7 Parameters of Selecting Best ERP Solutions

Analyzing that weather your organization needs an ERP system in place is a clear and loud indication of your right path for growth. By Kunal Singhal, MD of Eazy ERP 

NEW DELHI: But, while being on the right path, the business owner must have to take right steps which can ensure the success milestones. Selecting an ERP system is one of the most important milestone of success path. Having said this, here are few parameters which must be considered by exploring best suited ERP for your business.

Firstly, I would like to share a brief background on why I have selected this topic. As we know, ERP deployment might become an expensive affair for the business, and we also know the in many cases organizations junk their investments of taking ERP on board. There may be several reasons, but the main reason for such unwanted situation is lack of planning and understanding.

Firstly and most important we must understand our business demands and needs. Then comes the selection process for the best ERP for the respective business.

Here are some of the key parameters that any organization must ensure while bringing ERP on board. An SME must give all the more importance to the ERP solution selection because of the limited and valuable resources.

Here are some key parameters for selecting an ERP solution, these points can also be terms as the check list for becoming ERP Ready:

1. Top management’s Involvement & Commitment for bringing ERP on board

Organizations must have to ensure this part because many failures or struggle  happened in most ERP deployments due to the lack of understanding regarding ERP deployment of top management. This means, the ERP deployment process must have to have active participation of the CIO, CEOs, CXOs other than just a CFO of the organization.

2. Clarity on Requirements & selection of Vendors accordingly:

Very often, we found that ERP solutions are selected on the basis of factors such as price, current technology buzz or the system that is the flashiest. This itself becomes a a major issue. Instead, organizations must have to understand the trends, and analyse it from the perspective of weather the technology trend is going to be a good fit for my organization or not. This analysis holds key.

3. The Cost & Need of Customization:

Many vendors highlight their skills and capabilities to customize the ERP solution. But, the cost of customization must be understood well in advance. Similarly, weather the customization is required or not must also be understood clearly.

In nut shell, find an ERP system that is industry-specific, with tools and features designed to solve your business requirements. This parameter can take care of several issues.

4. Consider Mobile Users

Mobility is a growing phenomenon, trends such as Bring Your own device, cloud computing are increasing day by day in across industry verticals. The ERP solution must have to be responsive as per the mobility interface.

ERP solution which is getting deployed  must allow users to be productive on smart phones and tablets etc.

5. Evaluate Each capability of the ERP solution

While examining any ERP solution, ensure that you know about bthe capabilities of the respective solution. This can be achieved by asking questions from your probable vendors. Ask plenty of questions around the ERP solution which is offered to you. This step requires active participation from the top management. While knowing about the capabilities of the ERP solution, do compare it with the requirement set.

Integration of ERP with Business: Remember, getting ERP on board can entirely change the ‘way’ of doing business. Remember its just the ‘way’ you do business. Your core business will remain the same, your core business agenda will remain as it is. The ERP solution becomes an integral part of your business. So, please do not forget about integration. What could be the possible situations while bringing ERP on board is something which can be measured by analyzing your existing business with the forthcoming scenario of being ERP ready.

Also prefer those ERP solutions that do not ask you to junk your legacy systems. This feature can be a great game changer in the successful and easy deployment of ERP solution.

6. Chose the Deployment Partner Wisely:

This is very critical aspect of ERP deployment. The partner company who is responsible of ERP deployment must have to be close enough with the ERP Solution. In case of Small businesses/ SMEs, the ideal situation and most favorable situation is something in which the ERP solution company itself takes the responsibility of ERP deployment.

7. Understand Your Peers

Prefer a ERP solution which is getting used by your peer. First and foremost, when selecting an ERP solution provider, ask the vendor few references.

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