So GM has between one and three HP V-class servers in each of four regional server processing centers in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia Pacific. Regardless of the kind of implementation a company has, technology is not the only concern. ERP is not a technological implementation. Such things are difficult within a geography. When you go outside, communication is more difficult, and for change management to succeed quickly, communication is key.
Effective communication begins with language.
MagneTek's Pike remembers his experience with a previous employer that expanded its German BaanERP implementation to France, and he had to assure his French counterparts that training documentation would be in their language. Communication remains the primary obstacle to successful global ERP efforts. More than anything, it takes time to comprehend different languages and cultures. The only way to bridge those gaps is to continue to communicate. The company will finish deployment to other business units by first quarter 1999.