Key Requirements Your ERP System Should Meet

The art of requirements gathering for an ERP software selection project is not a simple task. In fact, it can be the most difficult part of the entire process. Because of its intimidating nature, most companies rush through the process and, as a result, add a significant amount of time to the overall project timeline. Inadequate writing and validation of requirements can result in failed ERP implementations in terms of time spent, cost and overall vendor selection. To better estimate the time and cost needed to implement a product and ensure the product can align with key business processes and market differentiators, it is critical to really understand what the system requirements will be before evaluating a particular software package or vendor.

Facing fierce competition, companies must produce consistent results with the flexibility to adjust for changing market conditions. Those who refuse to recognize that their manual processes risk succumbing to their own limitations risk being surpassed by others who readily acknowledge the need to remove inefficiencies and waste. As companies become increasingly complex, finding an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution that meets all needs may be as likely as finding a dragon. In today's global mobile environment, organizations are looking for an ERP system that does more than just blend with a traditional system.

To truly get all the juice from your ERP system you should start thinking about more requirements that may be critical for an organization. Here are few critical points, which shouldn't be avoided when evaluating your current or future new ERP system.