Mostafa Mazen

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The ERP Selection Process Survival Guide

• Mostafa Mazen
• Mois 549

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TOC

• Introduction
• What is an ERP System?
• When to Consider an Enterprise-Wide Solution?
• System Evaluation
• Solution Selection
• Key Points to Remember

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Introduction

• Overview of Steps an Organization Goes Through
  for a Successful Evaluation Process
• Not an Easy Task
• All Steps are Important
• Knowledge and Communication are Key

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What is an ERP System?

• Integrated Business System
• Provides Decision Support Tools to Manage and
  Grow
• Provides Easy Access to Needed Data in a Timely
  Manner
• Notifies the Concerned Personnel of any Data
  Change, Enabling Them to Act Accordingly

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When to Consider an Enterprise-Wide Solution?
Fast, Uncontrolled Growth
Unknown Exact Financial Information
Inaccurate Job Costs
Inconsistent Inventory
Duplication of Effort to Get Vital Data
Setting Inaccurate Customer Expectations
Missing Promised Delivery Dates
Unknown Operations Performance
Current System is Hindering Growth
Inaccurate Production Requirements Forecasting
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System Evaluation

• Select the Best and Brightest Employees for a
  Cross-Functional Evaluation Team.
• Appoint One as a Leader to Report the Progress to
  the CEO

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System Evaluation

• Team Members Must Learn Reasons and Conditions
  for Needing the System
• They Should Know What the Final Solution Should
  Look Like
• Each Member Needs to Inform the Rest About the
  Functional Area they Represent

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System Evaluation

• Assessing the Company Resources
• Personnel
• Technology
• Workflow
• Performance Measurement

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System Evaluation

• Identify the Elements Required to Meet the
  Companys Goals
• Current Business Approachs Limitations or
  Problems
• The Business Core Competencies (Competitive Edge)
• Requirements for a Solutions Partner
  (Implementation, Features, Functionality,
  Service, Tools, Customer Service, and Support)

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System Evaluation

• When Evaluating and Selecting the ERP, Identify
  the Most Important System Functionality

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System Evaluation

• Industry Specific vs. Generic?
• Scalability?
• Configurable?
• Flexibility and Cross-Platform?
• Functions and Features Availability?

Additional Items
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Solution Selection
Review Potential Software Products
Eliminate Unfit Packages
Final Review List of 3-5 Vendors
Schedule Detailed Product Demos
Visit a Similar Customer of the Vendors
Check Vendors References
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Top Management Key Points to Remember

• More Information
• Increase Productivity
• Improved Business Processes and Organizational
  Change
• CEO Effective Involvement is Essential
• CEO at Arm Length from Daily Details
• Implementation Time is Underestimated
• Hardware Upgrade is Recommended
• Support Staff Needs Training
• Internal Costs Close to External Costs

• Software
• Hardware
• Consulting

• Training
• Opportunity Cost

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The End

• Thank You for Listening.

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