PAID FOR POST
When it comes to implementing enterprise resource management (ERP), it’s not always plain sailing. Nine Feet Tall reveals how change management can ease the pain
Retail comes with a unique pressure: pace. The industry thrives on speed and responsiveness; whether that’s adapting to shifting customer expectations, adjusting supply chains, or responding in real-time with innovations such as dynamic pricing. One retailer makes a move, and suddenly others must catch up.
This constant drive to stay relevant creates urgency not only on the shop floor but also within large transformation programmes.
It is common knowledge that in the fast-paced retail sector, having a fully functioning ERP system is a game-changer.
However, legend surrounds ERP as being notoriously tricky to implement successfully.
Using change management to ease the pain. What is the secret?
The secret lies in a fully pragmatic approach to managing the transformation.
In our recently published guide, Retail Therapy: Easing the Pain of ERP Implementation through Change Management, we detail our best practice approach, which focuses on:
- Strength in preparation
- Qualities of change leadership
- Mastering the mighty data
- Business change
While the technology itself may work well, the other elements, such as scope, people, behaviours, partner relationships, process, data, structure, and commercials, can often get in the way.
1. Strength of the transformation preparations, set-up and programme controls
Beyond simply creating the plan, the real challenge lies in actively managing and maintaining it.
In retail, especially, the pace required to stay relevant is relentless.
Think supply chain resilience, where retailers must anticipate disruptions and adapt quickly – delay means playing catch-up. The same urgency applies to ERP delivery.
Having a plan is only the beginning; rigorously managing dependencies, ensuring plans stay live and current, and adapting to the speed demanded by the retail environment is critical.
Success comes from keeping momentum, adjusting quickly, and making sure the programme doesn’t lose pace.
2. Qualities of your change leadership
It starts with key questions: who leads and sponsors the ERP Transformation programme? Have we got the experience in the organisation?
What we often see is that additional change and transformation responsibilities are added on to people’s roles who are experts in their field but may not know how to lead change.
This is a different skillset to business as usual that requires the ability to lead change, have difficult conversations, role model, inspire, and be skilled at delivering appropriate training, coaching, and upskilling. This will be a game-changer.
3. Taming the mighty data
The ability to tame and master data, derive actionable insights, and leverage business intelligence is a non-negotiable success factor in any Retail ERP implementation.
Retailers operate in an environment defined by rapid shifts in consumer behaviour, supply chain complexity, and fierce competition.
An ERP system, when properly implemented, becomes the central nervous system for data, integrating information from inventory, sales, finance, and customer engagement into a single source of truth.
4. Business Change
Process change
Most organisations opt for a ‘fit to standard’ or ‘out of the box’ approach, minimising development and configuration of the ERP system.
To make the tech work, this will require significant thought and planning, and a potential overhaul of the processes, roles and responsibilities, and working patterns. Ultimately, you need to make sure that the processes and people are aligned.
Benefits realisation
Any good planning and robust business case would have already defined the desired ROI and business benefits. Once you are live, you should up your change management effort to really drive the delivery of these benefits.
Your ERP transformation is an epic and undulating journey.
Having supported multiple clients across the retail sector, including Bathroom Brands and Poundland, we are aware of the risks and potential pitfalls you face. Download our full guide to managing ERP transformation here.
