𧩠Why ERP Projects Fail in Bangladesh β The Real Story - FreeLearning365.com
𧩠Why ERP Projects Fail β The Real Story
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems promise automation, efficiency, and real-time decision-making.
But in Bangladesh, over 70% of ERP projects fail or never deliver the expected ROI.
Letβs uncover the real story behind these failures β packed with humor, realism, and valuable lessons for every business owner, IT manager, and developer.
βοΈ 1οΈβ£ Lack of Clear Business Requirements
π£οΈ "Software Banailam, Kintu Ki Lagbe Buji Nai!"
π¬ We built the software, but didnβt know what we actually needed!
Many Bangladeshi businesses jump into ERP without documenting their workflows β
no clear understanding of costing, approvals, or reporting needs.
π Teams canβt even answer:
What are your approval steps?
Who owns inventory reconciliation?
Which KPIs should your dashboard show?
π§ Lesson: ERP isnβt magic β it mirrors your process.
Unclear process = unclear system.
πΈ 2οΈβ£ Management Expecting Instant ROI
π£οΈ "Ek Mash-e Sob Automate Hoye Jabe!"
π¬ Everything will be automated in one month!
Many executives expect ROI within weeks. In reality, ERP payback comes after 6β18 months .
β³ Result: Unrealistic deadlines β poor testing β half-baked go-live β frustration.
π§ Lesson: ERP is like planting a tree π³ β water it regularly before expecting fruit.
π§ββοΈ 3οΈβ£ Employee Resistance
π£οΈ "Ekhon Sob Record Kortey Hobe?"
π¬ Now we have to record everything?
Employees often fear that ERP will track their inefficiencies or make their jobs harder.
Without training, they simply avoid using it.
π§ Lesson: ERP success = user adoption.
Train, motivate, and involve staff from day one.
βοΈ 4οΈβ£ Over-Customization
π£οΈ "Sob Kichu Amader Moto Korte Hobe!"
π¬ Make everything our way!
Too much customization makes ERP fragile, slow, and unmaintainable.
Example: A company added 30+ custom reports β afterthe update, half broke.
π§ Lesson: Use standard ERP logic. Customize only whatβs truly necessary.
π§Ή 5οΈβ£ Weak Data Discipline
π£οΈ "Old Data Clean Nai!"
π¬ Our old data is messy.
Duplicate customers, wrong codes, missing balances β ERP becomes useless.
π§ Lesson: Clean your data before migration β
like cleaning your house before moving π§½.
π° 6οΈβ£ Vendor Selection Based on Price
π£οΈ "Cheapest Nilam, Quality Nai."
π¬ We hired the cheapest vendor, got zero quality.
ERP is not a one-time website.
Choosing the lowest bidder often means no documentation, security, or support.
π§ Lesson: Cheap ERP = Expensive failure.
Quality costs less in the long run.
π§βπ« 7οΈβ£ Lack of Continuous Support & Training
Many systems die after go-live because users forget how to use them.
No refresh training = system abandonment.
π§ Lesson: ERP is not install-and-forget β itβs a continuous learning journey .
β‘ 8οΈβ£ Technology Gap & Infrastructure Issues
Old PCs π» + weak internet π + no UPS β‘ = ERP disaster.
If infrastructure fails, data sync fails.
π§ Lesson: Use cloud or hybrid ERP with stable hosting and backups.
𧱠9οΈβ£ Uncooperative Stakeholders
π£οΈ "Each department acts like its own kingdom."
π¬ HR, Accounts, and Production donβt share data.
ERP fails because departments donβt cooperate .
π§ Lesson: ERP = Enterprise Resource Planning, not Individual Resource Planning.
π΅οΈ 10οΈβ£ Hidden or Critical Requirements Raised During UAT
π£οΈ "We didnβt mention this earlier, but now we need it."
Users reveal major requirements after the system is built β
causing cost overruns and rework.
π§ Lesson: Capture everything early.
Use workshops, mock screens, and flow diagrams.
π³ 11οΈβ£ Budget Constraints
π£οΈ "Cheapest vendor nilam, abar customization chai!"
π¬ We took the cheapest vendor, but now want premium features!
ERP needs investment β in software, training, and support.
π§ Lesson: Donβt treat ERP like a cost β treat it as a long-term investment.
π°οΈ 12οΈβ£ Unrealistic Time Calculations
π£οΈ "3 months e full ERP chahi!"
π¬ We want a full ERP in 3 months!
ERP implementation includes design, migration, testing, and adoption.
Shortcut = system collapse.
π§ Lesson: Quality takes time.
Fast projects often fail.
𧩠13οΈβ£ Poor Project Management & Coordination
π£οΈ "Meetings holo, kintu action nai."
π¬ We had meetings, but no results.
Without a dedicated project manager, communication breaks and timelines slip.
π§ Lesson: Every ERP needs a strong project manager linking IT, vendor, and business.
π 14οΈβ£ Unskilled or Less-Skilled Business Analyst
π£οΈ "BA didnβt understand the workflow."
Weak analysis = weak ERP logic.
When the Business Analyst canβt convert user needs into technical specs, everything collapses.
π§ Lesson: A skilled BA is your ERP translator β hire domain experts, not just coders.
π 15οΈβ£ Data Migration Disaster
π£οΈ "Old system theke data ashe nai!"
π¬ Data didnβt migrate properly.
Inconsistent formats, wrong codes, and missing links destroy system accuracy.
π§ Lesson: Test migration multiple times before go-live.
Validate every master file and opening balance.
π Final Thoughts
ERP failure is not about bad software β Itβs about weak planning, unclear processes, and a lack of ownership.
Bangladeshi companies can succeed by:
β
Documenting workflows
β
Training users
β
Cleaning data
β
Setting realistic timelines
β
Choosing skilled partners
π‘ Remember: ERP success begins when leadership says
"Letβs fix our process first β then automate."
My Full Article Link: https://www.freelearning365.com/2025/10/why-erp-projects-fail-in-bangladesh.html