My 7-Module Blueprint for Building a Successful ERP Training Program

The proven structure I use to train ERP users effectively, without generic manuals or death-by-slide-deck sessions.

Introduction: Why Most ERP Training Fails (and What to Do Instead)

Most ERP training is rushed, generic, and templated, which feels disconnected from users’ real jobs. It’s often treated as a preparatory task to help users go through User Acceptance Testing (UAT), an afterthought rather than a core part of project success.

This approach is flawed because it skips the most essential element of an ERP implementation: user adoption. Training users just before UAT means trying to instruct them about specific tasks or test cases rather than transferring knowledge. This approach results in a high number of UAT tickets that are simple knowledge gaps, which creates pressure on the delivery team and undermines users' confidence in the new system.

On the opposite side of user training mistakes, we found training delivered too early, done using a generic sandbox that is not even close to what the team will use after go-live. The result is the same: low confidence, slow adoption and project delays.

Over the past decade, I’ve delivered ERP training to many organisations across Dynamics 365 Business Central. Lately, I gained skills and experience in other Dynamics applications, including Azure and Power Platform, that gave me unique insights about user training.

In that time, I’ve developed a repeatable, modular approach to training that works, whether you’re onboarding 10 users or 500. Here’s the 7-module blueprint I use to design every successful training programme.

Module 1: Orientation & System Navigation

Objective: Help users feel confident from day one.

Before diving into processes and even before the analysis or discovery phase, users need to feel comfortable using the system. This first module introduces them to the interface, layout, menus, but also terminology and how to personalise their workspace.

This module is delivered before the design phase. This is what we cover:

• Basic navigation and layout

• List and card pages

• Terminology and how it compares with the legacy system. For example, Vendors vs Suppliers or Work Orders vs Production Orders

• How to search and filter data

• Role centres and personalisation

• Keyboard shortcuts and productivity tips

This simple introduction significantly reduces anxiety and lowers the barrier to learning more complex tasks. It also gives users a solid blueprint for more in-depth training later.

Module 2: Core Transactions & Daily Processes

Objective: Build muscle memory with real-life business tasks.

Next, we focus on the actions users perform daily: creating and processing transactions. This module is typically delivered after the design phase in a fully configured sandbox and with at least the critical extensions and customisations already in place. Where possible, we use a small sample of the organisation's data to make the training feel less generic.

Examples include:

• Raising sales orders or purchase invoices

• Posting journals or receipts

• Approving workflows

• Reviewing ledgers

We always align this content with the user's real job responsibilities. It’s not about clicking buttons, it’s about executing business processes that matter. Also, we use hands-on exercises in this phase where every user in the room uses the system and processes transactions.

Module 3: Master Data Essentials

Objective: Show why clean data drives successful ERP use

Master data is the backbone of every ERP system. If users don’t understand how data entities affect process flows, they will be stuck even if they know how to use the system in this phase. We cover this part of user training soon after we have the data migration templates ready, so users know how to extract, cleanse and transform data before importing it into the new system.

This module covers:

• Creating and maintaining customer, vendor, item, and account records

• Understanding data dependencies

• Roles and responsibilities for data ownership

When users grasp the importance of data quality, they become more accountable and more confident because they will start to understand how things connect.

Module 4: Reporting & Business Insight

Objective: Turn users into data consumers, not just data entry clerks

ERP systems are more than transactional tools; they’re also the backbone of the organisation's data. This module teaches users how to analyse the data they enter.

We explore:

• Standard system reports

• Using filters and saved views

• Exporting to Excel

• Intro to Power BI dashboards (where applicable)

Tailored examples show each team how to monitor what matters, whether that’s sales performance, stock levels, or financial KPIs. The goal is not to turn users into report designers, but to help them analyse and understand their data.

Module 5: Period-End & Cross-Functional Workflows

Objective: Teach what happens before and after go-live

Business doesn’t stop at daily tasks because ERP modules do not exist in isolation. This module prepares users for month-end routines and process handovers across teams. Though this module is primarily for finance users, it is often a good idea to involve operations teams so they can see how their data and transactions flow to the company's books.

Topics include:

• Month-end close, accruals and adjustments

• Inventory reconciliations and stock counts

• Intercompany consolidation and elimination

Understanding how operations and finance process flows fit into wider processes gives users more context and reduces reliance on the finance team, which is common in organisations with standalone applications.

Module 6: Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Objectives: Prepare users for what can go wrong and how to fix it

Rather than avoid errors, we prepare users for when things go wrong. This module gives users practical tools for diagnosing and resolving issues themselves, boosting the team's confidence.

We cover:

• Common system error messages and what they mean

• How to check missing fields on master data entities

• Troubleshoot permissions errors

• Unblocking or reassigning approvals

We often provide a printed or digital “troubleshooting cheat sheet” with scenario-based examples and the most common errors.

Module 7: Role-Based Deep Dives

Objective: Turn subject matter experts into super users

While all users of the organisation must know how to use the new ERP, a few users must take the role of super user. These are subject matter experts who can take their team by the hand and help them make the most of the new system.

Examples:

• Finance: Create and set up new companies, business units or bank accounts

• Sales: Create and manage sales price lists, contracts, sales forecasts and budgets

• Procurement: New purchase agreements, monitor vendor performance

• Warehouse: Create new warehouse locations, update warehouse layout and configuration.

This is where the value of modular design matched with role-based training shines; each team gets exactly what they need to create value using the new system after go-live.

Add-on: Change Management & Continuous Learning

Objective: Keep the momentum going after go-live

Training doesn’t end when the system goes live. The best training strategy embeds the organisation's digital roadmap with the product roadmap. In this case, we learn from Microsoft's product roadmap for Dynamics 365 applications, and we teach users how to embrace a Cloud-First mindset.

We recommend:

• Appointing enablement teams and training champions

• Creating a shared resource library and optimising for Retrieval-augmented Generation (RAG)

• Scheduling regular refresher clinics and update briefings

• Keeping up-to-date with Microsoft new releases

This last step ensures the maximum return on investment for the entire organisation, it keeps adoption high and keeps the team motivated.

Conclusion: Training That Drives ERP Success

ERP success doesn’t come from software; it comes from people. And people succeed when they’re trained with clarity, structure, and relevance. This 7-module blueprint has helped organisations roll out ERP systems with far less resistance and far more confidence.

If you’re a Microsoft partner or internal project lead looking to design a training program that actually works, feel free to adapt this structure or get in touch if you’d like help building one tailored to your team.