Businesses spend a lot of time considering their options before they decide to implement a new ERP system, making sure they select the product that best meets their business needs.
However, the success of an ERP implementation may depend more on what happens after the purchase decision is made; a lack of end-user education is frequently cited as one of the main issues that keeps businesses from getting the most out of their ERP software. Picking the right product doesn't matter if your people don't know how to use it correctly.
Here are some tips you can use to get better ERP results through end-user education.
1. Make an investment in educating your people.
First of all, it's important to realize that education doesn't happen accidentally. While your employees may be able to pick things up over time, this would require them to make a lot of mistakes and do a lot of rework first. The only way you can ensure that your end users will learn to use your ERP solution in a timely manner is by investing the time and resources needed to run a formal training program.
If you work with an ERP vendor that offers training programs, you can take advantage of those programs that can help take some of the guesswork out of ERP education. Your employees will benefit from the first-hand industry experience an ERP vendor can offer, while having the same vendor run the ERP implementation and the ERP training will result in consistency across the project.
2. Manage your educational projects.
A training program is a project just like any other project your business might undertake. As a result, it needs to be managed as such. Keep a repository of educational content that is frequently updated and easy for your employees to use. Also, use a learning management system to help administer, document, and track your training programs. Finally, a collaboration platform can help connect your employees with their trainers, and with each other, creating an education experience that goes beyond what can be accomplished in a classroom setting.
3. Integrate technology, but focus on content as well.
New technologies such as mobile devices are a great way to enhance the learning experience, but they can't replace the benefit users get from participating in a formal training program. Loading a training manual on tablets and giving them out to your employees isn't enough to get the kind of user education you need for your ERP system.
Instead, find a way to integrate new technologies into your training programs. There should be a good balance between the quality of you educational content and the technology you use to distribute that content. Also, remember that sometime there's no substitute for learning from the experiences of an in-the-flesh ERP professional.
4. Create a sustainability plan.
Effective ERP education isn't a one-time event: organizations should make it a part of their culture. As your business deals with new hires, system upgrades, and other changes to organizational processes, you'll want to make sure that you have a sustainability plan in place to keep up with those changes. Schedule training sessions for regular intervals over time, allowing for existing employees to refresh their memories and learn about any changes, and for new hires to hit the ground running.
5. Involve everyone.
Finally, it's important that people across your organization learn how to make the most of an ERP solution. Whether they're managers, office personnel, or shop floor workers, everyone can benefit from ERP training, and organizations that have this mentality will be positioned for ERP success.
