Implementing an ERP system is one of the most important strategic decisions a company can make. It’s an investment designed to transform processes, increase efficiency, and provide a competitive advantage. Yet the road to success is filled with potential pitfalls. Many managers fear unforeseen costs, employee resistance, or a system that turns out to be misaligned with real business needs.
How can these risks be minimized?
The key is solid preparation.

Before you say “we’re implementing,” three foundational steps must take place: analytical workshops, a discovery session, and a pre-implementation analysis. These are not bureaucratic formalities—they are the foundation upon which the entire project’s success is built.

Contents

• What Are ERP Analytical Workshops and Why Should You Participate?
• ERP Discovery Session – The First Step Toward a Successful Implementation
• ERP Pre-Implementation Analysis – What It Is and How It Works
• Who Participates in Workshops, Discovery Sessions and Pre-Implementation Analysis?
• What Are the Outcomes and Benefits of Thorough Preparation?

What Are ERP Analytical Workshops and Why Should You Participate?

Imagine a meeting where employees from production, warehouse operations, finance, and other departments sit down at one table with ERP implementation experts. This is the essence of ERP analytical workshops.

The goal of these hands-on sessions is to jointly “scan” the organization, map existing processes, and precisely define what you expect from the new system.

During the workshops, participants focus on:

• Identifying and optimizing processes – How do workflows look today? Where are the bottlenecks? What can be improved with a modern tool?
• Defining business requirements – Which specific features do we need to work faster and smarter?
• Setting measurable goals – What do we want to achieve? Reduce order fulfillment time by 15%? Cut inventory levels by 20%?
• Engaging the team – This is the moment when employees become co-creators of the change, not passive recipients. Their involvement is invaluable for later system adoption.

Participation in analytical workshops is an investment that pays off many times over by eliminating the risk of costly system modifications after go-live.

ERP Discovery Session – The First Step Toward a Successful Implementation

Before diving into detailed analysis, you need a map. That map is the ERP discovery session.

This is typically the first, more general meeting with a potential system provider. Its purpose is for both sides to get to know each other—the provider must understand the specifics of your business, and you must assess whether their technology and approach meet your expectations.

The discovery session helps outline the initial scope of the project and define business goals. It’s a time to ask questions, see system demonstrations, and sketch a high-level plan. You can compare it to the first meeting with an architect: you describe your ideal house, and the architect prepares a concept. The detailed technical plans come later.

A successful discovery session ensures both sides are heading in the same direction.

ERP Pre-Implementation Analysis – What It Is and How It Works

If the discovery session is about creating the map, the pre-implementation analysis is a precise diagnosis of the terrain you will be working on. It is a comprehensive audit of the organization and the foundation of the entire implementation project. Without it, an ERP deployment would be like building a structure without solid foundations.

A pre-implementation analysis usually includes:

• Business process audit – A thorough review of current procedures to identify inefficiencies, data inconsistencies, and unnecessary operations.
• Functional requirements analysis – A detailed list of essential system features and modules needed to address identified needs. It is critical to define the functional requirements that the ERP must fulfill.
• IT infrastructure assessment – Checking whether the current hardware and software environment is ready for the new ERP.
• Resource planning – Identifying who will be involved in the project, as well as establishing the budget and timeline.

Although this phase may seem complex, a well-executed pre-implementation analysis protects you from the biggest risks: system misalignment and uncontrolled cost growth. It also ensures that ERP systems operate more efficiently.
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Who Participates in Workshops, Discovery Sessions, and Pre-Implementation Analysis?

The success of these preparation stages depends on the involvement of the right people. It is a collaborative effort that requires knowledge from across the organization.

Participants typically include:

• Executive leadership – responsible for strategic vision and final decisions,
• Department managers – who have deep insight into their operational areas,
• Key users – employees who work daily with core processes and whose perspective is essential,
• IT department – responsible for technical and integration aspects,
• ERP consultants and analysts – external experts who bring experience from other implementations and offer fresh insights.

What Are the Outcomes and Benefits of Thorough Preparation?

Investing time and resources in workshops, discovery and pre-implementation analysis brings measurable benefits that impact the entire lifecycle of the system.
The primary output is a detailed analysis report, which becomes the precise blueprint for the implementation.

But that’s not all. Other key benefits include:

• Risk reduction – early identification of issues helps avoid costly mistakes later,
• Realistic budget and timeline – a clear project scope allows for accurate cost and time estimates,
• Higher engagement and lower resistance to change – a team that feels involved is far more willing to adopt the new system,
• A tailored solution – the final system is aligned with the company’s unique needs, delivering real ERP value.

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