If you’ve ever heard someone say, “We don’t need change management—people will do what they’re told,” you’re not alone. I’ve heard that line more times than I can count at the start of ERP projects. And while it makes every change professional cringe, there’s a sliver of truth in it: in most organizations, employees must use the new ERP system. If they don’t, materials won’t arrive, orders won’t ship, and the business grinds to a halt.
But here’s the part leaders often overlook: Yes, people will use the system—but without intentional change management, they’ll struggle, productivity will drop, and frustration will skyrocket. A thoughtful adoption strategy doesn’t just help people adjust; it reduces pain, accelerates value, and prevents avoidable problems.
When I help organizations implement ERP systems, I encourage them to track three core adoption metrics. These indicators tell you whether your people are truly ready—not just compliant.
1️⃣ SPEED: How Quickly Are People Gaining Competency?
ERP implementations are massive disruptions. They pull attention away from customers, operations, and day‑to‑day work. The faster you move through the transition, the sooner your teams can return to running the business—and the sooner you start realizing the ROI you expected.
Why speed matters:
- Shortens the period of reduced productivity
- Minimizes operational risk
- Helps the organization regain momentum
- Accelerates benefit realization
A slow ramp‑up is a warning sign that training, communication, or support isn’t landing.
2️⃣ PROFICIENCY: Can People Actually Do Their Jobs in the New System?
Go‑live day isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point. When the switch flips, employees need to be competent enough to perform their core tasks without constant help.
If they aren’t:
- productivity drops
- errors increase
- frustration rises
- supervisors get overwhelmed
- customers feel the impact
Over time, proficiency should grow as people streamline their work and discover new efficiencies. But at go‑live, they need a solid baseline.
3️⃣ UTILIZATION: Are People Using the System’s Most Valuable Features?
Have you ever explored the number of capabilities in Excel that you don’t use? Most of us probably use less than 5% of the tool’s capabilities. ERP systems are even more powerful—and far more underutilized.
If employees only use the bare minimum:
- you miss out on automation
- reporting stays weak
- processes remain clunky
- the system never delivers full value
Your goal isn’t just basic usage—it’s effective usage. People should understand what’s possible and be encouraged to adopt the features that create the most impact.
Beyond Metrics: Preventing the Problems That Derail ERP Projects
While speed, proficiency, and utilization are the core adoption metrics, I also focus heavily on preventing the issues that quietly sabotage ERP success:
- unresolved conflict
- teamwork breakdowns
- morale problems
- employee attrition
- wasted time and energy (which always equals wasted money)
Yes, people will “do what they’re told.” But that doesn’t mean you should make the transition harder than it needs to be. Most ERP‑related pain is preventable with the right change management approach.
Set yourself—and your people—up for success.
