5. Go to market

Your organisation will probably adopt business processes that fit the ERP. This is to minimise customisation effort and maximise uptake of new features. In addition to getting the technology live, you may need help to transform your organisation.

Going to market can look like:

• Find a suitable procurement framework or marketplace.
• Express your business taxonomy, goals and current systems.
• Explore multiple ERP technologies.
• Include multiple Implementation Partners and System Integrators.
• Ask the consultancies to recommend new tech and benefits.
• Request strategies from the SI to describe their approach.
• Use your independent team to sense-check proposals.
• Pick a technology and implementation partner (or SI).
• Mobilise the SI (or Implementation Partner).

Useful terminology

‘Implementation Partner’ A consultancy that offers business and technical services for an ERP programme, including

‘System Integrator’ A consultancy focusing on building the new solution, but not necessarily business change.

Pitfall: Accepting a plan that contains only one rehearsal (or none)

If there is only one rehearsal and it fails, there won’t be confidence to go live. So, there might be a costly re-plan.

Solution: Commit to more than one rehearsal.