ERP solutions in the cloud: is your team prepared?
There’s been a rise in cloud computing in general, but shifting from on-prem ERP software to cloud SaaS ERP is particularly hot right now. Cloud-based ERP reduces costs in several ways, making it a popular choice for a lot of organizations. Cost aside, there are the added benefits of being able to access the system from anywhere, scalability of cloud architecture, automatic data backups, and increased security. However, when asked, a lot of employees would rather stick with what they know than make the jump to something new.
Implementing any new software system in a work environment is usually met with groans of dread and gasps of horror. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. With a little strategy and coaching, you can win over even the most doubtful employee when it’s time to move from your old-fashioned, trusty on-prem ERP solution to cloud ERP.
To ease the transition and reduce the impact on your staff, follow a couple of ground rules and you’ll be golden.
Keep everyone up to date
As is the case with almost anything, the more effort you put into these tips, the better off you’ll be. If you have a monthly or weekly newsletter, then this is a great way to keep everyone on the same page, but realistically, a lot of organizations don’t have the time, budget, manpower, or content to justify something like that. Even something as simple as a company-wide email every week or so giving a rundown of what to expect and opening the floor for questions/concerns is helpful. If your internal communication isn’t A-plus, now is a good time to brush up on it—the more kept in the loop everyone is, the better they’ll feel about a software change.
Highlight the benefits
This might go without saying, but it’s important to share with your team why you’re upgrading to a cloud ERP solution. After all, in some cases, the older version of the software might seem like it’s working just fine to your everyday average Joe, but employees may not realize how accelerated innovation is with a migration to a cloud solution. Being specific about what everyone who uses the new system will get out of it can go a long way to reassure those who aren’t sure something new is worth the effort. Specificity is the key here. If you can’t address how the new system will benefit people on an individual basis, then address it by the department at the very least.
Don’t wait
Don’t wait to involve everyone outside of Accounts until after you’ve already purchased your cloud ERP solution. Start as early as possible, in your planning stage if possible. Before you’ve even decided which cloud solution you’re going purchase, keep your employees in the loop concerning the fact that you’re thinking of switching software. It’ll serve to build and maintain trust and they’ll see that you’re looking out for their best interests. Additionally, begin offering training workshops for the new system as soon as possible so employees have time to get excited. Training over a longer period of time in short increments improves retention and allows people to familiarize themselves with the new software.
Be positive
A good mentality is vital for a smooth transition to cloud-based software. It might be the placebo effect, but it’s also highly underrated. Remember hearing people say that if you smile, it actually helps you feel a little better, even if you’re sad? Encouraging employees to meet the new software head-on and be excited makes it less likely that the system will cause disappointment. Show how excited you are about the new solution as well, so they can get a feel for your energy and hopefully forego the implementation blues.
To wrap things up, here’s an example of a short info-graphic on cloud ERP benefits – creating consistent and regular messaging like this can go a long way towards great employee adoption of your new Cloud ERP:
- Cost savings with cloud ERP mean budgets for other projects can be increased.
- The next-gen user interface, which significantly improves the ease of use.
- No more time-intensive upgrades for users, reducing the number of IT projects.
- Data is backed up automatically – no more worrying about complicated data restoration in the event of a hardware failure.
- New, best-in-breed functionalities are released automatically, which makes your organization shine with the new features/reporting solutions.
Share this blog post with your team to help get them excited for the new cloud system!
Do you have a success story about getting your employees on board with a new ERP solution? Questions or comments? Email us at engage@infolob.com!
This article was written by Infolob’s resident writer, Carson Collins. You can reach him at carson.collins@infolob.com.
