New ERP system? Here’s how to avoid unnecessary process debt

Switching to a new ERP system is often time-consuming and costly, but for many companies, it’s also a chance to modernize their operations. Despite high expectations, however, the outcome isn’t always the transformation they hoped for. Commonly, old processes and inefficient workflows get transferred to the new system, resulting in what’s known as process debt – bringing outdated ways of working into the new system instead of creating a fresh start.

Process debt – An invisible pitfall in system changes

When switching ERP, there’s often an assumption that everything will improve just because the system is new. It’s easy to overlook that many inefficiencies don’t lie within the system itself but within the workflows and routines built up over time.Over the years, systems and processes have adapted to work together, yet these adjustments are often no longer optimal. Instead of reassessing and renewing processes, they are simply transferred into the new system.

A system switch should bring new ways of working

For a successful ERP transition, it’s essential to see it as an opportunity to start from scratch.It’s a chance to assess and question your established processes and routines.Otherwise, the blank slate you hoped for will quickly become as cluttered as before. Rather than assuming that everything will continue to work as before, it’s time to ask questions like:

• Are these processes still relevant?
• Can they be simplified or made more efficient?
• How can we design processes to be flexible and scalable?

A thorough mapping of your current processes helps identify which workflows actually create value and which are remnants of an outdated way of working.

Create a fresh start –without process debt

By approaching the system transition with a mindset of starting from a blank slate, you can avoid building in process debt. Process debt occurs when old inefficient processes carry over to the new system, preventing it from reaching its full potential.

Instead of automating any old ways of working, aim first to develop standardized and optimized workflows. It’s essential to design processes that work consistently, regardless of who uses them – this reduces inefficiency and allows the system to better support the business over time.

Use the system transition for real change

A significant part of a successful ERP system transition is the willingness to question old structures. By allowing new processes to take shape without being tied to “how things have always been done”, you can use the system transition to achieve long-term efficiency. An ERP switch can become a positive shift, delivering not just a technical upgrade but also operational renewal.