ERP software is an added advantage for an industry in managing their business. Selecting an ERP solution that caters the requirements of an organization is no cakewalk and it must be taken very seriously. Implementing an ERP system is an expensive process not just in terms of licensing cost but in terms of time and resources. And most of the times organizations are overwhelmed by vendors promises. You will find many ERP Software companies in UAE who will tell you implementing an ERP is very easy and you will encounter with other vendors who will leave you dreaming the good time with your old system. To eliminate such experiences here are three important questions to ask software vendors before selecting an ERP
1) MEETING THE BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS ??
Begin carefully by identifying the needs of your business. Focus on specific business processes and system requirements. The more specific you can be with your requirements, the more detailed your vendors can be in their proposals. First, you must list out your requirements and pain areas so you can convey them to the ERP software vendor, you can evaluate them based on how well they can cater your requirements. It is important to make sure that the system is not only functional but also fulfil the requirements of your business. For example, when it comes to different industry like trading, contracting or manufacturing, all have unique set of operations. No businesses are similar so you need to find a vendor who understands this.
2) WHO WILL TRAIN THE STAFF AND HOW ??
Any new system no matter how user friendly it is, make sure your employees are fully trained to use the system with its full potential. Some ERP software companies in the Middle East will provide you with training documentation and videos explaining how to properly use their software, but that alone will not be very effective to fully understand the system unless a person from their side comes to your office and give your team detailed training about the new processes and how different parts of ERP are connected etc. Most of the ERP software providers in UAE will be having their development and support team based somewhere else. Training and support from those companies will not be a challenge and ineffective. Most of them they have very small technical team locally available. It is very important that your employees be trained up to their level of satisfaction by the vendor either in person or via webcast.
3) POST IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT ?
The success of an ERP software lies on the implementation process and the support. While selecting an ERP company in UAE it is highly recommended to check whether they have a support team locally available to provide support on any issue after implementation. Even after the training period, it is not necessary that your employees will be fully comfortable with the system. ERP solutions are very powerful so it will be difficult to understand in and out of the system completely. Therefore, in such situations effective practices followed by companies like Brainsphere IT solution will benefit the customer. Brainsphere IT Solution will assign a team who was there at the time of implementation for answering any questions after the week of go live date. Because this team would have been worked closely with your team since the time of implementation and has good knowledge about your business, so they will be the right ones for any additional support.
4) SHOULD YOUR ERP SYSTEM BE INDUSTRY SPECIFIC?
How Unique Are You? Many companies think they are incredibly unique, but the reality is that their product or service offering is unique, but the way they process transactions is the same as millions of other companies. That being said, you should seek a solution that has companies in your same industry as satisfied clients. Just don’t make that the sole decision criteria.
5) HOW MUCH CUSTOMIZATION WILL YOU NEED?
Customize or Out-Of-The Box ?? The decision to customize or stay with out-of-the-box functionality is one of the most critical decisions of the ERP process. Today, we see more companies trending back to out-of-the-box functionality as much as possible. Companies certainly configure screens and processes, but wholesale customizations to the system are not that common.
6) HOW MUCH CAN BE DONE WITH STANDARD FUNCTIONALITY?
When you are choosing an ERP solution, you have to determine whether you are willing to update and/or change your internal processes to take advantage of standard functionality. Many organizations find that they haven’t updated processes in years and take advantage of the opportunity to review and improve business processes.
7) HOW MUCH TIME IS ALLOTTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION?
Now that you have a solution in mind, when will it be deployed? We often find companies have busy or slow seasons to consider. Everyone will want to drive the project to a quick completion, but you need to consider the time required of each department and their ability to participate and complete their tasks on-time.
8) WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM YOUR ERP SYSTEM?
Why Did We Do This? The typical ERP selection cycle is long and you will see many demos and hear from many salespeople. It is key to keep the end in mind. You have to always refer back to your goals and objectives. If you are not sure which solution is right for your company go back to your key requirements and see which solution meets those the best.
9) WHO WILL HELP LEAD IMPLEMENTATION?
Project Management? ERP implementations have many moving parts. There are many work streams, departments and decisions to be made. Therefore, Project Management is critical to your success. Project Management isn’t rocket science, but it does require a dedication to things like status reports and issues logs. In addition, a well run regularly scheduled project update meeting will be critical to success.
10) WHO WILL BE YOUR PROJECT MANAGER?
Often times, companies find a consulting firm to assist them with an implementation, but regardless of your approach you will need an internal project manager. You will need to select a person who is respected in the organization and who is willing to embrace the change that comes with any new system. They will need to be objective and understand the concerns of many different departments.
After seeing the above questions, you would have understood how important are these while selecting an ERP software system?? You can always take it lightly by selecting a system that is readily available in the market for cheap price!! However, you have to remember that ERP is a Key Decision that will affect your business for years to come. Please take time to select an ERP system software UAE that answers all these questions confidently.
To find the right ERP system in UAE for your business you must find a right ERP software company that understand and study about your requirements. Mostly sales representatives want to show you the ERP software demo without initially taking time to understand your requirements and business process, this often results in lack of functionality that you need for your business. Companies like Brainsphere has the right expertise, their consultants will understand your business needs/requirements early in the process prior to the demo.
Brainsphere has been able to provide best-suited ERP solution that takes care of the complete requirement of an industry. Unlike other software vendors, our approach is unique to our customers, we suggest them solution after understanding their requirements and business process. Are you looking for the best ERP solution in UAE? If the answer is yes, then call us on +971 52 640 3909 or write to us to info@brainsphereit.com for more details.