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Structuring change for success: building strong IFS Cloud foundations in asset-intensive industries.
If you’re leading a transformation in an asset-intensive industry, manufacturing, food & beverage, or oil & gas, you know the stakes are high. Upgrading to a system like IFS Cloud isn’t just about technology; it’s about people, process, and culture.
At Forseti Solutions, we help organizations integrate data into ERP systems using IFS solutions, and we’ve seen that solid change management is the secret behind successful deployments.
Let’s walk through how to structure change management specifically for IFS Cloud projects in asset-intensive settings, so you can avoid common pitfalls and capture real value.
Establish Governance and Leadership Engagement
One of the first things to get right is who is making changes and how decisions are made.
- For industry players managing large assets (think heavy equipment, complex production facilities), governance needs to link IT, operations, maintenance, and business leadership.
- Prosci states that organizations with strong change management are far more likely to succeed; 88% with excellent programs met or exceeded objectives, compared to just 13% with poor programs. This highlights how effective change management directly drives project success.
Why this matters for IFS Cloud in asset-intensive industries
When your ERP (like IFS Cloud) touches maintenance schedules, spare-parts logistics, regulatory compliance, and uptime of critical equipment, the change isn’t incremental; it’s transformational. Without strong leadership and governance, you risk:
- Scope creep as different departments jockey for their needs
- Misalignment between what the system offers and what the operations team needs
- Resistance when the workforce sees “technology change” as a threat rather than an enabler
Best practice steps:
- Form a steering committee (executive + operations + IT) that meets regularly.
- Assign a change sponsor who has visibility and authority in the business area (not just IT).
- Define clear decision-rights and escalation paths.
Build a People-Centric Communication & Readiness Program
A technology rollout alone won’t drive value. The “people side” of change is non-negotiable. Harvard’s “7 Reasons Why Change Management Strategies Fail and How to Avoid Them” article explains that, “Leaders often spend a great deal of time communicating about the proposed change… However, change management strategies often fail or fizzle out when leaders don’t communicate enough after the initiative is announced.”
How this plays out in asset-intensive environments
- Your workforce might include operators, technicians, maintenance crews, and supervisors, each with different needs, concerns, and technology comfort levels.
- For example, a technician used to paperwork orders may resist a mobile tablet-based workflow unless the value (less downtime, easier reporting) is clearly communicated.
- Did you know? Insentra states that nearly 75% of organizations anticipate implementing more change initiatives in the next three years.
Practical tactics
- Map stakeholder groups (operators, maintenance, IT, management) and tailor messages to “what’s in it for me.”
- Use multiple communication channels: town halls, on-site demonstrations, peer-to-peer testimonials.
- Introduce “change champions” embedded in operations who become peer-sponsors of new ways of working.
- Provide contextual training (e.g., mobile inspections, asset health dashboards), not generic.
- Monitor readiness: measure awareness (“I know what’s changing”), ability (“I can use the new system”), and adoption (“I am using the new workflows”), metrics linked to a larger change management framework.
Align Processes, Systems & Metrics and Measure Success
In asset-intensive industries, aligning new systems like IFS Cloud with existing process maturity and establishing metrics for success are critical. Otherwise, you risk the technology being implemented, but the business outcomes not showing up.
Why is this especially important
- The complexity of assets (e.g., long lifecycle, high maintenance cost) means process improvements may take time and need measurement.
- Prosci explains that organizations that apply structured change management are far more likely to stay on schedule and on budget.
- Without alignment, you might implement IFS Cloud but still have fragmented data, inconsistent workflows, or weak adoption, undermining ROI.
Steps to take:
1. Map existing critical workflows: for example, asset commissioning, inspection, shutdown maintenance, spares procurement, and define future state within IFS Cloud.2. Define success metrics upfront: for example, reduction in unplanned downtime, parts-to-asset ratio improvement, maintenance backlog shrinkage, and technician productivity.
3. Design process owners and change network: ensure each business process has an owner accountable for adoption.
4. Use a phased rollout strategy: for example, pilot in one asset or site before wider rollout, capture lessons, and adjust.
5. Monitor, feedback, refine: create a “lessons-learned” loop so that the change management program adapts as you go.
6. Celebrate wins and share stories: first successes reinforce momentum across the broader organization.
Let’s Change Your Team Today
Effective change management is essential for successful IFS Cloud implementations in asset-intensive industries. With the right governance, communication, and process alignment, organizations can ensure their technology investments translate into real operational value.
Forseti Solutions helps companies build structured, people-focused change strategies that drive lasting adoption and results. Visit forsetisolutions.com to learn more.