ERP implementation faces many challenges, and not all of them relate to the software. You need to consider how this investment impacts your company’s operations and practices. Stakeholders are one of the best examples of these influences.
Stakeholders are among your project’s critical success factors. Communicating with them should be one of your priorities, and understanding their views makes a significant difference.
How are stakeholders important for ERP implementation?
Top management commitment
Your company’s top management’s involvement is crucial in your implementation project. Even if they don’t partake directly, their commitment affects operational performance directly. Stakeholders are more likely to support tech implementation if your top management is involved.
Project champions
Project champions take the burden of your implementation project. That means consulting with experts and supervising the process. They’re crucial for a successful project in any area. Make sure your stakeholders know the project champion and their capabilities, especially since they’re key stakeholders.
Execution teams
Your execution team is among your most important stakeholders, particularly due to their direct involvement. These resources are directly responsible for your project’s success, so ensure they’re capable, experienced, and have the necessary skill set.
External advisory
An external advisory isn’t as important as other success factors, but that also depends on the advisors. For instance, certain entities can provide unique insight that proves invaluable for the ERP project. Therefore, it’s always advantageous to involve external advisory.
Vendor partnerships
Vendor partnerships aren’t critical for ERP projects’ success since you can still acquire the software without direct partnerships. However, these partnerships can provide exclusive benefits that we can’t neglect: better prices, access to private resources, and more.
End-user involvement
Finally, involving your users must be part of your software implementation process. It’s similar to software development: their feedback and satisfaction are vital. Even if they’re not as important as other success factors, they’ll interact with the software every day. Don’t neglect them.