Ready to go!
Whatever process you have taken, you have finally arrived at the point where your company is going to start the journey of selecting and implementing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) application. You have strong executive leadership and buy-in, now what? There’s a common phrase that states, “you only get out what you put into it”. Simply put, how well or poorly you plan a project or initiative will largely pre-determine the outcome. Now, you are venturing into the ERP application space. To select the best, most appropriate application and vendor, there are key points that are common, if not universal, to companies that have been successful with their ERP projects.
In this ongoing series, we’ll share best practices garnered from decades of working with customers whose ERP implementation success was pre-determined by their planning and execution thereof.
Fully Utilize References to Aid in your Selection Process
Fully Utilize References to Aid in your Selection Process
Every prospective vendor/partner will promise to deliver on time and on budget, but can they live up to that promise? Our customers will confirm that our reputation on this assurance, is solid.
Every vendor will give you 3 customers who love them. Count on that. Contact those references and investigate – interview them by asking questions that back up a vendor’s claims. Demonstrate genuine interest in the customer reference. For example, we suggest that you visit them – observe what they’re doing and how they are doing it. Ask the reference what it looks like when unforeseen issues arise. How are these issues addressed internally? With the vendor? How are they resolved? What is the turn around for resolution with the vendor support system? Is there a vendor support system? The more prepared you are to ask questions and get specific examples during your visit, the clearer the picture of the vendor relationship and ERP technology will be.