5 Steps to a Positive ERP Consulting Experience

Did you wake up today and think to yourself, “Oh Boy, I just cannot wait to get to work today so I can waste a ton of time and money on an ERP project that may ultimately fail!”…Probably not. But whether or not this is your intention, it can happen and has happened. The first step to making sure your ERP implementation goes smoothly is choosing the right ERP consultant. Here are few tips to get you started.

1)      Do your homework: Before you start actively searching for an ERP consultant you need to know what you want and what you need- be sure you know the difference. What do you want to see in a consulting team? What do you HAVE to see? What can you compromise on? Make sure you know the budget you are working with, the time frame, is there any wiggle room? Asking yourself these very important questions prior to looking for an ERP consultant will help you narrow down the prospects which will make the entire project run smoothly and will set you up to have the best possible experience for your ERP implementation. 

2)     You don’t have to date the person, but you do have to work with them, can you? You’ve come up with a few options as your ERP consultant, time to make a decision. It doesn’t have to be a perfect fit but you’ll want someone who meshes well with your team and company culture. Is he/she original enough to come up with an approach for your specific and individual needs or are you going to get a blanket solution he/she give everyone? How will they react to criticism? What about when things get a little hairy as they sometimes do?  Most importantly are they right for this job? Make sure you do research on them, check out their LinkedIn, Google the company and the individual and see if there are any red flags floating around, etc.

3)      Have a plan:  come up with a plan of action so you have a clear guide to follow when it comes to compensation, performance indicators, time frames, and budgets. 

4)     Start at the end: think about the final result. What do you want to see at the end of this project? Now go back and make a plan with your ERP consultant as to how you are going to get it. Set measurable goals along the way & make sure the data and info they will gather is useful and can be used in an action plan. You will need solid results at the end of this- be clear about what it is from the very beginning and monitor, monitor, monitor along the way. 

5)     Lend a helping hand: your ERP consultant is there for a reason, he/she is an ERP expert and has working knowledge of your industry; that does not mean they know all of the nooks and crannies of your industry- so help them out when needed. She/he may need help understanding your business from an operations or managerial standpoint before they can successfully give you answers or suggestions. Be open and willing to give your consultant help and information as needed- you will only benefit in the end. 

Keep these steps or tips in mind as you tackle your next ERP consulting adventure and you should have a few less headaches and a lot more hair left on your head in the end. Good Luck!

About e2b teknologies: Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Chardon, OH, e2b teknologies provides ERP, accounting applications, custom cloud-based software development services, AR collections management software, and calibration services through its three business units – e2b anytime apps, e2b enterprise, and e2b calibration. e2b enterprise develops custom cloud-based business applications and resells leading ERP accounting software, CRM, HRMS, and other enterprise business software applications from Sage Software, Epicor, Intacct, Sugar CRM, and other publishers. e2b anytime apps is the publisher of Anytime Collect, Anytime Assets, Anytime 500, and related Anytime brand products. e2b calibration is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory. 

Our goal is to provide customers with great products backed by world-class support, development services, and business consulting to help them achieve their goals – on-time, and on-budget. Contact us today for more information or to speak with one of our software experts.