3 Ways ERP Training Improves User Buy-In

ERP users are mostly your employees and they are what keeps your business running well and making money. When they are really engaged, the business runs even better. Employees and users want the tools to do their jobs and they want opportunities to grow and learn. What better place to start than ERP?

1) Initial ERP Training Establishes User Buy-In

All will want to know what screens are needed to input their transactions. They will also need to know how their work affects other users downstream in the process flow and most will also want to know something about user transactions upstream as those affect that user’s work directly. Users should also be trained in using ERP suggestions to help with any decision making they need to make in their day. Good training helps with the job and, more importantly, it helps with acceptance of the ERP and the changes it causes to all.

2) Train Users In How to Achieve Their Goals Using the ERP

You defined some expected benefits when you selected the ERP. Your users have their own benefits they hope for and probably those align with the business expectations. Many users will need help, especially if they never had such an opportunity in the past. Talk about the business goals and your own. Show them how ERP will help achieve them. Help them develop their own ERP goals and give them the training to make them possible. Those benefits could be simply an easier user access. Help users align their goals to the organization goals and be sure their ERP training includes how the ERP system will help them and the enterprise.

3) Relate ERP Training Back to Change Management Processes

Many users got their jobs done with no problems yesterday. Was the change made to enable some particular improvements in products or processes? Train your ERP users to transition from old processes to the new system and they will see for themselves, your change management promises were well founded. Even if their job will not change at all, they are part of the whole enterprise. Maybe the change was caused by customer requirements. If the ERP was not updated or replaced, the customer might have moved to the competitor and their job could have moved overseas. Most users will accept the necessity once trained and comfortable with the new ERP.

Treat your users fairly. Respect them and train them well in all aspects and there will be few problems with acceptance of ERP.