You’ve registered for our ERP Discovery Day, to meet with specialist ERP providers. You have some designated time with them, but what do you ask them in that short time – and how do you use that time effectively?
To interview an ERP partner effectively, focus on asking about their experience with your industry and similar projects, their implementation methodology, their approach to managing change, and the total cost of ownership. Prepare by researching their background and have them provide references and case studies, then use this information to ask specific, probing questions about project scope, timelines, and post-implementation support to ensure a good fit for your business.
Key areas to focus on during the interview:
1. Experience and expertise
Industry-specific experience: Ask for case studies and references from companies in your industry to see if they understand your unique needs.
ERP platform knowledge: Inquire about their specific experience with the ERP system you are considering and the core components of that system.
Problem-solving: Ask behavioural questions about past challenges, like how they handled data migration issues or integration difficulties, to gauge their problem-solving skills.
2. Implementation and methodology
Project management: Ask how they plan to manage the project to ensure it stays on time and within budget. Specifically, how do they handle the project’s methodology?
Integration: Understand how they ensure seamless integration with your existing systems.
Data migration and customisation: Ask about their strategy for handling data migration and any necessary system customisations.
3. Change management and training
Change management plan: Ask for their plan to manage the change process, prepare your team, and handle potential resistance.
Training and support: Inquire about the type and quality of training and post-implementation support they offer.
4. Cost and transparency
Total cost of ownership: Don’t just ask about the initial implementation cost. Ask for a breakdown of all potential costs, including licensing, customization, training, and ongoing support.
Transparency: A good partner should welcome tough questions and provide complete, honest answers. They should also be transparent about their pricing models and contract terms.
5. Culture and communication
Communication: Ask about their communication plan for keeping stakeholders informed throughout the project.
Cultural fit: Evaluate if there is a strong cultural fit and the ability to engage and collaborate effectively with your internal team.
Looking for a new ERP system? Want to meet with the best of the best for ERP providers? Register with us for free, we’ll set you up with one-to-one meetings, doing the difficult research and saving you time…
Register for itSHOWCASE here: https://itshowcase.co.uk/
