| If you are ready to switch accounting
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| | helping people find partners for the
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| software for your business, you know
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| | solutions that they want ( for example).
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| there are hundreds of publishers ready to
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| | A partner can help you determine a
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| take your money, as well as thousands of
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| | budget, the number of concurrent users,
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| system implementers. There are hosted
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| | and the modules that you will need. A
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| solutions, web-based solutions, pc-based
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| | quality partner should be a solution
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| solutions, MAC solutions - the choices
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| | consultant, as opposed to a traditional
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| are overwhelming. Here are some things
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| | sales representative for whom the sale is
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| to consider as you begin this process.
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| | more important than the "why" or "what".
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| Allow enough time: The sales cycle for a
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| | The solution consultant will do an
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| new ERP/Accounting system can last
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| | in-depth interview and an on-site
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| anywhere from three to six months (for
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| | analysis to see if their solution might
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| more complicated solutions, nine months
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| | fit your company. The right partner will
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| or more), so it is a given that buying a
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| | be there after the sale. They will be
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| new system takes time, thought and
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| | there after you go live for support.
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| consideration. Software is divided into
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| | Their team members understand your
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| three categories: (a) "off the shelf"
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| | business.
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| (QuickBooks, Peachtree); (b) configurable
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| | Find the right publisher: The publisher
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| (MAS 90, Navision); and (c) customizable
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| | is equally important. Are they
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| (MAS 500, Dynamics -GP).
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| | financially stable? Are new software
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| Understand the benefits of the RFI:
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| | versions released on a regular basis? Do
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| Large businesses making the move to new
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| | they have an adequate number of product
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| accounting software usually start with a
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| | installations?
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| Request for Information (RFI). The RFI
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| | Learn from those who have gone before:
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| states what the company requires in the
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| | First-time buyers typically let price be
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| new system and allows potential vendors
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| | the deciding factor. It is commonly
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| to submit answers if their system meets
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| | accepted that companies spend between one
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| the minimum requirements. The RFI will
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| | and three percent of their annual revenue
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| request what is included in the standard
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| | on a new ERP system, although I
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| product and what, if anything, is a
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| | personally believe the number is lower.
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| custom or third-party solution.
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| | Second-time buyers surveyed revealed that
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| Define your business: Do you distribute
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| | price was no longer the determining
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| product, manufacture product, or both?
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| | factor, but instead the partner had been
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| If you are a manufacturer, are you a
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| | raised to number one.
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| process manufacturer, do you build to
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| | Stay involved: Even with an excellent
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| order, do you do discrete manufacturing,
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| | partner, you have to stay involved. If
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| or do you do a combination? Do you bill
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| | you expect to let the partner do all of
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| based on time and materials? The answer
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| | the work, you may end up with a solution
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| to these and many other questions will
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| | that is not the right fit. Do not let
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| help determine the best software solution
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| | the price be the deciding factor - find a
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| for you.
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| | great partner (interview at least two to
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| Find the right partner: Having defined
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| | three), find a great publisher (see two
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| your business, you can now use Google to
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| | to three demos) and ask a lot of
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| search key terms. These key terms will
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| | questions - it will save you time and
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| point you to a wide array of solutions,
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| | money in the long run.
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| including companies that specialize in
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