According to research conducted by Gartner, 75% of all software implementations fail. A new software ERP that fails to go live means that the time and money invested into selecting a system was wasted and the process needs to begin again. It also leaves teams who were excited for the additional support in their roles disappointed.

Here are the 5 main obstacles encountered during software implementations, and tips for how your organization can overcome them:

Research

Before signing the deal with a software vendor, property management companies should invest time into researching each platform available to them. In addition to evaluating the pros and cons of the functionality of an ERP system, decision makers should look at the team behind the software. Consider what tactics they leverage for implementation, training, data migration, and support to assess how it aligns with your business model. The best property management software providers will be flexible with their style of implementation to best serve your organizations specific needs.

Planning

In 2016, 74% of ERPs Implementations resulted in cost overruns, which means that many organizations did not strategically plan and budget for the adoption of their software system.

Cloud-based ERPs are certainly cost-effective, often they save organizations from unnecessary operating costs resulting in increased profitability, if planned for correctly. Before commencing implementation, determine who you will need, what resources you will need, and how often you will need them. Communicate with your software vendor for their suggestions and plan accordingly. Before budgeting, evaluate what the exact costs for leveraging the software from implementation to training and going live with the system.

Timeline & Expectations

65% of organizations set unrealistic expectations for their implementation process.

Goals for going live are hardly attainable when there are no strategic benchmarks and timelines set to support success. ERPs are vast and comprehensive platforms that require a significant time investment at the beginning, so it’s important that you manage your expectations, as well as your team’s expectations. Be clear that there will inevitably be some challenges and go-live dates won’t be instant. A rushed implementation can leave users poorly prepared when left to leverage system capabilities on their own.

To ensure an adequate timeline, property management companies should work with their software vendor to evaluate how every step of implementation is progressing, while vendors should enable flexibility and allow for changes in the timeline that better suit each organization.

Reluctance

82% of organizations struggle with software implementations because of a widespread resistance to change.

A new software can sometimes receive push back in the workplace and that attitude can become widespread, but good change management can be the fix. 43% of software implementations were initiated without a change management program, while 46% of teams felt no compulsion to change. A sophisticated change management program equips organizations at the start of implementation with the strategic data and benefits tailored to various roles that minimize reluctance and encourage teams to embrace change.

Data Transfer

Your new software vendor should be readily-prepared to guide your with a variety of options that facilitate data migration for the totality of your portfolio. An ineffective or inefficient data transfer from your existing software to your newly acquired platform can derail the success of your implementation. The functionality of your ERP is completely dependent on the existence of data. With thousands of intricate details, data migration requires a direct and streamlined system, preferably an automated upload.