Enterprise Resource Planning Software Checklist
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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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- Assemble an Enterprise Resource Planning Software Selection Team
- Upper managementAt least one representative from company leadership.
- Business unit leadersFront-line managers who will use the software.
- Technical staffMembers of your IT department, who will assist with implementation.
- Subject matter expertsHeavy ERP users from each business unit.
- Third-party oversightSomeone from within the company who is not directly involved with the ERP.
- Determine the Scope of Your Project
- BudgetHow much can you spend?
- TimelineWhat is your deadline for selecting and implementing an ERP?
- CriticalityDoes your business require a new ERP, or is it optional?
- Evaluate Your Organization
- SizeHow many employees does your organization have?
- StructureWhat business units make up your business?
- RevenueHow much money does your company make in a year?
- Growth outlookDo you expect revenue to increase in coming years?
- ProcessAre there business processes that you need to modify?
- Evaluate Your Business Needs
- Current softwareWhat ERP do you currently use?
- StrengthsWhat does your current software do well?
- DeficienciesWhat critical needs does your current software not meet?
- FutureWhat special features will you need in coming years?
- Decide which specific functionalities your organization requires in its ERP:
- Customer Services (CRM)
- Sales
- Procurement (SRM)
- Production (PLM)
- Distribution (SCM)
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- Governance
- Business Intelligence
- Asset Management
- e-Commerce
- Customer Services (CRM)
- Sales
- Procurement (SRM)
- Production (PLM)
- Distribution (SCM)
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- Governance
- Business Intelligence
- Asset Management
- e-Commerce
- Evaluate Your Software Users
- User baseHow many people will be using the enterprise resource planning software?
- Tech savvyWill your staff require extensive training?
- TransparencyWill upper management be using the software?
- ReportingWhat level of data access will your users need?
- User baseHow many people will be using the enterprise resource planning software?
- Tech savvyWill your staff require extensive training?
- TransparencyWill upper management be using the software?
- ReportingWhat level of data access will your users need?
- Evaluate Potential Enterprise Resource Planning Software Solutions
- Initial costHow much will the software and licenses cost?
- TrainingHow much does it cost and how is it delivered?
- ExpandabilityCan you add users without incurring additional costs?
- TechnologyIs the software hosted, or does your company need servers and IT staff?
- Update pathDoes the license include all available updates?
- ReportingDoes the software provide the reporting you need?
- IntegrationCan the software work with other applications?
- WorkflowWill you need to change the way you do business to fit the software?
- SecurityDoes the ERP software support sound data security practices?
- DemosInvite ERP vendors on-site for product demos.
- Try firstWill ERP vendors give you access to trial versions of their software?
- BargainIs the vendor willing to customize a solution to fit your budget?
- Initial costHow much will the software and licenses cost?
- TrainingHow much does it cost and how is it delivered?
- ExpandabilityCan you add users without incurring additional costs?
- TechnologyIs the software hosted, or does your company need servers and IT staff?
- Update pathDoes the license include all available updates?
- ReportingDoes the software provide the reporting you need?
- IntegrationCan the software work with other applications?
- WorkflowWill you need to change the way you do business to fit the software?
- SecurityDoes the ERP software support sound data security practices?
- DemosInvite ERP vendors on-site for product demos.
- Try firstWill ERP vendors give you access to trial versions of their software?
- BargainIs the vendor willing to customize a solution to fit your budget?
- Evaluate ERP Support
- OnlineDoes the enterprise resource planning software vendor provide a customer portal?
- EmailCan you ask for help via email?
- PhoneDoes the vendor maintain a live help desk?
- CommunityIs there an online community of users for each potential ERP?
- CustomersAre there other organizations like yours who use the ERP?
- OnlineDoes the enterprise resource planning software vendor provide a customer portal?
- EmailCan you ask for help via email?
- PhoneDoes the vendor maintain a live help desk?
- CommunityIs there an online community of users for each potential ERP?
- CustomersAre there other organizations like yours who use the ERP?
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Presented by:
Adam Hughes
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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.
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