Why Process Redesign Must Come Before ERP

The Sequence Problem

Here's a pattern we see constantly:

Company decides they need ERP → Selects vendor → Implements software → Realizes their processes don't work → Tries to fix processes mid-implementation → Project goes off the rails.

The sequence is wrong. Process redesign must come before ERP implementation.

Why Sequence Matters

Reason 1: You Can't Configure What You Can't Define

ERP configuration requires clear process definitions. If your processes are undocumented or inconsistent, you'll spend the entire implementation trying to figure out how things should work—while paying expensive consultants to wait.

Reason 2: Bad Processes Get Baked In

Once processes are configured in ERP, they're hard to change. If you configure based on your current (broken) processes, you've just made those problems permanent.

Reason 3: Change Management Becomes Impossible

When you change processes AND systems simultaneously, people get overwhelmed. They don't know if problems are due to new processes or new software. Everything becomes confusing.

The Right Sequence

Phase 1: Process Discovery

Map your current processes honestly. Include the workarounds, the exceptions, the "we just do it this way" steps.

Phase 2: Process Redesign

Design how processes SHOULD work. Eliminate unnecessary steps. Standardize variations. Define clear ownership.

Phase 3: Process Stabilization

Implement the new processes manually first. Work out the kinks. Train people.

Phase 4: Technology Selection

NOW evaluate technology options. You can clearly define requirements because you know how processes work.

Phase 5: Implementation

Configure the system to match your designed (and tested) processes. This is dramatically faster and cheaper.

The Time Argument (And Why It's Wrong)

"We don't have time to redesign processes first. We need ERP now."

We hear this constantly. Here's the reality: companies that skip process redesign spend 2-3x longer on implementation, because they're doing process redesign during implementation—the most expensive possible time to do it.

The ROI of Getting Sequence Right

Companies that redesign processes before ERP see:

• 30-40% faster implementations
• 50% fewer change requests
• 80%+ user adoption (vs. 50% for those who don't)
• Faster time to value

The Bottom Line

Process redesign before ERP isn't optional—it's essential. The companies that understand this get their transformation. The ones that don't get expensive disappointment.

Ready to do it right? Let's talk about process transformation.