According to Gartner, over 70% of ERP projects fail to deliver expected ROI, and 25% will fail drastically (Gartner, 2023). That’s a staggering failure rate—but for CFOs, it’s avoidable.
Here’s what goes wrong—and how to flip the script.
- No clear financial success metrics at the start
Without measurable financial KPIs established at the beginning, it's impossible to determine whether the ERP implementation is delivering value. Most companies rush into implementation without defining ROI benchmarks, making it difficult to course-correct later. - Misaligned configuration with real workflows
When the ERP system doesn’t reflect the actual day-to-day processes of the business, users resort to workarounds that reduce efficiency. This misalignment creates friction, delays, and ultimately erodes the system’s potential to generate ROI. - Lack of department-wide buy-in and training
If end users across departments aren’t engaged or properly trained, adoption rates plummet and the system underperforms. ERP success requires a culture shift—not just a system switch. - No post-implementation roadmap
Many companies treat go-live as the finish line instead of the starting point for optimization. Without a roadmap for continuous improvement, the system quickly becomes outdated or underutilized. - Vendor over-customization without business justification
Excessive customization often leads to bloated systems that are expensive to maintain and difficult to upgrade. When changes aren’t tied to business goals, they create technical debt instead of business value.
What Smart CFOs Do Differently
- They define ROI outcomes in advance
Using tools like the Concentrus ROI Readiness Scorecard, smart CFOs identify which departments and processes will drive ROI. By aligning ERP goals with measurable financial outcomes from the start, they ensure every implementation decision is ROI-driven. - They lead the project from the top
Finance stays involved from planning through post-go-live. Executive sponsorship keeps the project aligned with business objectives and helps secure buy-in across all departments. - They use industry-specific ROI frameworks
One-size-fits-all doesn’t work. They insist on a roadmap tailored to their vertical, revenue range, and process complexity—ensuring the ERP is built to solve real business challenges, not just IT requirements. - They track ROI post-launch with CFO dashboards
ROI isn't a one-time measure—it’s a rolling metric tracked quarterly. With real-time dashboards, CFOs monitor performance trends and adjust strategies to keep the ERP system aligned with growth target.
The CFO’s Secret Weapon: The Concentrus Advantage ROI Roadmap™
We have built the ROI roadmap, calculator, and benchmarks CFOs need to manage ERP like a capital investment—because that’s what it is.
Schedule a free strategy call with our ERP experts today!
References
Gartner. (2023). Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Insights. Retrieved from Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/topics/enterprise-resource-planning
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