Essential Steps to a Successful ERP Evaluation
Once you’ve laid the internal groundwork to prepare your business to adopt an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, it’s time to move into the vendor selection phase. These final steps will guide you in choosing a partner that will implement a solution that delivers lasting value for your business.
[Missed Part 1? Click to Read Steps 1-6: How to Prepare for a Successful ERP Implementation]
Invite ERP Vendors Onsite
Bring in vendors to visit your facility and learn about your business firsthand. Seeing your operations in action will give them an understanding of your processes, challenges, and culture. In our experience, these types of visits often raise valuable questions and insightful answers, which can drive tailored demonstrations and better alignment between your needs and the solution’s capabilities. It also allows your team to assess how well the vendor or partner engages with your business, which can be an indication of how they’ll support you after implementation.
Define Your Demonstration Requirements
Before demos are scheduled, create a list of critical features that vendors must show to earn your trust and consideration. This expands on Step #5 which delivers a clear requirements document that outlines the comprehensive list of business functions and processes that need to be supported by your new ERP.
This list should include:
- Real-world situations your organization deals with every day
- Your most pressing challenges
- Goals for the future
Standardizing your requirements ensures fair comparisons across demos and keeps your team—and vendors—focused on what matters most to your business.
Clarify Your Decision-Making Process
A clear decision-making framework is essential to determining how you will eventually choose your ERP partner. This framework should outline:
- Which members of your team will provide input
- Who will make recommendations
- Who will have final approval of the solution
- Criteria to evaluate functionality, usability, scalability and cost
Defining these parameters will help you establish priorities and keep the evaluation moving forward efficiently.
Schedule Demos Carefully
Before you choose which vendors will present their solutions in demos, review your slate of candidates. Choose no more than three vendors to advance to the demo stage. This can help prevent review fatigue and allow for a thorough evaluation.
Once you’ve chosen your three (or fewer) vendors, schedule demos close together so that not too much time passes between each meeting. This will ensure that details remain fresh and comparisons are accurate. It can also help you maintain momentum and sustain engagement across the evaluation team.
Ensure a Clear Statement of Work (SOW)
A detailed and transparent SOW is critical to understanding what you’re getting and how it will be implemented.
This document should clearly define:
- What is included in the solution
- How it will be implemented
- Who is responsible for each task
A SOW can also clarify the difference between software installation and true implementation, which usually includes configuration, data migration, testing, training, and change management.
Choose the Right Implementation Partner
As much as you’re selecting a software solution, you’re also choosing a partner to implement the software. In fact, the implementation partner behind the solution can be just as important—if not more so—than the software itself. The partner’s experience, methodology, and industry knowledge can directly influence your project’s success. Look for a partner who understands your business, communicates clearly, and has a proven track record with organizations like yours.
Plan for the Future
ERP success doesn’t end when your solution goes live. Make sure that you understand what support and scalability look like after implementation. Ask your solution provider or partner:
- Who will support us after implementation?
- Who should we contact for different kinds of issues?
- Will we have access to the people we worked with during implementation after go-live?
Clear answers to these questions will ensure you get the long-term value you expect from your ERP investment.
Invest In Your ERP Success
By following these steps, you can approach ERP evaluation as a strategic process that sets the stage for a successful implementation and sustainable business growth for years to come.
Ready to get started? Connect with a SolutionsX team member for a free consultation.
