4 Tips for a New Sage ERP Project

Small and midsized businesses in manufacturing, packaging, distribution and other industries have counted on Sage ERP systems for many years. Software like Sage 300 has enabled businesses to grow and thrive through improved productivity and lower costs.

Success with small business software starts with successful implementation. Our experience with Sage 300 implementation projects over the past 15 years has helped us identify a faster, better way to start off strong. Read these tips before starting any ERP project.

If you are just getting started finding new business software, download our free whitepaper, How to Choose an Accounting System. This comprehensive report will help you choose the right small business accounting software and help you avoid common mistakes in the process.

Four Tips for Starting Strong with New Small Business Software

1. Build a blueprint: You wouldn’t build a house, office building, or even a doll house without a blueprint. The same goes for small business software implementation, especially Sage ERP. Build your blueprint first and ask the following key questions:

What do we want to change?

What do we want to become or change into?

What can we do to start the change process?

Once you understand what you want to change, you can map it into a blueprint that will help you identify key areas that your new small business software package must address.

A process blueprint helps you map out, from start to finish, exactly how you get from point A to point B in your business. Only by understanding what you are doing now can you figure out the areas that need to change.

Blueprints are useful for many reasons. Mapping something out visually helps people who learn best by diagrams and drawing to understand the problems. It also puts onto paper exactly what you are doing now, so that when you answer the “what do we want to change and how do we change into that?” question, you can point to specific areas of the blueprint that can act as levers to affect change.

2. Identify key project issues: Another step is to look at your blueprint and identify key project areas that your new small business software must address. You can identify potential causes for each problem. Then, when the cause is identified, a solution can be found. 

3. Plan project phases: All projects, including small business software and ERP implementation, are easier when scoped and conducted in a phased manner. Project phases break out the work into manageable chunks with deadlines and milestones attached to each phase to ensure accountability. The overall small business software project, with identified issues, can be broken into various phases with key milestones measured and shared when they are achieved. 

4. Include change management: Even though you’re doing your best to plan your Sage ERP and small business software project, something—big or small—is likely to change along the way. You’ll discover an unmet need or talk to someone who makes you aware that you missed something in the project blueprint. Account for change management in your blueprint and plan. Try not to resist change, but embrace and manage it. Once you understand that change is inevitable, it can be easier to adjust for it. Understanding the ramifications of each change on the project plan and scope and communicating them to the entire team become routine communication rather than an annoyance.

Lastly, be sure to test your small business software and Sage ERP implementation thoroughly prior to fully launching the project. Testing ensures that no glitch, no matter how small, remains hidden. Addressing any potential errors now can save you a big headache later.

Small business software and Sage ERP implementation can be smooth sailing with the right partner by your side. PositiveVision keeps your project on track from start to finish so that with these tips and PositiveVision leading the way, you’ll have a great ERP system in place quickly.

PositiveVision

PositiveVision offers software consulting and technology services for small to mid-sized businesses. Sage ERP products like Sage 300 are just some of the many fine software tools we offer. With the right data, you can better manage your business. Learn more on our website or contact us today.