Will the vendor be there when a situation arises?

When deciding on the perfect ERP software for your company most people concentrate on the software by itself and completely forget about the vendor selling the software. Buying software without taking the time to learn about the vendor is like going on a blind date. It can either go well or absolutely terrible. In order to avoid a terrible experience you need to ask questions…lots of questions!

• How long has the vendor been in business (experience)?
• What kind of customer references do they have?
• How do they treat customers in the sales cycles?
• Have they had successful implementation with little technical issues?
• What kind of technical support will you receive?
• Have they has past technical issues?
• What is their financial standing?
• What makes their ERP Software (and customer service) better than others?

By asking these questions before making a final decision you will be able to save your time and money. If you don’t ask questions you leave yourself open to the possibility that you’ll end up in a sticky situation later with no easy way out.

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Can the software grow with your company?

Buying software that is compatible with your company now might seem like top priority but what if in five years your company doubles in size. Will the software you buy today support any changes your company might make in the future?

You might be thinking if that happens you’ll deal with it when the time comes, but take a look for a minute at the big picture. If you buy software now that is not easily scalable, you may end up having to buy an entirely new product later on. In order to make a prudent decision, you will need to repeat your due diligence and all the steps required to properly evaluate the best software for your company. If you buy now with the future in mind, you’ll save a lot of time in the end… and you’ll end up with a software system that is built not only for the company you are today but the company you want to be in the future.

For the best chance of success, preparation for all scenarios is key. Choosing the right ERP software is no different. Planning for the future now can accelerate the growth of your company going forward.

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Selecting an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that syncs perfectly with your company can be a challenge. That’s why it’s important that before you evaluate your options you know what you want out of your ERP software. It’s important that the ERP product you select meets the requirements your company has set, and doing your homework on the front end can help ensure that happens. Here is a list you need to ask yourself when selecting ERP software:

1. Will the vendor be there when a situation arises?
2. What is the vendor’s track record of performance?
3. Does the software have the correct qualifications to work with your company?
4. Can the software grow with your company?
5. Is the software in your price range?
6. Is the software functional?
7. Will the new software be easy to implement?
8. Will the software work with your existing hardware?
9.  Is your organization prepared for a change?

Stay tuned for upcoming posts addressing each of these challenges!

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Is your data safe?

 This is a question that all employers should ask. In today’s business world, companies depend heavily on technology and automated systems. It can permanently devastate a company to lose emails, accounting data, and client files. Even if the loss of data is only for a few days, it could result in serious financial loss.

Natural disasters are uncontrollable as well as unpredictable which is why preparation is the only protection. The most unlikely things can cause the biggest problems. Companies without a backup and disaster recovery plan are in danger of closing their doors whether they know it or not.

For small and medium-sized businesses in particular the risk of being put out of business due to major loss of data is especially high. That’s why it’s important that every company has a backup and disaster recovery plan in place. Disaster recovery focuses on technology systems that support business functions, so when disaster hits the company’s data will not be lost. Finding an affordable backup and disaster recovery plan can mean the difference in survival or going under. With a backup plan your company’s data is safe and secure, which is one less thing to worry about. Download a backup and disaster recovery whitepaper

What is your plan for backup and disaster recovery?

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