An ERP implementation failure is the worst-case scenario, and an implementation project team tries to avoid it at all costs. However, the implementation team can still potentially save the project, and the project leader should follow specific steps afterward to attempt to salvage it.
Some of these steps include creating a failure recovery plan and asking for executive support.
Here are the steps a project leader should carry out after an ERP implementation failure and why the steps can potentially help.
Create a plan
The project leader should first create a plan to decide how to approach the implementation issues.
The project leader should draw up a plan quickly but should understand the full scope of the issues causing the failure before jumping in. The leader can then prioritize the areas that need the most attention and work on building a schedule to address the issues. Creating a plan may help relieve pressure on team members to fix issues for the employees who are complaining the most about certain problems.
Go over the budget
The project team will require more money following implementation failure because of the costs of keeping implementation partners and employees who were loaned to the project working longer than planned. The team may also potentially need to add resources to address the issues.
The project leader should first review any remaining budget from the ERP implementation, then build an estimate of the required additional funds. Because the implementation failure is so urgent, the leader may not have time to build a detailed budget, so they should ask multiple people to look over the numbers. The leader should ask others to confirm the additional costs, make sure the budget doesn't include any mistakes and check that the budget is as detailed as possible.
The more times the project team has to request money, the worse it looks, so the leader should ensure the budget is right the first time.
Prioritize the right issues
The project leader should make sure employees and anyone using the system can easily share ERP system issues with the implementation team. Next, the leader must find a way to store the issues in an application so the team can review, prioritize and update the issues, then mark them as complete. If the project team did not already start using an application like this during the implementation, they may have to rely on the IT ticketing system or use a spreadsheet.
The team should then review the issues and prioritize the most urgent ones. Doing so ensures that the team addresses the most important issues first and not just the ones drawing the most complaints. For example, a project team should likely prioritize security and data corruption issues over usability issues.
Communicate with employees
If employees are experiencing significant issues, the project team should let them know the team is aware of the issues and is working on a plan to resolve them.
As the team builds out the recovery plan, they can share the highlights with employees. The team may also want to create a simple dashboard that they share with employees where team members list the issues, then mark them as complete. Employees can then see the team is making progress.
However, the team should skip this if creating the dashboard will take significant time away from resolving ERP system issues.
Put rapid fixes into production
The team should put a mechanism in place to incorporate fixes into the production ERP system on a regular basis rather than waiting weeks to address major issues. Employees will see the team's incremental progress and feel reassured that the implementation team is addressing the issues.
However, the project leader should ensure the team isn't bypassing steps that they must carry out before updates are pushed to production. For example, an implementation team member moving changes to the production ERP system may need to update the documentation first and confirm that the team has tested the changes.
Ask for executive support
Recovering from an ERP failure will require some level of executive support. At a minimum, the executive may serve as the team's champion at meetings when leaders discuss the ERP project, and the team may require the executive to approve more funds. In addition, an executive can help with employee messaging by reiterating the organization's commitment to addressing employees' ERP system issues.
The project team should keep this executive informed of progress. However, the group doesn't need to share details with the executive unless the executive asks for them.
FAQs
ERP implementation failure is a disaster for any organization - an ERP is a costly venture for any business, and losing that amount of time and money implementing a system that doesn't work will be costly. Avoiding ERP failure is paramount - which means planning your selection and implementation well.
How do you recover from ERP failure? ›
Follow these steps when recovering from ERP project failure
- Create a plan. The project leader should first create a plan to decide how to approach the implementation issues. ...
- Go over the budget. ...
- Prioritize the right issues. ...
- Communicate with employees. ...
- Put rapid fixes into production. ...
- Ask for executive support.
What are the 7 steps for successful ERP implementation? ›
7 Important Steps for a Successful ERP Implementation
- Step 1: Discovering Internal Matters. ...
- Step 2: Selecting a System. ...
- Step 3: Designing Your System. ...
- Step 4: Installation. ...
- Step 5: Testing. ...
- Step 6: Deployment. ...
- Step 7: Continuous Enhancements and Feedback.
What happens if ERP fails? ›
ERP implementation failure is a disaster for any organization - an ERP is a costly venture for any business, and losing that amount of time and money implementing a system that doesn't work will be costly. Avoiding ERP failure is paramount - which means planning your selection and implementation well.
What are the two most common causes of ERP project failure? ›
The 7 Reasons ERP Projects Fail and How to Avoid the Pitfalls
- Pitfall # 1: Poorly Defined Goals for the ERP Software.
- Pitfall # 2: Lack of Sufficient Management Commitment.
- Pitfall # 3:Missing Expertise on Project Team.
- Pitfall #4: Lack of Open Communications.
- Pitfall # 5: Production Processes Not Clearly Defined.
How can we prevent ERP system failure? ›
The keys to avoiding ERP implementation failures are effective planning, proper data management and continuous employee training through every phase of an ERP implementation project.
What are the three challenges of ERP? ›
In this article, we explore the biggest challenges that come with ERP implementation and how to overcome them.
- Cost and complexity. ...
- Integration with existing systems. ...
- Change management. ...
- Data migration. ...
- Project management.
How many ERP projects fail? ›
In the world of enterprise resource planning projects, mistakes, setbacks, additional cost and failure are commonplace - but so is success, greater efficiencies and huge rewards. According to Gartner, 55-75% of ERP projects either fail or don't meet their intended objectives. But what causes an ERP project to fail?
How do you troubleshoot an ERP system? ›
The first step in troubleshooting any ERP software problem is to identify the nature and scope of the problem. You need to ask the user some questions to understand what they were trying to do, what steps they followed, what results they expected, and what errors or issues they encountered.
What are the 5 major steps in the ERP implementation? ›
- Diagnostic. In this step, you have initial discovery meetings with your solution partner to uncover your basic needs for the new ERP. ...
- Analysis. In this step, you and your partner review your specific business processes and determine your exact requirements. ...
- Solution Modeling. ...
- Deployment. ...
- Operation.
What is ERP implementation life cycle? An ERP implementation life cycle is the time it takes to deploy ERP software within your company. The implementation life cycle includes multiple steps and processes, including discovery and planning, design, development, support, deployment and training.
What is the most important step of ERP? ›
Training Phase – Although it can be costly the training phase is essential. During this phase, users are provided with comprehensive training as they learn how to use the ERP system's many features. This is when users learn how the new enterprise software will be integrated into their daily tasks and process flows.
What are the consequences of not having an ERP system? ›
Without an ERP solution, your organization is likely suffering from inefficient operations, costly and outdated systems, and lost customer opportunities.
Which company suffered a loss after ERP implementation? ›
1. Hershey Company. The Hershey Company is one of the world's largest chocolate manufacturers, with over $11 billion in annual revenue. Hershey's decided to implement a new ERP to modernize their supply chain, but poor planning and inadequate testing resulted in over $100 million in losses.
How long does an ERP last? ›
But when to replace it depends on a lot of factors. These factors include planning rules, business circ*mstances and how well the system is meeting your needs. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get recommended lifespans of anywhere from five to ten or twelve years for an effective lifespan of an ERP system.
What are failed ERP implementations often the result of? ›
These failures are often caused by the complexity, risk, and integrated nature of the business processes the systems support, as well as the organizational and management challenges of any major business-wide project.