If you’ve been searching for the best business solution, high chances are that the word ERP has popped up a number of times. Well, ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning, and refers to a class of software tasked with the main responsibility of managing and simplifying all the important processes critical to running a business.
Just as is the case with any other essential system, there are a number of things you need to factor in before selecting your ERP system. Read on and find out more.
Figure Out Your Key Stakeholders
Choosing to take this journey alone might end up proving stressful and tedious. Not many people will be ready to support the initiative, and in some instances you may have to overcome hurdles to the process. That’s why you need to identify your key stakeholders and include them throughout the selection process.
All groups must feel they have an important role to play when selecting the system since you’ll need their support and resources during the implementation process. Things should not stop there given that you must also create a strategic steering committee that is made up of leaders in the specific parts of your organization.
Meet the Implementation Partner you’ll be working with
Any person who has had the chance of working with software vendors can attest to the fact that some provide their own professional services organization whereas others would rather go with a sales channel of value-added resellers (VAR) during the implementation phase. Be sure to have a clear understanding of the implementation approach that they have to offer.
Do they provide an on-site implementation service? Or maybe they’ll be locally based and the team must fly in for the project? To be on the safe side, you need to balance the pros and cons of each implementation model before coming to a conclusion. This action goes a long way in making sure your decision is well-informed.
The Bottom Line
Hiring an ERP system is a step in the right direction if you’re to take your business to the next level. However, the wrong Enterprise Resource Planning system is never going to help you with anything no matter how hard you try. That’s why you need to do your research and figure out what works perfectly for your organization before you finally get to make your decision.
