With successful implementation and management, ERP systems can streamline operations and provide critical business insights. Without it, they can become repositories of convoluted data and processes, entrenching inefficiency and old ways of working. Which of these your business achieves will depend on the team you assign to implement and administer the system.

At its core, the ERP team should be technologists, but given the comprehensive nature of ERP systems, broader expertise are likely necessary.  But choosing the right skillsets can be a challenge when the technology is evolving so rapidly. By the end of 2025, over 40% of finance roles will either be new or significantly reshaped by finance technology. 

This article explores the critical roles and skill sets necessary for successful ERP implementation and management, underscoring the system’s reliance on human expertise to unlock its full potential.

1. Secure the right skillsets

The success of an ERP implementation and post-implementation administration largely depends on having the right team in place. The necessary balance of skills can vary significantly depending on your organisation’s specific needs and goals, but key skill areas include: 

• Speak the language of finance: While ERP professionals don’t necessarily need to be qualified accountants, one of the most important skills they’ll need in their role is to be able to communicate effectively with the broader finance team. Even if coming from a technologist’s background, the ERP team will have to understand the goals and pain points of financial controllers and 
• Inventory management: Particularly crucial for businesses with physical products, one of the most important skills for modern ERP teams tends to be inventory management. Even if the ERP system is ensuring a watertight and efficient Accounting function, it has the potential to impact operations too. This opportunity can only be seized if the team knows the capacities of ERP when it comes to tracking inventory and orders, forecasting demand, managing suppliers, and optimising physical stocks.
• Human capital management:  ERP systems impact human capital too – from consolidating performance data to automating the recruitment process, and tracking time off to payroll administration. An ERP professional with experience in this area should be well placed to configure the system to streamline HR and optimise the business’s human capital.
• Leadership and proactivity: Whether administrating an already-extablished system or undergoing an implemention, strong leadership helps steer the project, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, and sustaining support. It’s a personality trait that comes naturally to some but can be developed with experience. Confident leaders in ERP don’t wait for instruction, they understand the objectives and proactively suggest solutions, taking initiative and showing thought leadership.
• Data management: The best ERP professionals think data-first. By focusing on data, they can enhance operational insights, improve strategic outcomes, and drive innovation. Ultimately, this data-centric focus not only ensures more informed decision-making but also streamlines operations and sharpens competitive advantages. Individuals with a background in data science can offer expert guidance in extracting the maximum value from the data in the ERP system,
• Implementation-specifc skills: While the previous skills are valuable at every stage of ERP optimisation, some skills should be specifically targeted if you’re planning a system implementation:
  • Change Management: Crucial for managing the human aspect of ERP implementation, ensuring that staff are prepared for new processes and systems. 
  • Full-cycle implementation experience: Implementation is a complex project, encompassing stakeholder management alongside more technical expertise. Experience in this area enables the team to provide leadership in areas such as data migration, and foresee challenges, putting measures in place to overcome them before they arise.

2. Ensure processes and responsibilities adhere to best practices

As ERP systems evolve alongside their organisations, they offer significant flexibility to adapt to new business processes. While this adaptability can yield benefits, without careful management, it can also lead to inefficiencies. 

To prevent idiosyncratic and overly complex processes developing, it is crucial to engage experienced leaders who are skilled in change management. These leaders can establish and maintain efficient practices while managing resistance from team members who may prefer the previous ways of working. Regular training and periodic audits should be implemented to ensure that as the ERP adapts to meet evolving business needs, it continues to do so in line with best practices. This objective oversight helps maintain the system’s effectiveness and relevance.

3. Free the team to add value

An effectively implemented ERP system should bring significant efficiencies to business-as-usual operations, such as data entry and record-keeping. This frees up the ERP team – as well as Finance and Accounting – to focus on higher-value activities such as:

• Data Consolidation: Ensuring data is accurate and efficiently stored
• Enhanced Reporting: Enhancing decision-making through timely and accurate reporting.
• Data Analysis: Providing deeper insights into business operations. 
• Forecasting and Planning: Analysing data to project future business and market trends.

This approach not only increases operational efficiency but also helps attract and retain the most talented ERP professionals by enabling them to focus on more strategic and rewarding activities.

A virtuous circle

Building a team fit for your ERP system will ensure your investment in the technology receives the best return possible. The benefits continue, however, as an ERP system operating effectively can support all employees, from Finance to HR and beyond, to perform better, increase their wellbeing, and maximise their careers. 

To dive deeper into how to implement technologies in a way that gives them the best chance of reaching their full potential, read our playbook Maximising the Value of Finance Systems.

Contact us to find out more about how we can help your business here.