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Top Questions to Ask Your ERP System Vendor Before You Purchase

Top Questions to Ask Your ERP System Vendor Before You Purchase

Top Questions to Ask Your ERP System Vendor Before You Purchase

Implementing an ERP system is no small task; it’s going to take a massive amount of time and resources and if you aren’t fully informed, the cost is going to be much higher. You’ve probably been told this a thousand times before, but if you want to learn, you need to ask questions. Because ERP systems are so expansive and their applications so far reaching, there are almost endless questions to ask. From implementation curiosities to questions about software evaluation, here are our top picks for the questions you should be asking during your ERP adventure.

And remember: there’s no such thing as a stupid question! So if you have a question that you don’t see on this list, speak up!


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What Type of Support and Training Do You Offer?

ERP systems are incredibly complex and they have to be. You don’t need to act like a know it all. You’re bound to run into some snags at some point with your system. You should ask what type of support and training they offer. You should make sure that the vendors’ consultants work with you from implementation, to the go-live, and for the following few months. You should make sure that you have a range of options for accessing the consultant’s advice. Complete end user training should be available through remote, on site, and classroom sessions to ensure that employees are fully confident using the system.

How Can We Ensure the Project Doesn’t Exceed the Budget?

ERP Projects are notorious for blowing past established budgets. In fact, Gartner has said that 57% of all ERP projects cost 189% of the original budget. Yikes. You should try to work with a firm that believes in a fixed -fee billing. This way you’ll know the exact price of the project before you start with the peace of mind of knowing that your system won’t put you in the poor house.

Does the Software Meet the Needs of My Business?

Probably the most important question on this list, and for obvious reasons. Most ERP systems worth their salt will be able to function at basic levels. The challenge for you is to find a system that works for your business. If your organization needs to comply with a number of governmental, you need to find a system that will address this. If you’re going to find the right ERP system, then you need to talk to a software vendor that will spend the time to understand your business.

Remember to Ask for References

Of course a software vendor is going to say that they’re the best… Why wouldn’t they? You should be sure to ask for some additional references from previous customers. This will really put they’re claims to the test. Look to see if the previous customer had any problems with the software itself or with any support. If you ask for references, ask for some from a company not too different from your own.


Looking for more? Download our ERP buyers guide for free and compare the top-24 products available on the market with full page vendor profiles. The guide includes four key capabilities to look for in an ERP solution, plus five questions to ask yourself and five questions to ask the software provider before purchasing. It’s the perfect resource for anyone looking for the right ERP for their business/organization.

And don’t forget to follow us on TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn for all the latest in the ERP space!

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