10 Tips for Successfully Selecting an ERP System- Tip #7

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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.

1. Ensure the Project is Properly Staffed and Budgeted

2. Establish an Executive Sponsored Project Team

3. Make a Requirements List but Focus on the High-Level Differentiators

4. Plan for What You Need Today and Tomorrow. Or as Wayne Gretzky said: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”

5. Be Open with Your Vendors

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

7. Limit Your Short List and Schedule Demos Fairly Close Together

8. Focus on Value vs. Bells and Whistles

9. Focus on The Implementation Partner during your Selection Process

10. Fully Utilize References to Aid in your Selection Process

Limit Your Short List and Schedule Demos Fairly Close Together

We routinely see prospects evaluating 10 vendors. That would be overwhelming to anyone! We recommend doing initial research on several and narrowing it down to focus on the few you think will be a good fit for your organization. It takes quality time to build a rapport on both sides. This relationship should last more than 10 years. Don’t hurry this part of the process. Once the journey of scheduling demos and proof of concepts is underway; you won’t be able to do justice to your evaluation if too many vendors are on your short list. Limit your options to three or four candidates.

Schedule vendor presentations as close together as possible. A lot of information can be thrown your way during these presentations. By spreading out the demos, you diminish your ability to compare apples to apples. Alternatively, by scheduling them closer together, you’ll be in a much better position to make head-to-head comparisons based on your key criteria.

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