ERP buying decisions are rarely about features — they're about fit, total cost of ownership, and adoption. Here's a framework we use with our customers.
1. Map the operations first
If you can't draw your order-to-cash and procure-to-pay flows on a whiteboard, no software will fix the chaos.
2. Score on five dimensions
- Functional fit
- Implementation cost
- Time-to-value
- Vendor support
- Roadmap alignment
3. Pilot one module before going wide
Start with finance or inventory. Get it running cleanly for 60 days. Then add the next module.
4. Budget for change, not just the licence
Plan a 1:1 ratio between software cost and adoption investment.