Ask These Questions Before Choosing Your ERP

If you are investigating a new or updated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution, it’s important to approach the project armed with a clear understanding of what exactly your company needs and which solution is the best fit. Working with an experienced partner such as BroadPoint can make the process easier. We’ve had many years helping organizations narrow down solutions that best fit their requirements. Over that time, we’ve developed a streamlined methodology for implementing ERP solutions, and we always start by asking questions. Here are a few questions to get you thinking:

How do you describe your company within your industry?

Organizations may have a lot in common when it comes to general business operations, but no two are exactly alike. Identifying your company’s industry will help you and your partner choose the type of ERP that is likely to be a good fit for your industry and further questions can narrow down your options to only those that will best fit your unique processes.

How will your solution be deployed?

There are several deployment options available to ERP users, and each has advantages. You could choose to have an on-premises solution that runs on your own servers and is handled by your IT staff. You could choose a cloud solution that allows you to use the software as a service and leaves the hardware and IT in the hands of your cloud provider. You could even choose a combination of both.

Having a clear picture of how you prefer to have your system deployed will help you narrow your choices. Some solutions are cloud only, some are on-premise only, and a few solutions can be deployed either way.  Your partner can help you investigate the advantages or disadvantages of various deployment models and choose what’s best for you.

Will you be replacing financials only, or implementing a full ERP solution?

Accounting solutions focus on balancing debits and credits and producing financial statements. Full-service ERP systems offer a broader range of operations and applications, for example, human resources and payroll, budgeting and forecasting, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), etc.

Determine if your project is to be just an accounting department update or a full-company implementation effecting all departments.

Who will be using the ERP functionality?

Will you need sales force automation? What about your marketing, customer service, and technical teams? Will you provide self-service for employees to update information, add dependents, modify benefits, etc.?

A full-service ERP solution such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central can do so many things, that you’ll have to be clear about how much and what type of functionality you require.

Automation and workflows will help your teams work more efficiently. This, in turn, can lead to a more productive system, increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, and fewer overall system errors. Management will benefit from real-time reports enabling strategic planning.

How many will be using the system?

Some ERP systems employ user licenses, offering various users different levels of access to reports and records. Knowing how many employees will need to utilize your system and assigning them a range of access, from full access to limited access such as “read-only,” is essential when choosing your ERP solution. Other solutions have different pricing plans. Again, your partner will have the information to help you with these decisions.

Is your company international?

Companies that operate across multiple nations present a unique set of challenges compared to those that operate domestically. They must deal with different taxation and reporting requirements as well as multiple currencies and foreign exchange policies. Not all ERP solutions are equipped to accommodate international business practices.

How large is your company?

Knowing the size of your company helps us identify the overall scope of an ERP implementation project, including how long it will take and how complex the process will be.

Smaller companies with a single location may be well suited to an on-premise solution where everything is managed in-house.  Larger or international companies might be best served by a cloud deployment with web access for their large employee base across multiple locations.

For help with ERP evaluation and implementation, you need a partner who understands your business and has the expertise and experience to work with you for your success. Contact BroadPoint’s Microsoft gold-certified consulting team today.

By BroadPoint, www.broadpoint.net