Implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is quite the undertaking. For manufacturing companies, choosing the right components for your phase one implementation is especially important.
The primary goal of the phase one project is to establish a solid foundation for your ERP system. By incorporating the core components that are integral to your operations, you set the stage for a successful implementation. These core components typically include accounting, inventory control, production orders, purchasing, sales, and assembly orders.
Phase One: Building a Solid Foundation
- Identify Your Essentials: When determining what should be part of your phase one, it’s essential to focus on what your business currently relies on. Your phase one should encompass the core aspects of your operations that you already perform. This typically includes accounting, inventory control, production orders, purchasing, sales, and assembly orders.
- Accounting Integration: Business Central is primarily an accounting system integrated with an MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning) system. To leverage the full potential of Business Central, integrating your accounting processes is crucial. Neglecting accounting can lead to complications and inefficiencies down the line.
- Inventory Control: For manufacturing companies, inventory management can be a nightmare when relying on spreadsheets. Implementing an inventory control system, whether it’s a basic one or a full MRP and MPS (Master Production Schedule) system, can significantly improve your operations and eliminate spreadsheet-related challenges.
- Purchasing and Sales: Including purchasing and sales modules in your phase one implementation ensures a seamless integration of these critical aspects. Streamlining these processes within Business Central enables better control and visibility over your supply chain and customer relationships.
- Assembly Orders: Even if you’re not engaging in full-scale manufacturing initially, incorporating assembly orders is vital. Assembly orders facilitate material tracking, allowing you to monitor what you’ve bought, sold, and used to assemble products. This information is essential for effective inventory control.
Phase Two: Selective Exclusions
While it’s tempting to include various additional features in your phase one, it’s important to distinguish between wants and needs. At Sabre Limited, we advise against adding features that your business doesn’t currently require, as it can lead to complexity, staff burnout, and potential implementation issues. Wants should be reserved for phase two.
To maintain efficiency and prevent unnecessary complications, it is advisable to reserve non-essential features, or wants, for phase two. Phase one serves as the building block, where essential components are implemented to ensure smooth operations. By prioritizing the necessary elements in phase one, you create a solid foundation that supports day-to-day activities and enables your team to adapt to the new system effectively.
However, there are some circumstances that may warrant deviating from our guidelines. If external factors, such as customer requirements or significant business changes, demand the inclusion of specific features, it may be necessary to add them. However, careful consideration is essential to avoid unnecessary complexity.
Benefits of a Simplified Phase One
A simplified Phase One will make your ERP implementation easier to learn for you and your employees. As you become more knowledgeable on the software, it will be easier to make new additions to your Business Central experience.
Some of the benefits of a simplified Phase One include:
- Staff Adaptation and Energy: By focusing on the essential aspects of your operations in phase one, you ensure that your staff can quickly adapt to the new ERP system. Prioritizing needs over wants allows for a smoother transition, as staff members can fully concentrate on what’s necessary for their day-to-day jobs.
- Time and Project Duration: A simplified phase one enables a quicker implementation, allowing phase two to commence sooner. By completing the foundation efficiently, subsequent phases are likely to progress faster. This approach maintains project momentum and enhances overall efficiency.
- Unforeseen Discoveries: Implementing a simplified phase one allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of the ERP system and identify any unforeseen issues or improvements. This insight provides a solid basis for determining what features are truly necessary for phase two.
Choosing the Right ERP Implementation Partner
When embarking on an ERP implementation journey, selecting the right implementation partner is paramount. The choice of an ERP implementation partner can significantly impact the success of the implementation process and the overall effectiveness of the system for your business. While some ERP systems come bundled with their own implementation services, others require working with a third-party partner company specializing in implementing the chosen ERP system, such as NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, or SAP.
With the abundance of options, it’s important to carefully evaluate potential ERP implementation partners to ensure a successful partnership. Here are key considerations when choosing the right ERP implementation partner:
- Make sure that they understand your business’s needs
- Ensure they have industry experience and expertise
- Ask for client references and testimonials
- They should align with your company culture
- Evaluate the level of support and training to expect from your potential implementation partners
Selecting the right ERP implementation partner is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your ERP project. Consider factors such as their industry experience, specialization, expertise, client references, cultural alignment, support and training offerings, and scalability considerations. A well-chosen implementation partner, like Sabre Limited, will possess the knowledge and expertise to guide you through a successful ERP implementation, ensuring your unique business needs are met and setting the stage for future growth and success.
Conclusion
Implementing a Business Central Phase One project requires careful consideration and prioritization of essential components that form the foundation of your ERP system. By identifying your business’s core operations and incorporating key modules such as accounting, inventory control, production orders, purchasing, sales, and assembly orders, you establish a solid groundwork for a successful implementation.
During Phase One, it is crucial to integrate accounting processes to leverage the full potential of Business Central for manufacturing. Additionally, implementing an inventory control system and including purchasing, sales, and assembly orders modules streamline critical aspects of your operations, enhancing control and visibility over the supply chain and customer relationships.
While it may be tempting to include non-essential features, it is advisable to reserve them for Phase Two. By prioritizing the necessary elements in Phase One, you create a simplified implementation that facilitates staff adaptation, reduces project duration, and allows for unforeseen discoveries and improvements.
Selecting the right ERP implementation partner is essential for a successful implementation. When choosing a partner, consider their understanding of your business needs, industry experience, client references, cultural alignment, and the level of support and training they provide.
A well-chosen implementation partner, such as Sabre Limited, will guide you through the implementation process, ensuring that your unique business requirements are met. Book a meeting with Rob today if you have any questions.
