ERP Selection Guide

This ERP Selection Guide will help you determine the necessary steps to select technology that will support your organization for at least the next ten years.

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What is ERP Software?

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is an integrated suite of applications designed to manage business functions, such as finance, human resources, sales and manufacturing.

Different ERP systems are designed for different company sizes and industries. Many ERP systems are flexible and can accommodate organizations of any size. For example, small organizations do not necessarily have to select a system designed for SMBs. When implementing a system designed for large enterprises, small organizations can simply pick and choose the modules they implement.

Small organizations also can choose a different solution from the same vendor. For example, Tier 1 ERP vendors have different solutions designed for different size companies.

When properly implemented, ERP software increases organizational efficiency by automating business processes and enabling access to reliable data.

How to Select an ERP System

You didn’t stumble upon this guide by accident. Perhaps you are looking to purchase new ERP software. Maybe you are in the middle of implementation and want to make sure you are on the right track. Maybe you are just a curious person. Regardless of the reason know this: selecting an ERP system can be a daunting task.

ERP software can either make or break your organization so it is important to get it right from the beginning. A comprehensive and planned ERP selection process should support your overall organizational goals. A strong foundation of planning and strategy, and preferably experience, is required when taking on this task. It should not be taken lightly.

In this guide, we strive to answer as many questions as we can regarding ERP software selection process best practices. By exclusively focusing on ERP selection, we hope to provide you the level of detail necessary to understand the ins and outs of the ERP selection process, whether or not you’re pursuing digital transformation.

Keep in mind that the selection process for any enterprise-wide software can require a fair amount of research and testing. These things take time. The following twelve steps can take anywhere from 14 to 24 weeks to complete, depending on the size of your organization. While this may seem like a long time, consider this: the next ERP system you implement should support your organization for at least ten years. By following our guide, you will find that choosing an enterprise resource planning system goes much smoother.

12 Steps for Selecting an ERP System

1. Understand Why You Need an ERP System

2. Determine Your IT Strategy

3. Build an ERP Selection Team

4. Determine Your Business Requirements

5. Improve Your Business Processes

6. Determine a Data Management Strategy

7. Build a Long-list of ERP Systems

8. Build a Shortlist of ERP Systems

9. Schedule ERP Vendor Demos

10. Conduct a Business Readiness Assessment

11. Negotiate With ERP Vendors

12. Pause Before ERP Implementation

We Understand Your Organization

Pain Points

Often, organizations that are selecting new technology have outgrown their current systems and are using Excel™ to hold the ship together. As ERP selection consultants, we help these organizations move in a more rational, logical, aligned way. We help you:

Understand and agree on your competitive advantages
Discuss and document the pain points
Educate and align the executive and project team
Prioritize your needs and align the technology

Broad Industry Experience

Industries We Serve

Manufacturing & Distribution
Professional Services
Government & Non-Profit
Healthcare & Medical Supplies
Aerospace & Defense
Retail
Energy
Oil & Gas
Construction
Agriculture
Food & Beverage
And More…

ERP Selection for a Food & Beverage Client

iBit helped the client with the selection process, while ensuring the client obtained maximum discounts and favorable terms. iBit was then contracted to assist with implementation.

ERP Selection for a Nonprofit Client

ERP Selection for a Municipality Client

iBit assisted the client with the selection process and then helped the organization complete a proof of concept implementation project for its for-profit, retail book business.

iBit assisted with the selection of both an ERP solution and a student information system (SIS). Panorama is currently assisting in implementing the ERP in a project oversight capacity.

Don’t Rush. Do it Right the First Time.

The decision to select new software will affect your organization for the next 10 -15 years. When you utilize our ERP assessment services, you can have peace of mind about the whole process. Contact our ERP software selection consultants for an independent perspective.