Thanks Eric and Brian for sharing your thoughts.The mistake of not outlining processes before the tool evaluation , letting bias in for whatever reasons during tool/ vendor selection goes a long way in creating implementation issues throughout , even when it's not a total failure it sure is a nightmare working to deliver the system in go live!
Thank you for sharing this video. I’m trying to learn as much about ERP systems as I can. My takeaway is that, even if you are affiliated with a company, you need to have the integrity to recommend in the client’s best interests. As difficult as this may be, you might suggest that your client explore a software, other than your company’s ERP. Being helpful, and serving people will always be the best way to do business.
I know of a mid size retailer that put in SAP, but didn't get the retail version of it... I think they eventually ran out of money for consultants and just had to run with what they ended up with.
Sometimes it happens that the companies in same domain looking for an ERP might just follow the dominant early buyer and end up having an ERP which does not meet their expectations, also driven by the vendors promotion that they are the favorites for the similar business requirement , the company who is making an early buy might have done their selection work with due diligence to know in and out of the product , and for the gaps they might have a collaboration , investment and road map with the vendor , so they are clear with what they are buying and how to get it fixed over a period of time , but the rest of the companies who are just following the early buyer and vendors promotion will be surprised to know that the product as is does not meet their requirement , such approach will get stuck in between and even the project might have to be shelved.
In addition to this I have worked with multiple CEOs who have had experience of a roll out of an existing ERP system to a newly acquired business and apply the same paradigm when specifying a Corporate wide new system. Unrealistic expectations of cost and timescales
As a Finance consultant, I was engaged by a small business client to help them understand why their brand new ERP was not working. Long story short, their software consultant got them into a manufacturing based ERP called Epicor. The problem was, they were a marketing agency. On top of that, the system integrator was completely incompetent. They soldiered on for 2 years then dumped it for Workamajig.
That’s why its very critical for a company to set the right objectives when evaluating any software application. At the end of the day, it should be about how the system will support their complex and dynamic business processes. Pricing and brand shouldn’t be the purchase driver by itself.
There is no such a myth like "Best camera ever", rather than there is shooting circumstances and the man behind the camera, and always keep in mind some of the great photos were made 100 years ago using a very primitive cameras compared to any smartphone camera today. same reasoning can be applied to every aspect of business including "Digital Transformation"
