ERP Implementation

Charting Your Course: Two Guides Highlight the ERP Selection Process

Written by Nancy Phillippi | Aug 22, 2018 5:00:00 AM
 
Few software decisions are as challenging or as potentially lucrative as the one to upgrade or replace enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. While the decision to make the move to new ERP software can give you more visibility into your business, free your employees from manual processes, and put your company on the path towards growth without growing pains, the implementation process is risky and challenging.

As we discussed in our last blog, a company’s path to new ERP software needs to be built on the right information and made in a timely manner, with minimal hype or haste. If you’ve made the decision that now is the right time to start looking at a new ERP platform, it’s important to know what’s next so that you can make a confident decision about which software is best for you and begin charting your course towards implementation, training, and long-term use of such a platform.

As you work to narrow down your options and make your final choice on a vendor, we would like to share with you two guides from our friends at Acumatica, designed to help you find out what ERP system best fits your needs and discover 10 tips for making a smarter selection of ERP software.

Matching ERP with Business Need: Five Considerations

Early in the ERP decision process, it might feel like every product is the same. While the interface may look different, everything else feels similar. That’s because on the outside, they are all designed to do the same thing, and many have the same features. But, as they say, “the devil is in the details," and a tiny difference between two software options could become a major issue when you apply it to your business.

As you dig into each platform, reducing your long list to a short list and working down to your final choice, the decision of whether to keep a vendor on the list or not needs to align with your business goals. The Acumatica guide, How to Find Out What ERP Best Fits Your Needs, will help you weed out incorrect fits and choose the best option for your business.

In this guide, ERP experts discuss five of the most important considerations you will need to make when narrowing down your ERP shortlist:

  • Functionality: does it fit the usability needs of your industry and business?
  • Product Maturity: does it have a track record of reliability?
  • Software Provider: are they a stable company that will be around for the long haul?
  • Community: is there a community consisting of implementation and consulting partners, satisfied users, as well as user groups, discussion threads, and conferences?
  • Truth in Advertising: are you being low-balled into accepting an inferior product?

Get more information on making a smarter ERP decision by downloading How to Find Out What ERP Best Fits Your Needs for free.

 

Ten Tips for Making the Most of Your ERP Decision

Every ERP vendor thinks their product is the best, and depending on how you look at it, they might be right—to an extent. Their product may be the best for one specific business need, but not for yours.

The Acumatica guide, 10 Tips for Smarter ERP Selection, shares the ten most important things you need to consider when evaluating vendors, including how to:

  • Know the big issues
  • Make a list and check it twice
  • Focus
  • Zero In
  • Recognize that easy-to-use is not a cliché
  • Get the full price
  • Check references
  • Control the demo
  • Not be penny wise and pound foolish
  • Put your “A” team on the project

Get in-depth insight into each of these tips by downloading the 10 tips to smarter ERP selection guide today.

 

Making the Right ERP Decision

Your path to a new ERP is not going to be an easy one, but with the right planning and execution, it will position your business for long term success with minimal risk. At Clients First Business Solutions, we’ve been in the business of ERP software for decades and understand what it takes to get the job done right. No matter where you are in your ERP journey, these guides are designed to help you gain confidence in your ERP decision, reaping the rewards for years to come. Have questions? Get in contact with us to learn more.