The ERP Selection Process
Survival Guide
MOSTAFA MAZEN
MOIS 549
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TOC
 Introduction
 What is an ERP System?
 When to Consider an Enterprise-Wide Solution?
 System Evaluation
 Solution Selection
 Key Points to Remember
Introduction
 Overview of Steps an Organization Goes Through for
a Successful Evaluation Process
 Not an Easy Task
 All Steps are Important
 Knowledge and Communication are Key
What is an ERP System?
 Integrated Business System
 Provides Decision Support Tools to Manage and
Grow
 Provides Easy Access to Needed Data in a Timely
Manner
 Notifies the Concerned Personnel of any Data
Change, Enabling Them to Act Accordingly
When to Consider an Enterprise-Wide Solution?
Fast,
Uncontrolled
Growth
Unknown Exact
Financial
Information
Inaccurate Job
Costs
Inconsistent
Inventory
Duplication of
Effort to Get
Vital Data
Setting
Inaccurate
Customer
Expectations
Missing
Promised
Delivery Dates
Unknown
Operations
Performance
Current System is
Hindering Growth
Inaccurate Production
Requirements
Forecasting
System Evaluation
 Select the Best and Brightest Employees for a Cross-
Functional Evaluation Team.
 Appoint One as a Leader to Report the Progress to
the CEO
1
2
3
4
5
6
System Evaluation
 Team Members Must Learn Reasons and Conditions
for Needing the System
 They Should Know What the Final Solution Should
Look Like
 Each Member Needs to Inform the Rest About the
Functional Area they Represent
1
2
3
4
5
6
System Evaluation
 Assessing the Company Resources:
 Personnel
 Technology
 Workflow
 Performance
1
2
3
Measurement
4
5
6
System Evaluation
 Identify the Elements Required to Meet the
Company’s Goals:
 Current
 The
Business Approach’s Limitations or Problems
Business Core Competencies (Competitive Edge)
 Requirements
for a Solutions Partner (Implementation,
Features, Functionality, Service, Tools, Customer
Service, and Support)
1
2
3
4
5
6
System Evaluation
 When Evaluating and Selecting the ERP, Identify the
Most Important System Functionality
1
2
3
4
5
6
System Evaluation
Additional Items
 Industry Specific vs. Generic?
 Scalability?
 Configurable?
 Flexibility and Cross-Platform?
 Functions and Features Availability?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Solution Selection
Review
Potential
Software
Products
Eliminate
“Unfit”
Packages
Final
Review
List of 3-5
Vendors
Schedule
Detailed
Product
Demos
Check
Vendor’s
References
Visit a
Similar
Customer
of the
Vendors
Top Management Key Points to Remember
 More Information
 Increase Productivity
 Improved Business Processes and Organizational






Change
CEO Effective Involvement is Essential
CEO at Arm Length from Daily Details
Implementation Time is Underestimated
• Software
Hardware
Upgrade is Recommended
• Hardware
• Training
• Consulting
• Opportunity
Support
StaffCost
Needs Training
Internal Costs Close to External Costs
The End
Thank You for Listening.
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