ERP System Demonstrations

one.Does the system meet my functional requirements?

Prospective ERP or CRM buyers ought to make use of the system demonstration element of the choice method to answer questions:

two. Is the system going to be simple to make use of?

three. Am I able to work with these people?

Let's take these after the other:

one. Does the system meet my functional requirements?

two. Is the system going to be simple to make use of?

If you are using a structured choice method then you have already figured out that the systems being demonstrated are likely to meet a high percentage of your requirements "out of the box" and are already in use in similar businesses and your industry sector. The demo gets you down to the next level of detail: you are asking each seller to show you how their system meets the specific functional requirements of your business. The critical part in achieving this is a check script that outlines the scenarios you need to see demonstrated. Time is always limited, so getting the balance right is vital: it is simple to spend far much time on basic stuff and small on the things that are going to make a difference for your business. Focus on the differentiators and you'll find it simpler to identify any gaps between what you need and what is being offered. You'll also find it significantly simpler to choose which system is best for you from a functional point of view.

Despite what I have said above, you have still got to permit time in the demo to see how the system deals with the standard tasks that make up much of a user's every day workload. Nobody's going to think the new system was a sensible choice if it takes two times as long as before to enter sales orders or receive goods. Plenty of systems have great user productivity features, helping users save time and find information much more quickly, so make definite to permit time to receive a lovely feel for how these usability features can benefit your business.

three. Am I able to work with these people?

How much do they know about my industry sector?

Have they encountered my issues elsewhere, and helped other clients deal with them?

On a personal level, do I think I can work with these people? Is their business culture likely to clash with mine? Customer relationship management Are the consultants knowledgeable about the product, and able to answer impromptu questions?

Have the consultants shown the level of professionalism I'd expect by being well prepared for the demo and punctual?

A successful demo ought to leave you with clear answers on each of these questions, leaving you in a lovely position to make use of what you have learned as part of your decision on a preferred seller.

You are going to be spending plenty of time with the vendor's sales team and consultants in the work of the demos. This enables you to choose up on plenty of softer information, such as: