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What are the top questions to ask a potential ERP consultant?
Many would agree that hiring an ERP consultant can greatly reduce the headache of selecting and implementing an ERP solution. What are the top questions to ask a potential consultant?
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5 Answers
My top three focus areas:
- Implementation Methodology: Do you know how to implement ERP software? How many fit/gap sessions have you conducted? What was the max audience for a session?
- Customer References: Implementation references similar to you. Need to have relevant industry experience to provide best practice recommendations. Should have "hands-on experience".
- Software product knowledge. Don't want the consultant to "learn on the job".
For additional questions and considerations, please see the following blog article.
http://gbeaubouef.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/five-key-areas-to-consider-when-se...
First, second, and third:
Please provide me a contact you personally worked with at your last 3 clients listed on your resume.
This MUST BE at their e-mail address, on that company's domain name, NO exceptions!
Watch how many of them suddenly "vanish" and can not produce these. OR, how many of them provide some person who "used to" work there but is now somewhere else.
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There is so much FRAUD out there that this is the only way to resolve it.
Fact is, even if they are legit (and did I mention the fraud is RAMPANT?) and can't provide any reference at that company how good were their consulting skills anyway?
1 - Get them to talk about the benefits of the ERP solutions they have worked on (per client). This will remove the BS, and help you focus on their business awareness
2 - Get them to explain the challenges and issues from previous experiences. Again remove the BS, and see if they can learn from their mistakes.
3 - How do you deal with clients, where their internal consultants know their business processes better than you, and have a better understanding of their ERP system. - This checks to see how professional the consultant is. Will they provide some real life examples. Will they come up with a smart ass answer like - why does a client need a consultant, if they know it all.
Lets spark debate and see what the candidate is really like.
I definitely agree with Bill - consultants should be the ones asking questions, and if you want to make sure you choose the best, verify their references.
And look for specific references, from the same industry or market segment you're in. The people the consultant worked with are the ones who can best answer all your questions.
You need to make sure they are ERP agnostic. If they are a reseller or represent only a few ERP vendors, then they won't present an unbiased opinion or recommendation.
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