How Do I Choose the Best ERP Solution for My Particular Business?

Has your business been putting off getting an ERP system in place? That’s not surprising? Software like this costs money, so it makes sense to want to save where you can.

However, you can only put off ERP programs for so long. When 96% of companies that excel in their industries believe ERP programs are critical to success, you need to find a solution that will work for your business.

You need to do some work on your part to find the best ERP solution for your company. Keep reading to learn how to find the best ERP system for your needs.

Consider Your Business Needs

Finding an ERP solution that fits functionally with how your business works is one of the most critical parts of the selection process. Enterprise companies are large and complex. You can’t just throw random software into the mix and expect it to work out of the box.

Sit down with every department at your company to discuss their needs and how they operate. Changing to a new system should be seamless and shouldn’t introduce any operational issues for any team in your company.

Calculate the Total Cost of Ownership

Buying your ERP software isn’t always the end of your costs with ERP software. There are many things you also need to pay for to continue running your software. Some of those things are listed below:

  • Cloud hosting
  • Computer hardware
  • Software maintenance
  • Software licensing
  • Software integrations
  • Implementation cost

Make sure you look into the added costs you’ll need to run your ERP system. These costs will vary based on your ERP provider, so get all the details from a company before you work with it.

Software Scalability

When you run a business large enough to need ERP software, you’re going to need to scale your solution eventually. What you have today won’t always work well with what you need in the future.

Your ERP program will need to grow with your business. The top ERP vendors will be able to offer you a product that can scale to what you need. Look into how well your ERP program can expand in the future to make sure it can grow with your business.

Look for Past Successes

Most successful ERP programs won’t have a lack of customers to talk to. There should be plenty of companies out there willing to vouch for an ERP provider for any successful application.

Ask an ERP software provider for references from current and past customers. You can learn all the ins and outs of working with an ERP solution by speaking to these people.

In many cases, you’ll learn more in these conversations than speaking with the company itself. A customer reference won’t always have the goal to sell you on a program but to tell you exactly what the experience of using the software is like.

Now You Know How to Find the Best ERP Solution

You’re making a significant investment when you invest in ERP software for business management. That means you can’t afford to make the wrong choice and end up with a product that doesn’t meet your needs. Use the advice above to find the best ERP solution to help make managing your company easier.

Are you looking for more tips that will help you use your new enterprise planning system? Check out the blog to learn more about business processes and planning.