6 step ERP Implementation Methodology

The traditional methodology is the ones that include the processes or strategies such as the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Design and Object Oriented Data Analysis. These types of methodologies are commonly used by every type of business. It follows a particular process that is discussed below:

1. Planning: Project scope is decided with the designated team allocated for the implementation process and a methodology or a complete plan is laid out.

2. Education: Learning and education are provided to the implementation team by the consultants of the vendors.

3. Configuration: Design, structure and business processes are set up by the vendor consultants. But the entire work is done by the team only.

4. Conference Room Pilot: At this step, testing of the system is done in various Conference Room Pilots (CRP) and software development is made ready to go live.

5. Cut-over Activities: Vendor consultants provide support to the business as it trains the employees i.e. end users of the ERP systems.

6. Go-Live Support: Both the teams i.e. Implementation team and vendor consultants provide on-site and off-site support at the beginning of the launch of ERP systems in the business.

Benefits of Traditional Methodology

• Customer-driven process

• Lesser consultancies from the vendors.

• The responsibility lies on the teams of the business in the understanding system

• A customer has to gain self-sufficiency in gaining knowledge and know-how of ERP systems.

The other methodology that is adopted by businesses is a relatively modern concept. It has come into practice in a few years only.

The Turnkey methodology is the one that is led by the vendor completely in contrast to the traditional one which is customer-led methodology. It is more suitable for the business who are new in the ERP implementation or who lack experience in this field. They may not be equipped in the right kind of training and deployment of the systems. Thus these methodologies provide the right solution.

The process followed under Turnkey ERP implementation methodology is given below:

1. Planning: Here a vendor project manager comes into the role and the planning is led by the vendor consultants

2. Discovery/Setup: In order to provide a turnkey ERP the design, structure, process and everything else is analyzed and decided by the vendor consultants and customers only give insights.

3. Prototype Review: Through prototype demonstrations vendor consultants educate the customers on the use of the ERP systems and implementation team supports.

4. Conference Room Pilot: At this stage, the vendor takes the customers through multiple Conference Room Pilot (CRP) before making the system ready for use.

5. Cut-over Activities: This phase is the same as in traditional methodology where both the implementation and vendor consultant teams provide training to end-users of the ERP system.

6. Go-Live Support: Support is provided by the vendor consultants in a real-time method.

Benefits of Turnkey Methodology

• Complete vendor-driven process.

• Best practices for businesses.

• Faster implementation cycle.

• Expert guidance provided

The other methodology that is adopted by businesses is a relatively modern concept. It has come into practice in a few years only.