Many companies are weary about implementing a new system, and this is standard, but if you are prepared and go into implementation with your eyes fully opened then the process should be seamless. We have come up with 10 Best Practices to help your company prepare for NetSuite implementation—and avoid NetSuite nightmares that many unfortunately experience. If you mark off this list of 10 best practices then you should soar through your implementation without any issues. Learn how to avoid NetSuite Nightmares by following these simple steps.
1. Find the right fit for your business
- Choose the right company to conduct your implementation
- Choose a NetSuite partner that can give you realistic expectations and dates for the project
- Find a company that tells you what you need to hear not what you want to hear.
2. Bigger isn’t always better
- Do NOT think that working with the direct vendor professional service team is always the best choice
- It is a bad assumption that the vendor professional service team is the best fit for your business
- Vendor teams will send you checklists of tasks to complete and will not take the time to review everything you send over, while a partner company will.
- NetSuite partners don’t just dump information into the system, they take the time to review the information sent over and make sure that it is entered correctly.
- Partners help you come up with the best system for your business by setting you up with best practices.
3. Understand your business
- If the implementation team you are working with is giving you best practices for your business, you have to be willing to execute this.
- You must understand how your business operates and runs
4. Have your ducks in a row
- Insure that your company is ready for implementation
- Have all of your ducks in a row when you begin your NetSuite implementation.
- There is no such thing as being overly prepared.
5. Be ready to dig in
- Have your chart of accounts updated and ready
- Make sure your team is prepared to dig into the project
6. Make sure you have enough time
- Does your team have time to deploy this?
- Make sure you have a team assembled with the time, resources, and bandwidth to complete the project
- Understand that implementation will involve a LOT of work
- Make sure your team has a sound understanding of what all is involved with implementation before you begin the project
7. Don’t try to eat the elephant in one bite
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew
- Break the project up into reasonable chunks so that you can complete implementation without pulling out all of your hair.
8. Accept change, don’t be left in the dust
- You cannot be opposed to change
- Don’t underestimate change management as an activity throughout your ERP implementation.
- If you are not willing to change, your competitors will be, and you will be left in the dust.
- Don’t underestimate change management as an activity throughout your ERP implementation.
9. Identify your live wires
- Know who the people are within your organization that are excited and enthusiastic about the new system.
- This person does not even need to be a C-level executive or management position, it just needs to be someone that can get the rest of the team motivated to be on board with the project.
- The “live wire” will essentially be the system evangelist for this project. They will spread the gospel about why this solution is good for the business.
10. Take ownership
- You have to be able to take the keys to your new system and drive
- Position your company to be able to take over ownership of the system once it has been deployed
By following these 10 simple rules, you’ll avoid NetSuite nightmares and breeze through implementation. And if you have any questions along the way or are looking for a NetSuite partner, call us today or click here to learn more.
