Enterprise Resource Planning Software Checklist
4.8/5 with 149 votes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Choosing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system is an important and expensive decision. Because enterprise resource planning software affects every aspect of your business, great care must be taken to select a system that best suits your needs, now and in the future. This ERP Software evaluation checklist will help you narrow your focus and choose the right solution.
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Toggle Assemble an Enterprise Resource Planning Software Selection Team status
Assemble an Enterprise Resource Planning Software Selection Team
Toggle Upper management status
Upper management
At least one representative from company leadership.
Toggle Business unit leaders status
Business unit leaders
Front-line managers who will use the software.
Toggle Technical staff status
Technical staff
Members of your IT department, who will assist with implementation.
Toggle Subject matter experts status
Subject matter experts
Heavy ERP users from each business unit.
Toggle Third-party oversight status
Third-party oversight
Someone from within the company who is not directly involved with the ERP.
Toggle Determine the Scope of Your Project status
Determine the Scope of Your Project
Toggle Budget status
Budget
How much can you spend?
Toggle Timeline status
Timeline
What is your deadline for selecting and implementing an ERP?
Toggle Criticality status
Criticality
Does your business require a new ERP, or is it optional?
Toggle Evaluate Your Organization status
Evaluate Your Organization
Toggle Size status
Size
How many employees does your organization have?
Toggle Structure status
Structure
What business units make up your business?
Toggle Revenue status
Revenue
How much money does your company make in a year?
Toggle Growth outlook status
Growth outlook
Do you expect revenue to increase in coming years?
Toggle Process status
Process
Are there business processes that you need to modify?
Toggle Evaluate Your Business Needs status
Evaluate Your Business Needs
Toggle Current software status
Current software
What ERP do you currently use?
Toggle Strengths status
Strengths
What does your current software do well?
Toggle Deficiencies status
Deficiencies
What critical needs does your current software not meet?
Toggle Future status
Future
What special features will you need in coming years?
Toggle Decide which specific functionalities your organization requires in its ERP: status
Decide which specific functionalities your organization requires in its ERP:
Toggle Customer Services (CRM) status
Customer Services (CRM)
Toggle Sales status
Sales
Toggle Procurement (SRM) status
Procurement (SRM)
Toggle Production (PLM) status
Production (PLM)
Toggle Distribution (SCM) status
Distribution (SCM)
Toggle Accounting status
Accounting
Toggle Human Resources status
Human Resources
Toggle Governance status
Governance
Toggle Business Intelligence status
Business Intelligence
Toggle Asset Management status
Asset Management
Toggle e-Commerce status
e-Commerce
Toggle Customer Services (CRM) status
Customer Services (CRM)
Toggle Sales status
Sales
Toggle Procurement (SRM) status
Procurement (SRM)
Toggle Production (PLM) status
Production (PLM)
Toggle Distribution (SCM) status
Distribution (SCM)
Toggle Accounting status
Accounting
Toggle Human Resources status
Human Resources
Toggle Governance status
Governance
Toggle Business Intelligence status
Business Intelligence
Toggle Asset Management status
Asset Management
Toggle e-Commerce status
e-Commerce
Toggle Evaluate Your Software Users status
Evaluate Your Software Users
Toggle User base status
User base
How many people will be using the enterprise resource planning software?
Toggle Tech savvy status
Tech savvy
Will your staff require extensive training?
Toggle Transparency status
Transparency
Will upper management be using the software?
Toggle Reporting status
Reporting
What level of data access will your users need?
Toggle User base status
User base
How many people will be using the enterprise resource planning software?
Toggle Tech savvy status
Tech savvy
Will your staff require extensive training?
Toggle Transparency status
Transparency
Will upper management be using the software?
Toggle Reporting status
Reporting
What level of data access will your users need?
Toggle Evaluate Potential Enterprise Resource Planning Software Solutions status
Evaluate Potential Enterprise Resource Planning Software Solutions
Toggle Initial cost status
Initial cost
How much will the software and licenses cost?
Toggle Training status
Training
How much does it cost and how is it delivered?
Toggle Expandability status
Expandability
Can you add users without incurring additional costs?
Toggle Technology status
Technology
Is the software hosted, or does your company need servers and IT staff?
Toggle Update path status
Update path
Does the license include all available updates?
Toggle Reporting status
Reporting
Does the software provide the reporting you need?
Toggle Integration status
Integration
Can the software work with other applications?
Toggle Workflow status
Workflow
Will you need to change the way you do business to fit the software?
Toggle Security status
Security
Does the ERP software support sound data security practices?
Toggle Demos status
Demos
Invite ERP vendors on-site for product demos.
Toggle Try first status
Try first
Will ERP vendors give you access to trial versions of their software?
Toggle Bargain status
Bargain
Is the vendor willing to customize a solution to fit your budget?
Toggle Initial cost status
Initial cost
How much will the software and licenses cost?
Toggle Training status
Training
How much does it cost and how is it delivered?
Toggle Expandability status
Expandability
Can you add users without incurring additional costs?
Toggle Technology status
Technology
Is the software hosted, or does your company need servers and IT staff?
Toggle Update path status
Update path
Does the license include all available updates?
Toggle Reporting status
Reporting
Does the software provide the reporting you need?
Toggle Integration status
Integration
Can the software work with other applications?
Toggle Workflow status
Workflow
Will you need to change the way you do business to fit the software?
Toggle Security status
Security
Does the ERP software support sound data security practices?
Toggle Demos status
Demos
Invite ERP vendors on-site for product demos.
Toggle Try first status
Try first
Will ERP vendors give you access to trial versions of their software?
Toggle Bargain status
Bargain
Is the vendor willing to customize a solution to fit your budget?
Toggle Evaluate ERP Support status
Evaluate ERP Support
Toggle Online status
Online
Does the enterprise resource planning software vendor provide a customer portal?
Toggle Email statusEmail
Can you ask for help via email?
Toggle Phone status
Phone
Does the vendor maintain a live help desk?
Toggle Community status
Community
Is there an online community of users for each potential ERP?
Toggle Customers status
Customers
Are there other organizations like yours who use the ERP?
Toggle Online status
Online
Does the enterprise resource planning software vendor provide a customer portal?
Toggle Email statusEmail
Can you ask for help via email?
Toggle Phone status
Phone
Does the vendor maintain a live help desk?
Toggle Community status
Community
Is there an online community of users for each potential ERP?
Toggle Customers status
Customers
Are there other organizations like yours who use the ERP?
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Presented by:
Adam Hughes
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Details
Enterprise Resource Planning Software Evaluation Tips
- Even more so than with other types of software packages, take extra time to ensure that you are getting the right fit with a new enterprise resource planning software system. Don't spend tens of thousands of dollars on features you won't ever use, but make sure the solution is sophisticated enough to grow with your company.
- Budget plenty of time for selection and implemention. Choosing an ERP can take six months to a year, and implementation typically requires 18 months or more.
- Guard against staff paranoia by keeping everyone as informed as possible throughout the process. Some employees will resist change, and others will see new software as a threat to their jobs.
- Don't expect too much. Enterprise resource planning software is very powerful and can help businesses become more productive, but no package can fix problems on its own. Regardless of the system you choose, lots of staff time and effort will be required to make an ERP function at its best.
- Be willing to change your business processes. The selection and implementation of a new enterprise resource planning software system is a perfect opportunity to evaluate how your business might benefit from adopting industry best practices that your old system would not support.
- Talk to peers at organizations similar to yours who have recently purchased an ERP system to get their insights into which systems they considered and why they made the decision they ultimately did.
Who it's for
This Enterprise Resource Planning Software Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.
- Standardize quality - run the same Enterprise Resource Planning Software steps every time, regardless of who executes
- Save time - reuse a proven Enterprise Resource Planning Software workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
- Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
- Onboard faster - use the Enterprise Resource Planning Software checklist as the SOP and training guide
- Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth
How to use it
How to use this Enterprise Resource Planning Software Checklist:
- Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
- Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
- Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
- Reuse without rebuilding - when Enterprise Resource Planning Software comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.
Rate this Checklist
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Scores 4.80 with 149 votes