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How many ERP companies did you evalutate before making a decision?
A couple of our senior managers decided that an ERP system is necessary for our company, and I agree. The problem is that we've only taken a look at 2 ERP systems, and they are already ready to make a decision. I've been doing some background reading and have found that we should thoroughly look at 3-4 vendors minimum before making a choice. I feel like we may be jumping the gun if we make a decision after only 2. How many ERP companies did your team evaluate before making a decision? Are there any "rules" to evaluating software vendors?
Best Answer
- Recommended by:
- Jeff Dix
Kate,
While there is no golden rule on a specific number of vendors, if you have any doubt in your potential decision, that in itself signifies that you need review additional ERP vendors. This decision will live with you for quite some time, so make sure it is a strong one based on tangible requirements and selection criteria.
We recently published a report on ERP vendor selection and it might provide some further insight into the process to help you in your decision. The report is located at: http://panorama-consulting.com/resource-center/2010-erp-vendor-analysis/
Good luck with your search.
Eric
You may get quotes from atleast 5 companies before choosing one to avail your ERP Software. http://www.multiply.binarch.com
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Hey Kate,
While I myself haven't purchased an ERP for my company, part of my job is conducting market research on prospective ERP buyers- so I talk to many people who are evaluating ERP for their businesses. From my experience, buyers vary in how many vendors they will evaluate before ultimately selecting one.
Like everything, it tends to fall in a spectrum. There are some companies (even huge enterprises) that really only look at 1 or 2 solutions before deciding. Most buyers tend to start off pretty high level, at least devoting some time (possibly even a demo) with 4, 5, even 6 different vendors, later narrowing those down to a definitive shortlist. Then there are those who will only buy after having scanned -what they can synthesize to the best of their abilities as- the entire market, looking at a dozen or more different offerings.
Remember, there are literally hundreds of providers out there, so it might best serve you to start off looking at providers that
a.) specialize in your industry
b.) have a proven track record with companies your size
c.) have a history in doing what you're trying to do
This third factor is key; whether you're looking for very specific features of capabilities, or you simply need a certain module, or you are only interested in Local providers, or you MUST be able to integrate the system with a specific platform, I find many buyers have this -case-specific- c.) variable, that helps them eliminate some vendors right off the bat.
There are 'rules' to evaluating software vendors, but they are specific to the business environment, business objectives, and to the software. All things considered, I would say what's critical is having as clear of an understanding of your requirements (what it is you're bringing to the table, budget-wise, infrastructure-wise, culture-wise, etc.) as well as what it is you're trying to achieve by implementing the software. This is helpful for you, both during evaluation and post-implementation, as objectives must be made clear if expectations are to be met, or exceeded!
Best of luck!