How to become a master of ERP selection

In ancient Chinese martial arts, martial arts masters need both physical and mental repair, in order to achieve superior state. The physical and mental two repair refers to "inside practice one breath, outside practice bones skin". In the martial arts, the internal strength is the foundation, the exquisite martial arts is its expression form. In the process of cultivation, only the unity of heaven and man, mutual cooperation to play the greatest power of martial Arts. Enterprises in the selection of ERP, the same need for "physical and mental two", the internal strengthening of the basic physical management, external search for long-term cooperation of the manufacturers to achieve the appropriate own ERP.

one. Inside Practice One breath article-enterprise must first cultivate its own foundation
Mixed-Yuan Qi is the key to the practice of martial arts, the ultimate in the internal Kung fu is to acquire "inner chaos for the set", so that "outside of the internal". What do you mean by that? Internal is not to be affected by the change of the world, and in the hearts of some insist, otherwise will be complicated by the society around, and lost the ego.

In the current market of ERP manufacturers, how to choose a suitable for their own needs of the ERP products, choose a trustworthy long-term partner, really need to think seriously. Therefore, the first step of ERP selection is not to contact and negotiate with software manufacturers immediately. But the internal strength of self cultivation enterprise. Generally speaking, enterprises to cultivate the internal strength of the core from four aspects:

1. Understand their own situation and strengthen the management of the basic physique
Martial Arts Master in the cultivation of internal strength, different constitutions must have different ways of cultivation, otherwise indiscriminate, will inevitably go mad. Also in the ERP selection, the different size of the enterprise has different needs, and the same enterprise in different stages of development, ERP will have different needs.

The ERP system has become a popular favorite because of its excellent performance in overall data integration, real-time sharing and data decision analysis. In addition to the common sense of demand, different enterprises have different personalized needs. Therefore, the understanding of their own status and the excavation of personalized requirements is to determine whether the project to launch and determine the type of ERP system is an important basis.

In the selection of ERP products, the enterprise should first diagnose the core management problems and contradictions of the enterprise, and put forward the detailed demand on this basis. Second, to investigate the general industry characteristics of the enterprise, to study the current management and operation of the industry and the consistency of the work, whether the need for business process reengineering to learn the advantages of the industry management characteristics. Finally, we need to know whether the existing management foundation of the enterprise can satisfy the application condition of ERP. For example, the importance of data management, any one ERP project data management is the most important, how to ensure the accuracy of existing data and future data availability, enterprises need to have a sober understanding. Otherwise without these basic data, the enterprise even on the ERP, in the implementation process will encounter resistance.

The old saying goes: Everything is in advance, but not in advance. There are many reasons for the failure of ERP, such as the frequent change of enterprise project team, the insufficient ability of implementing personnel, the lack of attention to the project by the implementing party, the adaptability of the implementing party product to the requirement change, etc., which may lead to the failure of ERP project. Therefore, for the ERP selection, the most important thing is to formulate the ERP selection plan, should not be haphazard to carry out the selection work. Before you choose, you need to think about the circumstances under which the project will fail and how to avoid this kind of thing. If the selection from the beginning of the failure to bury the seeds, and in the implementation of the project has not effectively avoided the main risks. Project success is a fluke, but not a success is normal. So the enterprise should plan these things before the ERP selection: Basic specification stage (data/internal control/Post)-Process optimization phase (efficiency/responsibility/result oriented)-Information analysis phase (target/early warning/decision model).

Therefore, avoid not to pay attention to their own needs, and blindly follow the advice of the consultant to go. Before the system selection, it is very important to tidy up the internal demand of the company first.

① can help enterprises to choose a real suitable ERP, the same problem, different ERP have different solutions, enterprises only have their own needs described clearly, manufacturers consultants will be based on the situation of enterprises, to propose feasible solutions, enterprises can analyze these solutions, trade-offs, Find a way to work best for yourself.

② in the implementation process of later projects, more targeted. In the follow-up training, implementation, operation process, whether the manufacturer consultant or enterprise itself, can focus on demand, and not like walking in the desert, lost direction.

③ can be used as a project evaluation criteria, if the enterprise needs are met, the problem is solved, that ERP is the right ERP, on the contrary, is a failure of ERP.
2. Determine the scope of the ERP budget
The horses were not moved, the fodder first. Communication and determination of budget scope are the basis of determining ERP selection. To determine the ERP project budget framework according to its financial status and ERP system service life. Enterprise in the high-level range of discussion, confirmation and communication is very important, if there is no consensus and participation of everyone, it is easy to lead to the selection of a single choice of price, then lose the selection, investment in ERP project significance.

In addition to the actual purchase of software and the payment of the cost of implementing a consultancy enterprise, the ERP project also need to take into account a lot of human resources related costs, such as to ensure that the project progress caused by the addition of people, project overtime, travel and other a series of costs, the normal operation of the enterprise under the overall budget costs will cause great pressure, This part of the mobile cost is also one of the important factors in the project budget determination.

3. Clumsy birds have, preheat research
ERP selection heavy in their own process analysis, not necessarily to choose all-inclusive ERP products, the most suitable is the best, must revolve around the enterprise's operating bottlenecks and core issues to analyze the choice. Most of the enterprise IT staff for the ERP system principle and application situation is not very understanding, the only some understanding also mostly from books and related articles, this time preheating research is particularly important, preheating research is divided into two aspects:

① the knowledge of various ERP software vendors
Through the study of relevant materials and participate in various manufacturers of seminars, and so on, the greatest degree of access to all types of ERP companies, the software applicable to what kind of industry, such as a series of information.

② to understand the situation from the same industry enterprises that have implemented ERP
Explore the use of similar software in the enterprise from a variety of sources, such as the IT staff can initiate communication and communication with the IT staff of similar enterprises through various means, such as friends or network. From the actual users, clear understanding of the software and the implementation of the level of the company, the implementation of the level of consultants to a large extent, determines the software performance and business needs of the fit, and the fit is to play the role of software performance services enterprises.
　
4. The establishment and training of ERP selection group
It is very important to set up an ERP project selection group to determine the project budget and internal demand. ERP software is not a technical problem, but a solution to the enterprise management problems. And the management of the problem and the company's top leadership, the middle-level leadership of various departments are closely related. Therefore, a reasonable selection team should be the IT department led by the senior management team composed of the core leadership group, responsible for the selection of work time, methodology, to ensure that the selection work does not go away, without delay. and functional department responsible for the composition of the project selection team to ensure that the different software scoring results are conducted by professionals, will not be biased.
　　
Second, the selection of the former middle managers to participate and receive training. This is the best way of preschool education for ERP software. Constantly adjust the psychological expectations to the reality, in the follow-up implementation will not have the feeling of falling from the clouds. Before the selection, the project team personnel to carry out basic IT knowledge skills, expected results and other training, to help quickly form the project leader and leadership of the information construction of the general ideas, steps and other consensus, to clarify their role and play a positive role.
Martial Arts master Martial arts in the role of internal force is greater than the action, but powerful out moves can make the ability to play a greater power. Therefore, the Battle of the Master of Life and death also need to practice their bones and muscles to achieve tough combat ability. In the martial arts Chinese and foreign home work is very fastidious, not only is the killing device is one kind of exquisite skill art, inside and outside concurrently repair, rigid-flexible and Ji. Out moves different choice, the Application object also has the difference, the soft delicate feminine, the gentle scholar, usually uses the light nimble moves, the big body, the character Zhanghao Big Fellow, mostly uses the heavy heavy sinking fierce boxing and so on.

The reasons for the failure of Enterprise informatization are many, from the implementation process, the wrong ERP vendors are the main reasons for the failure of the project. Therefore, choosing a suitable and correct ERP manufacturer is a necessary condition for the success of the Informatization project for the enterprise. For a variety of reasons, many enterprises in the ERP selection of ERP manufacturers do not have a careful understanding of the process, most of it is a cursory, coupled with software vendors for sales purposes of the behavior, resulting in many enterprises can not really understand the actual situation of software manufacturers, implementation status and credibility issues.

In the enterprise to cultivate their own home kungfu, the next step is to screen software vendors. So how to filter it. Now there are many ERP manufacturers in the market, foreign, domestic, large, small, well-known mature, tailored and so on. Dazzling, so that people do not know how to do. In fact, as long as the enterprise refining the internal strength, which is the choice of ERP vendors, such as the choice of appropriate out moves, is to choose to match their own management base and needs of the appropriate software. In general, the choice of a partner from the company's status, product features, research and development capabilities, consultant implementation team capabilities and after-sales service capabilities and other aspects of the comprehensive measurement.

(1) Manufacturer's Choice
At present, ERP software has many kinds, such as domestic and foreign, different industry types, and its design concept still has certain difference. can refer to a variety of media information, according to the needs of enterprises to select several ERP vendors, issued invitations. The choice of these manufacturers should be focused on the size of manufacturers, industry reputation, industry characteristics, implementation characteristics, general prices. For some obviously not in line with the enterprise ERP requirements of manufacturers should not hesitate to remove, to avoid the energy into too large range, less than the effort. Therefore, only choose suitable for their own business needs, rather than the pursuit of all-inclusive or sophisticated or famous size. For example, the enterprise ERP budget is very small, it does not need to contact SAP, Oracle and other well-known foreign ERP systems. If the enterprise emphasizes the characteristics of the industry, it should focus on the ERP system with the characteristics of the industry.

The following factors should be taken into account when users choose ERP Vendors:
① brand. ERP selection is not only the purchase of a commodity, but also the choice of a trustworthy long-term partner, so the brand effect deserves attention. The choice of international well-known brand of ERP products will undoubtedly achieve better image effect, but the well-known brand of ERP late costs relatively high, choose the right brand can guarantee the best investment benefits. Therefore, enterprises should choose reputable, operating performance, development strength, the implementation of experienced ERP company. In addition, on the basis of understanding the manufacturer's background, we should understand the economic strength and technical strength of the manufacturers, and examine the sustainable development ability of the manufacturers.

② industry background. Even the well-known companies at home and abroad, the degree of intervention in various industries are also shallow, often only in specific industries have advantages. Some manufacturers have been engaged in ERP software for many years, has accumulated a wealth of experience, some manufacturers are from the financial software transformation to do ERP, such vendors, his ERP products may be in the financial module on the function is very strong, but in other modules may have weaknesses. At this time, the enterprise should be based on their own actual characteristics to choose, not expensive software will certainly be good. Manufacturers often say "for a variety of industries", "suitable for all types of enterprises", is actually tantamount to nothing said. and "the same industry hundred enterprises have a number of applications of our software" undoubtedly has a stronger persuasive. Therefore, the industry background of the manufacturers to conduct in-depth investigation. Industry market Information in addition to manufacturer introduction, through the media, conferences and other multi-channel collection, can also through the industry associations and other organizations to understand.
(2) Evaluation of software products
Many enterprises in the selection of products like to see Product features demo, it is not a good way to say this is not the most sensible way. Because ERP is a very complex commodity, a good ERP product, it has experienced many years of research and development, and many enterprises of practical application, there is a complex logical relationship and very flexible can be set. Only a few hours or even a few days of time, can not be all the software features one by one show. If not, is it proof that this ERP does not have this function? In fact, not necessarily. There are several ways to evaluate software products:

Research Report of ① manufacturers
A good way is to first let the manufacturer for the enterprise to conduct various departments of research, to understand the problems and needs of various departments, and then interview with the senior. After the research, the software vendors will submit a research report which shows some of the problems and needs of the enterprises identified in the research process, and helps the enterprise to analyze what aspects of software can help the enterprise to improve. The research report is also a means of examining whether the manufacturer has industry experience.

② Core Function Introduction and industry application characteristics.
After a general understanding of the ERP, in the selection of the core module to understand the software, know it can solve what aspects of the problem, in which aspects have functional advantages. Secondly, we should also look at the application of ERP software industry. The different ERP software in the industry pertinence aspect also has the very big difference. Therefore, enterprises in the selection, to examine the selected software in the relevant industry successful application and related industry management experience. Now many ERP manufacturers are speaking through the system online, will greatly reduce the product inventory, raw material inventory and shorten the completion period of the order, but, to ask in the production operation of which aspects of how much improvement, why there are these improvements, from the ERP manufacturers can immediately Kako answer, Even more amusing is that there is a manufacturer to answer the system running, naturally reduced.

Finally, many manufacturers now have no in-depth understanding of ERP, but the concept of speculation. This kind of phenomenon especially has the Chinese characteristic, today has the ERP, tomorrow has the ERPII, has an RTE after the day after, the noun is a lot of, threw out a bunch of unknown so-called new concept. A wide variety of everything, so that the selection of dazzling, not to start. Therefore, in the ERP software, do not blindly pursue the best, and not because of capital constraints on the choice of immature ERP software. For the mature ERP software, the function has each advantage, to different industry also has different advantage difference. Enterprises should fully consider their own operating characteristics and performance price ratio.

Demo of ③ products.
Avantgarde function is not necessarily true, the selection of only need to care about the function of the real. The function of the ERP product is now various, some ERP vendors also take advantage of the enterprise to the new function does not understand, to exaggerate the function of the new function. In the evaluation process for ERP vendors, some of the new features of the real meaning of the software can be appropriately increased, but not all new features are suitable for good features.

Here's a reminder: Don't trust any verbal commitment from the vendor's pre-sales advisor. A lot of pre-sales consultants often say this in a feature that they don't have in their own ERP: The next release we've developed has added this feature, this is not a problem, it can be done, and so on, but it's not going to happen when it's actually implemented. Also in the understanding of ERP products, it is best to understand the latest version of the previous version of the core functionality of the use of the new version of the function has not been tested by users, whether there are many bugs, any commitment to the consultant must be signed in the contract.

④ Finally, it is also important to consider product scalability.
In general, enterprises in addition to ERP system, will also involve OA, HR, supply chain, CRM, some enterprises will also involve product data management PDM and so on. This is the existence of different IT systems need to have data exchange and process convergence, otherwise, we often call the "island of information" phenomenon. Therefore, enterprises in the IT planning must take into account a variety of different IT systems interoperability issues. Whether the partner has a number of product lines for different areas, whether the different product lines can be seamless integration, whether the data exchange is ready, these are the choice of cooperative manufacturers need to consider the important factors. If you can use one, use one, try to avoid the products of different manufacturers do data integration. Otherwise, when the data interconnection problems, coupled with the manufacturers do not have an open standard interface to cooperate, then who will be responsible for the distinction is not clear, enterprises may be caught as a ball kicked to the situation.
(3) The consultant service ability of the manufacturer
A good software PRODUCT, if not experienced consultants to import, but also an empty words. Successful implementation of the project must pay attention to the implementation of experience, "three products, seven implementation" is the common knowledge of ERP application law. Usually the service of the ERP includes the implementation and the Post-sale service two parts, these two parts are also very important. The complex implementation process needs not only the consultant's rich implementation experience, but also the very good project control method. Project practice has proved that the high level of implementation consultant can shorten the project implementation cycle, the project controllability becomes stronger, the success is more assured. And the low level of consultants often with the Enterprise project team organization and coordination between difficulties, often difficult to project planning, implementation and user's business, management departments in-depth, substantive communication, the plan is often delayed and the system can not officially online.

At the same time, it is also necessary to understand whether the operator of the manufacturer is frequently changed. Many ERP vendors in the publicity, like to introduce their own consultants have a high degree of education and how many IT qualification certificate, in fact, this to the user to substantive significance is not. The implementation consultant of the manufacturer is the key factor that affects the success of ERP project, even if the manufacturer has the background of the same industry, but the consultant changed the new person, the implementation effect will be greatly reduced.

(4) Visiting cases
A very important thing here is to visit the ERP manufacturer's implementation case. From the current view, most of the users of the previous successful implementation of the case in the selection to consider the first condition, which is actually the manufacturer's products, services, customer relations comprehensive inspection, is a very time-saving practice, especially in the same industry case. The case to be visited should be limited, generally including the size of the requirements, industry requirements.

The most ideal case is: geographical location in the surrounding area of the enterprise, the size of the enterprise with a small difference or greater than the enterprise, the industry and the same enterprise. If there are no cases of the same industry, then there should be cases of similar industry, at least the production management process has similarities. If there is a high degree of satisfaction of the industry user base, that is the best endorsement of the manufacturer's industry background. For companies in other industries, even gold cases need to be questioned: the production process is not the same, manufacturing management module can be used in our company. In addition, in the field visits, not superstitious typical users of the perfect demo, but to actually investigate the system of data operation, the use of grass-roots personnel. The visiting opportunities offered by the manufacturer are basically one of the best projects they have completed, from which they can see their level and understand some of the user experiences of the implementation process, providing valuable experience for the future enterprise implementation.

(5) Finally, consider the price
Of course, price is also a crucial factor. Any business will have its own budget range. It is important to compile a reasonable budget, as the saying goes, "a penny at a price", excessive pursuit of low prices, may be lost in service quality, or even failure of the price.

Therefore, to become an ERP selection of martial arts experts, select suitable for the enterprise needs of the ERP to start from these two aspects: in the internal strength of enterprises to create a good foundation of their own management, and the training of the project team members. In the field of work is after careful evaluation, the choice of a strong, mature product, complete product line, perfect service, the same industry case of numerous customers, reasonably priced ERP manufacturers.