ERP selection

criteria checklist
Are you faced with the challenge of selecting an ERP (enterprise resource planning) application?
It’s a time-consuming process for IT/IS managers to assess application vendors, then compare
what they are offering to what the organization needs. So we've designed this checklist to
expedite the process and to help ensure that you touch all the bases as your investigate each
vendor.

Database and network

1 How many user licenses are required?
2 Is the ERP designed to work with different RDBMS (relational database management
systems), such as Oracle, Sybase, and Informix?
3 Does the vendor have any built-in programs to handle integration?
4 How will the data warehousing aspects be addressed?
5 What is the maximum time it takes for uploading the remote data?
6 What is the minimum time it takes for uploading the remote data?
7 Does the software support distributed data processing?
8 Does the software support a parallel processing option?
9 Has the vendor had any problems in the past regarding concurrency?
10 Does the software have an audit trail on key transactions?
11 How many security layers have been incorporated into the software?
12 What kind of networking protocols does the software support?
13 Does the software support LONG and BLOB data types, etc.?
14 What is the largest database the vendor has handled so far for the modules you're interested
in?
15 What is the smallest database size handled by the vendor so far for the modules you're
interested in?

Implementation
16 Has the vendor implemented sites in this region?
17 Has the vendor implemented ERP in your industry segment?
18 Has the vendor implemented the same modules that your organization needs?
19 Will there be immediate delivery of the product?
20 Does the vendor have a specific implementation plan?
21 How long did it take for the vendor to implement the same modules elsewhere?
22 How many years of experience does the vendor have with implementation?
23 Does the vendor have good project plan initiatives?
24 Does the vendor have a good implementation team with the required skills?
25 Does the vendor have the Certification of Excellence given by other customers?
26 What is the minimum implementation time for the modules you've chosen?
27 What is the maximum implementation time for the modules you've chosen?

Business processes
28 Does the vendor promise any reduction in lead times of those business processes in which
you have some interest?
29 What is the minimum processing time for MRP (material requirement planning)?
30 What is the maximum processing time for MRP?
31 What is the minimum processing time for MPS (master production schedule)?
32 What is the maximum processing time for MPS?
33 Does the software optimize the business processes after implementation?
34 Does the software use a built-in business process modeler?

Hardware and software

35 What kind of hardware support does the vendor offer?
36 How many years of experience does the vendor have with the hardware/software that will be
used for your project?
37 Who are the alliance partners for the hardware support?
38 What is the upgrade support for the software?
39 Does the software have any interface to support the latest technology?
40 How is the vendor maintaining the documentation for the software?
41 Is the software Web-enabled?
42 Will the software be implemented in modules?
43 Will the software be purchased in modules?
44 Will the software accounting adhere to international standards and adhere to each country’s
standards?
45 How many operating systems does the software support?
46 Does the software allow posting of transaction both in batch mode and online?
47 Does the software support multilingual operation?

Support
48 What support will the vendor provide after implementation?
49 If the vendor is out-of-country, how is support provided?
50 How much time will the vendor devote to ERP training for end users?
51 Describe the UI (user interface)/GUI (graphical user interface) package support and how
each will give end users ease of operation.
52 Did the vendor complete any customization at any previously implemented sites? (Describe
by percentage and the modules.)
53 How will the vendor complete the reports' customization?
54 Does the software have any built-in programs to handle data conversions?
55 Is the front-end application developed using proprietary software?
56 Is the customization cost included in the ERP cost?
57 Can the vendor give approval for accessing other customers' data?
58 Does the vendor have any test data built into the software for proper training?
59 If any bugs are found in the software during or after implementation, what is the replacement
support?
Is the vendor ready to work with third-party tools and software?