When searching for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution, you can spend a lot of time and effort looking at multiple vendors and offerings. This, coupled with the large amount of information involved in any ERP system, can make it a complex process.
Bypassing ERP software demos can make your choice much more difficult. By vetting your shortlist of ERP vendors with ERP software demos, you can garner several benefits that provide insight and clarity into the selection process. Let’s look at just some of the ERP software demo benefits and how they can help your selection team when making this pivotal business decision.
An ERP demo provides clarity for all stakeholders at your company.
ERP software has many moving parts. The very nature of ERP means that it involves several different components that affect multiple departments at your company. These numerous stakeholders all have requirements and will want to know if an ERP solution addresses their core business needs.
By participating in an ERP demo, stakeholders can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the software and its features. They can see firsthand how the ERP system will function in their day-to-day operations, which can help them determine whether it’s the right option for their needs.
Additionally, a software demo can provide an opportunity for stakeholders to ask questions and raise concerns about the software. This can be especially beneficial for departments that may have unique or specific requirements that need to be addressed in the ERP solution.
Recording the ERP demo can also be a helpful way to ensure that all stakeholders can review the software and provide feedback, even if they can’t attend the demo in person. This can help ensure that everyone’s concerns and requirements are considered during the decision-making process.
An ERP demo shows who can deliver.
You have a lot of options available to you when it comes to ERP solutions. Winnowing down the field can be difficult when considering multiple ERPs. Making this process easier is one of the biggest ERP software demo benefits.
An ERP system demo can be an invaluable tool for companies looking to select the right software for them. It allows you to get a firsthand look at how the system works and how it can help boost operation efficiency.
With a demo, you can confidently create a shortlist of software options that fit your business needs. The demo will also provide insights into the features and capabilities of each system, enabling you to make an informed decision when selecting the best ERP system for your business’s long term needs.
Additionally, it can also show you which ERP companies deliver on the promises made during their initial pitches. Use software demos during your final round to determine whether a vendor’s solution is as promising as they said.
An ERP demo lets you see software in action.
This allows you to assess the user interface (UI) and determine whether it’s easy to navigate and use. It also gives you an opportunity to see if the feature set in the solution meets your specific needs.
A hands-on experience is particularly important because it enables you to see the software in action, which can be very different from reading a list of features on paper. For example, you may read that the software has a certain feature, but it’s difficult to fully understand how that feature works until you see it in action.
Additionally, a software demo allows you to ask questions and receive answers from the vendor’s representative, which can help you understand how the software works and whether it’s the right fit for your organization. You can also see how the software integrates with your existing systems, which can be important if you need to maintain compatibility with certain systems.
An ERP demo lets you experience a day in the life at your company.
Any demo should include a comprehensive walkthrough of a day in the life of your company. Provide your ERP vendor candidates with the operational and customer data samplings they need to customize transactions in the demo. They should then walk you through a day in the life at your company during the demo, showing you how everything from order entries to QC and manufacturing actions can be executed. Only in this way can you determine how viable a solution is for you and your stakeholders.
An ERP demo gives you an opportunity to ask questions.
Finally, an ERP demo gives you the time and space to ask every question you may have about a vendor’s solution. Make sure that you take comprehensive notes during the demo and make note of how constructive and detailed the vendor is in their response. Dotting these last few I’s and crossing these t’s can be just the information you need to make your final decision.
Looking for an ERP solution can involve an overwhelming amount of information, both on the vendor end and from your perspective. By participating in the ERP demo process, you can sidestep vendor blur and ensure that you make the best ERP decision for your company.
See these ERP software demo benefits for yourself
Schedule your personalized demo with one of our Microsoft or Acumatica experts today.
