This is the first thing we hear from new and existing clients right between the 3-6 month periods after a go-live on a new ERP system. Largely prevalent with those running SAP, but we still hear these stories from more than a half dozen different MRP \ ERP systems.

So we want to say this: “Call us BEFORE you go live!”

We receive dozens of these calls every year and it often leaves our jaw on the floor. All these companies have the same problem, and if they would plan for this before going live we could get them the talent they need to stop this from happening. Some of our executive search consultants have been part of implementations and are aware of the first month or two of “hell”. But it seems once the data in your old system can no longer be a crutch, you don’t know what to build or ship. Planning for what is going to happen 6 month’s out is critical.

Our most famous call in went like this “Its 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and our inbound EDI and master data is unreliable. We don’t know what to build and our Christmas shipments represent over 30% of our annual sales!” (Retail Client CPG)

Here is the thing, they went live over 6 months prior!

We have helped turnaround a lot of nearly failed ERP implementations but without time we cannot help you. In the case above even if we reached out to our Manufacturing and Supply Chain ERP contacts, the likelihood of them being able to start a new position quickly, locally, let alone having to relocate is almost impossible.

Plan ahead. If you’re going live you can bank on having Demand \ Planning issues, call us months before you go live and let us leverage our 15 years of Manufacturing, Supply Chain and ERP recruiting experience to get you the right workforce to help avoid these costly issues.