Cloud ERP can be a great choice for many organizations. Your other choice is on-premises ERP which means servers are managed internally and there’s a team which is deployed to take care of all the things. While both on-premise and cloud ERP offer similar functionality in terms of usage, Cloud ERP is often a choice for businesses in terms of the pay-as-you-go model, scalability, flexibility, security and speed that many companies find it more appealing.
So, before you take the leap to Cloud ERP here are some questions to think about.
What is the probable reason behind the implementation?
Why do you want to invest in a cloud ERP? What is the real motive behind the implementation? Is it for cost effectiveness? Scalability? Performance? Pay-as-you-go-model? Security? Or any other reasons. Of Course, all these benefits appeal in one way or the other. If you know the reasons well, you will be able to choose a system that corresponds to your exact business requirements.
What are your expectations from the cloud ERP?
Evaluate and list your requirements in detail. What kind of features do you envision your software needs to possess? How fast and scalable you need it to be? Are you eyeing on a software solution that can recover your data in case of any contingency? It’s extremely important to set your expectations and invest in the right system.
Have you asked for a demo before you lock your money in?
Before investing in any software solution, you can ask any sales rep for a demo so that you can be assured of all its viability and performance. You can also go further and ask about whether the new solution would be compatible with the on-premise legacy solution you have been using for over years. Does the ERP solution have the ability to be customized as per your unique business requirements? It pays you well if you take a good demo of the system before a final call.
Have you talked about Cloud Security?
Before zeroing on one solution, make sure to ask about the disaster recovery plan and time. Security is extremely important for any business users. So, make sure to ask how secure is your data on the cloud? What other vital measures the ERP provider will consider.
Have you evaluated IT support requirements?
Ask about the level of technical support you would be getting from your vendor. If you can confide in your ERP partner for any level of support, then there is no need to hire an extra professional just to manage an ERP solution on Cloud.
Have you contemplated on exit strategies?
How convenient will it be for you to come out from the SaaS model and switch to on-premise software? Do you have a SLAs contract? It’s very important to examine the exit policies of the ERP consultants carefully.
SaaS solution is here to simplify things. But, before you take the jump, it is vital to ensure that all your checklist is in order to ensure you landed on a safe boat with Cloud ERP.