Dragoș Sârbu is the Head of Operations at Trend Consult, a training and consulting company specializing in organizational development. They are preparing to go live with a new ERP system that complements their existing CRM, aiming to improve internal efficiency and productivity. Based on his experience, here are his tips for managers about to start a similar digital transformation project:
- Internal processes must be clearly defined and optimized before mapping them into IT applications. Otherwise, you risk automating inefficiencies and increasing costs unnecessarily.
- Clearly outline the path from “as is” to “to be”. Having structured steps helps both your team and your implementation partners stay aligned.
- Understand your actual business needs before launching a digitalization project.
- Integrations between systems (CRM, ERP, reporting tools, custom apps) are essential. A true “must-have”.
- Adoption is just as important as implementation. Ensure you have a solid change management plan. Without team buy-in, the risk of failure increases significantly.
- Ensure proper data governance before migrating to the new system. Also, have a solid backup and security policy in place.
- Set up a test environment for experimentation. You’ll need it for training and for testing future developments.
- When choosing a vendor, remember that intangible benefits matter. Communication, business understanding, and attentiveness can outweigh any discount.
- If you already have a reliable vendor, keep them close. Strong relationships are critical in complex implementations.
- You need a project coordinator who understands both business and IT. Experience matters — without it, you may choose based on price and end up paying more in the long run.
Are you starting a digitalization project or want to share your experience? Reach out — we’d love to have a conversation.