A dedicated solution provider will be able to advise you on which ERP implementation method best suits your business. It is important to be aware of your resource including hardware and infrastructure as well as employee resource (project manager, infrastructure engineers etc.).
It is not as simple as choosing ERP on premise or ERP in the cloud when choosing your business management solution you may consider private cloud, public cloud, as a hosted solution or hybrid depending on your IT infrastructure.
ERP implementation - Cloud, on premise or hybrid?
ERP on premise
Your choice of how to implement your ERP solution will depend on your current resources. A dedicated in-house IT resource is often required for an effective on premise implementation due to the integration of various software elements. On-premise solutions usually offer the ability for more complex customisation compared to online solutions. You can purchase ERP licences once through an annual fee with many providers offering the option to request remote maintenance and support. This option also provides more flexibility in configuration in ERP functionality in conjunction with your ERP provider.
ERP in the cloud
Implementing in the cloud has several benefits, cloud hosted solutions can be faster to implement when compared with on premise solutions, this is because you do not need to buy and maintain your own server. Internal resource requirements are also reduced with no need for maintenance staff. With an on premise solution often the data will stay within your technology environment however with online solutions, your data may be hosted by your partner or in a public cloud, but in either case, the data remains yours.
Online solutions are typically subscription based so you are charged a monthly or annual fee for licenses on a per-user basis. This typically provides a lower upfront cost alternative when compared with on premise solutions that may require additional software and hardware.