Benefits of an external project manager during a digital transformation project
27 March 2025Dewulf is a manufacturer of agricultural vehicles with production sites in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Romania. A new digital cloud platform, including a new ERP package, was necessary because the existing on-premise solutions were end-of-life and because Dewulf wanted to standardize and further digitize its business processes across all three locations.
9altitudes was chosen to implement the system and the right partner to guide Dewulf through this transition. An ERP implementation is a complex and impactful process that affects the entire organization. Appointing an external project manager can play a crucial role in the success of this implementation.
Experience and expertise
An external project manager brings years of experience in managing digital transformation projects across various companies. They are familiar with common pitfalls and best practices, and their knowledge enables them to facilitate the right strategic decisions while identifying and resolving potential issues at an early stage. These issues may arise in areas such as master data, test scripts, blueprint details, processes, and various other domains.
Hedwig Hulpiau, a project manager with experience in D365 F&O implementations, is taking on this role at Dewulf.
Despite the uniqueness of each project, the same obstacles often arise - ones that an experienced project manager can anticipate
Hedwig Hulpiau, Project Manager MI&S, TriFinance
Neutrality and Objectivity
Internal project managers can unintentionally be influenced by internal politics and interests. Their own career perspectives may also hinder discussions.
An external project manager, however, can act neutrally in discussions and conflicts between departments. This ensures that decisions are based on what is best for the project and the organization as a whole, rather than on internal power dynamics.
"Our project manager makes sure that we never lose sight of our objectives during the project," says Janpieter Masselus, CFO at Dewulf. "Where necessary, she holds up a mirror to us and helps us setting the right priorities. I am convinced that, thanks to Hedwig, we will reach our desired end goal faster, supported by her professional and structured approach."
Our project manager ensures that we never lose sight of the set goal. Where necessary, she holds up a mirror to us and helps us set the right priorities
Janpieter Masselus, CFO Dewulf
Support for the integrator
An external project manager acts as a bridge between the organization and the integrator. Their expertise enables them to clearly communicate technical and functional requirements, minimizing misunderstandings and optimizing collaboration. Additionally, they can quickly respond to questions and concerns from the integrator, which enhances the speed of the quality and the implementation.
Patrik Luca, managing director at 9altitudes Belgium, confirms this: "At 9altitudes, we generally see higher satisfaction and better delivery when our client engages an external project manager, whether it’s for an ERP, CRM, Field Service, digital workplace, or BI solution. And often, it’s a combination of several of these business applications, like in the case of Dewulf, that are implemented to enable integration between the various departments within the company. Ultimately, managing such complex digital projects is not the core daily task of our client."
We see a higher satisfaction and better delivery when our client engages an external project manager (...). Ultimately, managing such complex digital projects is not the core task of our client
Patrik Luca, Managing Director, 9altitudes Belgium
Focus on the ERP Implementation
Internal employees often have their regular tasks alongside the project, which can divide their attention. An external project manager, on the other hand, can focus entirely on the ERP implementation. This exclusive focus increases the likelihood of a successful completion within the set time and budget.
Hedwig Hulpiau: "An ERP implementation is significant for the entire organization. Managing it requires the necessary attention and time, so the project can efficiently evolve into a successful go-live."
An external project manager as the key to ERP success
Engaging an external project manager for an ERP implementation offers several advantages, from their extensive experience and objectivity to their ability to bridge the gap between the organization and the integrator.
“As 9altitudes, we have observed that implementation projects run more smoothly and with greater satisfaction for both the client and our own consultants when an external project manager, such as Hedwig, is involved,” says Patrik Luca. “Having a central point of contact who helps align both parties and ensures mutual understanding allows our people to focus more on their core tasks and make decisions more quickly, which in turn benefits overall efficiency.”
“Such a complex project implementation remains a tough challenge," says Janpieter. "That’s for sure. But the added value of our external project manager became clear to us very quickly. Hedwig manages to guide us in the right manner and at the right pace towards our goal. Moreover, she is an excellent fit with our company culture and our people, which is a crucial factor. It is a pleasure working together, and we have also learned a lot from her project approach - something that will undoubtedly pay off in future projects. That’s an added bonus.”