Avoiding
the 7 Stages
of ERP Grief
How to make your search for a
new ERP system as painless
as possible

The journey to discovering the
right ERP solution and the right
ERP vendor can be tough.

But if you find the perfect fit, there are
immense benefits to be had like…
Greater efficiency
through automation
More intelligent,
data-driven decision-making
1
3
4
Improved
productivity
2 A higher standard
of customer service

That’s why nearly
of companies are currently planning to, or have already
begun, acquiring or upgrading an ERP system1
.
50%
1
Solutions Review: ERP Software: Facts and Stats

But before they reap their reward,
most will encounter...
The Seven Stages
of ERP Grief.

01
Stage One
Shock

Take a moment to
Ask Yourself:

Do you have access to
accurate, real-time
enterprise-wide data?

Are you working with
one cohesive
system?

Are your people able to
automate time-consuming
manual processes?

If you grow, can your business
management software easily
flex & grow with you?

…and this is often a big shock for businesses
that have used the same system for many years.
If you answered no to any of those questions,
your system might not be as fit for
purpose as you think in today’s digital age...

But here’s an even more
shocking truth:

Your peers and competitors are already
investing in new technologies
to get them operating at their best.
Act now, so you don’t fall behind

02
StageTwo
Denial

The solution?

Locate and implement a
modern, customisable ERP
solution that supports every aspect
of your business.

But adopting a new ERP system
is a daunting prospect for many
organisations…

Firstly, you need to
find the right solution.
And then comes the task of paying to
build it, implement it, and keep it running.

So, rather than make that leap, many
companies will bury their heads
in the sand…
…Or turn to temporary fixes and quick
workarounds to help them continue with
business as usual.

And as people retreat into their silos, you’ll lose a complete
picture of what’s going on.
But ‘making do’ only works for so long…
People will look for unauthorised shortcuts to get the
functionality your system is failing to deliver.
Processes can become inconsistent and inefficient.

What’s more, it’ll end up costing you as
productivity and efficiency falters.

03
Stage Three
Desolation

First, take the time to clear your head and
take some best practice steps.
While a system upgrade is inevitable,
it’s an opportunity to use technology to
create the best version of your business.

Rally a project team together. Ask your
industry peers for tips and recommendations.
And write a strong RFP guide for circulation…
…And for your own sake, don’t look back
in frustration because your organisation didn’t act sooner.
Instead, turn your sights to the future.

Why? Because:
of growing businesses who
excel in their respective industry
rely on an ERP system2
96%
of businesses experienced an
improvement in their processes
after implementing an ERP system3
95%
2
Finances Online: 39 Key ERP Statistics: 2019 Analysis of Trends,
2
Data and Market Share
3
Panorama Consulting Solutions: 2018 ERP Report

04
Stage Four
Bargaining

So, you’re preparing to find
a fit for purpose ERP
solution for your organisation…
…Only, it’s confusing.

How do you find
the right one?

And how do you get everyone
on board?

So many vendors,
so many solutions...
...You can’t help but think,
‘this is going to take ages.’

And while the right ERP can help
you realise the best version
of your business, your
stakeholders are cautious.

“There’s no way this
isn’t going to disrupt
operations.”

These are valid concerns.
But with patience and even more planning,
you’ll soon move past them.
Which brings us to…

05
Stage Five
Reflection

Take a deep breath, because you need
to get this right first time.

With a 10-15 year purchase like this,
you need to find a vendor that’s ready
to help you tackle any challenges you
may face in the future.

Make the wrong choice and you risk...

Make the wrong choice and you risk...
...poor quality implementation…

…disenchanted employees…
Make the wrong choice and you risk...
...poor quality implementation…

…moving deadlines...
…disenchanted employees…
Make the wrong choice and you risk...
...poor quality implementation…

…moving deadlines...
…and worse yet, unexpected expenses.
…disenchanted employees…
Make the wrong choice and you risk...
...poor quality implementation…

This is your chance to reflect on the
bigger picture, and what you’re seeking
to achieve for your company in the long-term.
Make the right choice, and there’s
so much to gain, like:
A flexible, future-ready
platform1
3
Scalability and agility that puts
an end to growing pains
2
A more efficient,
innovative culture

Whether they realise it or not,
your stakeholders, frontline staff and
customers rely on the success
of this transition.
The pressure is on.

06
Stage Six
Working
through

It’s time to clarify exactly
what you want to achieve
with your future ERP solution.

Listen to and discuss their issues, and get a
solid idea of the impact they have
on your business.
Ask your people what would
make their lives easier.

Armed with team feedback, you’re
ready to identify the must-have
features your ERP system needs
to be a
perfect fit.

For example, do you need...
Rapid, future-proof
scalability at every level
1 5
Real-time, 360-degree business
visibility and intelligence
2
Integrated e-commerce
platform or 3rd party
applications
6
Anytime, anywhere mobile access
for key staff
3
Intelligent order processing and
stock management tools
7
Configurable workflows, alerts,
properties and reports
4
Smart customer, supplier,
leads and prospect
management8
A clear map towards
digital transformation

07
Stage Seven
Acceptance

After identifying an appropriate ERP vendor, you
accept it’s time to focus on ensuring the entire
company embraces the new system.

You appoint a system administrator.
You work with your vendor to launch
training schedules
You take the opportunity to cleanse
your data now before migrating it to
a new system
And together you begin to brainstorm
ways to maximise the value of
your system for years to come…

…And to ensure you never need to go
through the 7 stage stages of grief again,
both you and your vendor begin to nurture a
lifelong, benefit-led partnership.

Who that partner might be is ultimately up to you.
But no two companies operate in the same
way – even those in the same industry…
…Which is why
no two ERP solutions
should be the same either.

At Intact, we’ve always respected
our customers’ right to run
their business the way they want to.
Intuitive, scalable and highly
customisable, our ERP platform,
Intact iQ, contains everything you
need to effectively manage your
business – your way.

Approximately
of our business come from referrals
70%
of customers agree Intact iQ
supports their ambition to have
“a robust platform for growth”97%
99% customer
retention rate
Our customers record
an average saving of
full resource
days per month,
post-implementation5.6
Just ask our customers what they think…4
4
Intact Customer Survey

That’s the
Intact difference.

to make your ERP journey as seamless
and effective as possible.
Click here for your FREE 30-page
ERP Implementation Guide
Ready for a
smooth ERP implementation?