• 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 / Services / Enterprise Software Selection / ERP Comparison

ERP Comparison

ERP comparison is a staple activity of any enterprise software selection project. Many companies try to focus on feature comparison as their method of evaluating vendors. Today there are many websites and services that provide feature comparisons for free or for a fee.

But, feature comparison only tells part of the story when comparing ERP vendors.

5 Criteria of ERP Comparison

There are five main areas of criteria for every ERP comparison exercise.

Company
It is important to understand the size of the ERP software vendor, its resources, mission, markets served, and direction in the market. Does this vendor have the resources to keep your company abreast of technology changes? Can this vendor be a great partner for the next 15 to 20 years?


Technology
When evaluating a vendor’s technology, it is important to ask: is the vendor’s technology direction in alignment with your company’s technology strategy?


Function Fit
Evaluating function fit involves identifying how the vendor’s software meets the goals as defined in your company’s business process future state.


Support
It is important to understand how the structure of the vendor’s support “ecosystem.” This includes information like:

  • Education
  • Website
  • User group
  • Partners
  • Consultants
  • Industry focus groups
  • Other customers in your industry

Cost of Ownership
When evaluating a vendor’s solution, you should look at the total cost of ownership over at least a five-year period, including the following costs:

  • License fee
  • Annual fee
  • Implementation fees
  • Internal support costs
  • Ongoing internal and external costs

We deliver a “decision criteria” table that can be populated with facts and evaluations by your team as you progress through the ERP selection project.


ERP Comparison Best Practices

While there are several steps you must take to ensure you are comparing potential ERP solutions correctly and effectively, here are 4 main best practices.

Assess Usability, Look, Feel
Usability, or how easy the system is to use by the entire enterprise, is a key factor in ERP comparison.  When comparing ERP systems, make sure the software is simple to use and makes the user’s job easier.  Does it make good use of technology such as ease of navigation, integration, intuitive reports? Be sure to compare in an “apple-to-apple” fashion as needed.


Compare Industry Fit
When comparing systems, be sure to concentrate on a short list of vendors serving your industry. From job shop to cell-type organizations, to highly complex process manufacturing, compare ERP systems that address your unique needs. Each manufacturing style, process, and industry has a completely unique set of requirements when it comes to ERP comparison.


Evaluate Data Integration
With each vendor, be sure you understand how your legacy data will be migrated. This plays into the enterprise software implementation processes for each vendor. Understand the full implementation process and costs as you compare systems.


Consider System Customizations
Most systems aren’t effective right out of the box. Make sure to compare how your top vendors can let users create new screens, ERP reports, dashboards and other reporting by user roles. Will changes to this process be supported over time?

Our independent ERP consultant organization will bring you decades of experience in helping manufacturing organizations work through effective ERP comparison. We will help you focus on key criteria, which will provide a foundation of information, education, and documentation set to increase your project success.

 

Tweet
Share
Share

sidebar

Let's talk about improving your business processes

  • Register for a Webinar
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Download a White Paper

Other Services

Business Process Improvement

Business Process Improvement

Enterprise Software<br/> Selection

Enterprise Software
Selection

Enterprise Software Implementation

Enterprise Software Implementation

Business Process<br/> Transformation

Business Process
Transformation

Organizational Change Management

Organizational Change Management

Enterprise Project Management

Enterprise Project Management

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