Importance of Comprehensive ERP Training

Training Isn't a "Side Thing" in Your F&O Implementation. Elif Item, MCT, MVP has run major D365 F&O implementations for 15 years. She's seen the pattern repeat over and over: projects treat change management and training as separate from the actual implementation work. That separation is killing adoption. We discussed why successful F&O implementations embed training into every project task rather than treating it as an add-on. Because here's the reality: you can have perfect technology, but if people don't use it, you won't get the ROI you promised the board. Three take aways about F&O training that you won't hear often: 1️⃣ Training isn't free just because you use internal resources. The "train the trainer" model sounds budget-friendly until you realize those internal champions still have their day jobs. Expecting them to build comprehensive training programs alongside their regular responsibilities is setting them up to fail. Training will cost you money and time whether you hire externally or do it internally. Plan for it. 2️⃣ The sales process sets you up for this mistake. Microsoft and implementation partners typically separate change management costs from implementation costs in their proposals. This makes the core implementation price look better, but it creates the illusion that training is optional or can be handled "later." By the time "later" arrives, you're already behind schedule and over budget. 3️⃣ Project management experience predicts training success. Elif noticed that customers with PM teams who've implemented ERPs before (even non-D365 systems) immediately understand that adoption drives outcomes. They demand better training plans. They push back on inadequate resources. They seek out specialists when the partner's plan feels thin. If you're implementing F&O and your project plan treats training as a line item rather than a core workstream, you're not planning for success. How is training and change management structured in your current or recent D365 implementation? Is it embedded in the project plan, or treated as a separate track?

The ERP Weak Spot No One Funds: Training Drift At go-live, everyone gets trained. Classrooms fill, quick guides circulate, consultants walk the floor. For a few weeks, the ERP hums. But months later, the slow fade begins. A new hire is shown shortcuts by a colleague who learned them second-hand. A manager invents a workaround to save time. An update changes a workflow no one explains. Piece by piece, the official playbook erodes—replaced by folklore and improvisation. This is how world-class systems quietly turn into patchwork. Reports stop matching. Processes diverge between regions. Leaders can’t tell if a gap is a data problem or a human problem. And by the time it’s visible, retraining feels like starting over. The truth? ERP isn’t a one-time education. It’s a living curriculum. The strongest organizations treat training as an evergreen cycle—refreshers, updates, peer sharing—so that what’s in people’s heads actually matches what’s in the system. Ignore drift, and the ERP doesn’t collapse dramatically. It decays—until nobody remembers how it was supposed to work in the first place.

More than half the UAT "defects" logged in a typical ERP implementation aren't bugs. They're just training failures. Picture this: The users are under pressure because they need to carry out User Acceptance Testing. The last time a consultant trained them to use the new application was months ago. They have no training manuals, only long Teams recordings of four hours each saved in a SharePoint site. The rest of the training material is in various emails, websites, blogs and, of course, YouTube playlists suggested by the PM (Real story, a PM once asked me to work on a YouTube Playlist of BC videos for a client!) When the user logs in, they see a screen that does not look like the same application; the new configuration and the data loaded make the app look different. The test script instructions are too vague; users click the wrong link and see an error message. Result? The new system doesn't work; better log a ticket in DevOps and go back to checking emails, the consultant will pick that up. Consultants should not spend time teaching users how to post a journal during UAT. If the system is configured correctly and the extensions work, UAT should go smoothly. Unfortunately, user training delivered too early and without a structure leads to UAT madness. The users are not happy; the consulting team gets busy showing users where to click. Strategise user training, make it bespoke and centralise training material so that users can find what they need, when they need it most. #ERP, #CRM

Most people think ERP is about systems, vendors, and go-live. But it’s actually about people, processes, and change. Because the hardest part isn’t launching the system. It’s getting people to actually use it. Here’s what really determines ERP success: → Employee buy-in from day one. → Ongoing training, not just at launch. → Trust, communication, and cultural shifts. → The ability to adapt processes, not just implement software. Without these? Deadlines slip. Resistance grows. And your “new system” becomes an expensive unused tool. ERP isn’t plug-and-play. It’s a transformation. Get the people part right, and everything else follows. PS. What’s the biggest ERP mistake you’ve seen? ♻️ Repost to help teams rethink ERP success. 👋 Follow Mariya Koteva for more insights on ERP & Change Management.

ERP systems don’t fail because of technology. They fail when people aren’t trained to use them with confidence. Most ERP programs focus on: • Configuration • Integrations • Go-live dates But success is decided after implementation. When users don’t understand the system, don’t trust the data, or don’t feel confident using it... Adoption slows. Workarounds grow. ROI quietly disappears. ERP success isn’t a software issue. It’s a training strategy. Because technology enables change but confident people deliver it! In your experience, where do ERP projects struggle most 👇 Implementation or Adoption...? #ERP #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement #EnterpriseSoftware #LearningAndDevelopment

Most businesses expect ERP to magically fix everything the moment it goes live. But ERP without proper training is basically installing a full home gym… and then using it as a clothes hanger. The system isn’t the problem. The potential is already there. What decides the outcome is how well your team understands it, practices it, and makes it part of their daily rhythm. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗱𝗱-𝗼𝗻 – 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸.

Why ERP Implementations Fail (And How You Can Get It Right) The other day, was reading some blogs and participating in a community discussion, I found myself reflecting on a key question: Why do so many ERP implementations fail when their purpose is to simplify and optimize business operations? This isn’t just a theoretical debate— it’s a real-world problem I’ve seen firsthand. ERP systems like SAP promise transformative results, but when things go wrong, they can derail an organization. As I read further and pieced together my experiences, three recurring reasons stood out: The Predictable Pitfalls: 1️⃣ Poor Planning = Missed Targets: • Many projects jump into execution without addressing the basics: clear goals, realistic timelines, and cross-functional alignment. A rushed foundation leads to cracks that show up during go-live. 2️⃣ Training as an Afterthought: • I’ve often seen end-users struggle post-implementation—not because the system is flawed but because they weren’t adequately trained. A great ERP system is useless if the people operating it don’t know how to use it. 3️⃣ One-Size-Fits-All Approach: • Every business is unique, and so should be its ERP configuration. Implementing a system that doesn’t align with your processes is like forcing a square peg into a round hole. How to Get It Right: 🛠️ Plan, Plan, Plan: A successful ERP project begins with meticulous planning. Define your goals, involve all stakeholders, and anticipate roadblocks. 📚 Invest in Training: Make training a priority from day one. Empower your team to embrace the system, not fear it. 🤝 Choose the Right Fit: Select a system that aligns with your business needs—not just the trendiest option. Customization is key, but over-customizing can backfire. A Personal Perspective: During a past project, I witnessed an ERP implementation struggle due to a lack of proper user training. What could’ve been a smooth transition turned into frustration for the team. It was a stark reminder: ERP success isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. ERP implementations are complex, but they’re not doomed to fail. With the right strategy, they can become a game-changer for businesses. Your Turn: • Have you experienced ERP success or failure? • What do you think organizations often overlook during implementation? Let’s turn this into a learning moment—drop your thoughts in the comments. #ERP #SAP #ERPImplementation #LessonsLearned #DigitalTransformation

Training should produce business results not tick boxes. Simply mandating an off-the-shelf e-learning module crammed into onboarding to say “we offer training” is a waste of their time and your money. Lining out an effective comprehensive training program to quickly ramp your teams to impact real metrics that matter and keep your talent from leaving isn’t complicated or costly. ✅ break needs by job role into onboarding-job skills-ongoing development buckets ✅ break topics into compliance, culture & role specific topics (all tied to top line metric impact) ✅ line out core programs, self study, awareness channels ✅ mix up delivery from instructor lead, Elearning, micro learnings, on the job training and self study It doesn’t need to be complicated, cumbersome or costly. What is the biggest roadblock you face to getting a program like this started?