What could an ERP consultant bring to your projects

If your business is looking to implement an ERP system, you may be considering bringing in an independent ERP consultant to help manage the process. Some may argue that this could slow the process down and add additional costs to what is already a lengthy and expensive project.

In our experience, it is usually worth the extra budget to bring a consultant in. We’re going to look at the benefits in more detail here:

• Experts in their field – you may not have the technical experience within your team to successfully manage an ERP project. By bringing in an external consultant, you’re bringing in an expert whose job is solely managing projects such as these. They’ll be familiar with trends in the industry and will be suitably qualified to do so.

• Hold project management skills – having someone on board who understands the project management process and holds good stakeholder management skills is key to the successful delivery of any ERP project. They’ll be able to keep the project going and on time, within budget, and avoiding any scope creep. They’ll also be able to keep stakeholders informed and engaged appropriately.

• Successful project frameworks – A consultant will understand and be able to implement frameworks to ensure your project runs successfully. These will be adapted to your business requirements, and make sure you’re project stays on track and reaches successful completion.

• Manage risks successfully – a large transformational project can bring significant risks to a business. Having a consultant on board who understands the due diligence process and can manage governance correctly can help mitigate these risks.

• Business-wide change – Any changes to systems can cause additional stress to all employees. A consultant will be experienced in helping your whole business understand new systems. They can help upskill all jobs affected by the change and accommodate any period of change successfully.

Taking all this into account, it’s a no-brainer that any additional budget spent on employing an external consultant is well worthwhile. Having an experienced ERP consultant on board from the start is only going to bring positive outcomes to your business. It's unlikely you have the existing skills and experience in your team currently, and we can help find the expert you need. Get in touch today to find out more on this topic and how we can help.