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ERP initiatives are significant undertakings, requiring time, resources, and alignment across the organization. Yet despite the investment, many fall short. According to Gartner, more than 70% of recent ERP projects failed to fully meet their intended business outcomes. The issue is rarely the technology alone, it’s often how the change is managed.
Most ERP Projects Don’t Meet Expectations
ERP is frequently treated as a technical implementation rather than a strategic business transformation. Without clear alignment to enterprise goals and meaningful engagement from stakeholders, the initiative risks becoming a costly system rollout with limited value. The evidence is telling: 87% of organizations that have implemented ERP applications plan to replace or upgrade them within three years, and 75% of ERP strategies are not strongly aligned with overall business strategy.
IT leaders must reframe ERP as a long-term enabler of operational improvement and organizational agility. This shift requires addressing the human side of change, not just the technical aspects.
Figure 1: Three Key Elements of a Successful ERP Strategy
Engage the Right Stakeholders from the Start
Building a well-rounded ERP team is critical. Success depends on more than just technical experts, it requires input from business leaders, end users, and individuals who understand both the pain points and the potential.
Engage cross-functional stakeholders early: finance, operations, HR, and others who will be impacted. Involve superusers who can advocate for adoption and include those willing to challenge the status quo. This approach not only builds trust but also ensures decisions reflect real-world needs.
Define and Communicate a Clear Vision
A successful ERP initiative begins with clarity. What outcomes are you working toward, faster reporting, streamlined processes, improved forecasting? These goals must be defined early and communicated consistently.
Facilitate alignment through workshops, discussions, and clear messaging that connects the ERP effort to broader strategic objectives. Go beyond “go-live” milestones and focus on what success looks like in the months and years that follow.
Make the Change Meaningful for End Users
ERP success is not just about functionality it’s about adoption. If users don’t see the value, they’re unlikely to change how they work.
- Seek input from subject matter experts and process owners while developing value stories
- Communicate using familiar terms and goals to create an emotional connection and foster ownershipHelp users adopt a “what’s in it for us” mindset by connecting improvements to the employee experience
- Educate users about the strategic goals of the ERP initiative and highlight their individual roles in achieving them
- Promote long-term change based on shared ambition
How Crowe Can Help
At Crowe, we help organizations turn ERP from a system upgrade into a strategic transformation. With deep experience across industries and close partnerships with leading platforms like SAP, we guide clients in aligning ERP initiatives with business goals, from planning through to adoption and beyond.