"Have you been given access to our file at VanRoey in advance? It seemed as if your entire keynote presentation was about our implementation experiences."

This is what one of the participants said to me during the first of the two Business Applications Days that the successful Belgian Microsoft Dynamics365 partner VanRoey recently organized in Houthalen.

Apparently, the recognition was great.

In my session, I discussed the struggle that many organizations experience before and during the implementation of their new ERP software. Partly due to their often fragmented application landscape. Most organizations do want to innovate and reduce the number of applications. And are also motivated to make their project successful. But they often don't know how.

Moreover, they notice time and again that their people dig their heels in when their teams are uncertain or are involved in the project late.

Resistance that can usually be avoided if the management starts communication in time, sets clear goals and gives the project a business-relevant and attractive name.

Crucial conditions for all this are that the management immerses itself in the project in a timely manner. That they make a powerful and capable project sponsor available from among themselves. That they take the time to prepare. And that they make the right people responsible for, among other things, modernizing processes and limiting customization.

Unfortunately, active involvement from the management is not always self-evident.

The feedback on my presentation was positive. Although the necessary participants regretted not having brought their own management. "They really should have been here!"

This is what marketing manager Emiel Willems said about my contribution:

"At our VanRoey Business Applications Day, Guus made it clear: if you tie rockets to the back of a caterpillar, you don't get a butterfly. New software on old processes and old thinking does not result in transformation. Technology changes quickly, people don't. That's why real change always starts in the boardroom. With a strong sponsor or ambassador. And good preparation. And not in the IT department."

Did you miss this interesting customer day? Don't worry! Because on Tuesday 17 November, this event will be repeated in Izegem, West Flanders.

Great to see you there!