Business Transformation: Where to Start

There comes a point in every business’s journey when the weight of outdated systems becomes impossible to ignore. The company has grown, built a solid reputation, and secured a loyal customer base. On paper, things look steady, but in reality, it feels like the business is constantly scrambling just to keep up.

When demand spikes, teams have to push themselves to the limit, working late, finding workarounds, and relying on blood, sweat, and tears to bridge the gaps. Scaling feels less like an opportunity and more like a logistical nightmare. Market shifts and new competitors emerge, but adapting is painfully slow, and you miss the opportunity to fully exploit these market changes. What should be a nimble, forward-thinking business feels sluggish, reactive, and stuck in survival mode.

Inside the business, the cracks are widening. Everyday tasks feel frustratingly manual, bogged down by outdated processes and fragmented systems that no longer fit the way people need to work. Critical business knowledge isn’t captured in structured systems but instead lives in scattered spreadsheets, disconnected tools, or worse, inside the heads of employees who come and go, leaving you in the lurch.

The software that once helped build the business is now one of its biggest obstacles. Instead of enabling growth, it creates friction. Instead of empowering teams, it frustrates them. Every department is working around limitations rather than working efficiently. The technology landscape has become a tangled mess of legacy systems, workarounds, and inefficiencies, draining time, energy, and opportunities.

It’s not just about outdated software. It’s about lost momentum, missed potential, and an organisation held back by the very tools meant to drive it forward.

Recognising the Need for Change

It is at this juncture that businesses will want to do something to address these issues to guarantee their survival, but how should they proceed? What should they focus on? When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority, and businesses may find themselves overwhelmed with options. Does this sound familiar?

Situations like this are far too common across all industries and, even though there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, there are steps that businesses can take to determine a solid path to define, design, and implement a fit-for-purpose solution landscape.

So, now that you know you need to change, where do you start? Well, the first thing to focus on is why and what you need to change.

A strategy and roadmap are key to answering this. It is tempting to throw more resources to plug the holes and to buy more tools without first taking a step out from the woods to ask the real questions like:

What business outcomes are we trying to achieve?
What do we need to achieve them?
Will a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system actually solve the problem?
What should we focus on first?

“I cannot recount the number of times our teams have sat in requirements gathering workshops for a specific system function like finance to find out in the session that the key problem is in the production process leading into finance, which is out of scope.” Director of Analysis and Blueprint, Roger Molina.

Taking a holistic view of your business and its challenges and then targeting your focus is an art. Having a robust enterprise system strategy and roadmap linked to your key business strategies goes a long way in reducing the likelihood of a patchwork of systems and inefficiencies in the future.

The Role of ERP Consultants in Business Transformation

A strategy for ERP and technology change will look at aspects like:

Your overall business strategy and objectives, which will guide the ERP roadmap
Understanding the change objectives and scope
Getting a grip on your current state issues across all parts of your business, i.e., systems, processes, data, and people
Considering all options for improvement (blue sky thinking, brainstorming) and comparing high-level cost-benefit of these
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, consider which of these improvement options to actually pursue based on your business strategy, project objectives, and current issues
Now you are getting to a clear vision, strategy, and can develop a 3-year roadmap for systems change
During this process, you align and engage your stakeholders so everyone is along for the journey. Without the support of your people, you cannot do anything.

This is the foundation of a successful digital transformation journey, and once this has been bedded down, only then can you take further steps.

These include gathering requirements, mapping your as-is and desired future state processes, going to market to engage vendors, completing detailed project planning, and only THEN commencing implementation, followed by a period of embedding and stabilising.

Why Engage an ERP Consultant?

Business systems transformation is not just a necessity but an opportunity to unlock untapped potential and future-proof your organisation. While the journey may seem daunting, starting with a well-defined strategy and roadmap ensures you’re building a strong foundation for success.

By aligning your ERP and technology initiatives with your broader business objectives, engaging stakeholders, and prioritising change management, you can turn challenges into opportunities. Working with an ERP consultant can help ensure you are making the right technology decisions and avoiding common pitfalls.

Remember, this kind of transformation is a marathon, not a sprint, approach it with patience, clarity, and commitment, and your business will be better positioned to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace. The time to act is now; the future of your business depends on it.

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About the Authors

Author

Daniel del Rio McCormick, Project Lead – Analyse and Blueprint – Daniel is an experienced consultant with expertise in enterprise resource planning (ERP) strategy and implementation, business process optimisation, business case development, and digital transformation strategy. His work focuses on helping organisations in industries such as mining, utilities, agribusiness and food production, government, energy, financial services, streamline their operations and unlock efficiencies through strategic technology adoption.

Sub Authors

Roger Molina, Director – Analyse and Blueprint – Roger is a seasoned ERP consultant with a background in enterprise system selection, ERP advisory, roadmap development, and business change management. He specialises in guiding businesses in Agribusiness and Food Production, Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail, Healthcare, Mining, Energy and Renewables, Oil & Gas, Utilities, Services, Project Services and Engineering, Ports and Marine, Government and Education, Construction, Professional Services and Mining Services through complex transformation projects.

Anneke Van Der Merwe, Project Lead – Analyse and Blueprint – Anneke is an experienced consultant specialising in business process optimisation, digital transformation, and delivery. With a background and experience in agribusiness, manufacturing, finance, and supply chain management, she supports organisations on their journeys to streamline operations and drive improvements through technology adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is business transformation, and why is it important?
Business transformation involves rethinking how an organisation operates, implements technology, and manages processes to drive growth and efficiency. It’s essential to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

2. How do I know if my business needs an ERP system?
If your organisation struggles with outdated processes, disconnected systems, or inefficient workflows, an ERP system can centralise data, improve decision-making, and streamline operations.

3. What are the key steps in an ERP transformation?

Define your business strategy and identify pain points.
Develop an ERP roadmap aligned with your business objectives.
Engage stakeholders and gather requirements.
Select the right ERP software and implementation partner.
Execute the project, ensuring proper change management and user adoption.

4. How long does an ERP implementation take?
Depending on the complexity and size of the business, ERP implementations can range from 6 months to 2+ years. A well-planned strategy and expert guidance can ensure a smoother transition.

5. Why should we work with an ERP consultant?
An ERP consultant provides expert advice, vendor-neutral recommendations, and strategic roadmaps to reduce risk, optimise system selection, and enhance implementation success.

Business Transformation: Where to Start

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