The Halloween festivities have begun and there is a chill in the air. At Cofficient we have been sharing some of our experiences and tales from the crypt. For many there’s nothing spookier than the thought on implementing a new ERP system. So, what better place to start than breaking down the bones of where a NetSuite ERP implementation can go wrong.

This blog outlines 4 of the key ingredients needed to conjure up a NetSuite ERP horror story. If you’re brave enough, read on and find out how to stop your business suffering a fright this Halloween.

1. Prioritise your business skeleton

Want to avoid a NetSuite ERP nightmare? Well first things first, you’ve got get your priorities straight. It’s easy to get caught up on the cost after all cash flow is the life and blood of any organisation. No business wants to waste time or money on a rotten pumpkin. However, the truth is the fullest bag of candy doesn’t always show a success. No matter how affordable or expensive a NetSuite ERP system may be, the ultimate success of a NetSuite ERP implementation comes from the skeleton of the solution. The bones of this are that a business must select a solution which best fits their needs. To avoid being caught out in the dark, shine a light on your business objectives and system needs and then negotiate on price. Many NetSuite ERP failures stem from prioritising price first.

Where Cofficient Helps –

Your objectives and priorities are not only important in the implementation stage of an ERP but in-fact remains crucial throughout the development of a business. NetSuite allows for scale with ease. Cofficient’s support allows for the agility, flexibility and scalability your business needs to power innovation and growth.

2. Carving out a Plan

Just like a horror story all NetSuite ERP projects – no matter what size – must start out with some kind of plan. It’s how well that plan is carved that can take a NetSuite ERP implementation from heaven to hell. Is there any point in a plan if it’s not a good plan? Broad assumptions or underestimate the amount of change the implementation will bring. Despite how obvious this sounds it remains the most common mistake companies make. And unless your business is run by magic, the pitfall of poor planning has a 100% success rate leading to NetSuite ERP implementation failure. Like any good witch conjuring a spell, a business must follow a clear recipe to plan – map out your needs, document your goals and set milestones. Not only does planning help you steer the project in the right direction and stay on track, but it keeps accountability between you and your implementation partner. Until you have a good plan, you really do not know when the project will end or how much it will cost.

Where Cofficient Helps –

No plan is foolproof and it’s not always easy to grasp the full picture. Cofficient with the help of  NetSuite allow you to gain a 360® view of your business. The features of NetSuite portray real-time insights into key business performance indicators for a full view of your organisation.

3. Testing of Spells

Who needs to test before they go-live anyway? We can fix it later – Those are the echoes of an ERP implementation doomed for disaster. Another key ingredient to a NetSuite ERP nightmare is forgoing testing, or not testing well enough. When the clock is ticking and schedules get tight, the number and depth of test cycles are one of the first areas to fall and the feet of the reaper. The priority of testing is not to check that the software is working but instead to ensure it meets the needs of your business. Reducing testing on ERP systems increases the risk that NetSuite ERP will be missing important functions. This type of testing allows a business to put their best face forward to ensure it’ll be accepted well by users – no need for a mask.

Where Cofficient Helps –

Futureproof your business, NetSuite provide a no more version-lock. Upon initial testing and implementation, the requirement to make sure your software solution remains aligned with your business needs becomes of even greater importance. Because your system is in the cloud, you are automatically upgraded to the most current version, real-time. This ensures your ERP remains up to date with your business.

4. Trick or Treat Training

Ignoring training and skipping empowering your employees with the fundamental understanding of the system before go-live – will ultimately leave your business being run by ghosts. Leaving employees with an empty bag of tricks is the easiest way to have an angry mob on your hands. The majority of resistance to a new NetSuite ERP system rollout comes from lack of employee understanding. Some staff may believe your investment to be pointless and therefore doomed. Taking time to properly and regularly train employees ensures your team are fully aware of how and why the system works, ready to manage the new system from day one.  This type of training provides your business with all the tricks it needs to get the best results out of their system. Make sure it’s more treats than tricks for your business this Halloween.

Where Cofficient Helps –

Initial training is crucial to the implementation of NetSuite ERP. However, the continuation and ability to adapt this initial launch of software is what in-fact helps a business to grow. NetSuite provides built-in flexibility. Allowing for the scaling up or the adaption of new business models quickly and easily.

As NetSuite Partners & SAP Partners, Cofficent can help you manage your growth and expand the right way, without taking unnecessary risks.

Highlights to Avoid a NetSuite ERP Fright

• Prioritise objectives before the cost
• Plan thoroughly
• Test before go-live
• Train your team

And there you have it the 4 key chapters to writing your businesses perfect NetSuite ERP horror story.

The reality is no business sets out to write their own NetSuite ERP horror story, but more than often many businesses are left with pumpkin in their face. With years of experience, Cofficient is well placed to provide professional customised developments, tailored training and consultancy on how best to use Oracles NetSuite.

Find out how Cofficient can help stop your business from having a nightmare on NetSuite, get in touch here.