Beware of Dante’s (ERP) Inferno

“ERP implementation projects are large, complex endeavors that can quickly spiral out of control. Blown budgets and delayed implementations are not uncommon, and in the worst cases, failed ERP projects can cripple the entire organization.

“Despite risk management frameworks, robust development methodologies, and highly motivated teams, ERP initiatives still fall victim to poor decisions. In his Divine Comedy, Dante chronicles his journey through the nine circles of hell. To avoid a similar story for your ERP project, beware of these deadly ERP sins.” […]    –Shawn Stamp, CIO Dive, June 25, 2018

“1. Copying (Envy)

Don’t assume that since a system worked out for the competition that it will deliver the same benefits for your organization. While this may in fact be the case, ERP solutions are the means to the end, not the end themselves.

The value from ERP comes from the transformation and process improvements they enable, so falling victim to the bandwagon mentality could lead to an ill-fitted solution that simply perpetuates broken processes.

Moreover, platform selection is just the tip of the iceberg. Every system integrator (SI) has different strengths and weaknesses relative to your organization, and selecting a partner based upon a competitor’s success — or their failure — could be a recipe for disaster.

Safeguard: Make sure to understand what you are trying to accomplish before launching into an ERP initiative. Not only will the vision help to ensure you select the platform that best supports your objectives, but it also positions your organization to avoid the next pitfall by serving as the foundation for the business case.”