You're navigating an ERP rollout. How do you address employee concerns about job security?

Here are some employee concerns about job security during an an ERP rollout: 1. Emphasize upskilling*: Highlight the opportunities for training and upskilling that come with the new system. 2. Involve employees in the process*: Encourage employee participation in the rollout, such as testing, training, or providing feedback. 3. Focus on efficiency, not replacement: Explain how the ERP system will automate routine tasks, freeing up time for more strategic and creative work. 4. Lead by example: Demonstrate leadership's commitment to supporting employees through the transition. 5. Celebrate successes: Share stories of employees who have successfully adapted to the new system and are achieving positive results.

A colleague once remarked, “I always wanted a redundancy, until I was offered one.” Successful ERP implementations hinge on engaging with employees from the outset, addressing their concerns and understanding the change’s impact. Honesty, respect, and ongoing communication are crucial to ensure the ERP delivers its benefits and that new processes stick. Discuss future plans with your team, even if it involves redundancy, and support them through the transition. How an organisation farewells its people is just as important as how it welcomes them.

É necessário demonstrar que estamos transitando de uma realidade operacional, onde as atividades anteriores à implantação do ERP, eram de baixa qualidade e velocidade, após a implantação, a equipe assumirá a responsabilidade de lapidar as informações com agilidade. A clareza e transparência da comunicação precisam estar alinhadas ao objetivo da implantação, caso contrário, a insegurança tomará conta do ambiente de trabalho.

A implantação de um ERP é frequentemente associada a insucessos, estouros de cronograma e problemas de entrega, principalmente devido à falta de definição clara de escopo e comunicação entre todos os envolvidos. O projeto inicia ainda na fase de avaliação da solução, mobilizando a equipe, compreendendo a justificativa, objetivos, benefícios, premissas, riscos e pacotes de entrega. O sucesso do projeto depende da gestão eficiente tanto da empresa contratante quanto da contratada. Tem que haver engajamento de todos envolvidos

Em qualquer organização, é crucial lembrar que processos e sistemas existem para servir às pessoas, e não o contrário. Com essa clareza em mente, a abordagem na implementação de um ERP foca em identificar e aproveitar oportunidades que, muitas vezes, ficam em "pontos cegos" ou são negligenciadas devido à falta de tempo ou recursos. O objetivo é liberar os colaboradores de tarefas administrativas, permitindo que eles assumam papéis mais estratégicos. Isso possibilita que cada um contribua de maneira mais significativa e robusta para o crescimento da Cia. Ao gerar mais valor, os colaboradores também se tornam mais valorizados, criando um ciclo positivo de desenvolvimento e reconhecimento.

Tive essa oportunidade na implantação do projeto do SAP/R3 na Camargo Corrêa em 1999, foi um longo processo de transição e com muito treinamento para integrar todas as equipes das diferentes áreas da construtora. Posso garantir, valeu a pena todo o aprendizado desse processo de migração do antigo sistema defazado para o moderno e competitivo ERP da SAP.

Implement comprehensive training programs to help employees adapt to the new ERP system. This approach not only equips them with the necessary skills to use the system effectively but also demonstrates your commitment to their professional growth. Tailor the training to different roles and departments, ensuring everyone feels confident in their ability to contribute post-ERP implementation. Include hands-on workshops, interactive modules, and ongoing support to reinforce learning. Emphasize the potential for career development through mastering new technology and new processes, turning apprehension into enthusiasm. Recognize and celebrate milestones to keep morale high throughout the transition.

Focus on training. Use simple and didactic language. Remember, long texts with complicated language can cause confusion and aversion to ERP. If you use videos, make them short.

Eu costumo dizer, que 90% dos chamados que o suporte recebe, são em função de um treinamento ineficiente e atropelado. Não adianta despejar um caminhão de informações em uma equipe que nem sequer, conhece a lógica de funcionamento do ERP. Eu aprendi, em minha trajetória, que o treinamento de uma equipe ou um colaborador, pode demorar até 12 meses, dependendo da complexidade da atividade e nivel de compreensão de quem recebe o treinamento. É um processo, e que no final, vale a pena. Uma equipe bem treinada, não gera Suporte.

User guidances and acknowledge the business need in order to adjust the communication are key factors to be considered to provide a good training or the local teams.

An ERP implementation allows for new opportunities and increased volume of business so if you were a dealing with sales orders, inventory control or other processes manually, your knowledge will be still relevant after an ERP is in place but you will need to use the system and troubleshoot the issues in your area in a bit of a different way by becoming comfortable with that area in the new system. A new system will also probably allow to use and implement more features related to your area of expertise as well and that is where you can excel, contribute with more strategic vision to grow your area but also find more satisfaction and value in your daily tasks. So approach it with a positive mindset and you will have a job in the new era!

ERP and any tool is done mainly to do repetitive tasks letting people to focus on things that brings more value to organization and let them to be more creative. As long the tool works for people and not people for the tool, everyone should be happy. Important is to involve people early in the process, to revise, simplify and harmonize processes before any tool implementation. In this way you will ensure a good efficiency, quick adoption and happiness of the users by removing boring and time consuming activities.

As the ERP system automates routine tasks, redefine job roles to emphasize strategic, creative, and interpersonal aspects that add unique value beyond software capabilities. Engage with employees to discuss how their roles will evolve and explore new opportunities for them to engage in more meaningful and impactful work. This approach not only mitigates fears but also demonstrates a clear path for career advancement and personal growth within the evolving workplace landscape. Encourage employees to develop new skills, participate in cross-functional projects, and take on leadership roles, ensuring they see the ERP implementation as a catalyst for professional development and a more dynamic work environment.

Adapting work processes with the ERP tool is essential for its smooth operation. In other words, what was manual must be automated within the ERP. Therefore, the evaluation and vision of the key user are fundamental to the success of the ERP. The work definitions and parameters must come from the key user, and the consultancy must support them and, if necessary, suggest improvements.

É preciso um cuidado especial quanto a forma de falar sobre essa substituição, técnicas como reskilling e upskilling ajudam muito nesta transição.

While we analyze personal benefits, its also important to comprehend with risk profiling. As personal benefits are benchmarked and calibrated, its also important to highlight which one of the benefit is more prioritized, critical or important to any specific group of staffs, departments and levels. Hence, in order to ensure that right benefits are rightfully mapped, individual or group risk profiling gives the exposure of each risk factors associated with that individual or group. It helps to place impactful mitigation in place for any specific risks or isolate and triangulate any specific high-risk employee, department or level.

Emphasize the personal benefits of ERP implementation. Reduced manual data entry leads to less stress and fewer errors, improving job satisfaction. Highlight how real-time information empowers better decision-making and increases impact. Point out time savings from automated processes, allowing focus on more fulfilling tasks and enhancing work-life balance. This shifts the focus from job security to job enhancement and well-being.

Constantemente, nos deparamos com a insegurança nos colaboradores durante a implantação de novas ferramentas e Tecnologia... e está tudo bem... É inerente ao ser humano a resistência a mudança, no entanto, a mudança é, muitas vezes, o meio que permite, que os verdadeiros valores da empresa floresçam, diminuindo o retrabalho e permitindo assim, que os colaboradores dediquem seu tempo a tarefas mais nobres, com maior agilidade e eficiência. O segredo, e transformar essa insegurança, em um combustível motivacional, fazendo com que os envolvidos abracem a ideia, tornando-se assim, indivíduos comprometidos e verdadeiros agentes ativos na mudança proposta.

Emphasizing personal benefits helps employees see how the ERP implementation can improve their work experience. By reducing manual data entry, stress, and errors, the system can enhance job satisfaction. Real-time information empowers employees to make better decisions, increasing their impact on the company's success. This shift in focus from job security to job enhancement can help mitigate concerns and foster a positive outlook toward the new system.

The implementation of an ERP is always a big step for any company although also brings the companies performance to another level. Using an ERP will not directly oblige to reduce the Human Resources but to optimize their daily work in proper manner and organized. All the informations is controlled and managed “online” and facilitates an universal language inside the corporations.

Addressing misconceptions about ERP systems is crucial for fostering a positive environment during the rollout. By directly confronting fears related to job cuts or diminished roles, you can help alleviate anxiety and build trust among employees. This clarity reassures them that the ERP aims to enhance their skills and redirect efforts toward more impactful work, rather than replace them. Recognizing their unique contributions as irreplaceable assets helps strengthen morale and encourages a collaborative mindset. Overall, this step promotes a smoother transition and encourages a more engaged workforce throughout the implementation process.

Be transparent. If the functionality is complex or laborious, make this clear to the user. However, ensure that you convey your mastery of the complexity and your ability to provide a solution. Before presenting a solution to the user, conduct thorough tests, eliminate errors, and present the solution only for user validation. Remember, bugs, system errors, or setup errors are issues that must be corrected by the consultancy.

After implementation is time for the stabilization phase and start of the enhancements phase. The support in parallel with enhancements and adjustments is a main part in the project, the beginning will always be hard so the troubleshooting is normal and as a consultant the capacity to solve problems is tested.

Monitor the reports of open tickets in the Service Desk to evaluate the evolution of your users' knowledge. With this information, you will be able to define support strategies and future actions. This way, you will be able to provide better support and improve the quality of user service.

Para abordar las preocupaciones de los empleados sobre la seguridad laboral durante la implementación de un ERP, puedes: Comunicar Transparente: Informa sobre el proceso y beneficios del ERP. Involucrar a Empleados: Permite su participación y feedback. Capacitar: Ofrece formación para que se sientan seguros con el sistema. Resaltar Oportunidades: Enfatiza mejoras en eficiencia y nuevas oportunidades. Asegurar Estabilidad: Comunica que no necesariamente habrá recortes de personal. Establecer Canales de Retroalimentación: Facilita la expresión de inquietudes. Ofrecer Apoyo Psicológico: Brinda recursos para manejar el cambio. Estas acciones pueden ayudar a mitigar las preocupaciones sobre la seguridad laboral.