ERP Questions to Ask
Essential questions to ask when evaluating, implementing, or working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to ensure successful deployment and adoption.
1What business processes will this ERP system need to support?
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What business processes will this ERP system need to support?
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Why this works
Identifies core workflows and requirements, ensuring the ERP solution aligns with your organization's actual business needs and processes.
2What's your current data architecture, and how will it integrate with the new system?
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What's your current data architecture, and how will it integrate with the new system?
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Why this works
Reveals potential integration challenges and helps plan data migration strategies to avoid information silos and compatibility issues.
3What's the total cost of ownership over the next 5 years?
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What's the total cost of ownership over the next 5 years?
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Why this works
Provides a complete financial picture including licensing, implementation, training, maintenance, and support costs to make informed budget decisions.
4How will this ERP system scale with our business growth?
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How will this ERP system scale with our business growth?
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Why this works
Ensures the solution can handle increased users, data volume, and business complexity as your organization grows.
5What training and change management support do you provide?
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What training and change management support do you provide?
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Why this works
Critical for user adoption success, as ERP implementations often fail due to poor user training and resistance to change.
6How does this ERP handle data security and compliance requirements?
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How does this ERP handle data security and compliance requirements?
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Why this works
Ensures the system meets your industry's regulatory requirements and protects sensitive business and customer data.
7What's the implementation timeline, and what are the key milestones?
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What's the implementation timeline, and what are the key milestones?
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Why this works
Helps plan resources and set realistic expectations for the deployment process and go-live dates.
8How will this ERP integrate with our existing software systems?
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How will this ERP integrate with our existing software systems?
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Why this works
Identifies potential integration challenges and ensures seamless data flow between ERP and other business applications.
9What reporting and analytics capabilities does the system offer?
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What reporting and analytics capabilities does the system offer?
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Why this works
Ensures you can extract meaningful business insights and make data-driven decisions from the ERP system.
10How does the system handle multi-location or multi-currency operations?
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How does the system handle multi-location or multi-currency operations?
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Why this works
Important for global businesses to ensure the ERP can handle complex organizational structures and international operations.
11What's your disaster recovery and backup strategy?
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What's your disaster recovery and backup strategy?
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Why this works
Ensures business continuity and data protection in case of system failures or data loss incidents.
12How will user access and permissions be managed?
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How will user access and permissions be managed?
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Why this works
Critical for security and compliance, ensuring users only access data and functions appropriate to their roles.
13What ongoing support and maintenance is included?
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What ongoing support and maintenance is included?
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Why this works
Clarifies post-implementation support levels, response times, and what's covered under your support agreement.
14How does the system handle workflow automation and business rules?
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How does the system handle workflow automation and business rules?
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Why this works
Ensures the ERP can automate routine processes and enforce business logic to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
15What mobile and remote access capabilities are available?
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What mobile and remote access capabilities are available?
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Why this works
Important for modern work environments, ensuring users can access the system from various devices and locations.
16How will data migration from legacy systems be handled?
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How will data migration from legacy systems be handled?
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Why this works
Critical for preserving historical data and ensuring smooth transition from old systems to the new ERP.
17What customization options are available, and what are the limitations?
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What customization options are available, and what are the limitations?
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Why this works
Helps understand how well the ERP can be tailored to your specific business needs versus using standard functionality.
18How does the system handle version updates and upgrades?
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How does the system handle version updates and upgrades?
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Why this works
Ensures you understand the upgrade process and how to maintain system currency without disrupting operations.
19What performance benchmarks and SLAs are guaranteed?
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What performance benchmarks and SLAs are guaranteed?
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Why this works
Sets expectations for system performance and ensures you have recourse if the system doesn't meet agreed-upon standards.
20How will success be measured, and what KPIs will be tracked?
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How will success be measured, and what KPIs will be tracked?
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Why this works
Establishes clear success criteria and helps demonstrate ROI from the ERP investment through measurable business outcomes.
Mastering ERP Selection and Implementation
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Start with Business Requirements
Define your business processes and requirements before evaluating ERP options. Don't let the technology drive your business decisions.
Involve Key Stakeholders
Include representatives from all departments that will use the ERP system to ensure comprehensive requirements and buy-in.
Plan for Change Management
ERP implementations often fail due to user resistance. Invest in training, communication, and change management from the start.
Question Sequences
The Requirements Discovery Sequence
The Financial Planning Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Technology
ERP success depends more on people and processes than technology. Ensure you have strong change management and user adoption strategies.
Avoid Underestimating Implementation Complexity
ERP implementations are complex projects that often take longer and cost more than initially estimated. Plan for contingencies.
Don't Ignore Data Quality
Poor data quality in legacy systems will carry over to the new ERP. Plan for data cleansing and validation as part of the implementation.