• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ultra Consultants

OUR INDEPENDENT ERP CONSULTANTS DELIVER 100% CLIENT SATISFACTION

  • Services
    • Back
      • Business Process Improvement
        • Business Process Reengineering
        • Business Process Analysis
        • Business Process Documentation
        • Business Process Mapping
        • Business Process Review
      • Enterprise Software Selection
        • ERP Selection
        • ERP RFP (Request for Proposal)
        • ERP RFP Preparation
        • ERP Readiness Assessment
        • ERP Selection Criteria
        • ERP Requirements Definition
      • Enterprise Software Implementation
        • ERP Implementation Plan Creation
        • ERP Data Conversion
        • ERP Reports
        • ERP Implementation
      • Industry Compliance Services
      • Business Process Transformation
      • Organizational Change Management
      • Enterprise Project Management
      • Get your roadmap for business process improvement
  • Industries & Clients
    • Back
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Automotive
      • Chemical
      • Consumer Goods
      • Distribution
      • Electronic & Equipment
      • Food & Beverage
      • Industrial Equipment
      • Medical Devices & Products
      • Metal Fabrication
      • Pharmaceutical
      • Plastics
      • Read about driving ROI in your ERP project
  • Software & Vendors
    • Back
      • ERP
        • Discrete Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Process Manufacturing ERP Software
        • Distribution ERP Software
      • ERP Software for Sales and Marketing
        • CRM Software
        • Marketing Automation Software
        • eCommerce Solutions
      • Supply Chain Management Software
        • Demand Management Software
        • Transportation Management Software
        • Advanced Planning & DRP Software
        • Finite Scheduling Software
      • Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
      • Warehouse Management Software
      • Manufacturing Execution System Software Vendors
      • Field Service Management Software Vendors
      • Learn about software selection decision drivers
  • Education
    • Back
      • Resources
        • Events & Webinars
        • White Papers
        • ERP Case Studies
      • Media
        • On-Demand Webinars
        • ERP Podcast
        • ERP Videos
      • Take Your Free ERP Health Check
  • Company
    • Back
      • About Ultra
        • Our Team
        • History
        • Awards
        • Careers
        • Independent ERP Consultants
      • News
        • ERP Media Coverage
        • Press Releases
        • ERP Newsletter
      • Read about choosing an independent consultant.
  • ERP Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Back
Home / ERP Blog 09.20.15 / Technology Evaluation / Identifying the Right ERP Vendors to Interview
09.20.15

Identifying the Right ERP Vendors to Interview

In this age of the Internet, identifying vendors should be easy. A Google search on the term “ERP Vendors” identifies 1,490,000 hits. Hmm… maybe not so easy.

The problem is that there are way too many lists, and way too many choices. Also, many of the lists are generic and out of date.

As a buyer, you want to find the 5 or 6 vendors that are best for your company. Unfortunately, finding this information is harder than a simple Google search.

Getting a gross list is relatively easy. Ultra’s vendor website www.mysolutionsgallery.com lists 43 ERP vendors for the manufacturing industry. We also try to qualify those vendors by sub industry, such as automotive, or consumer goods manufacturing.

Here are some additional ideas to qualify vendors for your industry:

  • Industry periodicals will annually have a section on information systems for your industry
  • Industry associations often publish white papers that identify vendors
  • Peer companies are also a good source to see what product they use and what vendors they considered.

As you consider vendors, try to identify their “sweet spot”, that is in what industries are they having the most success. Ask the vendor to tell you what percent of their customers are in your industry. In what vertical industries do they focus their sales efforts. If they have a high percentage in your vertical industry, it means they have software that meets your industry needs.

Another area to explore is the typical size of their customers. Do they sell mostly to large companies (Tier I – $500 M and up), medium size companies (Tier II – $50 M to $500 M), or small companies (Tier III – under $50 M). How does their customer set relate to your company?

At Ultra, one of our markets is manufacturing. The vendors in this sector SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Infor, Epicor, IFS, QAD, and Sage seem to be getting the most attention. It is important to match your company and size to the success each vendor is having in your vertical industry.

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: Technology Evaluation Tags: Business Process Improvement, ERP Software Selection, ERP Software Vendors

Related Articles

  • 02.19.16

    Evaluating ERP Vendors – Evaluation Criteria

    Posted in: Technology Evaluation
  • 12.08.15

    Evaluating ERP Vendors

    Posted in: Technology Evaluation
  • 04.15.16

    How Important is “Ease of Use” When Selecting ERP Software?

    Posted in: Technology Evaluation

About Jeff Carr

Jeff Carr

Jeff Carr is Founder and CEO of Ultra Consultants, independent advisors, researchers and consultants serving the manufacturing and distribution industries with enterprise technology expertise. Jeff is a leading independent voice in enterprise technology, ERP selection, evaluation, implementation and business process improvement. Jeff’s organizations have helped 1,200 manufacturing companies transform business operations. Jeff’s results-focused career spans four decades serving manufacturers. He leads Ultra’s high-impact process improvement programs that leverage today’s technology. Jeff is a graduate of University of Illinois.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

Let's talk about
improving your
processes >>

Read an ERP success story >>

View white
paper library >>

Subscribe to the Ultra ERP Blog

Insight right into your in-box! Enter your email address for email notifications of new posts and be "in the know."

By filling out this form, I acknowledge that I have read, consent to, and agree to be bound by, the terms of Ultra's Privacy Policy, and that I am subscribing to Ultra's ERP Newsletter.

As an independent consultancy, Ultra does not endorse vendors participating in educational content.

Categories

  • Careers
  • Continuous Improvement
  • ERP Best Practices
  • ERP Software Vendors
  • ERP Success Stories
  • News and Events
  • Project Management
  • Stories from the Field
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Technology Evaluation
  • The ERP Industry
  • Uncategorized

Stay Connected

Stay informed about ERP evaluation, selection and
implementation. Subscribe to Ultra's eNewsletter.

Social Media

FacebookTwitterYoutubeLinkedin

312-319-1411 | Copyright © 2020 Ultra Corporation | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap |

Website by Web Savvy Marketing