Industry Expertise

Some ERP companies attempt to cover multiple unrelated industries, such as financial services, public sector and manufacturing, but these sectors have widely divergent needs. Even the industry vocabulary is different. You need an ERP vendor who understands your industry intimately, and where you know every employee speaks your language. This is especially important in highly regulated industries such as medical devices, food and beverage or automotive. You don’t want to waste your time training the vendor on the best practices in your industry—you want a vendor who already knows the regulations and best practices and can help you achieve your strategic goals. In addition, you will want to ensure that the ERP system includes the necessary functionality and reporting for compliance, and the best way to do that is to be sure the vendor has experience in your industry.

A Long Term Partner

Most manufacturing companies keep their ERP systems for five to ten years or even longer. When you know you are betting your business’ future on a vendor, you want to be certain they will be around for the long haul.

Some ERP vendors sell software, do a quick implementation, and then you never see them again, while others pride themselves on the quality of their customer’s experience and the long-term mutually beneficial relationships they nurture. When the future of your business depends on your ERP vendor, it makes sense to select an ERP vendor who prides itself on becoming a partner, not simply a vendor.

A Culture of Innovation

Business processes and technology change over time, and you want a vendor that keeps up to date on best practices, new methods and current technology, Otherwise your ERP system will hold you back rather than propel you to success.

Make sure your chosen ERP vendor makes investments in keeping their applications up to date by adding new functionality and staying current with technology advances. Ensuring that your vendor values innovation and stays up to date is one of the most important criteria you should use when selecting a new ERP system. Don’t let long lists of functions you don’t need and won’t use blind you to the far more important commitment to innovation.

There When You Need Them

If keeping your business running is important, you want to be sure that the ERP supplier you choose provides quality technical support in addition to a self-service portal. While you’re inquiring about support policies, check out the team’s qualifications too. It doesn’t help if the support team members are inexperienced newbies who are reading the documentation at the same time you are. The support team should have as much expertise as the team you meet during the sales cycle.

Find a Vendor Who Thinks You’re Special

Beware of the ERP vendor who favors the big-name customers who pay big support bills. Even if you’re a small or mid-sized manufacturer, you deserve the same special treatment as the big guys.

Select a vendor who is willing to spend the time to get to know you and who assigns a team to stick with you over time. The vendor who is willing to invest their time in getting to know your business will be able to make better recommendations on how you should use their ERP software to get the best results. Isn’t that what you really need in an ERP partner?