10 QUESTIONS TO MEASURE THE CONTINUITY OF YOUR ERP PARTNER

Selecting, contracting and implementing business software always is a long-term project. One that is associated with long-term investments. Precisely for this reason it is important in your selection process to look further than just technology. Before making your final choice, it is important to know the market position of your favorite vendors. How fast are they growing? How broadly do they distribute their solutions? Are they independent and financially healthy? And are they financially capable of being at the forefront of innovation? In other words, are they able to survive the next 10 years? After all, what good is the most suitable solution that will no longer be developed further shortly after your go live? Or doesn’t even exist anymore?

When selecting a new ERP solution, most organisations tend to focus too much on functions and features. And on the underlying technology. But while the available functionality of course is an important selection criterion, it’s a good idea to also look a bit further ahead. How well is your vendor able to keep its solution suitable for you over time? How big is their earning potential that enables them to invest in I&D on a permanent basis?

Here is a number of relevant questions that can help you measure the continuity outlook of the ERP vendors on your shortlist.

1 • How many companies are actively using the ERP solution now?

2 • What was the growth of that number over the past 12 months?

3 • In how many countries around the world do they have customers?

4 • For how many countries in the world is the ERP solution localized?

5 • In how many countries do they have certified implementation partners?

6 • In how many countries do they offer local helpdesk support (language, culture, time zones)

7 • What is the size of their annual I&D budget?

8 • Do they have a publicly accessible product roadmap?

9 • Do they offer just ERP? Or an IT platform that includes integrated ERP?

10 • What were the results in their last financial year?

The answers will help to estimate the continuity of the chosen ERP, ensuring continuous support and development of the solution. Ask the right questions to ensure your business succeeds.