The Importance of Project Management from Your ERP Provider

Project Management is a service that is not always understood.

However, it is critical to the success of all workstreams that are delivered by a professional services organisation.

If you are about to embark on an ERP journey, you will most likely have a project manager, or a team member nominated as the project supervisor, within your organisation to manage your own team. However, obtaining a project manager from your ERP supplier should not be overlooked. Mysoft deliver two types of Project Management during an ERP project: ‘In-Project’ and ‘Out-of-Project’.

‘Out-of-Project’ Project Management

Firstly, what is this and why would you need it?

This covers the work that occurs outside the framework of a formal project. This can be a request for bespoke software delivery, an integration with a third-party piece of software, or the delivery of a series of consultancy activities. All of these tasks require a degree of Project Management.

Project Management for these activities is important because it ensures that all services delivered to your business are correct and bring value to your business, as well as guaranteeing that the resources from your supplier are in place.

‘In-Project’ Project Management

This particular type of project management is key to the success of your ERP project. ‘In-Project’ Project Management ensures that:

• The project is completed on time and on budget
• There is good and clear project communication
• The project budget is controlled and monitored

A Project Manager will be there throughout your ERP project to navigate the ups and downs and quickly resolve any clashes or catastrophes that may occur. They will allow your business to fully benefit from the resources that both parties are providing.

There are 7 key phases that Project Management are involved in during a project:

1. Project initiation phase
2. Project launch phase
3. Initial build phase
4. Workshops phase
5. Post-workshop phase
6. Pilot phase
7. Go-live

Each area has its own set of sub-activities and a Project Manager provides the resource to be able to carry out these vital tasks, bringing team members from both the customer’s business and their own business, together to work efficiently.

A Project Manager provides a key point of contact for your business and helps to ensure continuity and clear communications for all of the parties involved.

The crucial activities that apply to all of the phases listed above are:

• Regular project update calls
• Planning and executing regular review meetings
• Detailed minutes
• Budget management
• Service planning
• Produces, Agrees and Monitors the statements of work
• Identification, and Management of issues
• Identification, Mitigation and Management of risks
• Service co-ordination with Internal, Customer and 3^rd party teams

It goes without saying that the snapshot of benefits listed in this blog, far outweigh the cost of Project Management.

Please contact us to discover the complete list of Mysoft Project Management capabilities.