The Hidden Pain of ERP Implementation – A Ground Reality from Decades of Experience.
The Hidden Pain of ERP Implementation – A Ground Reality from Decades of Experience
Let’s face it: implementing an ERP is one of the most painful transformations a company can go through — not because ERP is flawed, but because of how it’s approached.
Over the years, I’ve seen one major mistake repeated across industries: companies try to force their manual processes—built over years and deeply human-dependent—into a rigid ERP system. Manual methods are flexible. You can tweak them on the fly. But a system? It needs structure, logic, and stability.
What happens when you try to bend the system to fit broken or outdated workflows?
💥 It breaks.
💥 It frustrates users.
💥 It creates chaos.
💥 Developers are pressured to “fix it fast” — and usually without the proper time to do it right.
The real root cause of failed or painful ERP implementations isn’t the system. It’s trying to change the ERP’s character to match a flawed or inconsistent manual process.
So, how do you do it right?
✅ Run ERP parallel with your manual processes for a while.
✅ Let all departments get familiar with the system.
✅ Gradually introduce only the features you really need.
✅ Slowly align your operations with the ERP’s flow — not the other way around.
✅ Choose an ERP team that understands your business. Not just a brand name built far from your market.
And please — don’t confuse accounting software or POS systems with real ERP. This is a common misconception, especially in the Middle East.