{"id":22341,"date":"2024-04-01T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=22341"},"modified":"2026-01-28T05:20:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T10:20:55","slug":"erp-implementation-plan-6-key-phases-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/erp-implementation-plan-6-key-phases-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"ERP implementation plan: 6 key phases for success"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tERP implementation plan: 6 key phases for success\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-04-01T09:00:00-04:00\">April 1, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"ERP implementation plan: 6 key phases for success\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/erp-implementation-plan-6-key-phases-for-success\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/douglasbonderud\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/11\/Bonderud-Headshot.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" height=\"40\" width=\"40\" fetchpriority=\"high\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Douglas Bonderud<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools are set for a market surge, according to data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globenewswire.com\/en\/news-release\/2023\/06\/21\/2692551\/0\/en\/ERP-Software-Market-Set-for-10-1-CAGR-Surge-Reaching-USD-137-7-Billion-by-2032.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Acumen Research and Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Increased accessibility underpins this uptake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As customizable, cloud-based solutions become common, businesses of all sizes can benefit from the implementation of ERP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The challenge?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s one thing to implement new planning tools. It&#8217;s another to ensure they&#8217;re effectively integrated and adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we&#8217;ll break down the basics of implementation and explore six key phases to help deliver both short and long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-erp-implementation-the-basics\">ERP implementation: The basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementation is the process of turning ideas into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While strategy and brainstorming sessions can help pinpoint potential planning partners, and C-suite discussions determine the most cost-effective way to proceed, implementation makes the move from theory into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But implementations don&#8217;t always go as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As noted by Deloitte, 25% of enterprise resource planning implementations are considered failures, and more than 50% don&#8217;t deliver on user expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While most deployments don&#8217;t result as failures, even smaller issues can lead to bigger problems over time, in turn reducing the return on investment (ROI) of ERP investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best bet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see success, try the six-phase approach, which we cover below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-challenges-in-erp-implementation\">Common challenges in ERP implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning systems should make life easier for C-suite executives, IT professionals, and front-line staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As noted above, however, this isn&#8217;t always the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the specifics of deployment may differ, three implementation challenges are common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adoption<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Migration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-integration\">Integration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Current systems and new ERP deployments don&#8217;t always get along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, cloud-based tools may not work with legacy applications that were never designed to work outside of local server stacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Companies may also struggle to effectively connect multiple applications and services to new ERP deployments without losing visibility into key processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-adoption\">Adoption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/erp\/\">ERP systems<\/a> won&#8217;t deliver value if staff refuse to use them. In most cases, adoption issues stem from familiarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Staff are comfortable with existing tools and would rather use these tools than learn to use new systems, even if new systems offer significant benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-migration\">Migration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Data migration is another common challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before new systems are deployed, organizations need to decide which data to migrate, which data to keep, and which data should be replicated in multiple locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-phases-for-success\">6 phases for success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Challenges with integration, adoption, and migration add up to the biggest issue with implementation: complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leveraging the six-phase approach can help simplify the process. Here&#8217;s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-discover\">1. Discover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first phase is discovery, and it starts with discovering where ERP systems can benefit operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this phase to be effective, companies need to ask questions about current processes and pain points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By bringing in stakeholders from across the organization\u2014including front-line staff who regularly interact with planning tools, IT teams who manage the solutions, and executives responsible for strategy development\u2014businesses can get a sense of where current processes are working and where new tools can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Ensure the project has a dedicated C-suite sponsor who is tasked with pushing the project forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-design\">2. Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Design is next. This means digging into the details to pinpoint specific operations that could benefit from ERP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During this phase, companies often assess multiple solutions to determine which one best meets their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Workflows are the focus of this phase:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Where do gaps exist?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What impact do they have on operations?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can they be closed?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once companies identify where processes are working and where they can be improved, they can design a roadmap for ERP implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Bring in users to test out new systems to get honest feedback and familiarize staff with new tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-develop\">3. Develop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The development phase is all about configuration and customization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a solid design plan in place, companies can prepare current environments for ERP deployments, and develop training materials to help staff make best use of new systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This phase also identifies processes and applications that won&#8217;t\u2014or can&#8217;t\u2014be integrated with new tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> For companies deploying cloud-based solutions, consider where critical data will be stored: on-premises, off-site, or in the cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-detect\">4) Detect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Detection is all about testing, testing, and more testing to identify possible problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By running small-scale tests of tools before company-wide deployment, organizations can pinpoint friction points and make adjustments as necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Put simply, no ERP implementation is perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Testing early and testing often helps reduce problems down the line. Testing can also uncover unexpected issues with compatibility or usability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By identifying these issues as soon as possible, businesses can minimize their downstream impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Small-scale testing saves time and money since fixes can be made without taking ERP systems offline for the entire organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-deploy\">5. Deploy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With discovery, design, development, and detection squared away, businesses are prepared for deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, two approaches are common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Concurrent deployments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Component-based deployments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Concurrent deployments see systems rolled out all at once across the entire organization, while component-based deployments focus on high-priority processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both have benefits and drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concurrent deployments let companies see exactly how ERP systems will behave at scale but could lead to system-wide failures if deployment doesn&#8217;t go to plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, some companies choose to keep legacy ERP tools up and running as a temporary backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Component-based deployments, meanwhile, allow teams to focus on optimizing specific planning tools without risk to the environment at large.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trade-off?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Company-wide deployment may take longer and be more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> To streamline this process, find an ERP partner that offers day one support for any issues that arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-deliver\">6. Deliver<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Support delivery is the final phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For best results, companies can take a multipronged approach to support that includes self-service knowledge bases for small issues, in-house support for operational problems, and outsourced assistance for mission-critical challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The more support companies can offer users, the better, since this can help streamline the adoption process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Create a schedule to regularly review ERP processes, install necessary upgrades, and pinpoint areas for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bonus point:<\/strong> It&#8217;s also worth noting that these phases form a cyclical process. Support delivery doesn&#8217;t mark the end of implementation\u2014instead, it sets the stage for companies to schedule another discovery session to explore the impact of current systems and where improvements could be made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-selecting-an-erp-provider\">Selecting an ERP provider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all enterprise planning tools are created equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some excel at empowering specific business functions, others are designed for more general applications. Some &#8216;free&#8217; tools end up costing more than companies expect, and some paid-for solutions aren&#8217;t worth the money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to selecting a provider, look for one that offers these four benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-streamlined-processes\">1. Streamlined processes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This should go without saying, but if ERP systems don&#8217;t make operations easier, they&#8217;re not worth the investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, companies should look for providers that make it possible to consolidate daily operations, customize processes to meet specific needs, and create new opportunities for application integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-reduced-costs\">2. Reduced costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Costs also play a critical role in ERP implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While planning systems themselves come with purchase and support costs, they should also make it possible to identify operations or processes that aren&#8217;t delivering ROI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Equipped with this information, executives can make data-driven decisions about budgets, spending, and investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-simple-scalability\">3. Simple scalability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning needs aren&#8217;t static. As a result, businesses should look for ERP tools that can scale on-demand to meet growing requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, this means the adoption of cloud-based tools that aren&#8217;t tied to local resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simple scalability benefits both budgets and users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a budget perspective, paying only for resources used helps cut down on total costs. For users, scalability means they never have to worry about systems failing to perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-expert-advice\">4. Expert advice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ongoing support and expert advice also play a role in effective ERP provision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When companies have questions, it&#8217;s worth having access to experts who know the answers\u2014or can help track them down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Sage leverages an extensive network of 40,000 accountants and 26,000 business partners to provide both industry expertise and on-site support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-on-erp-implementation\">Final thoughts on ERP implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every enterprise resource planning deployment is different, with ideal frameworks dependent on organizational strategies, goals, and metrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to implementation, however, businesses benefit from standardization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By following the six-phase model, companies can reduce complexity, improve performance, and enhance the impact of ERP tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By regularly returning to the discovery phase of this approach, enterprises can continually enhance planning processes and identify new opportunities for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve ever asked, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/enterprise-resource-planning-explained\/\">what is ERP<\/a>?\u201d, this guide has your answer\u2014plus why it\u2019s essential for growing businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ERP implementation is a challenging and complex process. Best bet? Adopt the six-phase approach for success. Here&#8217;s how.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":924,"featured_media":9139,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[13],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[],"coauthors":[617],"class_list":["post-22341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-erp","business_type-growing-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Douglas Bonderud","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-146247838.jpg","imagine_tags":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/924"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=22341"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=22341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}