As more organizations shift to cloud-based financial systems, the transition to a cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can feel both exciting and overwhelming. 

In the fall 2025 issue of NewsAccount, author Debbie Gilmore, CPA, shares her insights – gained by having led numerous implementations across multiple industries – on the ingredients of a successful cloud ERP rollout.

Setting the Foundation for Success

Every successful implementation starts with establishing a clearly defined scope and aligning stakeholders. Before diving into configuration, take time to define your goals and answer the following questions:

• What are the must-haves for today and things that can wait for a later phase?
• Are you looking to streamline reporting? Improve multi-entity consolidation? Automate approvals? Integrate your tech stack? 
• Is your team on board, and do its members see the eventual gains of the implementation? 

Gilmore notes the importance of being open during this phase to making changes, as an implementation is a prime opportunity to fix items that you’ve been meaning to address. Be open minded, as well, to suggestions from your implementation team on how you can improve processes and add efficiencies. The idea is not to simply mirror what you do today, just in a new system.

Implementation in Action: Tools, Teams, Training 

System implementations are collaborative by nature, and assembling the right team is critical. Once you’ve chosen a system, you can expect your implementer to provide subject matter knowledge and project management. You, as the client, may be asked to bring into the project a core group of stakeholders, including a finance lead, IT liaison (if needed), and a few power users. 

A structured methodology may include weekly status calls, milestone-based deliverables, and sandbox testing and feedback loops. 

Training is a major focus of a successful implementation. Clients are encouraged to take advantage of learning provided by their software vendor of choice and their implementation team, and to participate in training workshops. These resources help teams build confidence and reduce post-go-live support needs. 

Thorough testing of your real-world transactions and scenarios is paramount to a successful implementation. Any ERP solution can process accounts payable, but did you test the nuance of your transaction allocations and approval workflows? Is your procure-to-pay process running as intended? These are the keys to a successful go-live.

Implementation and Beyond

Gilmore’s article, “Implementation Insights: What to Expect When You’re Going Cloud,” provides additional detail on the above considerations. As well, she offers insights on common implementation challenges and how to overcome them, as well as the post-go-live strategies and support that are essential to a successful rollout. 

Click here to read the full article. 

Implementing a cloud ERP is a strategic move that can transform an organization’s finance function. With the right planning, tools, and team, the journey can be smooth, and even energizing.

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