The Top 3 Factors That Impact Quick OMS Implementation

Implementing an Order Management System (OMS) can be a complex and multifaceted process – there’s no getting away from that. The speed of adoption varies significantly across organizations and is influenced by several key factors. Having been part of countless OMS rollouts with customers, we thought it was about time we explored the top three things that determine if implementation is in good time or at a snail’s pace.

Strong Leadership And Clear Roles

From a people and responsibilities perspective, there are two things to consider:

Nominated Success Manager

A nominated success manager is the starting point for, well, everything. This person acts as a point of contact and ensures that all parties are aligned with project goals. The success manager is responsible for keeping the project on track and ensuring that milestones are met. They’re there to push, push, push, not so that the project is rushed, but so that it retains momentum and blockers are dealt with in a reasonable amount of time.

Dedicated Project Manager and Owner

Having a dedicated project manager and owner from both the client's side and the supplier’s side is essential. The client's team must have the necessary knowledge and dedicate sufficient time to drive the process forward. A project manager who understands the client's business processes and needs also makes a massive difference in the speed of adoption and rollout.

Comprehensive Understanding of Integration Needs

OMS systems touch so many different parts of a business that it’s inevitable that there are going to be integrations needed to make them work properly. That means there are a pair of key considerations to make sure the integration elements of a project go smoothly:

Multiple Parties Involved

Effectively managing and coordinating with multiple stakeholders is the name of the game here. The thing that normally goes wrong is that certain parties, like the providers of adjacent systems such as ERPs and webshops, aren’t involved early enough to help the integration process in a way that doesn’t interrupt rollout. There’s a great deal of complexity and interdependencies to consider. Don’t forget that.

Prior Experience With Integrations

It helps if the parties involved have prior experience with similar integrations. For instance, we’ve integrated OMS and PCM with Microsoft solutions, Point of Sale (PoS) systems, RFID providers – you name it, we’ve connected the dots. Make sure your providers have a similar level of experience.

Realistic Planning And Scope Management

The last point is one you might already be familiar with from other projects outside of even IT infrastructure, but we really feel that considering project size in a meaningful way is worth reiterating.

Avoiding Underestimation

One of the biggest reasons for delays in OMS implementation is an underestimation of the project’s complexity. Organizations often fail to allocate the right resources or underestimate the time required, leading to prolonged timelines or even abandonment when progress isn’t made at the assumed speed.

Managing Scope Creep

Expanding the project scope beyond the initial plan can significantly delay the implementation. It’s crucial to create clear and technical specifications and stick to them. Accepting a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that is not perfect, but functional can help in going live quicker. Subsequent phases can address additional features and improvements, but the early success of a small but impactful project is massively important.

Phased Implementation

A phased approach as mentioned above allows the organization to go live sooner and make adjustments based on real-world use. Some clients attempt to implement the OMS, ERP, and webshop simultaneously. This can exponentially increase lead times due to the compounded complexity and resource demands – don’t do this.

Bringing It All Together

Implementing an OMS is a complex process involving many moving parts and stakeholders. A fast implementation, typically ranging from 8 weeks to 6 months (depending on the project size) is only going to happen if you keep the key concepts we’ve covered in mind. Really, your OMS provider should be giving you this information and guidance before, during, and after implementation – so if you’re investigating options right now, keep that very much at the front of your mind.

Looking for a partner that has a fantastic OMS and a team of experts to help you implement it? Well, look no further than Wolfpack, drop us a note, and let’s chat.

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