• 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 08.15.19 / ERP Best Practices / Considering a new ERP system?  Don’t be easily impressed!
08.15.19

Considering a new ERP system?  Don’t be easily impressed!

 

new erp system evaluation

Chances are if you are one of the thousands of companies that will be looking at a new ERP this year, you are updating from a 10-year-old system or you are moving to your first major system.

Either way, you will be dazzled with all the new things that you can get from a new ERP system.

The reporting, dashboards, interface, and graphics will all be flashy and capture your attention.  You may find yourself so excited that you want to move immediately to upgrading with the first software vendor you see.

Here’s a warning based on experience leading many enterprise technology projects… don’t be easily impressed!

More than Technology

Don’t make the mistake of quickly jumping into software demos, nor should you just view a single demo.

All of today’s modern systems will dazzle you and seem like a large improvement, but not all systems are the right fit for your business.

ERP systems are rapidly improving, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The features you find most impressive may actually be common among most systems and you are missing the critical parts of your business.  Remember, productivity is not about the “look” of a software system, it is about automation, information, and number of screens/clicks.

While it’s tempting to consider these initiatives as pure “technology or IT projects,” that perspective is not effective and often results in an implementation that fails to meet expectations.  IT may lead the project and certainly has a major role, but ERP projects touch almost every area of the business.  The new system will naturally bring some change to how business is done, so it’s important that business process owners are heavily involved.

Decision Drivers

Instead of being impressed with the latest user interface, Ultra’s ERP selection consultant team suggests our clients work with a set of software decision drivers which will vary for every organization depending on what is the best match for the specific functional areas of the business.  Those drivers include:

1 – Features and Functionality

Does the software meet the future state needs of the business?

Will users find the software intuitive and easy-to-use?

Does the software have advanced industry functionality to support dynamic business needs?

2 – Vendor Synergy

Does the vendor understand the specifics of the business?

Is the vendor aligned with the specific requirements of the organization?

3 – Solution Agility and Viability

Is the vendor invested in this product solution?

Will the software be a part of its service offering for the long-term?

4 – Technology Alignment

Does the platform fit within the team’s technology roadmap?

Is the vendor following industry standards for current and future integrations?

5 – Total Cost of Ownership

Are licensing fees, maintenance and subscription costs understood?

Are fees for services/support and integrations included?

6  – Implementation Considerations

Does the vendor’s implementation methodology align with the organization?

Is the project plan comprehensive with adequate detail?

How are risks and issues managed?

Evaluating ERP?

White Paper helps you set software decision drivers

Download Here

A Better Way Forward

Transforming your business processes, with an ERP system as a technology enabler, requires creating a vision of the future state from the current state – and then on to defining the business value for the project.

Done properly, this foundation will establish alignment of expectations with management, improve the efficiency of the project team, eliminate process waste, and reduce the time to benefit for the project.

Thus, when a project team is considering an ERP selection project, it’s imperative that the selection process is based on a solid foundation of industry expertise, vendor research and intimate knowledge of the business, all aligned with the goal of improved business performance.

So in a nutshell, we suggest this strategy: Know your users, know your business, understand your current state.

Then look at best practices to incorporate into your future state requirements.  Then find the right solution that matches strengths to your needs.

Learn More

When the focus is business process improvement, and not solely on impressive technology, the project team has a better chance of conducting an effective technology evaluation that is designed to meet future state needs.

Interested in additional insight?

Get the white paper “What’s Driving Your ERP Project? A Strategic Approach to Setting ERP Selection Decision Drivers.”

Contact the Ultra team to discuss your current project requirements.

 


About the Author

Matthew Hull
Matthew Hull, Ultra Senior Consultant

Matthew Hull has more than 15 years of experience transforming businesses utilizing Lean methodology and effective use of technology.  With successful tenure as both the user and as a 3rd party support in ERP Implementation, Process Improvement, S&OP, Matthew has deep professional experience as an Operations Manager, Business Transformation, Leader Global Supply Chain Manager, Lean Six Sigma Manager.  Matthew holds a BS in Industrial Technology and Engineering from Ohio University; an MBA from Eli Broad College of Business – Michigan State University; Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certifications from University of Michigan, The George’s Group, and Black & Decker. He brings domain expertise in the areas of Automotive, Medical Devices & Products, Distribution, Industrial Equipment, Consumer Goods, Metal Fabrication, Electronics, Oil & Gas, including experience in internal and external consulting for Fortune 500 Company.

Tweet
Share
Share

Categories: ERP Best Practices Tags: enterprise technology, erp decision drivers

Related Articles

  • 12.14.17

    Digital Factory and The Shop Floor On Demand Webcast

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 12.27.17

    A Year of Enterprise Success: Recapping Ultra’s Best ERP Blog Posts

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices
  • 03.12.18

    How an Enterprise Asset Management Solution Can Help Improve Your Bottom Line

    Posted in: ERP Best Practices

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