Duration of an ERP implementation will depend on many factors. Company size, coordination between management companies and complexity of operations are some of the main factors influencing the duration of ERP implementation process. In usual cases, an ERP implementation program may take from 6 months to 2 years to complete. Complexity of work is one of the main reasons responsible for such a long duration. An ERP implementation process will start with understanding the customer requirements. After understanding the specific needs of business, ERP consultant will map the customer requirements and work accordingly. Mapping work itself may take several days to complete. Actual duration vary according to the complexity of implementing ERP software.

After mapping the requirements of business, it is the role of an ERP consultant to do further job according to the needs. He should be capable to provide best solution as per the client requirements. Preparing the proof of concept is another main work done by an ERP consultant. For preparing this proof of work, it may take 15 days to 1 month duration. Implementation process of ERP software will start only after the approval of this proof of concept. Before implementing, documentation process is another important task done by ERP consultants. Documentation in ERP implementation is done according to the customer requirements and solution proposed.

Documents prepared as a part of ERP implementation process are reviewed by project heads and company owners. Changes in implementation process are done during GAP analysis. After GAP analysis, ERP consultants will do their further job by coordinating with ERP core team. Customization of modules is another procedure carried out in implementation process. Process of customization is usually done when the operations are too complex or difficult to perform. Coordination between team members is a main factor consuming time during an implementation process.

According to studies, it is found that each and every module of ERP system software is interrelated. Failure of any module will lead to the failure of whole process. This is one of the main answers for the question why do most ERP implements so long to complete. Hence you need to take great care while implementing ERP system software. Communication between vendor and customer plays a great role while implementing ERP software. Technical terms used in implementation field may cause difficulty in communication between vendor and customer. This can delay the progress of work to a limit. Creating user guide play a great role in implementing ERP project. This task is usually done by functional ERP consultant before signing off the project. It can also take some considerable amount of project time.

Read about ERP Implementation Best Practices. Also know Advantages of ERP.

Before actual ERP implementation begins functional consultant or team of functional consultants need to study and analyze entire work flow and all the processes of the organization where ERP has to be implemented. Such organizations are mostly large organizations with many offices, work locations and huge staff, studying the entire working of such organizations requires time and effort. Also functional consultants discuss the present style of working with staff that is already stuffed with their daily tasks, this slows down the speed of gathering information and consumes lot of time. Once information gathering is over then functional consultants start analyzing the system and when there analysis is over actual implementation begins. Slowness in execution of the steps in which local staff needs to get involved is one of the major reasons why most ERP implementations take so long to complete.

Functional consultants Map the requirements, problem areas, inefficient processes and suggest new processes, automation of certain processes and other changes to improve functioning and increase profit margins. Management of the organization buying ERP has to accept or reject these changes. Since purchasing and implementing ERP involves lot of money and effort hence management takes lot of precautions before reaching a decision, also giving up old processes and making big changes in the working appears scary to the management. Most of the times delay in receiving green signal from the management delays the implementation process, this is another reason why most ERP implementation takes so long to complete.

Technical problem is another reason why most ERP implementation takes so long to complete. Mostly organizations have small software which their staff uses for their daily tasks like small accounting software or inventory/warehouse management software etc. These software contain crucial data in their database which cannot be ignored, in most of the cases linking the database of these software with large database of ERP or establishing links for reporting tools of ERP so that entries made through these software can be reflected in the reports becomes nightmare for technical consultants. Overcoming these problems can take more time than expected and is one of the important reasons why most ERP implementations take so long to complete.

Apart from these, ERP implementation can face delays due to innumerable reasons, largely the volume and size of organizations and also of ERP application is the main reason why most ERP implementation take so long to complete.

Read about ERP Implementation Cost Timeframe. Also know Causes of ERP Failure.