In today's digital era, ERP software is an integral part of the company. ERP can be said to be the heart of a business that can help companies grow and achieve planned targets.
Therefore, the process of choosing an ERP is one of the important decisions a company makes. The choice must be right, and really fit the company because it involves most of the elements in the business.
So, what needs to be considered when choosing an ERP? Quoted from various sources, here are the four most important criteria when choosing ERP for a company's business.
1. Company Needs
Clearly identifying the company's needs and making a complete list can help ensure the company chooses ERP software that is useful according to the company's needs. To be effective, there are some tips that can be done.
One way is to make a specific list of the ERP software that the company needs, for example in terms of design, requirements, specs and so on.
For example, a company that is still in the development stage, of course, prioritizes software with a cost that can be adjusted according to needs. Meanwhile, companies that have very specific needs certainly need software that has customization capabilities. Lists of needs like this will later become a reference for companies in choosing ERP software that suits their needs. Because each ERP has different advantages, it is important to identify in advance what kind of performance you want to improve later by using ERP software.
Not just making a list, you can also collect suggestions and input from the workforce in the office because it is the staff and employees who have most felt the pain points that need to be resolved and know best what requirements need to be prioritized when determining the best ERP.
2. Customization Flexibility & Integration Capability
The second thing to note is the flexibility offered by ERP software. Usually, ERP software requires a number of adjustments before it can be used optimally to meet company needs.
Open-source ERP software usually has a more flexible framework and environment, companies can also be freer to make adjustments and customizations they want, or add new things over time to continue to improve the performance of existing systems.
In addition to customization, data migration capabilities from ERP software also need attention. The easier and faster the software can be integrated into existing systems, the greater the cost and time that can be saved by the company.
3. Budget
Determining ERP according to the budget is important. Quoted from the Software Path 2021 report, companies can spend around US$9,000 to be able to bring ERP to the company. Seeing a large enough nominal, you need to be really selective about choosing an ERP with a price that fits the capabilities needed and that can be used for the long term.
However, as time goes by, several ERP providers have begun to provide software with a pricing system that is increasingly affordable because the demand is increasingly popular among small and medium businesses. One of the most popular ERP software among MSMEs is Odoo ERP Software, because it has corporate capabilities at MSME prices. A pricing system that depends on the number of users allows small and medium companies to implement ERP software starting from US$7.25 per user.
4. Experience & Support from ERP Vendors
The transition from legacy systems to integrated ERP is a big step for the company. Ensuring that this large investment is not in vain due to inappropriate implementation and maintenance is very crucial. Therefore, there are many factors to consider in choosing an ERP vendor that can ensure a smooth and successful transformation to the new system.
There are several criteria that should be considered in selecting an implementation vendor, including compatibility of the software offered, experience and experience of the vendor, to the after-service offered. Most ERP systems will be in use for a decade or more, so maintenance and ongoing support and associated infrastructure are also important considerations when choosing an ERP vendor.
So, those are four tips for choosing ERP software for companies. Integrated ERP systems such as Odoo not only increase company productivity and help business owners focus on their business strategy, but are also able to streamline operational costs at an affordable price and improve performance.
In addition, more than 400,000 users in Indonesia already rely on the Odoo ERP software to manage their business processes. This trend will certainly continue to increase in 2023. This is the right time for businesses in Indonesia to start considering ERP software such as Odoo for their business.