6 THINGS TO THINK ABOUTWHEN PICKING AN ERP

Advantage Business Systems

INTRODUCTION

How do I pick an ERP? That is thequestion. Selecting the right ERP systemand provider is a pretty tricky process.

You need to sit down, take a step back andreally think about what issues yourorganisation faces.

Will an ERP really do the trick? Or do youneed a CRM too?

#1 - OBJECTIVES

Before you do anything at all, set someclear objectives so you have an idea ofwhat you want and need for an ERPsystem.

You don’t want to make the mistake offailing to define these objectives andgetting an ERP that isn't suitable.

Think of things like:

Why do I need an ERP system?Can an ERP resolve my issues?Will my chosen ERP support mybusiness in the future?

#2 - CONSIDER THE CLOUD

95% of businesses are using some sort ofcloud technology in their day to dayactivities. It’s pretty easy to see why, ascloud technology has helped businessesrealise a mobile first workforce.

Most ERP systems have some sort of webinterface that’s allows you to workanywhere, on any device.

Ask yourself: Would your staff benefitfrom a mobile enabled ERP solution?Would it help with their day to day?

#3 - PICKING THE RIGHTPRODUCT

Now you’ve spent a bit of time doingsome homework, it’s time you picked yourproduct. There are loads of different ERPsoftware out there – but you can only pickone.

So which is it? Look at the requirementsof your business. If you’re struggling withinventory, then perhaps MicrosoftDynamics NAV is a good idea? If it’sfinancials then it has to be Dynamics GP.

Have a read of some blogs, downloadsome whitepapers and educate yourselfon what does what.

#4 -GET IN TOUCH WITH ANERP PROVIDER

They’ll probably want to call you, asbuying an ERP is a pretty big deal. They’lltake some requirements from you overthe phone, so have all of your notesready.

Make sure you do your homework on thereseller too. Find out how long they’vebeen doing business for and how satisfiedsome of their customers have been.

It’s important that you have totalconfidence in your reseller, as they’ll beworking with you to set up your ERP.

#5 - COVER ALL YOUR BASES

Sometimes, things can go wrong and it’svery important to make sure that youhave a strong support system in place tomanage this.

A good place to start would be checkingout what kind of support you'll get fromyour ERP provider.

What’s their SLA? What are their supporthours? What does their support team do?

#6 - PRICE IT ALL UP

Getting an ERP is a pretty costly commitment.Hidden extras can tot up in the thousands.So it's important to clarify costs from theoutset.

Some ERP providers have been known toconfuse matters with lots of different pricingtiers. So make sure your selected ERP partneris clear with costings. For example:

Upfront costsSupport costAdd-on costs (Third party plugins)Persistent costs (Costs associated with SaaSsubscription models)

Now you should go ahead andpick your ERP system!

But just in case you don't haveenough information, give ourfriendly team a buzz. They'll bepleased to help!

THE NEXTSTEPS?

Advantage Business Systems68 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9LJEmail: info@advantage.co.ukWebsite: www.advantage.co.ukTel: +44 (0) 203 004 4600