ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Software Selection

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software can provide operational efficiency, the transaction data you need for critical business decisions, and robust financial controls.  But while the rewards of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can be huge, the risks and costs associated with choosing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can also be quite daunting.  How do you balance and weight the needs, costs, technologies and partners  to make the right choice for your company…and still keep the business up and running?

In order to be successful, the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software selection process must explicitly incorporate a number of key dimensions:

• Process Review and Detailed Functional Requirements:  Your key functional requirements must be identified and prioritized.  While a properly implemented Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system will bring consistency and support best practices across your organization, every business is unique.  And not every functional requirement has equal value to your business.  What are the functional requirements and workflow objectives that will contribute the most to your bottom line business success?
• Environment:  Not only are there a large number of fully functional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages to choose between, many packages today run on a variety of platforms.  The current and future state of your IT infra-structure is another key input to your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) selection process.  And changes due to current and future acquisitions or divestitures are another key environmental consideration.
• Financial Analysis:  Software costs, hardware costs, implementation and training costs along with on-going maintenance and support costs must all be included in a rigorous cost and benefit analysis.  

• Evaluation of Alternatives:  Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software today provides features and functionality that are both very wide and very deep.   Your organization cannot compare alternatives effectively without a robust, rigorous and well documented selection process.  Demonstrations must be scripted and controlled so that they can be effectively compared and ranked by your in-house selection team.
• Change Readiness:  The very best software selection projects actually serve as the first phase of the subsequent Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation.  Your selection team will become the leaders of your implementation team, with a deep understanding of why a particular package and vendor were chosen and what the benefits of your ERP implementation project will be.

Blum Shapiro Consulting is Connecticut's (CT) premier ERP consulting firm.  At Blum Shapiro Consulting, we have the experience and background needed to identify improvement opportunities for the future while serving your critical business needs today.   We will apply our defined and structured ERP selection methodology to ensure that you avoid the most common selection error – replacing your current system with a new system that functions just like your current system!  We will combine our technical skills, our business skills and our people skills to create confidence in the selection process and final result, momentum for your software implementation and tangible business value to your organization.

Please contact us to learn more about our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Selection Services.