Choose the best ERP software for your business by determining the key requirements of your company. There are certain steps that you need to take before deciding on your software provider.
Choose the best ERP software by following these key steps to help shortlist ERP providers
1.Define company goals and objectives
Outline your long term company objectives before implementing an ERP system to ensure the business management tool you select supports the projected growth and overall goals of the business.
2.Assign a project team
Having a project manager who has a clear outline of what the entire business needs to develop and grow as a company is essential.
3.Outline your functional requirements
Define the scope of the project to outline the most important needs and requirements for your business. Who will need access to the system? What every-day tasks do you want the system to cover? Do you need the ERP system to replace an existing system?
4.Plan for future scalability
It is essential to have a long term vision for the company in order to calculate ROI, do you want to continually invest in new ERP systems, or do you want a solution that will grow with your business? You will need to answer these questions in order to justify your investment small investments over long periods of time can soon add up so it is worth looking at how future-proof your solution may be.
5.Establish a budget and resource requirements
An ERP project can be implemented in days or it can take longer depending on complexity, therefore it is important to find an ERP provider who is clear about what to expect in terms of budget, time and resource requirements; having established a list of functional requirements will help your ERP provider to estimate this for you.
6.What are your selection criteria?
It is not unusual to shortlist several suppliers who can meet your functional requirements, therefore it is also important to prioritise your selection criteria, which may include:
- Ease of implementation and timescale
- Software and consultation costs
- Scalability
- Level of support available from the software provider
- References