Before You Buy ERP Software See it for Yourself! Believing is Seeing…

These days everyone seems to be going ‘virtual’, meaning that so many of our business transactions, conversations, and demonstrations for software applications can be done remotely without actually touching the product or looking the seller in the eyes (afterall, there are some good Microsoft Dynamics GP webinars out there)!   Now, perhaps that is okay, I mean you just need a system that functions, does it really matter that you see the actual computer or person who is running software? 

I’m sure you have bought some things in this fashion, right.  I have on numerous occasions bought and sold Microsoft Dynamics add-on modules and ISV products through web demonstrations and even conducted the installation, training, and setup remotely.  However, if I find myself on the fence about a product, I very often go talk to friends and colleagues in my industry to hear their opinions and see how they step through the system.

Here in Oregon, we appreciate our Farmer’s Markets, as we get our products first hand from the growers.  This seems to promote a sense of community and helps to keep the products we use at a quality level, since we all talk about the downfalls of them if they dip.  This is exactly what we encourage our prospects to do, especially if they are having trouble making that final step and committing to purchasing Microsoft Dynamics GP.   

Going to visit another customer, ideally one in your industry, will give you a great sense of how you might use the product in day-to-day life.  Having your Microsoft Dynamics partner on-site with you will give you two advantages 1)they can keep notes about the areas you liked, 2) while noting some of the areas that might need to be implemented differently, or need to be added to your implementation if you see something new that you haven’t thought of. 

An added bonus for the customer you visit ~ they get an extra site visit from their partner and may find that YOU point out something that could be done a little more streamlined that THEY hadn’t thought of.  Since Microsoft Dynamics GP is always being enhanced, current clients can always benefit from revisiting how they are using the product and taking advantage of the newest features!

On this topic, we encourage our current customers to attend Microsoft’s  annual customer conference “CONVERGENCE”.  Held this coming year in Atlanta March 9-13^th, it is the type of event that offers “Hands-On” labs, to see the latest features of the product; networking with other customers, so you can SHARE IDEAS with each others; training classes and discussions on what is coming in the product, and much more. 

Bottom Line: For a final review, go to a customer site with your partner and see the software in the hands of a real user!

By: Abra Lynne Gilman, Borek Business Solutions, Oregon Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

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