Post-Implementation Blues: The Role of Change Management After Go-Live
Written by Liezl Schulte

Your organisation has successfully implemented a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and it’s up and running. The go-live stage marks a significant milestone, but it’s not the end of the road. In fact, it’s just the beginning.
Let’s explore the critical role of change management in the post-implementation phase and why it’s essential for ensuring the ongoing success of your ERP system.
The Go-Live Triumph:
Implementing an ERP system is a complex undertaking. It involves meticulous planning, extensive training, and often, significant changes in processes and workflows. The moment your ERP system goes live, it’s a triumph for your organisation. However, it’s also a moment when the importance of effective change management becomes even more pronounced.
The Post-Implementation Blues:
While the go-live stage is a cause for celebration, it can also be a time of uncertainty and potential challenges. Employees may still be adapting to the new system, and there can be a sense of “post-implementation blues.” This is where the role of continued change management comes into play.
Benefits of Post-Implementation Change Management:
- Sustained User Adoption: One of the primary goals of post-implementation change management is to ensure that employees continue to use the new ERP system effectively. This includes addressing any resistance or hesitancy that may arise after go-live.
- Optimisation of Processes: Post-implementation change management allows you to fine-tune processes and workflows based on real-world usage. It’s an opportunity to identify areas that may require further refinement or automation.
- Continuous Training and Support: Ongoing training and support are essential for keeping employees updated on system enhancements and addressing any questions or issues that may arise. This helps maintain confidence and proficiency in using the ERP system.
- Problem Identification and Resolution: Post-implementation is a time when you can uncover and resolve any unexpected problems or inefficiencies that might not have been apparent during the initial implementation phase.
- Change Adaptation: Employees may need time to fully adapt to the new system and embrace changes in their daily routines. Change management can help ease this transition by providing guidance and support.
- Feedback Integration: Encourage feedback from users and stakeholders. Post-implementation change management allows you to incorporate this feedback into ongoing improvements, making the ERP system more aligned with the organisation’s evolving needs.
- Measurement and Optimisation: Continuously measuring the performance and usage of the ERP system helps in identifying areas for improvement and optimisation, ensuring that the system remains a valuable asset.
Post-implementation blues can be alleviated through effective change management that provides ongoing support, training, and optimisation. Can!do Consulting specialises in change management- before, during, post go-live, and into business as usual, and we understand that the success of your ERP system hinges on how well it’s integrated into your organisation over the long term.
Investing in post-implementation change management ensures that your ERP system continues to drive efficiency, productivity, and growth for your organisation. Don’t let the blues get the best of your ERP implementation; instead, embrace the opportunities that come with ongoing change management support.
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Can!do works with large enterprises in South Africa to maximise the value of their employees, technology and business processes. To do this, we offer three fundamental services; change management, capability development and performance optimisation.
We have 30 years of experience in these fields and have worked with leading companies in South Africa. We are a certified Level 2 B-BBEE company and a leading provider of new business systems and processes that drive user adoption. For industry insights and news, please follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.