ERP Success : Step-by-Step Realistic Roadmap to Avoid Project Failure

roadmap

🧭 How to Make ERP Projects Successful — The Complete Realistic Roadmap

💡 From Failure to Future: Practical, Proven, and Bangladeshi-Context ERP Implementation Strategy

🌍 1️⃣ Define Clear Business Goals Before Coding

🧩 Realistic Resolution

• Conduct Business Process Study Workshops (BPSW) for each department.

• Document existing manual workflows → identify inefficiencies → map "To-Be" processes.

• Assign process owners (not just IT) to approve each step.

• Use Lucidchart / Visio / Draw.io to create visual workflows before any development.

🧠 Why it works: A visual process eliminates ambiguity. When everyone understands the flow, developers can build logic accurately.

📋 2️⃣ Conduct a Feasibility & ROI Study

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Calculate measurable KPIs: time saved, error reduction, faster reporting.

• Prepare a 3-year ROI Projection Sheet (excel-based).

• Share with management to set realistic expectations.

• Revisit ROI quarterly to show progress.

🧠 Why it works: Realistic expectations = long-term confidence = reduced pressure on the project team.

🧍‍♀️ 3️⃣ Drive Employee Adoption from Day One

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Involve employees in early testing and feedback loops.

• Conduct short "Show & Tell" demo sessions 🧑‍💻 every Friday.

• Launch ERP Awareness Campaigns inside the company (email posters, short videos).

• Reward top ERP users ("ERP Champion of the Month" 🏅).

🧠 Why it works: ERP success is 70% psychology and 30% technology.

⚒️ 4️⃣ Balance Customization with Standardization

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Keep 80% standard and only 20% customized .

• Maintain a "Customization Register" to track changes.

• Avoid unnecessary stored procedure overrides.

• Prefer configuration over hard-coded customization.

🧠 Why it works: When your ERP upgrades later, minimal breakage and faster support.

🧹 5️⃣ Data Cleaning & Governance Policy

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Assign a "Data Steward" per department.

• Run Excel-based data validation before importing.

• Use scripts to detect duplicates, missing codes, invalid IDs.

• Define data entry SOPs: Naming conventions, date formats (YYYY-MM-DD).

🧠 Why it works: Clean data ensures dashboard accuracy and user trust.

💰 6️⃣ Smart Vendor Selection Framework

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Prepare an ERP Vendor Scorecard based on:

  • Technical depth (30%)

  • Post-Go-Live Support (25%)

  • Domain Experience (25%)

  • Pricing (20%)

• Check existing clients and support feedback.

• Prefer vendors offering SLA (Service Level Agreement) with a defined response time.

🧠 Why it works: You’re selecting a partner, not just a software vendor.

🧑‍🏫 7️⃣ Continuous Training Culture

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Conduct training in phases: Pre-Go-Live, Go-Live Week, Post-Go-Live.

• Use video-based micro learning (2–3 min clips).

• Create an internal "ERP Knowledge Base" using Google Sites / Notion.

• Conduct quarterly refresh sessions.

🧠 Why it works: Sustained training ensures ERP remains alive and relevant.

⚡ 8️⃣ Strengthen Infrastructure & Backup

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Use Cloud hosting or hybrid (local+cloud) with daily automated backups.

• Set up power redundancy (UPS, inverter, generator).

• Monitor system health via Power BI dashboards (uptime %, latency, user sessions).

• Use SSL & firewall for all API endpoints.

🧠 Why it works: Stable system → user confidence → adoption.

🤝 9️⃣ Foster Inter-Departmental Collaboration

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Form an ERP Steering Committee (Finance, HR, Production, IT).

• Monthly cross-department meetings to discuss issues.

• Build dashboards that show how one department’s data impacts another.

🧠 Why it works: Collaboration = Shared Ownership = Long-term success.

🕵️ 🔟 Capture Hidden Requirements Early

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Conduct UAT simulation workshops before final build.

• Use mock data and screen prototypes for review.

• Apply "Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)" — maps each requirement to its test case.

🧠 Why it works: You catch surprises before they become disasters.

🏦 11️⃣ Budget for Quality & Scalability

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Keep a 10–15% contingency budget for change requests.

• Invest in cloud scalability and security audits.

• Pay for SLA-based annual support — it’s cheaper than downtime.

🧠 Why it works: Predictable cost → zero panic during crisis.

🕰️ 12️⃣ Plan Practical Timelines

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Use a Gantt Chart (Excel or MS Project).

• Include time for testing, training, and data migration.

• Define clear milestones with acceptance criteria.

• Avoid festival seasons for go-live (production load & staff leaves).

🧠 Why it works: A well-paced project = fewer mistakes, better adoption.

🧩 13️⃣ Strong Project Management Framework

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Assign a dedicated Project Manager (PM).

• Weekly progress reports with traffic-light status (Green/Amber/Red).

• Use collaboration tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira.

• Keep management engaged with short, visual summaries.

🧠 Why it works: Visibility ensures accountability.

👓 14️⃣ Empower Skilled Business Analysts

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Hire BAs with domain + technical blend (Finance, Supply Chain, HR).

• BA should write clear BRD (Business Requirement Document) and FRD (Functional Requirement Document) .

• Conduct requirement review sessions before sign-off.

🧠 Why it works: A skilled BA translates chaos into clarity.

🔄 15️⃣ Master Data Migration Process

🧩 Realistic Resolution:

• Run 3 mock migrations: dry run, pilot, final.

• Validate totals with finance team after each.

• Keep Excel-based reconciliation sheets.

• Backup all previous data securely before switching systems.

🧠 Why it works: Reliable migration = confidence on Day 1 of Go-Live.

🎯 Final Words: From ERP Chaos to ERP Confidence

ERP success doesn’t depend on big budgets —
it depends on discipline, ownership, and continuous improvement .

Bangladesh has the talent — what’s needed is structured execution.
Once companies treat ERP as a strategic growth partner (not an IT tool),
the success rate will skyrocket 🚀.

My Full Article Link: https://www.freelearning365.com/2025/10/erp-success-in-bangladesh-step-by-step.html