Selecting ERP software for midsized enterprises. Eight steps to create an ERP software implementation strategy.
Posted by Melanie Howell on Fri, Aug 27, 2010
Creating an ERP systems implementation strategy can be time consuming and expensive. The space for midmarket ERP offerings is crowded and very competitive. Differentiating between ERP systems is not easy because the differences tend to be in the ERP modules shared by most mid-market ERP solutions: BI, CRM, Financial management, HR, manufacturing operations and Supply Chain Management.
So how does a company go about creating their ERP strategy? Inside-ERP.com in their whitepaper, ‘Mid-Market ERP Solutions Buyers Guide’, outlines a checklist for businesses evaluating software Mid-market ERP solutions to accomplish their ERP strategy.
We have summarized this checklist for you, and added our thoughts to assist you in defining the ERP strategy for your business.
If you are in the process of evaluating ERP software for your business, we encourage you to download our free whitepaper on ‘Five Steps to Consider When Evaluating Accounting Software.’
The basic checklist to keep in mind when evaluating a mid-market ERP system comprises of eight steps:
- Are the top business executives involved in the ERP implementation and selection project? Are they part of developing the ERP strategy for the business which means being involved in the research, planning phases of implementation and measuring results of ERP implementation?
- Identify the person responsible for managing all the key people in the different departments who will be responsible for measuring the business benefits relevant to their department’s ERP modules? The IT department cannot be solely responsible for defining the factors that define a successful ERP implementation.
- Define and prioritize the specific business problems you want to solve with ERP system? For instance, do you need to shorten product lead times or improve communications with your suppliers? Are there industry regulations your company must adhere to? What would the value of solving these issues mean for your business?
- What features and functions do you want in a new ERP solution that will help increase users’ productivity and provide access to the business data users most need? What would the value be to your business to have this functionality?
- Do you have quantifiable goals in place to measure the business benefits of your organization’s new ERP solution? A good starting point for these metrics are the KPIs — such as inventory accuracy, cost reductions and month-end closing processes — that your company is already tracking.
- Does the prospective ERP solution vendor have a long-term technology road-map for the product? You want to make sure that the product is not old and out-of-date. Carefully evaluate your options and make sure you select an ERP system that has a good track record of being updated and staying current with the innovation in the ERP marketplace.
- Which users across your organization will need to be trained on the new system? Do you have change agents involved in the ERP needs analysis process? Have you thought about the changes that will result throughout the organization as a result of the ERP implementation, and how to manage that change? Change agents will be crucial in promoting the business benefits of the ERP implementation throughout the organization.
- Is the ERP package scalable and able to easily handle changes in your business as your company grows?
For more information on ERP implementation strategies subscribe to our blog. Check out the ERP systems on our website, or call us if you have more questions. Leave your comments on whether you found this post helpful and what steps you would add to this checklist.
