When it’s time to hire an consultant or there are certain things you should take into consideration in order to keep more money in your bank account. Avoid sticker-shock by utilizing these tips to save money when implementing your ERP system.
- Don’t automatically choose the partner with the lowest rates. Microsoft partners set their rates based on the quality of the consultants. When you choose the lowest price, you’re also more than likely getting the lowest quality and experience level. Choose a Microsoft partner that employs software consultants with a strong educational background and years of experience. Even if the price tag is a little higher, you’ll come out ahead in the end because experienced, knowledgeable professionals can get the job done more efficiently.
- Don’t count out the “little guys”. ERP software professionals aren’t only found in New York City and L.A. They don’t all drive around in flashy cars or live in highrises. You can pinpoint a legitimate Microsoft partner by the official rating they have from Microsoft. Gold certified partners have gone through excessive scrutiny and have passed tests in order to earn their ranking.
Plus, in areas of the country like the Midwest, or North Dakota in particular, software consultants can charge significantly less than those in larger metropolitan areas while offering the same (or better) quality services, knowledge, and support.
- Interview your software partner. Find out how much they know about your industry and if they have ever worked with a company like yours before. Experienced consultants with years of working with customers are going to better understand your needs and will be able to anticipate any issues before they arise.
- Determine if there are things you can accomplish in-house. If your employees have the time and expertise to create backups or input data, you’ll save money by completing tasks in house. However, be leery about taking on projects that you don’t have the knowledge or time to complete. If tasks aren’t done correctly, it can derail your software implementation timeline or even cause more work hours for your software partner (meaning more out of your pocket).
- Take the time to really plan out what you want. Work with your software partner to create a list of all of the features and functionality you want. Most companies will implement functionality in stages for two separate reasons:
- You don’t want to give your employees more than they can handle right away. There’s always a learning curve, so it’s important they understand the fundamentals before adding anything more advanced.
- It’s easier to budget when you spread out your complete implementation over time.
Your software partner can help you prioritize the things you should roll-out right away and the features that can be implemented down the road. However, it’s important to identify all of these things at the start to ensure the proper steps are taken during initial implementation to reduce labor hours during the later phases of implementation.
As you choose your software partner and roll out your ERP implementation, consider the big picture. Let your know your budget so they can help you manage costs now and in the future.
