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ERP Readiness: Why Checklist-Driven Approaches Fail—and What to Do Before You Select Software

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Feb 11th, 2026 | 11 AM ET

Most ERP initiatives fail long before software is selected. They fail when organizations reduce ERP decisions to feature lists, vendor demos, and procurement-style checklists. Marketing narratives, limited strategy experience, and overreliance on implementation partners often mask deeper architectural, behavioral, and operational realities. The result is overcustomization, cost overruns, delayed go-lives, and systems that reinforce silos rather than eliminate them.

In this webinar, we explain why checklist-driven ERP selections break down and what they consistently overlook—data readiness, integration workflows, migration feasibility, legal exposure, and behavioral constraints. We introduce ERP Readiness as a structured discipline that aligns leadership, departments, and decision-makers on what ERP truly means for the organization before downstream phases begin. Without this alignment, teams carry conflicting assumptions that surface later as technical debt and financial surprises.

You will learn how ERP Readiness evaluates interconnected dimensions—process, data, organization, technology, legal, and behavioral readiness—using a staged, decision-gated approach. We will walk through a practical 3–6 month readiness framework, the critical deliverables it produces, and how it reduces risk while improving selection outcomes. The session concludes with concrete next steps for buyers preparing for ERP decisions in high-stakes environments.

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Join Now

Join us for a powerful session on ERP readiness and why checklist-driven approaches fail and what to do before selecting software.

Learning Objectives:

Understand why feature lists and must-have checklists consistently lead to ERP failure

Identify the hidden risks that checklist-driven selections ignore, including data, integration, and migration readiness

Align leadership and departments around a shared definition of ERP before vendor evaluation

Distinguish between as-is alignment and to-be consensus—and why both are required

Assess behavioral, skillset, and incentive risks that can derail ERP initiatives

Evaluate legal, contractual, and operational exposures before committing to software

Apply a phased ERP Readiness framework with clear stage-gate decisioning

Use readiness deliverables to support buy-vs-build decisions, vendor selection, and change planning

Reduce customization, cost overruns, and implementation slippage through upfront clarity

Define next steps for conducting ERP Readiness with an independent advisory approach

Speakers

Sam Gupta Headshot

Sam Gupta
CEO | ElevatIQ

Sam Gupta has been a thought leader in the digital transformation space for nearly two decades, with the primary focus on business software. Sam is rated as #1 thought leader in the ERP and CRM categories and #5 in the digital transformation category on Thinkers 360. He is also among the top 100 thought leaders across all categories. He has been part of large transformation initiatives for Fortune 500 corporations, but now spends his time consulting with SMEs as a CEO at ElevatIQ. Sam regularly speaks at industry conferences and contributes his experiences through many popular blogs and publications. He also hosts a podcast called WBSRocks, focused on business growth through digital transformation, where he interviews top influencers and executives focused on digital transformation.

Shrestha Dash
Industry Research Analyst | ElevatIQ

Shrestha Dash is passionate about uncovering actionable insights and exploring the ever-evolving landscape of technology and digital transformation. With a strong analytical foundation, she delves into topics such as ERP, enterprise software, and digital ecosystems, offering in-depth research and thoughtful analysis. Currently working as an Industry Research Analyst at ElevatIQ, she combines her expertise in research with a flair for storytelling, helping businesses navigate complex industry trends and make informed decisions.

Join Now

Join us for a powerful session on ERP readiness and why checklist-driven approaches fail and what to do before selecting software.

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2026 Digital Transformation Report

This digital transformation report summarizes our annual research on ERP and digital transformation trends and forecasts for the year 2026.