10 ERP Implementation Mistakes to Avoid

At FitGap Finance, we help finance teams and business leaders bridge the gap between business needs and ERP functionality — with a focus on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance.

ERP projects are high-stakes. Done right, they can transform your operations. Done wrong, they can drain budgets, stall timelines, and frustrate your best people.

Here are the 10 most common mistakes we see in ERP implementations — and how to avoid them.

1. Unclear Scope

A rushed or weak discovery phase leads to scope creep and shifting priorities.
Tip: Spend the time upfront to define scope clearly, especially in a Fit/Gap analysis. A clear scope keeps the team focused on delivering the most critical D365 Finance functionality.

2. Relying Too Much on External Consultants

Consultants bring valuable expertise, but your internal team must also have ERP veterans.
Tip: Build an in-house core team that stays after the go-live — ensuring your D365 knowledge doesn’t walk out the door.

3. Key Users Not Fully Assigned

Your best people must be fully dedicated to the project.
Tip: Backfill their day-to-day work so they can focus on configuration, testing, and decision-making during the D365 project.

4. Weak Change Management

Resistance is inevitable.
Tip: Involve key players early, communicate the “why” behind changes, and use demos and prototypes in D365 to build buy-in.

5. Excessive Customizations

Some customizations are necessary, but too many add cost, complexity, and long-term maintenance risk.
Tip: Challenge every customization request. Often, D365 offers multiple out-of-the-box options that can meet the business need.

6. Analysis Paralysis

Endless workshops delay progress.
Tip: Get users hands-on in a D365 test environment early. Real feedback comes from real use.

7. Delaying Data Migration

Data migration is tedious and time-consuming.
Tip: Start early with key data sets — vendors, customers, chart of accounts — and validate them within the D365 configuration.

8. Leaving Security Roles to the End

Security role design is often underestimated.
Tip: Identify key risks early, use D365’s security framework to assign roles, and refine them post-go-live.

9. Poor Testing Practices

Testing should be realistic and end-to-end.
Tip: Create test cases that follow real business scenarios, not just isolated functions, so D365 works seamlessly across processes.

10. Skipping Dry-Runs and Parallel Runs

A smooth go-live depends on preparation.
Tip: Run at least one full dry-run and, if possible, a parallel run with your legacy system to spot issues early.

💡 Want to make sure your D365 project avoids these pitfalls?
Download our free ERP Implementation Checklist — a step-by-step guide to help finance and operations teams prepare for a successful go-live.

[📥 Get the Checklist]