Phase CHECKLISTS
Phase TIMELINES
Phase CHECKLISTS
Phase TIMELINES
Phase CHECKLISTS
Phase TIMELINES
sustain
Support &
Sustainment
build | test | deploy
Configuration
& Solution Implementation
initiate | design
Project Initiation Solution Design
planning
Business Orientation, Initiative Planning, Technology Alignment
Sustain
Sustain the Momentum.
Keep the system thriving with office hours, health checks, and feedback loops. Plan for hand-off and future optimization.
checklist
Implementation to Support: Is the hand-off ready?
Change Management: How will updates and new integrations be communicated for continuous adaption?
Governance Setup: Have roles been defined and KPI’s set for ongoing monitoring?
Next Steps: What’s next on the transformation roadmap?
Build
Test
Deploy
Build
Test
Deploy
Deploy with Confidence.
This stage unites your people and processes with tech. Aid smooth adoption with training, support, and real-time adjustments.
checklist
Deployment Strategy: Full launch or phased rollout?
Go-Live Communication: Let users know it’s live.
Training & Support: Make help accessible and clear.
Deploy
Test for Impact.
Now’s the time to make sure it all works. Does the solution deliver what was expected? Check that it meets your requirements and plays seamlessly across your tech landscape.
checklist
Testing Scope: Are we covering all critical areas?
Success Criteria: What does “good” look like?
Stakeholder Involvement: Who needs to test?
Test
Build the New Reality.
Here’s where the action starts. Implement the solution by upgrading or transforming what exists today—and make sure it all works together: software, data, reporting, and business integration tools.
checklist
Follow the Blueprint: Are you building according to the approved design?
Data Integrity: Ensure master and historical data are usable.
System Integration: Connect source systems to the new solution.
Reporting Tools: Build dashboards and reports for easy data access & analysis.
Governance Docs: Capture decisions for long-term sustainability.
Build
Initiate
Design
Initiate
Design
Design with Depth.
It’s more than the systems—think data lakes, integrations, and user experience. Keep what works and redesign what doesn’t. This is the blueprint to your future state.
checklist
Requirement Alignment: Are we solving the right problems?
Architecture Flow: Does the tech connect from source systems through to reporting?
Know Your Data: Types, access, sensitivity, have a strategy for your historical data.
User Permissions: How will different teams across the organization access and interact with the system?
Design
Start Smart.
Go beyond software selection. Consider how each tech decision shapes your overall solution ecosystem. Map your landscape, set the architecture, and ensure it all fits the bigger picture.
checklist
Architecture Boundaries: What’s fixed, and what’s flexible?
Kickoff & Governance: Set the tone for how you’ll operate—communication, risk handling, decision documentation.
Initiate
Planning
Set the North Star.
Where are we going—and why? This phase aligns business goals with a technology strategy. Whether it’s a full replacement or a smart upgrade, your vision is mapped to actionable steps.
checklist
Define the Problem: What are we solving for?
Craft the Tech Vision: What does long-term success look like?
Assess Current State: How do people, process, and tech currently align?
Identify the Players: Who will be impacted, who needs to be engaged and who should our champions be?
sustain
Support &
Sustainment
build | test | deploy
Configuration
& Solution Implementation
initiate | design
Project Initiation Solution Design
planning
Business Orientation, Initiative Planning, Technology Alignment
time range
Sustain
Hypercare: 1 month Sustainment: Ongoing
Timeline Drivers
Timing of go-live to the next reporting milestone, speed to decommission prior system, support team readiness
Cost Drivers
End user participation throughout implementation, post implementation enhancements
time range
Build | Test | Deploy
3-6 months
Timeline Drivers
Degree of change from initial design, team readiness for testing and ability to complete it, site readiness, organizational agility
Cost Drivers
Magnitude of digital shift, ‘first time right’ (prototype ahead of full deployment), scale/scope of testing required, training schedule and type (train the trainer vs. consultant led), internal vs. external IT support
time range
Initiate | Design
1-3 months
Timeline Drivers
Defined success criteria, governance and communication structures, SME availability, project scope, design complexity
Cost Drivers
Lack of standardization, decision speed, cultural readiness for change
time range
Planning
1-3 months
Timeline Drivers
Stakeholder and process alignment, number and/or age of legacy tools, data readiness, business case and cost clarity
Cost Drivers
Technology roadmap availability, solution architecture complexity, number of stakeholders to engage and unite
Explore our Interactive Roadmap
Where are you starting from?
Download ERM’s
EHS System Guide
Our hands‑on guide offers checklists, simple mapping exercises, and cross‑functional prompts to help EHS, Sustainability, IT, and Finance teams align around their system goals. Whether early in planning or deep into deployment, use this resource to anticipate cost and timeline risks at each phase.
Tommy Nguyen
Rebecca Price
Hector Garces
Gareth Lane
Tommy Nguyen
Partner, NA
Tommy specializes in digital transformations for Fortune 500s in energy, mining, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. With deep expertise in EHS&S systems, Tommy helps organizations optimize environmental reporting, compliance assurance, and operational processes—delivering agile solutions that measure and enhance company-wide performance.
Rebecca Price
Partner, APAC
Rebecca guides companies in developing EHS&S change and digital strategies for sectors such as mining, energy, banking, and government. She combines expertise in design thinking, capability models, and business architecture to deliver enterprise-wide digital solutions that boost engagement, resilience, and performance.
Hector Garces
Partner, LAC
Hector empowers organizations across technology, energy, mining and manufacturing, amongst others, to tackle their EHS&S challenges with the right digital solutions. He excels at transforming complex requirements into practical, data-driven strategies that deliver global impact and long-term performance.
Gareth Lane
Partner, EMEA
Gareth helps global organizations harness AI, advanced analytics, and digital solutions to elevate their EHS&S performance. His expertise enables clients across any sector to predict risk, improve safety, and turn data into proactive, actionable insights that drive measurable improvements.
Meet our authors
ERM experts in EHS, digital systems, and large-scale system implementations
DOWNLOAD THE EHS SYSTEM GUIDE