Introducing new systems is often risky and subject to delay. We’ve all heard horror stories about enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations going wrong and taking much longer than originally planned. These delays have a ripple effect on other parts of the business. Initiatives that are dependent on the completion of the delayed programme often have to be put on hold. The delays can lead to a shortage of resources, as the resources allocated to the delayed programme cannot be reallocated to other initiatives. The consequences of these delays extend beyond the initial implementation phase, affecting various business areas and making it challenging to implement changes. When a single technology supports many business areas, it becomes hard to make change
Modern business and technology architecture enables us to avoid this problem, as long as we’re prepared to re-evaluate how we’re using our existing legacy systems. Figure 1, below illustrates a modular architecture. Although deployment and implementation, particularly data migration, requires careful consideration, modularisation means that the impact is decoupled from other changes within your business.
Don’t think of a new subscription management solution as open heart surgery on the business - it’s more like mending a broken limb. It’s an upgrade to your existing architecture, provided you follow some straightforward rules. Its technology impact on the existing architecture can be limited to changes to configure, price, quote (CPQ) and retirement of customisations to your ERP.
We successfully migrated one of our global clients, operating in 143 countries, with 400mn USD revenue from a legacy architecture to a new subscription management architecture within nine months following these key principles:
Review business processes:
Fulfilment and manual interventions:
Digital product management:
Payment and invoicing:
API-enabled architecture:
Subscription platform for invoicing:
Product and price definitions:
Solution design and deployment:
Testing and scenarios:
Introducing new systems doesn't have to be a daunting, high-risk endeavour. Think of your subscription management solution as a strategic upgrade to your current setup and remember that the best systems require careful planning and execution, particularly when it comes to data migration.
By following straightforward rules, modularising the project, and limiting its scope, your business can continue to grow and adapt during the upgrade process. This method not only ensures a smoother transition but also builds flexibility for the future.
We can help you to successfully migrate to a new subscription management solution. Get in touch to find out more.