How Gravitas enabled an American food company's philanthropic mission

February 16, 2023 | ERP Modernization | Change Management | Analytics

At Gravitas, our mission is to help businesses solve their most complex problems and get the results they need. Our clients are a diverse group of organizations with many different needs and goals, but they all share one thing in common: they need to solve a problem and achieve desired outcomes. 

Background

Our client is an American food company founded in 1982 with a mission to donate 100% of its profits to help children in need. The company has a broad range of products and serves millions of customers across the country.  

The client's existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system was outdated and no longer supported their evolving business needs. The company executives approached Gravitas Consulting seeking assistance with organizational change management, training, and IT analytics dashboards for the implementation and successful adoption of a new ERP system.  

“Gravitas Consulting helped us to take a transformative approach to our ERP implementation and training. They were an integral part of our success, and we could not have done it without them” - Chief Information Officer. 

Challenges

The management faced several challenges in the ERP implementation process, including: 

1. Analytics: The client lacked the ability to extract meaningful insights from its data, which limited its decision-making capabilities.  

2. Data management: The client had a large amount of data that needed to be migrated to the new system, which could have posed a significant challenge to the implementation process. 

3. Resistance to change: Some employees were resistant to the change, and they feared that the new system would disrupt their established work processes. 

4. Lack of training: Employees lacked the necessary skills and knowledge to operate the new system effectively. 

“Gravitas was instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. Their expertise and experience made the transition to our new ERP system as smooth as possible” - Client ERP Program Manager

Our work

Organizational change management and training  

Gravitas worked closely with the company's leadership to develop a customized approach to the implementation and training process that aligned with their business requirements and goals that would address the concerns and needs of the employees. We started with the discovery and analysis of existing processes and workflows. We conducted a readiness assessment to identify the key areas where employees needed support to devise a comprehensive plan that included communication strategies, training programs, and support systems to ensure that the employees could successfully adopt the new ERP system. We provided comprehensive training to the employees at all levels, covering all aspects of the new system. The training was tailored to the specific needs of each department, and it included hands-on experience with the new system. This helped to ensure that the employees had the necessary skills and knowledge to use the new system effectively. We created a change management plan to address employee resistance to the new system and provide ongoing communication and support. 

Analytics dashboards  

We implemented IT analytics dashboards and PMO dashboards that provided the company with real-time insights into their data. The dashboards allowed the company's management to make data-driven decisions, identify areas for improvement, and optimize the ERP implementation. The Laminar PMO dashboards gave the client real-time insight into key performance indicators on implementation, adoption, and system usage and help identify areas for improvement. These dashboards were used by the leadership team as well as by the employees during the implementation process. Gravitas conducted regular check-ins with the client to monitor progress and adjust the approach as needed. We also provided ongoing support and consultation throughout the implementation and adoption process. 

Our impact

“Working with the Gravitas was critical to the success of our ERP implementation. Their expertise in change management and training, as well as their ability to implement IT analytics dashboards, were instrumental in helping us achieve our goals. We're thrilled with the results” - Chief Information Officer

1. Improved efficiency 

The client achieved significant improvements in their business processes and workflow, resulting in greater efficiency and productivity. The implementation was completed on time and within budget. Our approach to organizational change management and training helped to address employee resistance and ensure that employees were equipped to use the new system effectively, reducing the likelihood of errors and delays.   

“Working with the team at Gravitas has been a game-changer for our organization. The data management and analytics dashboards they implemented have significantly improved our efficiency, allowing us to make informed decisions and quickly adapt to changing market conditions. We couldn't be happier with the results.” - VP of Operations 

• The client saw a 20% increase in efficiency in its finance and accounting processes 

• A 50% reduction in the time it takes to complete order processing 

• A 20% increase in overall productivity 

2. Enhanced decision-making capabilities 

The Laminar dashboards provided the company's management with meaningful insights into their data, which helped them to optimize their business processes, make data-driven decisions, and improve their overall performance. 

“Thanks to the Laminar analytics dashboards, we now have real-time visibility into our ERP implementation progress and performance, allowing us to make data-driven decisions and course correct quickly to ensure project success.” - Chief Information Officer

3. Increased employee adoption 

The change management plan we developed helped to address employee resistance and ensure the successful adoption of the new system. The employees were trained and ready to use the new system with confidence.  

“Our employees have been very positive about the training and support we received from Gravitas. We are now operating more efficiently and are better positioned to achieve our goals.”

"One of the biggest impacts has been enabling our employees to communicate more effectively with our customers and partners."  

• 98% of employees completed the training program 

• 95% of employees reported feeling confident using the new ERP system 

In conclusion, Gravitas Consulting’s transformative approach leveraging analytics for the ERP implementation and organizational change management enabled the client to achieve their goals while maintaining their commitment to helping children. It also highlights our commitment to helping socially responsible businesses achieve their goals and make a positive impact on the world.