Cutover Plan for an ERP Project: How to Plan a Successful Go-Live

What is a Cutover Plan?

A Cutover Plan is a sequential listing of all required activities designed to ensure a successful activation of the new software. To get more information about the Cutover plan and its management, consult this Blogpost.

A Cutover Plan typically includes the technical interface switch and a detailed strategy for data migration, encompassing both master and transactional data. Additionally, a Cutover Plan includes technical setup activities, the verification of physical outputs such as document labels, and a clear support strategy for the immediate "post go-live period”.

How to Create a Cutover Plan

Creating a successful Cutover Plan requires a structured methodology.

Initially it can be helpful dividing the Cutover into four main phases: Preparation, Pre-Cutover, Cutover, and Post Go-Live. The Cutover Plan is very granular with each activity depicted with a start and end time, duration and a responsible person.

The most efficient way to create a Cutover plan is to start with a template, ideally provided by the software supplier. Often, such a template lists standard technical activities done by the implementer. This template should then be enriched with business-specific activities through workshops with the responsible stakeholders.

If no template is available, an approach can be by defining the most important work packages and their activities, such as data migration, inventory counting, parallel maintenance or critical "Go/No-Go" meetings. From there, activities are added after aligning with each project stream (e.g., Data Migration, Interface leads, or Finance key users etc.) to ensure every detail is captured. Finally, the complete plan must be verified with a large part of the project team to ensure total alignment.

Final Thoughts

While its creation is not always straight forward, a detailed Cutover Plan is a critical part of a successful go-live. Often, customers struggle with creating a complete Cutover plan without a structured methodology. Here the expertise of 2BCS can help by providing tailored, customer-specific Cutover Plan that ensures a low risk go-live.