Cloud ERP implementations are tricky. Lots can go wrong and things often have to “shift right”, this may be due to resource challenges or to allow more time for design or to avoid high numbers of testing defects.
In my experience of working on cloud ERP implementations training often gets pushed to the right when things are getting tight and re-prioritisation is needed.
The Road to Successful User Adoption
The road to training and user adoption success should start early in the project lifecycle, ideally during the planning phase.
Why begin so early?
At this time relationships can be built with other members of the project team, subject matter experts and stakeholders. Information can be gathered from them and used to create the Training Needs Analysis.
A TNA is used to gather details such as the numbers of people that will need training and the types of training that will be appropriate. The information will be used for decision making and influenced by factors such as key business dates e.g. year end and the training locations. A key output from the TNA is the training schedule which defines who, where, how and when to train.
When is best?
“Timing is Everything!”
– Buck Brannaman
Some programmes I have been involved in have taken the decision to either leave training delivery until the weeks leading up to go live or due to timeline slippage training has been pushed back until the last possible weeks. So what can be the impact of this? In my experience I have seen :
- A lack of alignment with project and change communications.
- Learners unable to mentally prepare for the changes.
- Limited or no time available for practice and learning reinforcement.
- Training delegates feeling they are being “short changed”.
- A higher volume of user errors occurring post go-live.
- Post go-live an increase in the volume of incidents reported to service desk.
Training too early can be as detrimental as training too late. Too early and trainees may have forgotten what they learnt when the time comes for them to apply their knowledge. My recommendation is to plan to deliver training around 8 weeks prior to go live.
The Benefits of Right Time Training
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Training people well includes taking responsibility to ensure they are trained at the right time. Statistics from the IDC show that for ERP implementations where people are well trained 90% of milestones are met when moving to cloud. Also the IDC found that there was 82% satisfaction with the speed of adoption when people are well trained. In my experience the benefits of training well and at the right time also includes:
- Positive affects on staff morale and engagement
- Improved retention of knowledge
- Increased productivity
- Fewer user errors
- Increased staff enthusiasm towards training & opportunities for further learning
Go Live – It’s not the end..
“Change is the end result of all true learning.”
– Leo Buscaglia
Once the training has been delivered and go-live achieved that’s not the end of the learning journey. Sometimes there can be a need for:
- Further support for particular process pain points
- A reminder of what to do when following a once a year process such as year end
- Support with continuous process improvement activities
This is where benefits can be gained in providing support via methods such as floor walking during & after go-live, introducing peer support networks (superusers who share their knowledge), offering bite sized refresher video courses or implementing tools such as Oracle Guided Learning providing live in application direct support.
At Fudgelearn we have expertise with all of these, so get in touch to ensure the success of your cloud ERP implementation training program.
Helpful Links:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/10/27/realizing-the-shift-in-erp-training/
