The Importance of Business Process Documentation in Mid-Market ERP Projects

The contractor built my house from a plan. Toyota built my car from a plan. I’m typing on a computer built from a plan. Why not implement a mid-market ERP system from a plan?

Prospects love this idea until they hear it cannot be free. A good plan cannot be free, otherwise everyone could do it and there would be far more plans than projects. To expect either a smooth, undocumented implementation or a good, free plan is about as likely as driving on an interstate highway that is yet to be mapped out. Without a plan, every quote is just a guess and every Statement of Work is just a prayer. If one is contemplating the acquisition and implementation of a mid-market ERP program from which will come information to guide important future business decisions, then a plan is the right investment.

A good plan displays a company’s human resources and business processes on paper in chart form. The plan could be 75% graphic and 25% narrative and might cost $2,000-$7,500 or even more. However, it might provide the needed insurance against a project gone wild, and, most importantly, it will turn a guess into a quote.

- Brian Terrell, CPA and Managing Partner