A Handy Guide for Your ERP Software Selection Process

The process of selecting an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is no easy task. With many factors to consider such as cost, vendors, business needs, and the vast software selection in the market, the task of choosing the right ERP software becomes all the more complex. Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers research and choose ERP software, conducted research and sought expert advice to create a comprehensive guide to help buyers through the ERP selection process, with findings compiled in this e-book.

Research shows that 59% of buyers cite data integration as the top reason for purchasing a system, while a staggering 24% of users say their current system lacks adequate support. If you find yourself in the same boat as these buyers, it might be worth investing in a new ERP system.

Below are some tips to help in your ERP software selection process:

1. Assess your business needs and identify must-haves

• Look into your business needs and identify key issues that need to be resolved with the aid of an ERP software, then form a selection committee comprised of both mission-critical employees and IT staff. This ensures that all voices (of varying departments) will be heard and unique needs will be evaluated.

2. Outline your key requirements

• After forming the committee, have everyone write up their own “wish list” of issues that they would want to be solved with the help of an ERP software, and specific capabilities they want the new system to have. At the end of the brainstorming session, the committee should have a concrete list of immediate business issues that need to be resolved and a shortlist of features that the new software must have.

3. Create a list of vendors

• Some factors to consider when creating a shortlist of vendors include: how the vendor targets your industry (or niche), your budget, deployment preferences, must-haves, technical requirements, ERP functional strengths and user-friendliness.

4. Get references from vendors and other reputable sources

• Once you’ve narrowed down your list of possible vendors, it’s worth gathering references from third-party reviews, people in your industry who are currently using the systems in your shortlist, news articles, and current clients of the vendors who are in the same industry or who use similar ERP modules that you would need.

5. Decide and negotiate

• Make sure to negotiate for software pricing after you’ve made your selection and ensure that every single promise and requirement fulfillment is noted in writing from the vendor.

To learn more about how WebSan Solutions can help in your ERP selection and implementation process, download our free ERP Whitepaper or take our ERP Assessment.

Click here to download our free ERP whitepaper      Click here to take our free ERP Assessment

 Linz Tan, Web Marketing Assistant, WebSan Solutions Inc. a 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award Winner for Service Excellence