One of the best ways to ensure that your new ERP system works for you is to do as much preparation at the beginning of the project as possible. One major step is to create a Business Process Model (BPM) for your ERP implementation. While this step isn’t usually a formal one when working with off-the-shelf, plug-and-play software, it is a vital step towards a personalized ERP system that fits your company’s specific needs.
This is number 6 in our series: Key steps in successfully implementing an ERP solution for small-to-medium manufacturing businesses.
We hope you find them useful; don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
Why Create a Business Process Model for ERP Implementations?
Creating a BPM will not only guarantee that the enterprise application will fit the different functions within a business, but also the ways in which these functions are performed. Detailing the work flow of each department and how they work together enables a company to determine specific requirements for the new system and helps to design processes and templates that fit the business much more closely than an out-of-the-box software option.
While designing a BPM is extremely beneficial to the success of any ERP system implementation, we understand that it can be a difficult undertaking. While it may be more comfortable to “do what you’ve always done,” this is an ideal time to take a step back to look at your processes to see what may need to change as you grow or what can be handled more simply.
Once the system has been created, it is important to identify sample data, which can be used to test the effectiveness of the system so that adjustments can be made as necessary. It is important to give users time to work through all the different scenarios and routines, so that once the system only goes live the daily processes are able to run seamlessly.
Building Your Model
While you by no means need to reinvent the wheel (especially with the experience of a good partner to draw upon), re-envisioning how your operations may be able to become more streamlined and working out any potential snags is crucial to getting the most bang from your software buck. Take the time to ensure that your investment has the best chance to positively impact your business by paying back dividends in efficiency.
Partnership is key to building a successful model that leads to a successful implementation. Your company brings its strengths, especially in the day-to-day operations of the business, and your software partner brings the its software knowledge and its experience working with diverse companies.
With an understanding of industry best practices, we can make BPM recommendations based on our experience in manufacturing and distribution.
We are here to help you through the process, and create a model that will help your business with a smooth transition. Call our sales experts at 440-498-9920.
Read the next post in the series:
Make it Right the First Time: Be Prepared for Your ERP Implementation
