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Last updated on Apr 4, 2025
  1. All
  2. Business Administration
  3. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

You’re juggling multiple vendors during an ERP system upgrade. How will you manage the chaos?

How do you tackle vendor chaos during an ERP upgrade? Share your strategies and experiences.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

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Last updated on Apr 4, 2025
  1. All
  2. Business Administration
  3. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

You’re juggling multiple vendors during an ERP system upgrade. How will you manage the chaos?

How do you tackle vendor chaos during an ERP upgrade? Share your strategies and experiences.

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16 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
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    Victor Pang Kin Lan, MBA, MEng

    Retired Manager & Lecturer

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    An ERP provider with an enterprise management platform strategy can help the client to minimize the number of digital solution vendors for its enterprise information systems. This provider can offer comprehensive ERP features and functionalities, highly flexible configuration, API-first integration in a hybrid environment including third-party applications, EDI capabilities as well as low-code/no-code development and other customization tools that are upgrade-compatible.

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    Isaiah Moragne

    Requirements Analyst II | MBA Candidate, IU Kelley | Driving Operational Efficiency Through Lean & Kaizen Methodologies

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    It's happens too many times where a concrete plan was not created during the excitement of a new ERP system that will fix all your current issues, but that excitement creates this exact issue in the interim. The approach I'd recommend is to create a centralized manipulative file that tracks vendor information and important EDI files (such as an Integrated Excel sheet or a Notion Table) and utilize that to create a Source of Truth that you can refer to during this tumultuous implementation period. Having a clear document that outlines each of the vendors information allows for a more efficient workflow. The downside here is that this one source of truth can become out of date or perjured from inaccurate data.

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    Dr. Umesh Pandit

    Microsoft Certified Solution Architect | Azure | Dynamics 365 F&O | Power Platform | Global ERP Transformation Leader | 65+ Microsoft Credentials | Doctorate in ERP & AI

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    Align all vendors with a clear upgrade roadmap, assign ownership via RACI, enforce timelines through joint stand-ups, document every change, and escalate early. Use a central tracker to monitor dependencies. Communication is king—transparency and clarity turn chaos into coordination.

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    Carter Xie

    Co-Founder🌱CEA Turnkey Solutions For Vertical Farming&Hydroponics&Aquaponics&Greenhouse🌱LED Grow Lights Expert With 29K+Followers🌱500+Projects Served In 13 Years🌱 #CEA #VerticalFarm #Hydroponics #Agriculture🌱

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    To manage chaos with multiple ERP vendors: Centralize governance: Create a single project team with clear roles (e.g., vendor lead, technical lead) and use a shared roadmap/tools (Jira, MS Project) for alignment. Standardize communication: Hold daily stand-ups and weekly sync meetings with all vendors to address blockers, track milestones, and ensure interdependencies are met. Prioritize deliverables: Break tasks into phases (e.g., data migration, testing) and assign clear ownership to avoid overlap. Use RACI matrices for accountability. Mitigate risks proactively: Conduct regular vendor performance reviews, maintain contingency plans for delays, and enforce strict SLAs to keep timelines on track. What do you think?

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    Basima Ja'ara

    Ph.D. in Management | PMP/PMI, ISTQB, ITIL, WCM Portal, EOT | Creativity & Innovation

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    1. Centralize communication : Use one platform to streamline vendor updates. 2. Define responsibilities : Assign clear roles, timelines, and deliverables early. 3. Monitor progress : Track milestones with regular performance check-ins. 4. Resolve conflicts : Address issues quickly through structured escalation protocols.

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    Sandeep Lokanath

    Senior Consultant - Data & AI @straive| Business Analyst | Data Engineering| Data analytics| Talks about the feature and future of tech | IIITB - LJMU

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    A system upgrade will definitely bring chaos to the business as they are all excited if they are unaware of Why changes? what changes in the current system? To make the how changes now. We need to have a strong project manager and set up clear communication with all vendors. Use tools like a JIRA, vendor matrix and RACI chart to define roles and responsibilities. Align integration points early, document everything, and actively manage risks to keep the project on track. Clear & regular communication can bring a new upgrade to life without any chaos.

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    Firuz Abdolah

    Chief Supply Chain Strategist

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    Juggling vendors during an ERP upgrade can feel like herding cats. What’s helped me is having one point person to keep everyone aligned, backed by a clear project plan and regular check-ins. Open communication, shared timelines, and mutual accountability go a long way. It’s not always smooth, but with structure and trust, the chaos becomes progress.

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    Abdul Mazed

    Online Activist

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    Managing multiple vendors during an ERP system upgrade requires structured coordination and clear communication. Start by assigning a dedicated project manager to oversee timelines, responsibilities, and integration points. Establish a shared communication platform to ensure real-time updates and issue tracking. Set clear expectations through detailed contracts and regular status meetings. Prioritize transparency, document all changes, and maintain a risk mitigation plan. Align all vendors to a unified project roadmap to reduce friction. By staying organized, fostering collaboration, and proactively resolving conflicts, you can turn chaos into a controlled, successful upgrade.

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    Vinod Jakhar (PMP)®

    Project Manager | Driving Scalable Fiber & FTTx Projects | Delivering Precision, Speed & Client Value Across UK, UAE & India

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    Managing multiple vendors during an ERP upgrade requires tight coordination and clear governance. I’d establish a central project plan aligning all vendor timelines, roles, and dependencies. Weekly sync meetings and a shared communication platform ensure real-time updates and quick issue resolution. A robust change control and risk management process helps avoid scope creep and delays. Unified testing and QA standards keep quality consistent across vendors. Escalation paths are predefined to resolve conflicts swiftly. With clear responsibilities, transparent reporting, and contingency plans in place, the chaos becomes manageable and the project stays on track. It's all about control, clarity, and communication.

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    Shikhar Shah, CSCP

    Senior Consultant at EFESO Management Consultants

    (edited)
    • Report contribution

    ERP upgrades can quickly spiral when too many vendors pull in different directions. Here’s how to stay in control: - Set a single source of truth: Align all vendors to a central project plan with clear milestones and roles. - Create structured touchpoints: Weekly syncs and issue logs help surface blockers early and keep communication flowing. - Appoint a strong coordinator: Whether internal or external, someone needs to own cross-vendor alignment and hold everyone accountable. Clarity, coordination, and consistency are key.

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