Perfect ERP makes the Business perfect, When you buy or replace your ERP you should have a proper plan or you could struggle with multiple changes that will result in spiraling support costs. A perfectly planned ERP project results in fewer risks and rapidly increases the chances of success. Choosing the right ERP requires a detailed analysis of your business processes and also perfect requirements. With the help of a responsible team, you can gather the perfect requirements and prepare proper tender documentation. For process drafting and requirements gathering it is very important to have a professional approach with experienced resources that are fully compatible with the company’s current and plans.

Five keys steps:

• Establish exactly why you need new ERP software.
• Define clear goals and research the best processes.
• Select the best Erp available that matches your business requirements.
• Implement and go live, and monitor with your goals
• Get proper training about the ERP.

Why do you need a new ERP?

Perhaps the current system is no longer supported and it is now becoming a challenge to maintain a competitive edge. An older ERP is difficult and expensive to manage and also increases the work and employees involved. Besides, license costs will increase as the system become trapped on older versions making it important to assess the costs of maintenance versus a new system.  Old ERP may struggle to meet developed acquiescence needs or it simply won’t integrate with the latest software features.

High-level assessment

• Map out processes that your new ERP needs to support.
• Identify areas where your current ERP is falling short, e.g. Inventory, Accounts.
• Forecast your existing growth and functionality.
• Prioritize functionality and ensure that these functions are working properly.

Should I choose cloud or on-premise ERP?  

There has been a major change in interest towards the cloud model from those selecting a locally used ERP. Whilst the cloud is new and exciting, especially in the ERP space, don’t overfocus on it. If it meets your requirements, great. If not, there are plenty of excellent on-premise ERPs that will. Cloud offers lower upfront costs since computing resources are typically leased monthly or yearly making it cheaper. But as the software is off-premise it can be more challenging/costly to make changes, so you need to be sure that your processes are optimized.

Selecting your Vendor

Shortlist potential solution integrators 

This is one of the biggest steps during the ERP selection process. There are numerous ERP integrators so making a shortlist should be easy, especially as you will be seeking references from different ERP providers.  ERP software comparison engines are available that will help you produce a shortlist of potential systems from the mainstream ERP suppliers.  They’re also helpful for researching what your competitors are using.

Demonstration of understanding

Once decided on your final three integrators, invite them to demonstrate their products. Use a script to control the direction of the demo. Invite representatives from all key business streams since they have to assess the usability of the solution. Mark each area against a scoring metric to ensure that any gaps are weighted accordingly.

Project planning 

Be practical in your project planning to avoid milestones that are simply not achievable. For example, data conversion often takes longer than expected due to legacy data complexities.

Go-Live and ongoing training

Basic user training is usually provided just before user acceptance testing. Once your new ERP is live, do not make the mistake of thinking you are finished, it is essential that training and feedback are ongoing until stability and return on investment goals are met.