ERP Research Is A Vital Factor In A Successful Implementation

Installing an ERP system for your company is a complex task and its therefore vitally important to fully research the ERP market before selecting your ERP provider.

Detailed ERP evaluation criteria is available in other sections of this website, so this page will provide some basic guidelines you should consider when researching ERP systems.

Articulate you company goals clearly and without ambiguity. This is probably the most critical guideline. Corporate goals look to the future. Its important to select a ERP package which will handle your company's future requirements.

Define your company's tactical goals. Factors such as financial targets, required cost-saving, manpower projections, and similar tactical goals help prioritize your corporate needs. This translates to important ERP selection criteria.

Think laterally and avoid conventional wisdom. No single ERP system is best. Each system has its own subtleties and is most useful in certain specific circumstances which may - or may not - be what is expected in your industry. Just because other companies in your industry have selected a particular package is not sufficient reason for your company to do the same. It is far better to do a thorough evaluation of the various vendor's offerings and then come to your own conclusion based on your company's specific requirements.

Pick an implementation partner and follow their advice. It is important to have faith in the partner you select to assist your company in its implementation. A well considered, quality vendor will assist you in meeting your project targets in terms of timelines, budget considerations, and project planning. This helps militate against the risk of implementation failure.

Plan for international implementations. Multinational organizations have sites in many countries with different work practices and across different time zones. Ensure that your project team has the skills needed to negotiate these challenges.