ERP Implementation - A Guide for Apparel Brands
Are you at the point where you’ve figured you need an ERP, short for Enterprise Resource Planning, system for your business, but can’t just wrap your head around how best to implement it properly? Or maybe you are transitioning to a new ERP, but the implementation process is already becoming a nightmare?
The truth is, every ERP implementation project is hard work, especially for brands in the fashion industry. Thankfully, with the right knowledge and insights, you can enjoy a smooth onboarding experience when adopting an ERP system for your business.
Consider this post a detailed guide to a successful ERP implementation, created specifically for clothing brands.
Implementing a ERP system requires seven steps, and they are as follows:
- Define Your Business Goals and Requirements
- Choose the Right ERP Software
- Build Your Implementation Team
- Prepare and Migrate Your Data
- Configure and Customize the System
- Test and Go Live
- Train Your Team
What Is ERP and Why Does It Matter in the Fashion Industry?
An ERP system is basically a software, which could be cloud-based or on-premises, that centralizes your business data, hence streamlining your processes. By processes, we mean everything from inventory and production to finance, customer service, and order management.
For fashion brands, a robust ERP system is useful for:
Managing complex SKUs with size and color variations
Tracking production stages from design to delivery
Balancing seasonal inventory with real-time demand
Coordinating with manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers
Do You Really Need an ERP Solution for Your Business?
Investing in an ERP system is a decision that requires careful consideration, considering the financial implications. Nevertheless, it is a vital necessity, particularly for any growth-conscious business.
The question then is, how do you know exactly when you need one for your business? The simplest way is by checking for these signs:
You rely heavily on spreadsheets or siloed tools
Inventory inaccuracies are hurting sales
You struggle with tracking orders or managing multiple sales channels
There’s no single source of truth for business performance
If you notice any of these, just know it’s about time to adopt a new ERP system.
7 Key Steps to Implementing ERP Software Successfully
Your ERP implementation success depends on your ability to follow the right steps. Whether you’re upgrading from spreadsheets or replacing a legacy system, here are the 7 essential steps to successfully implementing ERP software.
1. Define Your Business Goals and Requirements
Before choosing software, start by understanding your business needs by asking these pertinent questions:
What are the biggest pain points in your current processes?
Which departments will use the ERP?
What specific features do you need (e.g., inventory tracking, production planning, multi-channel sales integration)?
Document these requirements clearly. They’ll serve as your blueprint throughout the implementation process.
2. Choose the Right ERP Software
Not all ERP systems are created equal. For fashion brands, look for industry-specific solutions, such as Uphance, that support:
Product variants (like size and color matrices)
Bill of Materials (BOM) and production tracking
Vendor and warehouse management
Integration with eCommerce platforms and marketplaces
As an added step, evaluate an ERP vendor based on features, support, scalability, and cost. Ask for demos, case studies, and customer references.
3. Build Your Implementation Team
Successful ERP rollouts need a dedicated team. This typically includes:
A project manager (to oversee the timeline and coordination)
Departmental leads (to represent their team’s interests)
IT support or consultants (for technical setup and data migration)
The ERP vendor’s implementation specialists
4. Prepare and Migrate Your Data
Data is the lifeblood of any ERP system. Clean, accurate data ensures a smooth ERP implementation. To achieve seamless data migration, consider consolidating your data sources (from spreadsheets, legacy systems, etc.), removing duplicates, and structuring your data to match the format supported by the new ERP.
5. Configure and Customize the System
Once you’ve onboarded a new ERP, you will want to configure and customize it to fit into your operations. To do this:
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Set up user roles and permissions
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Align workflows to your processes (e.g., how purchase orders or production runs are approved)
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Integrate with other tools you use (like accounting software, POS systems, or online stores)
6. Test and Go Live
Before launching, conduct end-to-end testing to ensure everything works as expected. During the testing phase, you will want to check if you can sync your inventory correctly, create purchase orders, and fulfil sales orders.
In addition, you will also want to check if all integrations are functioning properly and reports are generated accurately.
7. Train Your Team
Training is a vital component of the ERP implementation process. Thankfully, most ERP vendors provide onboarding training, albeit for a substantial fee. If you run a large team, hiring an experienced consultant to administer the training can suffice.
How Much Should You Expect to Spend on Implementing an ERP Software?
Are you curious to know how much it will cost to implement an ERP to streamline your business processes? Unfortunately, it can be challenging to get a straightforward answer, as several variables play a role.
But knowing the average fees of the top ERP systems can give you a clue into how much you will likely spend on subscription fees.
That being said, here’s a quick breakdown of the subscription fees of the top apparel ERP solutions:
Bear in mind that these are the base fees and do not include the cost of onboarding. Also, you might spend more, based on the size of your teams and the custom solutions you choose to integrate with the ERP.
How to Minimize Risks and Costs for Any ERP Implementation Project
Like everything else in life, implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning solution comes with its own set of risks. As such, it’s important to ensure your project team know about these risks and has a solid plan to keep them in check.
1. Avoid Over-Customization
Customizing ERP software may seem like the best way to make it “fit,” but it can quickly inflate costs and extend timelines.
Stick to configuration over customization wherever possible. Most reputable ERPs allow significant flexibility without altering the core code.
2. Prioritize Must-Have Features
ERP platforms offer hundreds of features, and it can be tempting to want all of them. Wanting them all means bloating up your operational costs. So, focus only on the core features you need for your business functions.
3. Clean Your Data Before Migration
Data cleanup can be time-consuming, but if skipped, it will slow down implementation and lead to errors. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
Remove duplicates
Fix inconsistencies (naming, formatting, codes)
Align data structures with ERP requirements
4. Run a Pilot Before Full Launch
Resist the urge to go live right away once the ERP project team has completed the implementation process. Rather, first run a pilot phase using limited products. Doing so allows you to:
Test key workflows
Identify and fix bugs
Gather user feedback
5. Create a Contingency Budget
Unexpected costs will very likely arise, no matter how correctly you execute the implementation project. To avoid being caught off guard, set aside 10–20% of your ERP budget to train key stakeholders, handle data issues, and additional integrations you might not have planned for.
Hire an Implementation Partner or Use Your In-House Team? What’s Best for Your Business
For large fashion brands, implementing a modern ERP system comes down to two options: doing it in-house or getting an external consultant/team to handle the implementation. Each has its pros and cons.
Option 1: Implementing ERP In-House
Pros
1. Cost Savings (At Least Initially)
Avoiding consulting fees can significantly reduce your upfront costs—ideal if you’re working with a tight budget.
2. Greater Control Over the Process
Your team owns every step, which can lead to better customization and tighter alignment with internal needs.
3. In-House Knowledge Building
Your internal team gains deep knowledge of the ERP system, which can reduce long-term reliance on external help.
Cons
1. Lack of Expertise
Most businesses—especially small or mid-sized ones—don’t have in-house ERP experts. This can lead to poor decisions, wrong configurations, or skipped best practices.
2. Longer Timelines
If your team is juggling day-to-day operations and ERP rollout, the project may drag on far longer than expected.
3. Higher Risk of Mistakes
From data migration to integration, ERP is filled with landmines. Without expert guidance, missteps can lead to costly delays or failed launches.
Option 2: Hiring an ERP Consultant
Pros
1. Expert Guidance and Best Practices
Consultants bring industry-specific expertise, helping you avoid pitfalls and implement proven workflows tailored to your needs.
2. Faster Time to Value
With dedicated focus and experience, consultants can complete projects in less time—getting you to ROI faster.
3. Streamlined Data Migration and Integrations
Experienced consultants can handle technical tasks like data cleanup, third-party integrations, and system configuration with fewer hiccups.
4. Change Management Support
Consulting firms often offer training plans, documentation, and user onboarding support—crucial for successful adoption.
Cons
1. Higher Upfront Costs
Consultants don’t come cheap. You’ll pay for their expertise—and rightly so—but it can stretch your budget.
2. Less Internal Ownership
Some companies struggle to internalize the system if they rely too heavily on external teams.
3. Risk of Misalignment
If the consultant doesn’t fully understand your business model or processes, the final implementation may not fit as well as expected. Communication is key.
So, which option is the best for implementing a new ERP solution? In-house is best if you are on a shoestring budget and willing to put in the time required to get a hang of the system. Outsourcing is better suited for bigger businesses.
Move Your Business Forward With Uphance Apparel ERP
Designed exclusively for fashion brands, Uphance ERP is packed with industry-specific features, allowing you to streamline every facet of your business processes, including inventory, order fulfilment, warehouse and supply chain management.
Besides consolidating your business data in one place, Uphance integrates seamlessly with major eCommerce platforms, such as Shopify, Rithum DSCO, JOOR, and dozens more. This means you don’t have to worry about data silo problems.
Best of all, implementing Uphance ERP for your business is simple, eliminating the need for hiring a consultant. On top of that, we offer onboarding training and round-the-clock support.
Curious to know if Uphance is a good fit for your business? Schedule a demo right away!
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