Moving to a new ERP system is a big change for a company, no matter its size or industry. The far-reaching effects of a new ERP (enterprise resource planning) platform mean that a wide variety of different moving parts need to come together and work in concert to have as successful an implementation as possible. A good installation means strong ongoing use by a business and the timely realization of various benefits that this business software provides. One crucial area that sometimes isn't given its due during the implementation process is onboarding, educating and training employees. Having a complete view of what successful training entails, and following through on it, can drastically improve adoption and drive success.
Here are a few pieces of advice to help get employees on board with a new ERP system to become more successful:
- Offer the complete spectrum of learning: There are important differences between training employees on how to use the specific functions of an ERP system that they'll come into contact with on a daily basis and educating them on how and why an ERP system works and the reasons its being installed. The technical learning and ongoing ERP system support is obviously important; without it, employees who have been convinced of the usefulness of a system still wouldn't be able to use it. However, explaining the need for an ERP system in a whole business sense is a crucial part of the onboarding process. When staff members understand why they have to learn a new set of functions and go through training sessions, they're more apt to participate with a positive attitude. When educating employees about the reasons why a new system was chosen, it's a good idea to highlight why the change doesn't only help the business as a whole, but creates time savings or makes processes easier for their specific roles as well.
- Have different training avenues available: Everyone learns differently. Some people do their best in one-on-one and small group sessions, while others thrive in a larger classroom setting. Additionally some people are visual learners, better at seeing concepts diagrammed and drawn out, while others do better reading and remembering text. Because there are so many different learning styles, it's important for all but the smallest businesses to have multiple education options. Learning Solutions magazine suggested some different methods to provide the best mix for different types of learners: online or shared content that employees can review at their leisure, classroom-style sessions for groups of workers and functional training efforts that involve actual interactions with a system. Offering these different avenues will help all employees gain a full understandings of the ERP system they'll be using on a daily basis.
- Don't forget about ongoing support: Just as the best ERP vendors don't end a relationship when an initial implementation is over, training efforts shouldn't be put by the wayside once a platform is up and running. Having a bigger focus on training during the initial setup period is understandable, but both employees and the people training them should be involved with continuing education efforts. ERP Focus said that ongoing training is needed as employees begin to use a system and require a refresher on a certain component of operation.
Additionally, having ongoing learning efforts helps new employees quickly become acclimated. Similarly, workers who advance in a business or switch roles will benefit from having readily available training and those who take over their former roles will need the benefit of full training as well.
Employee learning is one of the most important parts of a successful implementation. Businesses that make sure that workers are versed in all aspects of ERP will find it easier to succeed and thrive in their industry.
You can read more in our previous blog How to Select an ERP Software Provider? To learn more about our solutions and services, please visit www.tmgroupinc.com or contact us at 888-482-2864.
By The TM Group, a Michigan-based NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Dynamics SL, Dynamics NAV and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner
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