If you’ve read our Coffin Analogy post, you’ll know the danger of choosing the wrong ERP — forcing your business to “fit into the coffin” of a system that doesn’t align with your needs. But here’s the twist: even if you choose the right ERP, a poor implementation can still bury your business in inefficiency and frustration.
ERP failures don’t always happen because the software is weak. More often, it’s because the implementation went wrong.
Horror Story 1: The ERP That Looked Good on Paper
A large multinational once rolled out a powerful ERP system across its global operations. The goal was noble — to improve visibility and efficiency.
The reality? The entire organization ended up restructuring processes just to fit the ERP’s rules. Employees were frustrated. Processes became slower, not faster. Instead of enabling the business, the system dictated how things had to be done.
The result: inefficiency at scale, exactly what the ERP was meant to prevent.
Horror Story 2: When Data Integrity Disappears
Another company’s pre-ERP process took 1–2 days. Post-ERP? The same task ballooned to 2–4 weeks. Why?
Because staff were spending more time figuring out how to enter data. The ERP’s structure didn’t match how the business had always tracked information, leading to inconsistent entries. And as if that wasn’t enough, the system enforced extra layers of approvals that slowed the workflow even further.
The chaos only deepened. Management reports became inaccurate, previous reports no longer matched the new ones, and confidence in the data collapsed.
Frustrated staff even started keeping parallel Excel files to make sense of their work. Two versions of the truth, and neither fully trusted.
And the saddest part? Feedback from ground-level users was raised early — but brushed aside. By the time the system went live, it was too late.
Why ERP Projects Derail
Looking closer, it wasn’t just bad luck — it was bad execution. Here are the most common pitfalls:
- KPI mismatch between project team and ground users
The project team’s KPI is often “go live on time and on budget.” For ground staff, the KPI is efficiency. When these goals clash, user needs get ignored in favor of hitting deadlines, creating a system that “works” technically but fails practically. - Ignoring the people who use the system daily
Decisions made at management level often miss how work really gets done. Ground users understand the workflow details, and their opinion matters. Ignoring or brushing off their feedback leaves blind spots that become disasters later. - Weak or skipped UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
Testing with just the project team is not enough. The real users — those who will log in every day — must test and validate the workflows. Without them, issues surface only after go-live. - Lack of departmental super users
Every department should have super users — people trained deeply in the new ERP who act as bridges between the project team and daily operations. Yes, super user licenses often cost more than regular ones, but skimping here is the classic case of saving a penny to lose a pound. Without them, adoption stalls and small issues snowball into major disruptions. - Forcing the business to bend unnaturally
ERP should align with business processes, not force the business to abandon what works. Over-customization or unnecessary restructuring is a fast track to inefficiency.
Lessons for SMEs
ERP is a major investment. Done right, it transforms efficiency, visibility, and decision-making. Done wrong, it drains time, morale, and money.
Here’s how SMEs can tilt the odds in their favor:
- Involve employees across all levels early and often.
- Align project KPIs with operational needs.
- Make UAT a non-negotiable stage.
- Appoint super users in every department.
- Budget realistically for implementation, not just licenses.
Closing Thoughts
ERP backfires are not myths. They happen when implementation is rushed, mishandled, or done without listening to the right people.
The good news? These mistakes are avoidable. With the right preparation, the right people, and the right mindset, ERP can deliver exactly what it promises — efficiency, clarity, and growth.
If you’re planning your ERP journey, remember — success isn’t just about the system, it’s about how you bring it to life.
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