ERP Vendors

Examining ERP Vendor Reviews

Before selecting an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, any CTO knows to conduct research to narrow the field of contenders. But how does one go about researching ERP vendor reviews?

The first thing to do is to go to ERP.com (http://www.erp.com/), where you can read news and feature articles about different ERP vendors and review which of those vendors meet ERP, customer relationship planning (CRP or CRM),  enterprise resource management, manufacturing process management, human resources planning and management and other ERP considerations.

Next, you will want to make a list of ERP vendors that offer products that best suit the corporation's needs.

You will likely be choosing among the following ERP system vendors (in no particular order):

Syspro    
SAP    
Oracle Applications
Infor Global Solutions    
The Sage Group
Microsoft    
CDC Software    
Industrial and Financial Systems (IFS)    
NetSuite
Global Shop Solutions    
Visma    

Unit 4 Agresso    
Lawson Software    
Epicor    
Comarch
Ramco Systems   
QAD    
Cincom Systems
COA Solutions Ltd        
ABAS Software    
OpenERP    
WorkBook Software A/S
Technology One    
Pronto Software
Openbravo        
Plex Systems    
Dolibarr    
SIV.AG    

That is a big list!

You can begin to narrow down this list by reviewing which ERP vendor focuses on the particular business in which your company engages. Is it manufacturing? Then you are going to look at which ERP vendor focuses on manufacturing resource management and manufacturing process management. Does your company provide services? Then you are likely to most need human resource planning ERP software.

Next, form your ERP vendor review team. A well-balanced team will be composed of a manufacturing manager who needs to rely on software for optimum manufacturing planning, human resources for human resource planning, accounting for financial planning aspects of the software, a marketing manager who needs business intelligence that can be garnered from the ERP software, a supply chain manager who knows best how to facilitate a product's path from the manufacturing floor through shipping and into distribution, and finally, an operations manager whose job it is to oversees operation of all these departments. There are likely more people who can be part of the team, but that is a good start.

Next, have the team look at which ERP software vendors your competition uses. Invite that ERP vendor in to present to you how they can help you obtain competitive advantage (who better knows what your competition is doing than the ERP vendor who installed it?). But now, go to the other ERP vendors and ask them to present how they are able to one-up the systems of their ERP software competitors. Ask them what they can provide that company X cannot, and how the differences translate to monetization of saved time and better-planned resources.

After issuing the RFP, ideally you will now have three or four different proposals to review before selecting your ERP vendor.  At this point, you can go one of two ways. The first is to manage the review process yourself, using tables and charts to try to compare the apples with the oranges (with a well-drafted RFP this should not be difficult). The second option, which is often the best, considering the massive outlay of expense the company is about to invest, is to hire an independent ERP software RFP evaluator.  You can request recommendations from ERP.com (http://www.erp.com/) for an expert ERP RFP review.

The ERP vendor review process is vital to ensuring your company invests in the best enterprise resource software for the organization. A thorough review, your own, and independent, will give your company the competitive advantage it needs in this and any economic environment.


By Denise Harrison