INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE BUSINESS
Step by step approach to selecting your new ERP
Monzer Tohme at Epicor describes multiple considerations an enterprise should keep in mind while considering new ERP options .
When purchasing a strategic software solution such as a new enterprise resource planning solution , making the right decision is vital . Below are six critical success factors to help ensure that you choose the ERP solution that is right for your business requirements .
Assess functionality needs Start by evaluating the business challenges and individual pain points that you need to address and determine the business value your organisation needs to extract from the software . What problems should it solve , or what opportunities should it create for your business ?
For a CEO , you might be focusing on growing revenue from existing customers , attracting new customers , or supporting your move to a new market . For a COO or factory floor manager , you might be challenged with improving throughput on the factory floor , reducing inventory levels , or coordinating supply and demand to prevent stock shortages . At a very early stage of your decision-making process , you will want to compile a list of cross-functional requirements to use to reach out to software vendors that have solutions that match these requirements .
Dialogue with software vendors The opening stages of making any software decision should involve an open and honest discussion with the software vendor about your organisation ’ s business ambitions . This is where vendors show their strengths as a true partner , suggesting the options that will best accommodate the company ’ s overall business strategy .
In the past few years , manufacturers have undergone a significant transformation to address market challenges . For many , this has meant moving from a very standard make-toorder , make-to-stock , or engineer-to-order
46 Issue 05 INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS