In a tough economy like this, small business owners are finding it hard to evaluate the best software solutions that can automate their business and make them more efficient. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems allow companies to integrate their back end accounting, inventory management, CRM (Customer Relationship Management), POS (Point Of Sale) and e-Commerce as these features are all tied in and work seamlessly together.
Business owners who are pondering to choose the right software are faced with many questions. Should they choose old accounting-based systems that are non-integrated with an e-Commerce solution such as QuickBooks or look for newer technology such as NetSuite, which is a web based ERP system for small and medium businesses? Some of the obvious questions that arise are:
Should I buy software instead of renting it out?
Should I implement my ERP system in house or look for hosted solution?
Should I talk to ERP vendors directly or work with ERP resellers?
- When evaluating ERP software, always work with resellers who bring value to your business. They can save you time by leveraging their industry and systems experience and making sure the final solution fits your business needs. Never buy direct from a software company's sales representative as they just want to make a quick commission and they're not interested whether your product is implemented successfully. A reseller is interested in a long term relationship and has a vested interest in the success of your project.
- If you are a small business and your employees are scattered across locations, look for web based solutions that are hosted on someone else's computer hardware. This approach is called SaaS (Software As A Service). In this model, you pay a monthly fee for usage of the ERP, system which allows you to cut down your initial investment but may end up costing you more in the long run.
- Buying software instead of renting is advisable in most cases. If you are planning to use the software over a long term and have many employees who require access to the system on a daily basis, this is the recommended model. Keep in mind this approach requires an initial investment, and don't leave out training and support. That's where your reseller comes into play again because they can tailor an implementation, training and support package that meets your needs and budget.
- Always look for customer references on the web rather than ask the company representative to give you references. Another area to look into is small business forums where numerous people are discussing such topics or even personal blogs that talk about new features and issues. These will give you insight on how good the software is in spite of the marketing hype and to better know its limitations. Sometimes you'll get to hear the inside story.
- Find articles or comparison charts that can help you to compare apples and oranges. It's an exhaustive list when it comes to ERP features, so getting your hands onto feature lists will give you an in-depth view of the software you are considering. Click here to read ERP Software Comparisons provided by an ERP reseller. Finding such comparisons cuts down your time in evaluation and helps you to determine the right software for your business.
If you are interested in evaluating ERP Software for small and medium businesses, do checkout InterpriseSuite. They have a fully integrated ERP solution from bricks to clicks for retail, wholesale and ecommerce industries.
Business owners really don't have time to answer all such questions. They need a solution that works and makes them competitive in the market. Here are some tips and analysis we have compiled for business owners to consider when faced with these decisions.
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By Harsha Sarjapur
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