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Writer's pictureJohn Hannan

Creating an Effective ERP Implementation Communication Plan

Creating an effective ERP implementation communication plan can be an important part of your ERP project governance strategy and help you stay on track to reach your goals on time and within budget. Here are some pointers to remember when creating an ERP implementation communication plan that will help you minimize risks, avoid delays, and boost your overall success rate.


Identify Key Stakeholders

You need to identify the key stakeholders to create an effective ERP implementation communication plan. These are the people who have a vested interest in the success or failure of your project. They may be senior managers, project sponsors, project team members, or external parties such as customers or suppliers. Once you've identified them, you can start to think about how best to communicate with them.


Define Critical Success Factors

A key part of any successful ERP implementation is effective project governance. This includes identifying and mitigating risks and maintaining clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders. To do this, it is essential to identify your project's Critical Success Factors (CSFs). These are the factors that will make or break your project and should be given careful consideration. Once you have identified the CSFs, you can develop a plan to ensure they are met.


Establish an Onboarding Process

Keeping track of processes and data becomes more difficult as your business grows. This is where an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system comes in. An ERP system can help you manage your business more effectively and efficiently. However, implementing an ERP system can be a daunting task. One of the most important things you can do to ensure a successful ERP implementation is to create a communication plan.


Communicate Effectively

When implementing a new ERP system, it is important to communicate effectively with all stakeholders. This includes employees, shareholders, vendors, and customers. Proper communication can help mitigate risks associated with the implementation. It is important to keep everyone updated on the project's status and changes that may occur. Set realistic expectations for the project timeline and do your best to stick to them. Change is always difficult, but effective communication can help smooth the transition for everyone involved. Keeping everyone in the loop can avoid surprises and ensure that the implementation process goes as smoothly as possible.


Anticipate and Communicate Risks

During any business transformation initiative, there are bound to be risks that can impact the project's success. Identifying and communicating these risks early on can help mitigate their impact and ensure a successful ERP implementation. Read my seven tips for creating an effective ERP risk mitigation communication plan here.


Know When to Provide Support

Effective communication is one of the most important aspects of a successful ERP implementation. Your organization's communication plan should consider who needs to be kept informed, how best to reach them, and what level of detail is appropriate.

It's also important to know when to provide support. Employees will likely need the most help during the early stages of adoption when learning how to use the new system. However, you should continue providing support throughout the implementation process to ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruptions.

Kindly let us know your thoughts on creating an effective ERP implementation communication plan. Comment on the blog post below.


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