How businesses can support employees when a change is coming: from a new ERP to a new module

There are 58,127 medium-sized manufacturing enterprises, who have between 50 and 249 employees, in the EU – the highest of any sector in 2023. For the past decade, ambitious mid-sized manufacturers have been investing in digital tools, including cloud-based ERP systems, and exploring how automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) could be integrated into operations to improve efficiency and performance.

Far from taking jobs from people, the rise of automation has gone hand in hand with ongoing skills shortages. It’s estimated that there are 10 million manufacturing jobs worldwide which are vacant because of a lack of high-skilled workers. Research also shows that one in four manufacturing enterprises in the EU are struggling with shortages, and they are becoming a serious problem for the majority of SMEs.

With this ongoing challenge, manufacturers know they need to retain and upskill their existing staff. The European Commision offers funding for reskilling and upskilling workers as part of Europe’s Digital Decade, which aims to digitally transform EU businesses. It wants 75% of companies to use the cloud, AI or big data; for 90% of SMEs to reach a level of digital intensity, and 20 million IT professionals by 2030.

Changing your ERP?

To achieve this, many manufacturers will be looking to update their ERP software to digitise their operations, improve efficiency, streamline their processes and enhance visibility for more informed decision-making.

Modern solutions like ECI’s Ridder iQ ERP software are cloud based so offer improved security, accessibility and scalability to meet business needs. Modern solutions like this also provide advanced features and functions like customer relationship management, automatically generated orders and document management. As well as the technology itself, they might also be looking to change providers because they want better service and value-for-money.

Any kind of change must be handled carefully to ensure your employees are fully onboard. Some may feel nervous about moving across, especially if they’ve used their existing system for years. They may also be worried about how the automated aspects of your new ERP will impact their job, and whether they’ll need to learn new technical skills.

A full-scale ERP change or a new module is a big investment for any company, so you need to be sure that it delivers value. It’s essential that you get your team onboard, so that they can get up to speed quickly.

How can manufacturers manage a change in technology?

Whether it be a new module on an existing system, or a completely new ERP, preparing your team will put them at ease, allow for a seamless transition and improve their engagement. Here are just a few ways you can help them.

Training sessions

By offering training sessions, you can reduce any concerns about moving to a new system. Your staff will feel more confident when using the technology, and you can even provide documents and videos for them to refer back to before the new system goes live.

Many ERP providers offer services and training so that you get the most from your new technology. Our own department is made up of a team of experts who can offer virtual training, consultations and schedule regular calls to answer any questions you may have.

Appoint a champion

Appoint someone who is confident with technology as a super-user who can help get buy-in from the team. This person can help train your less confident employees, answer questions and address any concerns. The super-user should be enthusiastic about helping and offer hands-on support, and can escalate any concerns or questions to senior managers and/or the software provider.

Regular communication

It’s essential to keep in touch with your team before, during and after the implementation. This can help to improve collaboration and motivation, and best of all – your team members will feel supported.

Whether you provide updates through a staff newsletter, email or intranet, you will help your team understand the goals and expectations around the new technology. You can also provide them with progress updates on how the technology is helping the business to keep momentum going.

You could produce a list of FAQs for common concerns and share any tips or resources that you have found. It’s important to encourage your workers to give feedback to their line managers on the technology so you can address any queries.

Testing

Before you go ahead with implementing the new system, it is worth testing it on a small scale first. This way you can identify any issues before rolling it out across the site.

It will also give you an opportunity to provide training to plug any skills and knowledge gaps, and you can build a small team of more experienced superusers who can offer extra support and guidance to the wider team. You can also optimise your implementation strategy to make the change seamless across the business.

Ultimately, upgrading your technology can transform your business. ECI offers industry-specific software with a 96% customer satisfaction rating. The training and support goes further than the implementation stage, and we work with you to ensure that you are getting the most out of your software.