Adopting a cloud ERP system will subsequently also require ERP cloud training for all users who eventually need to interact with the system. Even a simple cloud ERP could cause complexities, as data migration, application integration, and the phasing out of legacy or outdated systems can be highly susceptible to errors - with even the smallest of mishaps causing big repercussions.
With ERP implementation already a significant endeavor, employees require a comprehensive ERP cloud training strategy so that your ERP system can be put to optimal use, and an ROI can be achieved over time. As a result, building the right ERP cloud training strategy for your business requires keen insight into what your new or upgraded ERP is supposed to achieve, while keeping end users’ roles and objectives in mind.
Although implementing an ERP for small business settings can be comparatively less complex, it is essential to understand what your ERP needs to achieve, as well as what its limitations are, in order to create an ERP cloud training strategy. This way, users’ responsibilities and your ERP’s end objectives can be connected to ensure no processes are missed in due course of ERP cloud training.
In this article, we discuss the best ERP cloud training strategies, why they matter and how you can select the best course of action for your business’s specific ERP characteristics.
The Importance of ERP Cloud Training
Following ERP implementation, an ERP cloud training strategy will influence how well your ERP is received by your organization. The quality of your ERP cloud training strategy can make all the difference between a successful and unsuccessful ERP adoption. Therefore, ensuring that your ERP cloud training strategy is in line with your ERP goals is essential for optimizing productivity, analysis and scalability throughout your organization, while users have access to all the data and functionalities they need in order to do their best work.
A strong ERP cloud training strategy can also empower users to get familiar with ERP features and capabilities faster, and with greater understanding. While a learning curve may still exist with most ERP systems, it can be significantly reduced provided your ERP cloud training strategy is customized to suit the learning pace as well as the workloads of your users, depending on department, job role and other related factors.
By successfully executing an ERP cloud training strategy immediately after ERP implementation, your organization can set a reliable precedent for future ERP cloud training sessions. With ERP customization bound to happen with time, a well established ERP cloud training strategy will set the foundation for improved ERP cloud training strategies in the future. As a result, thinking about scaling your ERP cloud training strategy together with your ERP system can significantly streamline the speed and ease of ERP adoption, so your users are always able to embrace improved ERP functionalities in the future, no matter how frequent or niche they may be.
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Best ERP Cloud Training Strategies
One-on-One Training Workshops
Any ERP cloud training session is never complete with a one-on-one workshop where an ERP trainer explains how ERP works, its many functionalities, and what employees in each department and/or job role need to do in order to access the capabilities and data they need for their daily responsibilities. Although such ERP cloud training workshops are typically conducted in person, virtual sessions are also growing in popularity thanks to an increase in remote work environments.
Tutorials and Self-Service
ERP cloud training can be accessed from Learning Management Systems (LMS) software that could ideally be integrated with your ERP system. Such tutorials can serve as a supplement to one-on-one workshops, either for users to get familiarized with ancillary features at their own pace, or to continue ERP cloud training lessons after the initial workshop, complete with grading and deadlines.
Online Communities and Forums
Top cloud ERP vendors now generally offer online communities and workshops as part of their ERP cloud training strategy. Here, users can ask questions to receive answers from other ERP users or ERP subject matter experts directly from the vendor’s end. Online communities and forums are a useful supplement to ERP cloud training systems since users can quickly receive answers on quandaries from a larger global community, as opposed to relying on vendor assistance, or having to hire an ERP consultant.
How to Choose the Best ERP Cloud Training Strategy for Your Business
Understand What Your ERP is Meant to Achieve, and Why
Before you build an ERP cloud training strategy, it is important to first understand the reasons to undertake an ERP. Knowing why you are adopting a new ERP system or upgrading the capabilities to your existing one is what shall determine the right ERP cloud training strategy your organization needs to learn the many functionalities of your ERP system, before they can start to rely on it for all their responsibilities.
Understanding the true objectives of your ERP goes back to the early stages of assessing your business needs and going through the ERP vendor selection process. Therefore, keeping your business objectives in mind will also help both your ERP vendor and your business teams to build, execute and maintain an ERP cloud training strategy that can be best optimized for your business.
Build Bite-Sized Training Sessions That Are Easy to Understand
Breaking down your ERP cloud training sessions into smaller modules can make them more easily digestible for users, especially those who aren’t very tech-savvy, or completely new to a relatively complex ERP platform. This way, your users can also quickly learn the ins and outs of new ERP features that may be introduced, while reaping ERP advantages and maximizing ROI as early as possible following implementation.
Make ERP Cloud Training an Ongoing Process
In this day and age of cloud-based software, your ERP cloud training strategy cannot end with a one-time workshop, following implementation. It needs to be a constant work in progress, with ongoing training part of upgrading and maintaining your ERP system. Whether you are rolling out a new feature within your ERP system or integrating your ERP with IoT or any other innovations, an ongoing ERP cloud training strategy is essential to maintain system familiarity for the modern business.
