Successful implementations of the best ERP software take between 4 and 6 months on average. Projects can take significantly longer depending on factors like scope, company size, and required customizations.
If implementation estimates are more than six months, our software experts recommend limiting your project scope and/or releasing in phases to expedite the go-live process. Projects that go-live beyond the six month mark have a significantly higher chance of failure.
Before starting an ERP implementation, it’s best to determine your potential timeline. The main variables that correlate with go-lives dates are:
Business size is the top factor to consider. A small business will, generally, have a significantly faster implementation than a global enterprise which can take years for large corporations to complete.
Of course, these are based only on business size. Add-on any degree of customization and the process only takes longer.
Your selected deployment method is another factor: adding an on-premise ERP system can take longer than connecting to a cloud-based platform due to the need for new hardware. Data migration to either model can also add time, especially if you have a lot of secure data to bring over.
While this won’t necessarily impact the timeframe, budget is another important consideration for your ERP project. A drawn-out process can lead to delays as funds are reallocated to the implementation. Knowing the likely timeframe can help you stay on track and on budget.
While you might want your ERP up and running in a few weeks, you’ll need to set realistic expectations. Just finding the right ERP takes an average of 17 weeks from the initial search to final deal. If you’re looking to avoid months or years of implementation, there are a few ways to streamline the process:
ERP implementation failure happens all the time, leading to lost revenue and unhappy stakeholders. Even those which are successful are not without issue. In fact, studies show only 49% of companies complete implementation on-time.
To increase your chances of success, consider these tips:
By utilizing these tips, you can increase the chances of a successful ERP implementation at your business.
Major software changes are made to ERP every 3 to 5 years. These changes occur after implementing. The exact timeline will depend on the specific platform and developer. The current average reflects how long it takes to hear feedback from users, develop new features, test them out, and finally release them.
Small changes tend to happen more regularly. For instance, SaaS vendors of ERP solutions might release security updates on a monthly or even weekly basis to remain compliant with industry standards. And critical bug fixes occur on an as-needed basis. Version or edition updates, which tend to occur annually, might contain a few bigger changes but may be cosmetic as well.
Custom updates can occur at almost any time, such as opting for a new add-on. These sort of major changes will only occur at the user’s behest, so the completion timeline is not as straightforward. Some changes, like adding a new user, can be done in an instant while others, like implementing new modules, can take months.