Whether you use consultants from the software vendor, a business partner, or an independent firm, the implementation plan will likely be the same. It s very important to listen to the consultants and be prepared to dedicate the resources outlined in the implementation plan. A common mistake made by companies going through their first major implementation is to underestimate the complexity of their operations, the extent of system setup and testing, and the impact the implementation will have on their operation. Let me outline a common scenario in ERP implementations. The consultants warn of the consequences of not dedicating adequate resources.
Management publicly agrees but privately thinks the consultant is crying wolf.
Implementation fails or goes poorly. Don t let this be you. The only things you can assume about the implementation is that it that it will be much more difficult than you expected, it will take longer than you expected, and it will cost more than you expected. Like most other things the success of a software implementation will be based upon the skill of the people involved, training, and the effort put forth. You should plan to have your most knowledgeable employees heavily involved in the system setup and testing.