Transform Your ERP Project with Ready-to-Use Resources!
You will have access to ready-to-use downloadable resources that will guide you through every step of the ERP Project, including:
- Over 6 modules with 30+ lessons
- Sample Projects and outputs, what you should expect to see
- Checklists
- Models and Spreadsheet templates
- Discussion and communication plans for internal and external resources
- Checklist of questions to vendors / partners
Module 1 - Introduction to ERP and Implementation Challenges
A practical, leadership-focused guide to ERP success—covering core concepts, common pitfalls, shadow systems, and the CIO’s pivotal role in driving vision, alignment, and lasting transformation.
Unveiling Shadow ERP - The Hidden Workarounds in Your Systems
Shadow ERP hides in spreadsheets and manual steps—users describe ERP usage, but critical in-between processes remain invisible during discovery.
The Wheel of Pain - Why 25% of ERP Projects Fail
ERP’s “wheel of pain”: 25% fail, 25% succeed, but success often means minimal functionality—just running, not meeting true expectations.
The Shocking Truth About ERP Projects
ERP projects rarely succeed—presentation on rescue stories grew into hour-long discussion as attendees shared failures, challenges, and hard-learned lessons.
The Relentless Nature of Operations
Without control, operations drag organizations endlessly—reverse engineering is essential to prevent being consumed, ensuring strategy stays intentional, not reactive.
The Inherent Struggle Between Efficiency and Software Complexity
Education emphasized faster, better, cheaper—yet software evolves oppositely: every release adds complexity, cost, difficulty in installation, maintenance, and training.
The High Stakes of ERP Careers and Companies at Risk
A failed ERP implementation can destroy companies and careers—the risks are severe, making poor execution as damaging as outright failure.
The Hidden Risk in Demos - A Hard Truth About ERP Failures
Every single failed ERP project started with a demo
The Harsh Reality of ERP Project Success
By strict criteria—on time, on budget, delivering promised scope—no ERP project has ever truly been successful.
The Budget Illusion - When Numbers Don't Reflect Reality
ERP budgets often start with unrealistic numbers—teams implement anyway, fearing pushback, while true costs and challenges remain unaddressed with leadership.
The $10 Million Tech Reality Check
ERP success requires prioritization—focus on getting the core system running first, before spending years and millions chasing shiny, nonessential features.
Stop Complaining, Start Acting!
A wake-up call: stop complaining, act. ERP projects need basics-focused implementation—simpler, orderly, less costly, reducing risks of delays and failure.
Revealing Your Budget - A Dangerous Game!
Sharing internal budget numbers is risky—it’s like giving strangers all personal details, exposing your financial resources to misuse.
Is Your New ERP System Actually Worth It
Before implementing ERP, ask how it saves money, generates revenue, or creates competitive advantage—otherwise, it’s just expensive tracking software.
Focus Like a Laser - Prioritize What Really Matters!
Prioritize critical business needs first—avoid being distracted by shiny new features that overwhelm essential ERP functionality and processes.
ERP Projects - More Than Just a Tech Experiment
ERP sales often oversell simplicity—expecting sharp IT teams to clean data with templates, but reality makes successful data conversion unlikely.
Beware of the Hidden Traps in Project Proposals!
Most ERP proposals miss key change order risks—without accounting, small adjustments can double costs and timelines, setting projects up for inevitable disappointment.
Module 4 - Financial Planning & Analysis
Ensure critical and future-ready reporting survives ERP change. This chapter dives into gathering, modernizing, and enhancing reporting with smart FP&A during ERP transformation.
Who Approves the Big Bucks - Inside Financial Workflow Design
Designing ERP workflows reveals true needs—like department heads requiring spending visibility—highlighting importance of defining dimensional controls in procure-to-pay processes.
The Traditional Desk Dilemma - Growing Line of Business
Explains how dimensional accounting streamlines financial reporting, accountability, and approvals across lines of business, replacing flat charts with layered structures for clarity.
The High Stakes of Getting Report Formats Exactly Right
Highlights common organizational demand to replicate existing processes exactly in new systems, often creating risk, resistance, and unrealistic expectations during implementation.
The Essential Features of Modern Financial Reporting Tools
Emphasizes operational and ad hoc reporting as essential table stakes, while highlighting added value from advanced visualization, charts, and extended reporting functionality.
The Complex World of Finance Reorganization - Why It's No Small Feat
Stresses that chart of accounts changes require a dedicated mini project, as accountants and controllers are too busy with daily operations.
The Busy Bees don't have time for ERP Implementation
Warns that stakeholders forget spreadsheet approvals on large line items, later questioning decisions and causing delays, confusion, and scope challenges in projects.
Surprising Truth About Accountants' Daily Tasks
Explains why AP staff lack project availability—most time spent fielding coding, expense, and reporting questions—highlighting need for self-service financial collaboration tools.
Is a $100K Tesla a Good Business Purchase
Discusses using LOBs and departments as dimensions—shifting from cost to revenue centers—for better financial reporting, accountability, and organizational decision-making.
From 2D to 3D - Revolutionizing Financial Dimensions
Explains moving from flat 2D chart of accounts to layered 3D dimensional reporting, with line of business as the primary dimension.
Creating Patterns in System Implementation
Highlights defining collaboration rules within systems, emphasizing streamlined chart of accounts—from overwhelming 900 lines to a manageable 200–300 for clarity.
Always Label Your Boxes Before Moving – ERP Insights
Stresses labeling and understanding inventory or data upfront, collaborating with key stakeholders to identify all necessary reports before migration or implementation.
Module 5 - Hidden Challenges of ERP Data
ERP success hinges on data. This module reveals hidden pitfalls in data conversion and shares expert insights on avoiding costly oversimplification during ERP migration.
ERP Data - More Complex Than You Think!!
ERP data migration feels like rocket science, but with preparation, AI tools, and the right partners, clean data and successful transitions are absolutely achievable.
It’s More Than Just Duping Records!
ERP data migration is complex—beyond cleaning duplicates, it requires handling missing fields, mismatched structures, transformations, and industry-specific application needs.
Laughing to Avoid Crying in ERP Failures due to Data
ERP failures are common and serious; complex global rollouts often struggle less with processes, more with messy, unprepared, and mismanaged data.
Legacy Systems - The Hidden Challenge of Data Migration
Legacy ERP systems often embed multiple data points into item numbers, causing complexity and duplication during migration, especially with configurable products.
Revealing Shocking Data Duplication
Duplicate vendor part numbers in spreadsheets cause inventory confusion, unnecessary reorders, warehouse waste, and increased capital costs in ERP systems.
Rush Orders by Helicopter - The High Stakes of Customer Fulfillment
Poor data causes costly rush orders—clean, accurate inventory information prevents expensive expediting, ensures order fulfillment, proper invoicing, and reduces unnecessary operational costs.
Simplifying Complex ERP Data Problems
ERP projects succeed with clean data upfront—like a pristine engine—but without proper controls, user interactions quickly corrupt data and compromise results.
Streamline ERP Projects with This Key Strategy
Separate ERP data management into its own project with dedicated team, budget, and timeline to ensure control, focus, governance, and cost visibility.
The Silent Killer of ERP Projects - Data Conversion Failure
ERP data conversion and migration are often underestimated—delays, poor quality, and lack of upfront planning cause high costs and operational failures.
Learn more details about ERP Success Academy
Top FAQs on ERP Success Academy (ESA) Course
How long will I have access to the content? Will the course expire?
I encourage you to dive into the course immediately so you can begin to understand the necessary steps to select and implement ERP for your company. Because this process to fully plan and prepare for an ERP project can take as long as 2-3 years, you have access to the course materials for three years from the date of enrollment to access the course. This means you will have ample time to work your way through the modules or come back to them at a later date to renew and refresh.
My time is limited, how much time will I need to set aside each week for the content?
The great thing about ERP Success Academy is it is a go-at-your-own-pace course / ERP Class Online; it will differ for everyone. The entire course is delivered to you at once. We may have additional bonus content available later, but you will be alerted at the time of availability. Some students start at the beginning, others jump to a particular module or lesson that is most meaningful to them at this moment. It’s completely up to you. I recommend you listen to the module once or twice first, and then spend time reviewing the resources and doing the work where needed.
How is the content delivered?
This ERP online training and each module includes a direct overview from us, and then we head into some course videos. You can go at your own pace and pause whenever you need a break. Each module includes multiple short videos (generally 10 – 18 minutes long), so not overwhelming or tiring. You will also gain access to handouts and other resources to help you review and apply the topics. All recorded question from all question and answer sessions will be saved in each module of the course.
What if I have questions? How will those get answered?
I would be surprised if you didn’t have questions, which is why we have set up Bonus Coaching sessions that you can join. Those are marked in the calendar on the course site. If you cannot make the session due to schedule, not to worry. Send in your question in advance and listen to the recording that will be posted in that module. You will always have access to the latest recordings if you miss a live session.
I don’t plan on implementing/migrating/upgrading ERP in my business for at least three years! Is it too soon to take this course?
Great question! To truly prepare and plan for an ERP project, it can take 1 to 3 years before you start the ERP implementation project. And it is never too early, or too late to invest in ERP learning. Not everyone has that much time because they may have an urgency and need to prioritize now vs later. But if you really want to maximize the value of your company and do everything we suggest in this course, we think 3 months to 2 years before your ERP implementation is the perfect time to learn this content.
Can another team member in my organization take the course as well? Do we need to pay for it twice?
Yes, we can grant separate access to 2 additional team members of your company. But we ask that you limit access to key decision makers only. This content is NOT meant for your entire team or your management team. It is really geared toward business decision makers and key project owners, and we recognize there may be more than one. We do, however, reserve the right to terminate your access if we feel that this is being shared outside of your company.
Do you have a refund policy?
Yes of course, we want you to be 100% happy. You will be given a 14-day period in which to ask for a refund once you receive access to the course, so be sure to log in and get started. You will need to demonstrate that you have reviewed modules in order to receive a refund, that way we know you have spent enough time to really decide if this isn’t for you. We will kindly ask your feedback why the course did not work for you.
Do you have a payment plan?
No, our students are executives and business decision makers of significant ERP projects and generally small to medium size businesses, so we don’t feel a payment plan is necessary or required, plus the accounting department never likes payment plans anyway – just another thing for them to track.
