Maximizing ERP ROI takes structure, alignment and ongoing optimization:
No matter how long it’s been since your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system go-live, you’re familiar with the solution at this point. You’re also clear on where your software needs fine-tuning. Now it’s time to take the next step to maximize your company’s ROI.
Whether you use Workday, Sage Intacct, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite or any other core finance solution, the post-go-live phase (often called phase two) of your ERP implementation is your opportunity to tap into the full value of your ecosystem.
Why now? Because you’ve established a single source of truth and gained greater control over your business processes. With this foundation in place, you’re positioned to drive efficiency, improve decision-making and support the next stage of growth.
To help you keep moving forward, the steps below offer a strategic path to turn post-go-live opportunities into measurable results. From leadership alignment to framework development, here’s how to start maximizing your software investment to boost efficiency and gain greater control of your financial processes.
Inconsistent data leads to inconsistent decisions. When your departments rely on different definitions or sources of information, the result is inefficiency, confusion and risk.
For example, it’s not uncommon for human resources (HR) and finance departments to have different views of your company’s headcount and the costs associated with it. For HR, headcount may depend on employee demographics, departments or where they sit inside an office building. Finance, on the other hand, may associate headcount with service lines, costs or regional operating unit.
The problem arises when you need specific reports and each department offers different analytics. In an environment that doesn’t support data standardization, HR and finance could provide inconsistent data. But when your company has a single headcount definition and source of information, the answer is always the same — no matter who you ask.
Prioritization is the power of one. It offers a single definition of data and consistent governance across departments. For companies looking to grow responsibly, it’s the first step toward a mature framework that aligns all departments and operations.
The impact of structuring your data and reporting goes beyond numbers. It brings departments together to eliminate silos and create a deep culture of alignment. In this way, data helps the entire organization prioritize its strategy and establish a cross-functional collaboration among stakeholders. This can help you determine which projects are most impactful, how you will implement them and what the holistic impact of these changes will be.
ERP implementations often focus on speed to go-live, but phase two is about maximizing value.
At this stage, you should focus on:
To succeed, these efforts require strong top-down alignment. You should be asking:
At the highest level, you need to create an integrated strategy and put a tactical committee in place to execute it. When putting this team in place, each department will still own and be responsible for specific processes. The tactical committee’s job is to create structured definitions and establish governance to maintain data integrity.
An ERP system is not a one-time project — it’s an evolving platform that should adapt as your business grows. Using finance technology means implementing a mindset of ongoing optimization. It’s an environment that goes beyond transaction processing to offer features that inspire continuous improvement.
As a product that matures and advances right along with your company, your ERP solution should serve as a framework that aligns with your employee experience. As you gain access to rich, real-time insight, you begin to identify tailored automation opportunities that support the next phase of your evolution.
HR is not the only group that needs to consider the employee experience when developing your organization’s governance framework and how it shapes decision-making. For example, if you change the expense report approval process, you should keep in mind that this financial process also impacts the employees who submit reports.
To embed continuous improvement into your organization:
Your ERP plays a critical role in your company’s growth and you have the power to speed your organization to the next level. Following these steps will help you achieve phase two of your implementation, as you continue to innovate your processes and leverage the full power of your finance software ecosystem.
Your ERP plays a critical role in driving growth and the post–go-live phase determines how much value you ultimately realize.
By prioritizing data, aligning leadership, and fostering continuous improvement, you can move beyond implementation and fully leverage your investment.
Your post-go-live phase doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Our Enterprise Resource Planning consulting team can help you define your priorities, strengthen governance and build a roadmap for continuous improvement.
To learn more about modernizing your ERP, getting a project back on track or setting your business up for sustainable growth, schedule your complimentary ERP consultation.
