ERP Implementation

ERP systems implementation considerations (Part 2)

Continuing the series on ERP systems implementation, we will discuss another important aspect in these complex, sometimes tedious projects. After all the business requirements are gathered and the company knows what they want to get out of the software, the company must decide which ERP system is best for their needs. There are many variables that need to be considered before deciding on which vendor will best satisfy the requirements at an acceptable price.

A company looking to implement and ERP system will often submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to various companies to help with the selection process. An RFP will give detailed information on what the company’s requirements are and any constraints the ERP vendor may have to contend with. An important item to consider is that the quality of the response on the RFP will be directly related to how much effort and detail is put into it before the RFP is sent out. A customer must articulate their business requirements and processes very well, so the ERP vendor will know exactly what the customer is looking for.

The RFP will go out to many different ERP vendors that at first look appear to be able to satisfy all requirements.  The ERP vendors will outline their plans to implement the solution to meet the customer’s requirements. An ERP systems implementation will require many resources consisting of both human capital and hardware. The RFP that a vendor returns will include items such as the amount of hours required from both technical and functional personnel. To cut costs, a company may have its own Information Technology (IT) department perform many of the technical aspects.

The RFP will also include any hardware requirements the ERP vendor may need. For example, the required software components, pre-requisite software and hardware requirements are some items that maybe required. In an IT project of this scale, it is likely that hardware will have to be purchased. ERP systems take up a considerable amount of hardware resources and any vendor will require dedicated servers for their components. The ERP software company chosen will always suggest very robust servers to run their software, so it will perform at its optimum level.

An RFP is an important step in the process of choosing the right ERP system vendor for a company. It helps a company determine the ERP software best suited for its needs and not to choose an ERP solution simply on name or reputation.

Written by :

Amy Cruz