There are many ERP options available today. However, it can be challenging to choose the right package for your company.
Many companies believe that any software will work and that their businesses will conform to its functionality. However, many ERP failures have been widely reported. Furthermore, ERP should be able to…
There are many ERP options available today. It can be challenging to choose the right package for your company. Many companies believe that any software will work and that their businesses will conform to its functionality. However, many ERP failures have been widely reported. ERP should not take lightly.
What’s the best way for you to choose the ERP solution that is right for you? These seven steps will help you select the correct software solution for your company.
Perform a process review and analysis.
ERP is a business initiative. You should first identify and document your current business processes. It would be best to consider what your future state (your “to be”) should look like and what business requirements it should meet. Potential software vendors should use these requirements and processes to show their product’s capabilities in the context of your business.
Assess the technical fit.
ERP should not be considered a technology initiative but a business. However, it is essential to assess how the potential software solution will fit into your existing infrastructure. If you are a Microsoft shop, ERP products built on a.NET platform will likely be a better fit for you.
Learn about the total cost of ownership.
Best ERP software India sales representatives are keen to minimize the risks and costs of buying their software during the sales cycle. It’s easier to accept possible prices early on in the process than to commit to a solution. It would be best if you uncover hidden costs associated with ERP, such as implementation costs, hardware upgrades, and backfilling project team resources. Software maintenance is also essential.
Create a realistic implementation strategy.
It would be best not to take vendor implementation time estimates while you are still in the sales cycle. A comprehensive project plan should include the tasks required to install the software and the activities that will be necessary to make sure that the solution is functional, tested, and accepted as such by end-users. It would help if you created this plan before making your final software selection. It will allow you to fully understand the costs and resources required to complete the project successfully. The implementation plan must include everything, from business process and workflow design, data migration, conference rooms pilot, multiple iterations, critical organizational change management activities, and data migration.
Monitor the potential business benefits from the new system.
It is unlikely to achieve your goals if you don’t measure them. ERP projects are no exception. Your organization may be looking at ERP to lower costs, increase revenue, or scale for growth. To fully realize ERP’s potential, you need to estimate and measure these benefits.
Keep all options open
This may sound like advice for dating, but it is also applicable to selecting an ERP package. Contrary to popular belief, there are many ERP software vendors. While two to three major software vendors account for most market share, marketing dollars, and market share, there are at most 70 viable ERP solutions on the market. Each key has varying levels of functionality and strengths. Too many companies base their decision on the brand or competitors’ performance. Instead, organizations should consider which options will best suit their business needs and provide them with competitive advantages.
Get objective, independent advice.
Ask your colleagues, employees, or other contacts for their recommendations. If necessary, conduct research online or hire an ERP consultant. If you don’t have ERP experience, don’t assume that you know everything. To validate the information you hear from software sales reps, seek independent ERP advice.
These seven steps will make your ERP success story and not one of those ERP disaster stories we’ve all heard about.