Once you make a decision to go in for an ERP package, the marketing executives of the different vendors will swamp you. Each will have colorful and excellently produced brochures and presentations, claiming that their product is the best one for you. They'will use all the tricks to get you hooked. So it is better that you have a strategy for dealing with these vendors. As mentioned above, it is always better to do a detailed evaluation of a few packages that meet your pre selection criteria.
When the vendors arrive for their presentations, you should be thoroughly prepared; otherwise they will drown you in their hi-fi presentations and you will not have time to ask questions. This point is being stressed again and again because most vendors can make presentations that leave potential users dazzled. Without proper insiderations of all aspects, the selection may end up being based on a set of factors that are insufficient for arriving at a well-informed.
Once you have decided to implement an ERP system, you have to find out a package that is best suited for you. The selection process is one of the most important phases of the ERP implementation, because the package that you select will decide the success or failure of the project. Since ERP systems involve huge investment, once a package is purchased, it is not an easy task to switch to another one. So it is a 'do it right the first time' proposition. There is little room for error.
It is always better to form a selection or evaluation committee that will do the evaluation process. This committee should comprise of people from the various departments (the functional experts), the top management (preferably the cia or COO) and consultants (package experts). The selection committee should be entrusted with the task of choosing a package for the company. Since all business functions are represented and the management is involved, the package that is selected will have company-wide acceptance. The package experts or the consultants can act as mediators or play the role of explaining the pros and cons of each package.
As we have seen, there are many ERP packages available in the market. Analyzing all the packages before reaching a decision is not a viable solution. It is also a very time consuming process. Thus, it is better to limit the number of packages that are evaluated to less than 5. It is always better to do a thorough and detailed evaluation of a small number of packages, than doing a superficial analysis of dozens of packages. The company should do a pre-evaluation screening to limit the number of packages that are to be evaluated by the will help you in either eliminating a vendor. or strengthening his case. The questions, if properly prepared and asked, will expose. the weak/problem areas, if any, that exist in the vendors' products. Also when you are asking questions, it means that you are not taking anything for granted. Lt is a good idea to prepare the minutes of the meeting and to make the vendors, sign it. This will prevent the vendors from making false claims and you can make ,them accountable if they fail to deliver what they have promised.
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