Big implementation projects, especially ERP transformations, involve multiple stakeholders—clients, consultants, and implementation partners. When these groups work in silos, misalignment leads to inefficiencies, delays, and costly mistakes. But when synchronicity is prioritised, success is exponentially more achievable.
Having recently completed the Design Phase of another big implementation project, we’re more aware than ever of the critical importance of collaboration. In this case, we worked with Axiom to deliver a bespoke solution for one of the country’s leading educational publishing houses.
Now that our work together has come to an end, instead of simply shaking hands and parting ways, we chose to do what we do best: put our heads together to reflect on what worked, and why so many other implementations tend to fail.
How Silos Sink Implementations:
- Miscommunication and Misalignment
- When teams work in isolation, assumptions replace facts, and critical details get lost in translation. As Mark Auer, CEO at Axiom noted: “We typically work with client requirements that are not well-defined and then have to spend upwards of 1,000 extra hours correcting mistakes. Analyze’s work eliminated that entirely.”
- Unclear Ownership and Accountability
- Siloed teams struggle to take collective ownership, leading to finger-pointing when things go wrong.
- Inconsistent Decision-Making
- Without a unified approach, stakeholders make conflicting decisions, slowing down progress and frustrating teams.
- Lack of Big-Picture Thinking
- A project isn’t just a series of tasks—it’s an interconnected system. Silos hinder a holistic, strategic approach.
- Redundant Effort and Rework
- Each team might build and optimise in their own way—only to discover incompatibility later, requiring expensive rework. “Analyze made it a factor of five times easier for us to deliver for the client, and do our best development work,” Mark said. “The speed of development was the biggest advantage.”
Five Tips to Working Better Together
- Establish a Single Source of Truth
- Maintain clear documentation and ensure all stakeholders align on requirements before development starts.
- Facilitate Cross-Team Collaboration from Day One
- Ensure consultants, developers, and business leaders are engaged in early-stage discovery.
- Prioritise Transparency and Regular Communication
- Frequent check-ins and status updates keep everyone on the same page.
- Create a Culture of Shared Success
- Foster an environment where all parties feel invested in the outcome, not just their specific deliverables.
- Engage Implementation Experts Who Bridge the Gap
- Partnering with experts like Analyze ensures seamless integration between business needs and technical execution.
Ultimately, the difference between a successful and a disastrous implementation isn’t just the technology or the processes in place—it’s how well the people behind these work together. Breaking down silos and embracing synchronicity ensures a smoother, faster, and ultimately more valuable implementation process.
One final takeaway from our CEO, Jeremy Chetwin:
“There’s no shortcut for detail. You cannot get ahead without getting deep into the requirements first—people try, but they pay for it dearly.”
At Analyze, we ensure teams are aligned, gaps are identified upfront, and projects stay on course. If you’d like to de-risk your next implementation, let’s connect.
