What Does ERP Stand for? 6 Reasons to Work with a VAR

We explored the meaning of ERP in previous blogs and today we look into the meaning of a VAR.  To learn more about ERP check out this blog What Does ERP Stand for? submitted by Kerry Gardner with Klear Systems.  What is the meaning of a VAR and why do businesses benefit by working with a VAR?  The term VAR (Value Added Reseller) in this blog refers to those serving in the ERP software industry.  Simply put, a VAR is an ERP consultant who helps businesses grow through technology and best practices.  The VAR evaluates the entire situation, add-on software to accomodate unique requirements, considers business processes and best practices and implements and supports ERP solutions.  Here are 6 ways businesses are better off working directly with a trusted and experienced VAR to help their business grow.  If you haven't already found a VAR or ERP Consultant you love and trust, reach out today and start the conversation about your business challenges and growth goals!

What Does ERP Stand for? 6 Reasons to Work with a VAR

1. Switch or Stay?  Sometimes businesses spend lots of time and money to switch software when they never fully maximized the potential of their existing software.  If you have a relationship with a VAR, they can help you make the decision whether you need to switch software or not.  Sometimes adding a 3rd party software enhancement like shipping software by V-Technologies to your existing system will help stretch out the initial software investment, increase efficiency, reduce costs and extend functionality. 
   
2. Business Process Assessment / Needs Analysis:  The first thing most experienced ERP VARs will do in starting a relationship with a client is to get to know the company, their challenges and the people who will be working with the software.  A needs analysis is the first step in helping a VAR understand how they can help.
3. ERP Software Selection:  There are many ERP software and 3rd Party options out there and you may need to start the process with several VARs to make sure you select the right system.  The VAR acts as a trusted advisor to inform you whether or not the software they represent is a good fit for your business.  The VAR is in the business of knowing what software options are out there and what is the best fit.  While your organization may have been through a software selection process or two over the years, most VARs have been through this process hundreds of times.  It is in the VARs best interest to help your business find the best fit for a successful implementation.
4. ERP Software Implementation and Training: The VAR is critical in helping establish expectations of what resources and time will be necessary to accomplish a successful implementation.  The VAR is able to help with the ERP software implementation, data conversion, data integration, set up and training.
5. ERP Software Ongoing ERP Software Support:  The VAR establishes a long-term ongoing relationship with each client to help with future business challenges, additional software requirements, year-end processing, software upgrades and business and software consulting.
6. Trusted Advisor:  The best VARs often have deep understanding of the industry their clients serve and build lasting relationships with their clients.

Whether you prefer the term VAR, ERP VAR, Software Reseller, Solution Provider, Trusted Advisor, ERP Consultant, Technology Consultant, Business Consultant, Accounting Software Consultant, Business Management Consultant, or even ERP Software Reseller the service is the same.  It's the VAR's serivces and expertise that deliver value to the ERP software and help businesses grow.  ERP has replaced the terms over the years like accounting software or business management software because it encompasses the entire solution, any add-ons or 3rd party software and business principles behind the software.

The term VAR also reminds end-users, customers and clients (whatever your preference) that a VAR is in fact a Value Added Reseller.  Yes, once in a while a VAR might actually sell software in order to deliver a solution to a client.  Yes, the VAR might even make some commission on the software sale.  Even though the service the VAR delivers is more important than the ERP software they sell, it's still the VAR or reseller purchasing the software that helps deliver the service.  What is the shame in that?  It's a VARs business to make a living and make money by providing solutions to clients.  The software alone is not enough to help reach each business' goals.  I have heard too many times where a client doesn't know that they should contact a VAR when purchasing software and they go elsewhere for the purchase.  Incidentally, many times the software they purchased was not the best choice and time and money is wasted on the wrong purchase.  The VAR does so much more than help witrh the ERP software selection process and sell software.  It's the services they provide like the needs analysis to find the right fit, looking at the whole system (including hardware and other software programs) to make sure software integration is accomplished, data migration, implementation, training and ongoing software support.

Over the past 17 years, I have been working with ERP VARs.  I have deep respect and admiration for ERP VARs who help businesses grow by increasing efficiencies with software they resell.  It's a great patriotic duty VARs deliver to help the economy grow one business at a time.  Why do I like working with ERP VARs?  Let's first define what an ERP VAR means to you and the world.  According to accounting software or business management application or ERP software publishers like Sage, Infor, Intacct, Netsuite, etc., an ERP VAR is someone at the most very basic level helps the publisher resell their software and deliver a deep level of customer service.  To businesses who rely on software, an ERP VAR is someone who sold them software, someone who understands their business and who is an essential part of helping them grow their business as an ERP expert and trusted advisor.  The VAR is a trusted business advisor that has a similar high regard to the trust you have with your CPA.  From my experience in working with ERP VARs, they are true patriots of our country.  VARs help businesses survive and thrive in this difficult and challenging economic climate through their expertise and experience in applying best practices in how software can help save time and money.

So how are businesses surviving in this difficult and challenging economic climate by working with a VAR?  It is apparent that the old ways of doing things no longer work in today's environment.  VARs have also had to work hard to survive all the demands and changes of the software publishers over the past 25 years.  The VARs that are in business today are here because they are the best at what they do.  They have undergone extensive certification demands, software training, worked to solve hundreds of clients business issues with technology.  The best VARs have a deep understanding of a businesses unique and specialized industry challenges. 

Again, if you haven't found a VAR you love and trust, reach out today and start the conversation about your business challenges and growth goals!   Find an ERP VAR or ERP Consultant today!