Advice on choosing, buying, and installing an ERP

Choosing an ERP to implement in your organisation is a matter with many factors to consider. If you lay out the steps for evaluating an ERP carefully, it will help the organisation choose an ERP effectively.

The steps for evaluating a good ERP are as follows:

1. Identify your needs and objectives

The organisation should set clear objectives for the ERP implementation, for example:

The internal problems you want the ERP to help manage
The necessary functions, such as accounting, production, sales, and purchasing
What the organisation’s short-term and long-term goals are

2. Compare the ERP systems you want

Once you have the objectives for the ERP implementation, the next thing is to compare ERP systems from each provider by:

Checking the features and functions of each system to see whether and how they match the organisation’s objectives
Studying reviews from current ERP users
Comparing the price, service contract, and system maintenance details of each ERP provider

3. Consider scalability

A good ERP can scale to match the size of the business. So check carefully how flexibly the ERP you intend to implement can scale up.

4. Check support and after-sales service

What is the provider’s after-sales service and support like? This should be specified in detail in the service contract, checking points such as:

Confirm that there is easily accessible support throughout the period of use
That there is training on using the ERP by experts

5. Plan the installation in detail

Implementing an ERP takes time and resources, and should be planned around points such as:

Set the schedule and timeline for implementing the ERP
Build a team responsible for the implementation and an organisation Super User group
Communicate with employees about the implementation process, including the benefits of adopting the ERP

Conclusion

Choosing and installing an ERP is an important process that takes effort to understand the organisation’s needs and the functions required. A good ERP will make your business more agile and efficient — but don’t forget that teamwork and good communication are the key to a successful installation.

Advice on Choosing, Buying, and Installing an ERP