Sage 100 ERP Consultant Tip: 3 Questions for Selecting ERP Software

As a Sage 100 ERP consultant, I’ve had many discussions over the years with companies who are outgrowing their current software used to run the business. If you’re thinking about implementing a new ERP software solution or changing from one ERP to another there’s some advice we’d like to share. Hopefully, this article will help you avoid some of the pitfalls and horror stories you may have heard about starting an ERP implementation project. As you may have heard, any ERP software evaluation starts with you’re a comprehensive list of requirements. This list starts off by interviewing all the teams within the business to find what they like and dislike about the current system. Next is the wish list of what you must have and what would be nice to have features or processes in the new ERP software that can be prioritized by the appropriate stakeholders.

Now let’s ask some key questions about what your new ERP software will look like. Whether you choose to work with a Sage 100 ERP consultant or another ERP consultant, the good consultants will get involved in the process from start to finish. This is an ongoing relationship so find someone to work with that knows your business and that you trust.

Sage 100 ERP Consultant Tip: 3 Questions When Selecting a New ERP Software

1) Does the ERP software fit your business model?  There are dozens of “styles” of manufacturing like job-shop, cell-type organizations, and highly complex automated systems to robotics. Each requires some level of “uniqueness” that not every software can accommodate. Not to mention the probably hundreds of manufacturing processes across the manufacturing landscape. The combination of “style,” process, and industry will have their unique set of rules so just picking any software won’t do.

Besides the style, process, and industry, you need to think about your people. You can have the greatest software in the world but if your people aren’t capable of utilizing it, you could’ve just gone with spreadsheets and saved the headaches. Are you going to need a full-time IT person to help you run the system? How much training will your staff need to effectively utilize the new software? Is your team on board with purchasing new software? Your company culture will affect your transition to new ERP software.

2) Is the software outdated? Let’s face it, ERP software has been around for 30+years and some of it still looks and functions that way. Many ERP vendors will say they can operate on most operating systems whether it’s Windows, MAC, or Linux but the functionality may be different. You can’t be all things to all people and the software is no different. If you’re running a MAC-based environment, you choices may be limited as to functionality. The more outdated the original code that they are still using, the more help you will need to maintain it. You can’t afford that. Just because it looks pretty doesn’t mean it has the capabilities you need. Remember lipstick on a pig.

The ERP software should be going through new releases or updates regularly but you need to figure out how that will affect your business and can you handle multiple updates during the year. You may even want to ask how many of the current ERP software customers are on the latest release.

3) Manufacturing Functionality? Many manufacturers have embraced a lean mentality.  So if you implement new ERP software, will it take waste out of the entire organization both internally and up and down the supply chain? Some vendors will require an additional add-on to handle this approach. Detailed data about production, scrap, downtime, labor and quality inspections need to get into the system but how do you do that? If you want to affect profitability and success, this is where the rubber meets the road. Ideally, your data is captured and validated as the activities are occurring so virtually everyone on your team has accurate, timely information for decision-making.

There are many additional underlying questions that need to be asked before you move forward with new ERP software. The right ERP software for the right business with the right people will make for a highly efficient, more productive and more profitable new year.

Consider Sage 100 ERP:

Feel free to CONTACT US at Baesis or call Len Diana at 508-393-9960 x 1011 if you have any questions about this article, Sage 100 ERP or are considering implementing a new ERP systems. We offer a free needs assessment to help you get started. Baesis was founded with the belief that there was an opportunity to serve the SMB manufacturing community and build a company based on values and a customer first attitude. Baesis specializes in serving the SMB manufacturing community in New England, New York, Ohio, Kansas and Missouri implementing, supporting and training customers on Sage 100, JobOps, Sage 50 for Manufacturing, and MISys solutions.

Today Baesis is one of the largest Sage and JobOps resellers in the United States. Sage 100 ERP and JobOps ERP solutions help Baesis better serve the manufacturing community in New England, New York, Ohio, Kansas, and Missouri by helping customers identify new and improved ways to increase productivity and profitability.

Another version of this article was previously posted on Baesis Tech Tips Blog by Len Diana on Tue, Apr 01, 2014 “3 Key Questions to Ask about your ERP Software”

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