Signs Your NetSuite Implementation Is Failing

Many businesses choose to implement NetSuite in order to streamline their processes, helping boost productivity by reducing barriers between different business functions. This cloud-based business management software frees up infrastructure for other tasks while also allowing seamless integration between CRM, accounting, inventory management, and other essential functionalities.

While there are many benefits to NetSuite, it's also quite expensive. A NetSuite implementation can cost $25,000 for a small business using only some functionalities, but it can quickly balloon to a million dollars or more for international businesses that need the full suite – and that's just the implementation.

Given that this subscription-based service requires frequent maintenance and continuing costs, there's a lot riding on an implementation, making failure a dangerous mistake. Thankfully, there are NetSuite project rescue companies like getgsi.com who can help get your project back on track, but you need to know when to call them for help. Today, we'll discuss some of the signs that your implementation is failing so you're ready to find a vendor who can assist.

Plans Keep Changing

While it's typical for plans to be adjusted slightly to accommodate delays, there should be a coherent narrative. The vast majority of implementation comes down to meticulous planning, which includes the scope of the project, the timeline, and the expected outcomes. This is especially so for timelines, as a missed deadline can cause a cascade effect that pushes back the finished project for months or even years.

If you feel like you're getting emails every other day about adjustments or you're continually drawn into more planning meetings, it may be time to take the foot off the gas pedal and call in experts who can assist. These consultants will review your current work and create a better roadmap to success based on their vast experience, taking into account all factors of the implementation.

Everyone Has Different Expectations

When implementing an ERP, everyone needs to be on the same page. All stakeholders should be familiar with NetSuite, why you're using it, and what exactly will be implemented at what time. While it's not necessary for every single employee to recite the exact timeline and all the modalities you will be using, they should all have about the same idea about what is happening and when.

If not everyone understands what is happening, this is a sign that you need to get together and reiterate expectations, then reassess the project goals. For example, if one team insists that you will be rolling out invoice management through NetSuite right away, but you actually intend to use an API and maintain your current software system until the later stages, this is a serious issue that signifies a major communication breakdown. You should have a project rescue team come in and ensure that everyone understands what's happening, as otherwise, you may have cliques derailing the project by working on their own unauthorized facets.

You're Way Over Budget

It's not uncommon for projects of this scale to go over budget: you may have been too optimistic when developing your plans, especially if you were not working with a consultant who is highly familiar with NetSuite and can give you an accurate estimate of how much it will cost. However, if you see that you're spending far more than what you expected with careful research, you have a serious issue that must be rectified. This may signify project creep, which is a serious concern with implementations and can scuttle your plans as you continue to pour money into a scattershot project that doesn't have a clear focus.

You're Experiencing Higher Turnover

This is a key metric that is often lost in the shuffle when planning a project. A positive workplace culture is critical for retention, which is key to success for a business. Keeping employees ensures you retain your knowledge base, spend less money on onboarding, and reassure remaining employees about your company's stability. However, a NetSuite implementation is both costly and stressful, often pushing employees to the limit while they focus on juggling both their everyday tasks and learning the new elements of an ERP.

While employees may care about your business, they also need to worry about their own finances and work-life balance; the failure of a large implementation may make them concerned about the financial solvency of the business and create difficulties in managing stress. Some employee turnover is to be expected, but if you find yourself losing key players in the implementation, it may be because they recognize the warning signs and want to jump before they are blamed for issues with the implementation. Be sure to conduct thorough exit interviews to identify these issues so you know when to call in experts.

Conclusion

A NetSuite implementation is a serious endeavor that cannot be taken lightly, especially given that over a quarter of projects fail on the first go. You need to have a full understanding of what enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is and how it works so that you can communicate this to your employees; you also need to be able to identify the warning signs of a failing project so you can get help before the whole thing falls apart.

It's always a good idea to have a professional NetSuite consultant available to you throughout the project, as they have worked on dozens of implementations and will be familiar with the process. However, if this doesn't match your budget, don't hesitate to bring in an expert when you see concerning metrics – before everything fails.