An ERP implementation planned for five months that took four years
Expert report on the implementation and functionality of an ERP system at a services company.
Background
A company commissioned an ERP for invoicing and accounting. The project, planned to take a few months, dragged on for years, with operational problems and invoices for software the client had not ordered.
What I was asked
To analyse how the implementation had been carried out, whether the invoiced software was necessary and how functional the system really was.
How it was analysed
- Review of quotes, invoices and communications with the supplier.
- Check of the server platform against the vendor's requirements.
- Verification of the software actually installed.
- Hands-on testing to document the program's errors.
Report findings
The implementation took almost four years with no formal close. A warehouse module the client had rejected was invoiced but never even installed, and the software still suffered crashes and errors that hampered its use.
Key takeaway
A project with no end date or acceptance record is hard to claim against. It is also worth checking that everything invoiced was actually ordered and installed.
Related service: Expert reports on software projects and IT contracts
Anonymised case. Personal data, the parties and procedural references have been omitted or altered to preserve confidentiality.