Key takeaways
- Go live in phases, starting where the pain is greatest.
- Name an owner and key users from each department before you start.
- Run old and new side by side only for as long as it takes to trust the numbers.
The biggest fear we hear from plant owners is not the software. It is the idea of production stopping while everyone learns a new system. It does not have to. Here is how a calm rollout usually works.
Phase it
Start with the departments where the pain is greatest and the processes are simplest, often sales, purchase and inventory. Add production, assets and HR once the core is stable. Each phase has its own go-live, training and sign-off.
Name the right people
- A project owner with authority to make decisions
- One or two key users per department who know how work really happens
- A finance person who will sign off opening balances
Pick the go-live date around production
Avoid your peak season and month-end. A go-live at the start of a quieter month, with the implementation team on site for the first week, keeps the floor running.
Migrate and reconcile before you switch
Load masters, opening stock and open orders into a test system, run your usual reports and compare them with your old numbers. Only switch when finance signs off.
The goal of the first month is not perfection. It is that everyone trusts the numbers enough to stop using the old spreadsheet.
Support the first close
The first month-end on the new system is where confidence is won or lost. Plan for extra support that week and review what went well before starting the next phase.
The Unitrix notes
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