If you have realized that you need to invest in an ERP system to integrate your company’s operations, it is convenient to consider a series of aspects before making the decision to select a provider and the solution they offer.
The decision to incorporate a specific technological solution goes through an evaluation process in which many aspects are considered, aimed at protecting the investment as well as obtaining some guarantee that the selected option is the most appropriate.
The approach to this evaluation must be shared. On one hand, you should assess how the ERP software you chose will help organize processes or work methodology, making your organization more efficient. On the other hand, you should observe how much it will cost in terms of time, money, and effort to apply this IT solution.
Which aspects determine the implementation of an ERP system?
First, you must be clear about the needs you need to cover with this IT solution, because every company is different and there are many aspects to consider: type of information, processes, organizational structure, budget…
For example, you should assess which area of your company most needs the application of this technological tool. This is possible through an evaluation of each department’s needs.
Once a company diagnosis has been carried out, it becomes essential to assess the economic and organizational impact that implementing this technological solution will have.
In this case, it is about answering questions such as: what is the cost of the program? What does this cost include? What equipment will I need? How will the staff respond to the implementation? What will the training costs be?, among others.
Answering these questions requires understanding that the decision is not only a matter of money, but also of intangible aspects such as staff experience, knowledge, and motivation.
A fundamental aspect in selecting an ERP system: information security
A very important aspect to consider in your decision to invest in an ERP system is the security it will provide.
One of the most important assets is information, so it must not be exposed with the implementation of the software. On the contrary, the solution you choose must guarantee that your most important data will be protected against any malicious intrusion or electrical failure.
In this case, it is important to pay attention to the tools the software has to shield access to certain key areas.
It is important to note that among the most important tools that exist for protecting information is the Oracle Database.
In its trajectory of more than three decades, Oracle has perfected the automation of processes such as data analysis and access to data, without neglecting the protection and safeguarding of that information.
The key to this combination of versatility and security lies in cutting-edge technology that includes transparent data encryption.
Oracle Advanced Security Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), based on standards, guarantees the protection of your data on the network, on disk, and in backup media.
Oracle is the world’s most secure and agile database, so you should make sure that the ERP software you choose has this type of powerful tool.
Which aspects should you consider when selecting an ERP system provider?
Clearly establishing the needs of your company that will be covered will help determine the components the system must contain. In other words, the solutions offered by the provider must match the detected business needs.
Ideally, the provider should present several options and budgets so you can decide which one best adapts to your capabilities.
It is also important to assess the impact that implementation would have in each area. This assessment aims to determine the possibility of changes in processes, staff training, and even resistance to change.
In this sense, your decision regarding one of the options offered by the provider should not consider only the direct cost of system implementation, but also indirect costs and impact, in order to establish the cost-benefit relationship.
When selecting an ERP system provider, you should consider a series of aspects, such as experience, technical capacity, and service guarantee.
One way to measure the provider’s experience is through their clientele. Find out about the companies where their systems have been installed. Take into account whether they have characteristics similar to your company, such as purpose, size, and market.
Also consider how long the provider has been operating. Establishing a relationship between years and number of clients is a good way to assess their capacity and experience.
The implementation of an ERP system is a process that will require continuous and sustained support from the provider, especially at the beginning. Therefore, before hiring, it is very important to establish the technical support conditions included in the offer.
Find out about the recommendations or comments made about the provider and the support they offer
It is not advisable to choose a new or little-known provider. But if that is the case, you should seek a legal way to guarantee that they will not disappear after implementing the software.
The issue is that being left without support or with obsolete software will leave you worse off than at the beginning. That is why it is important to consider the provider’s reliability and guarantee.
The success of ERP system implementation will depend both on the diagnosis you made of your business needs and the availability and adaptation of resources, as well as the provider’s experience, capacity, and guarantee.
Ultimately, a good decision, based on the results of evaluating these two basic points, organizational situation and provider, will allow you to obtain an implementation where the investment is maximized.
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