles are eliminated, which often cause a delay or an explosion in costs. The new ERP system will be introduced faster, more efficiently and more sustainably and at the same time you will establish your interactive management system as a valuable tool in everyday work. This saves you costs that would result from interruptions, errors and repeated training.

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8 tips for a successful ERP system

Here are our tried and tested methods for the successful interplay of interactive management system and ERP system:

1. COLLECT ALL INFORMATION CONSISTENTLY IN THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Whether it's emails, training, meetings, or corridors — bring everything together in one place so that a single point of truth is created for everyone.

2. GET YOUR COLLEAGUES ON BOARD EARLY ON AND ACTIVELY INVOLVE THEM IN DESIGNING THE PROCESSES.

This increases motivation to use the new system and thus always keep documentation up to date. At the same time, identification with documented (ERP) processes is increasing.

3. DOCUMENT KNOWLEDGE ALONG YOUR PROCESSES.

Because with cross-departmental documentation, you minimize interface losses.

4. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR PROCESSES UP TO DATE.

This is the best way to add value for everyone! The collaborative approach reduces effort: All employees are actively involved in process management.

5. DESIGN PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS AND WORK INSTRUCTIONS LIKE A COOKING RECIPE.

This means: Describe all steps as concisely as possible and in as much detail as necessary. Imagine a new employee having to carry out the process based on your documentation.

6. USE THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS A TRAINING INTERFACE.

Use the documented processes and tools during the test phase of the new ERP system, let your colleagues write their own process documentation and supplement existing ones.

7. ANSWER OPEN QUESTIONS IN THE NEW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

If an employee asks you a question, determine the answer in the appropriate process or work instruction. If the same question comes up again, refer your colleagues directly to the right place in the management system. In this way, you only have to answer questions once and you reduce query times enormously.

8. LINK PROCESSES TO EACH OTHER; LINK TEMPLATES, WORK INSTRUCTIONS, WORK AIDS OR OTHER SYSTEMS DIRECTLY IN THE RIGHT PROCESS STEP.

As a result, you always have all the necessary information at your fingertips.

Create the right basis for your ERP conversion!

An interactive management system is the ideal The basis for an efficient transition to a new ERP system and at the same time a central knowledge platform that makes companies even more economical and sustainable.