When considering how to choose an ERP system that’s right for your business, it’s important to know exactly what your business needs—and what it may need in the future. Finding the right fit can be a time-consuming process, so we recommend taking a few steps before starting the process.
No two companies have operations that are 100 percent identical, even among those that are similar in size or within the same industry. Because of this, it’s important to assess your enterprise’s needs before you try to select an ERP system—otherwise, you may find yourself searching for a new one all over again within a matter of time.
Understanding these needs will make it easier to find an ERP system that has the functions and features your business needs for success. You can begin the discovery process by conducting a needs analysis that answers the following questions:
Some ERP systems are specially designed to work with companies in specific industries—after all, a construction firm needs estimate capabilities to allocate costs to specific projects while a healthcare organization with 50 locations may need a billing automation program. The same also applies to the ERP provider.
Many ERP consulting partners have industries they specialize in serving. For example, while we’re certainly not limited to any sector at Alta Vista Technology, we specialize in over 25 industries, including construction and real estate, healthcare, nonprofits, financial services, manufacturing, distribution, growing businesses, and more.
ERP systems are like clothes—if your organization is growing, it can outgrow your current one quickly. This can be disruptive to your operations and leave you scrambling to find a new solution with little time for research.
Your ERP should be a long-term solution that can grow with your organization. Working with a Premier Partner like Alta Vista Technology ensures that you can find both software and a partner that will grow with your business and minimize any growing pains in the process.
Up until about a decade ago, it was common to see ERP systems running on an on-premises server that was regularly maintained by in-house IT teams. Since then, more and more businesses have chosen an ERP that runs in the cloud with a SaaS framework.
While some organizations prefer to house their ERP on site, using a cloud setup reduces the cost of the initial investment, as well as ongoing services like emergency backup and disaster recovery. Instead, it uses monthly “rental” payments for software and support through an ERP partner like Alta Vista Technology.
Chances are, your team uses other types of software to support its daily operations such as payroll, HR, time and expense management, CRMs, service management, and more. However, some integrations with ERP systems are fragile—especially if they aren’t set up properly.
You should always review the integration capabilities of a potential ERP system. One of our expert consultants can make it easier to seamlessly connect your tech stack to your new ERP or set up the API tools you need to allow your systems to communicate with each other. That way, you’ll always have a system that can handle the apps you use without disrupting your team’s daily operations.
If your team is investing the time and resources to set up an ERP, you need to assess your vendors to ensure they can give you the support you need.
During the initial stages of implementing a new ERP system, you may need full support from a dedicated team. ERP partnerships should extend through the life of your system and beyond, so it pays to have a partner with the experience and post-implementation support to help your organization run efficiently.
The costs for buying and setting up an ERP system can vary depending on the vendor you’re working with, the modules you need, where the system is running, and the user licenses you need. Likewise, you’ll need to ensure you have the right budget for your new ERP implementation and accommodating all the different functions you need it to perform month over month if you want to see a proper return on your investment.
At Alta Vista Technology, we provide solutions at different price points based on the perfect fit for your organization, without upselling. Our team will always offer clear and transparent pricing for your organization’s platform. We have experience with multiple ERP systems depending on your needs and can help you understand what your total cost of ownership will get you.
This is where working with the right ERP consulting firm can make a massive difference for your business. You may have a vague idea of how you’ll implement and maintain your ERP system, but a good consulting partner can help you understand what you’re missing in the process—including things you may not have even realized you needed to consider.
After all, new ERP implementations often fail or aren’t completed on time or under budget.
Develop a timeline for implementing your ERP system in tandem with your vendor. From there, you’ll be able to plan and allocate resources to either migrate to the new ERP system or adjust according to your team and vendor’s capabilities. Working with a vendor like Alta Vista mitigated misunderstandings from key personnel, allows you to clearly synthesize your processes with the system, configure the ERP to your exact needs, and more easily replicate your current processes.
Evaluating ERP systems can take up to several months depending on your organization’s needs. Stakeholders from across your organization should be involved in the process so you can determine whether the ERP system meets your operational needs.
When testing, you should also bear in mind your organization’s long-term goals and how your ERP system can adhere to them.
At Alta Vista Technology, we pride ourselves on providing the best ERP software for organizations of all types and helping them understand how to most effectively use it. Our experts specialize in setting up ERP systems that match your needs and serve as a long-term solution for your business—in fact, we’ve done it over 1,000 times.
Whether you are a small business looking to venture into the cloud or you need a multi-module management system for all parts of your organization, we specialize in providing the top ERP software solutions from Sage and Microsoft. We can help you find the best solution for your company’s needs, no matter your size or the complexity of your operations.