ERP Selection for textile industry

ERP selection methodology

The first step in any selection process is expenditure approval. Middle managers spend days defining their selection process plan. The more detailed the budget approval request is, the more detailed the selection plan is, the more due diligence is assumed and therefore perceived risk is lessened. The legacy selection plan usually contains:
- A multiple page, detailed system requirements definition (sent to a short list of vendors for confirmation), and submitted as a Request for Proposal (RFP)
- Multiple, onerous "sales demos" with various systems
- Telephone reference calls on the selected vendor

The middle manager can get so obsessed with budget approval; and, the upper manager can get so consumed in confirming the selection process is sound, that the most important objective in selecting a new system can be overlooked. The most important goal should be to ensure the company is successful with the new system.

If time is money, then speed is profit. The most important factor in selecting a new system is to make sure your company is successful with the new system.

A manager should define the critical requirements that are unique to the company and match to the vendors on short list after which he should visit a company using the system, in a similar industry and size. After this, he should have a favorite system. This final step eliminates any further risk.

Always a trainer should be around to set up the software requirements and enter a sub-set of datas. The intention will be to present the system as if it were live at our facility. Trainers are not offered to prospective clients because existing customers are paying them to implement their projects. This "proof of concept pilot" may cost a few thousand dollars, but will be far less expensive than the time-consuming step-by-step method.