THE SURVEY The survey contains hundreds of questions about target customers, cost and features. The results are available by clicking here. You can also complete an online survey about your requirements, then view the 10 best systems for your needs based on percentage fit calculations here. As with all our surveys, we were unable to validate the information supplied to us by the vendors. However, we don’t think there will be that many intentional mistakes, partly because the vendors will lose credibility if they are caught making false claims. TRENDS We contacted Salesforce and Microsoft to get their perspective on […]
Replace Legacy Systems?
Don’t know what to do with your legacy system? Legacy systems often contain functionality not found in ERP systems, and would be expensive to replace. As well, the legacy system often gets the job done, so many would argue that “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”. Introduction On the other hand, legacy systems lack the improvements made to software over the years such as a graphical user interface, ad-hoc reporting tools and easy customizations such as adding user defined fields. As well, the legacy systems are often maintained by aging boomers, who may not be readily available now and […]
ERP Roles and Responsibilities
Implementation is all about people Many organizations think they just need to find an ERP system with a good fit, and they are off to the races. But they really need is the right people at the right time. The full article is available at CAmagazine by hyperlink from the heading. Right People at the Right Time It should be no surprise that all projects depend on people not only outside, but also inside, the organization. Nevertheless, many organizations think they just need to find a system with a good fit, and they are off to the races. Unfortunately they […]
ERP for Life
ERP for Life Not long ago, selecting a new ERP system every 5-10 years was the norm. Organizations did this to stay competitive and because ERP systems were still relatively new. Introduction Vendors were able to attract new customers because they leaped frogged the competition with new features. But now, the more successful products have matured and much of them offer the same basic functionality. Today, organizations typically don’t select and implement a new system unless they have no choice. They have no choice because they are using a legacy system that is no longer supported or their existing system […]
ERP Total Cost of Ownership
Buying an ERP system is a lot like buying a house. You run into all kinds of unexpected costs. When we moved into our first home, the bed wouldn’t fit up the stairs, so we had to remove part of the ceiling, which ruined the fresh paint. Then the plumbing failed and most of the pipes had to be replaced. If only we had known. When it comes to ERP, companies spend plenty of time haggling over the purchase price but don’t nail down the other costs — maintenance and support, implementing the system, upgrades and the people involved internally […]
ERP contract Negotiation
How to negotiate software contracts It’s not just about negotiating the price. Vendors will negotiate on large contracts so take the time to get it right. Full article from CAmagazine published in January 2011 A major acquisition such as an ERP system should be considered a lifetime investment.It’s not just a software purchase; it’s a contract that includes maintenance fees, which will exceed the cost of the software in four to five years. A good dose of due diligence is in order not only in testing the software and assessing the vendor, but also in reading the contract. Pick the […]
ERP System Selection Done Right
ERP System Selection We have prepared a four part series on behalf of CAmagazine on best practice in selecting a new ERP System. System selection, done right — Part 1 Anyone who has been involved in selecting software knows the road is strewn with pitfalls — many of which we covered in “The top 10 software selection mistakes” . But how do you avoid those mistakes altogether? In the next few columns, we hope to shed some light on the subject… System selection, done right — Part 2 The whole selection process will take a minimum of three to four […]
ERP Case Studies
ERP Case Studies 180 Systems will be writing a series of case studies different than the paid-for marketing material available from vendors. Our case studies are unbiased based on our interviews, and we have not received any compensation for them. Blue Link […]
ERP Reviews
Some of our reviews are a few years old but they should still provide a good starting point in your evaluation. We are now in the process of updating our reviews. Stay tuned. Our reviews are unbiased and we are not compensated by the vendors for our analysis. Blue Link – 2013 NetSuite – 2012 […]
ERP Customer Survey
2013 CAmagazine Article A number of years ago we conducted a customer survey on behalf of CAmagazine to see how well users like their systems, as well as their views on the developers and implementation partners. We also asked for feedback about return on investment and future plans. The article is available by clicking here. But CAmagazine has been outsourced and rebranded to Pivot Magazine with different objectives such that we no longer publish articles for it. 2020 ERP Customer Survey We are now asking visitors to the site to rate their existing ERP system. By participating in this survey, we […]