Dynamics AX training is mostly treated as an afterthought, often with little neglect. However, end-user ERP training should be built around a strategy that accomplishes the training objectives. The functional, development, and technical implementation teams are exhausted from user acceptance testing –often completed prior to end-user training. And at this point in the project – where it is about to go-live – stretching the stringent budget, and yet somewhere in your to-do list there is a task pending…train end-users.
For a business to recognize its full business value, there is no denying that high user adoption is essential for success and most organizations strive to achieve this. Design an ERP training strategy for your implementation with key components included. It is your job to ensure that your organization does not fall into the last minute trap, forcing you to adopt the one-size-fits all ERP training.
5 Dynamics AX Training Tips to Follow
1.Understand the End-user Process Impact
Identifying and assessing your groups of end-users that will soon be going live with your Dynamics AX ERP system will help you understand who needs to know specific components of the new ERP software. You can achieve this by working with the business/ operational leaders who can provide you will all the relevant information you need to know, including the level of knowledge needed by each individual.
Also, do assess whether they need cross-training for multiple roles within your organization for any reason, e.g. contingency. Determine the level of knowledge they require to competently handle multiple roles. Do they need 100% knowledge? Then train them. Suppose the organization is experiencing platform change, are there some supporting skills end users should learn to be successful? By answering all these questions, you’ll get to understand – by organizational site or business unit – the level of effort need for an effective ERP training.
2. Deliver Content Using Flexible Methods
Most organizations are characterized by end-users that span multiple generations of workers. The generational distinctions can be seen in the way adults learn to use the internet and technology. Different generations view technology differently. The generational differences are especially distinct in the following generations:
- Baby Boomers (1946-1964): they learn in a linear fashion
- Millennials (1981-2000), these are digital natives
Luckily, offerings for ERP training may be combinations of:
- Printed reference material/ process-based organization specific documentation. In fact, this is Boomers’ favorite, but Millennials consider it an assault
- Prerecorded videos to walk you through a particular process, including entry screens
- Onsite lessons and classroom style training, backed with lab exercises
- PowerPoints of process policy, detailed with communications on ways to handle exceptions. In fact, exception based training is critical to help avoid the pitfall of rushed happy path training.
- Full session webinars for remote training
- Lunch-and-learn open seminar topics
3. Define User or Role Learning Paths
Now that you have assessed the end users and managed to build a process impact, the next thing for you to do is design curriculum that is associated or linked with specific roles and users. Luckily, all these can be compiled into a single Learning Management System. This means that the LMS allows a defined path of learning, complete with modules of courses that can be easily assigned to the end users.
Using an LMS framework allows the instructors or organization to maintain accountability through tracking and testing for retention, or offering certification on a specific coursework, or both. The advantage of using an LMS is that the setup is rather simple and performs all the auditing of logins, including time spent on content review and testing, as well as provide feedback surveys that will propose ongoing improvements for your content.
4. Your ERP Training Should Be Process Based
In your training, provide content that is geared toward addressing specific ERP processes within your organization, aligned with the end user’s roles. The processes consist of what the end users do repeatedly throughout the day in the course of performing their duties to achieve results according to job specifications, and an ERP system is the basic tool that helps merge the processes.
So, it is essential to structure your ERP training around these processes, as the end user will find it more intuitive and will likely have been handled as part of company shift towards improvement that is likely to be realized with the ERP implementation.
5. Early Planning, Budgeting, and Securing Resources
Planning is very important in a Dynamics AX training or any end user ERP training for that matter. Even though this might not seem as urgent as other tasks, especially early in the project, successful training requires early planning, which is very important. In particular, preparation is important when the implementation is approaching the deployment stage.
After the executive sponsors have approved the budget for line items such as on-site training, implementing as LMS framework, support from the consulting company, outsourced resources to aid toward generating or consolidating content, or any travel to remote sites/users, the resources identified earlier in the process are regarded part of the training plan.
To recruit internal trainers, subject matter experts (SME’s) are perhaps the best starting point, but not all of the SME’s will make great trainers for your rollout. This is because they may possess intensive knowledge (deep in a single subject area) and lack extensive knowledge (broad knowledge on various subjects), and therefore, scanty knowledge across the entire system.
As a precaution, you may want to appoint and train an alternative team of trainers just in case your original team is pulled from the project late in the ERP implementation phase.
Conclusion
The five training tips: end-user process impact matrix, flexible content delivery, defined user/role learning paths, process based training, and early planning, budgeting, and securing resources are all key components that help organizations achieve a custom ERP training, rather than sticking to a one-size-fits-all training that may not work for your organization.
You can take advantage of the great resources available online to improve your training, transfer knowledge and improve end user training retention. Solid Dynamics AX training is critical to high user adoption, as well as successful go-live that all organizations strive to achieve.