Enterprise resource planning solutions are only as effective as the professionals who use them. For this reason, it’s critical that manufacturing firms implementing these tools invest considerable resources in end-user training programs.

Of course, simply setting aside funds for these initiatives is not enough. Project teams must collaborate with human resources to ensure employer-provided ERP training resources are designed to truly empower workers, giving them the actionable insight and skills they need to navigate the software and facilitate optimal return on investment.

However, this is easier said than done. Modern workers have high instructional standards, according to research from LinkedIn. They need engaging resources that not only deliver critical information but also fit into their home and workplace routines.

With this in mind, manufacturing firms must take care when designing and deploying ERP training programs. Here are three training strategies businesses in this industry can employ to roll out resources that effectively prepare end users:

Embrace training from the beginning
Too many manufacturers only consider training toward the tail end of implementation or, worse, after their respective solutions have gone live. This is an entirely ineffective approach, according to Learning Solutions.

Instead, businesses should commit to user instruction from the outset, launching planning activities centered on employee training as they embark on solution design. This proactive methodology leads to the creation of engaging ERP training modules that empower workers and prevent the inevitable user attrition that unfolds when individuals are let loose within digital environments they do not completely understand.

Leverage multiple mediums
Many modern employees prefer to consume content via digital devices such as laptop computers and smartphones. As a result, an estimated 43 percent of workers now participate in online instructional activities at work, leveraging cutting-edge applications to sharpen their decision-making and technical skills, according to LinkedIn.

Having said that, classroom-based resources are still very popular. Roughly 56 percent of employees attend these sessions, researchers for the professional networking company found. While digital tools receive considerable buzz, it is clear that some workers still enjoy traditional instructor-led methods.

Manufacturing firms considering ERP training programs must take this state of affairs into account and create a variety of resources that work for learners of all kinds, from digital natives in the millennial generation to older employees who excel in the classroom.

Prioritize substance over all else
ERP implementation teams often immerse themselves in the solutions they develop and deploy, some for years at a time. While this intimate familiarity can make for effective software, it can also lead to the creation of ineffective training materials centered on platform navigation rather than holistic usage in the context of business operations.

Instructional programs focused on the former can teach end users how to move between screens and features but fail to show them how an ERP functions within larger production processes, CIO reported. This brand of transactional training leaves employees unable to optimize ERP solutions and make productivity breakthroughs that can catalyze transformation across an organization.

Enterprises in the manufacturing space should consider the difference between these training philosophies and ensure that the modules center on cultivating ERP-infused business processes, rather than teaching general platform awareness.

In the end, manufacturers that adopt these ERP training strategies can empower end users to get the most out of the tools given to them and therefore move the business forward.

Here at Accent Software, we help manufacturing firms implement ERP technology designed to support operational change. As a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, Accent provides vendor-vetted Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation services, which allow businesses to put into place best-in-class ERP software designed to facilitate organizational growth.

Connect with us today to learn more about our products and services.