9 Questions to Ask When Choosing the Best Cloud ERP

You know you want the best cloud ERP solution for your business and investment, but how do you decide? Your organization has unique needs, and there’s no single application that will work perfectly for every organization. Here are 9 things you should take into account when you’re looking for a new cloud ERP solution:

1. Which type of cloud do you need?

The latest ERP software solutions are almost exclusively cloud-based applications. However, you may not know that you have options when it comes to cloud. It’s important to think about exactly what kind of cloud setup might be best for your business, and ensure the solution you’re considering can work with that setup. Whether you’re considering public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, be sure to consult an expert to make sure your ideas will work for your organization.

2. Is the user interface easy and effective?

The user interface of the solution you choose should be easy to learn and efficient for task completion for users in a wide variety of roles. Poor user adoption is one of the leading causes of ERP failure.

3. Can you add third-party applications?

No matter how powerful and flexible an ERP solution you choose, it’s possible your specific business may need some functionality not provided within the solution itself. Does the solution you’re choosing support a wide variety of third-party applications and tools?

5. Will it work for your industry?

Every industry has different needs, and software that works really well for mid-size nonprofits may not be the best fit for a large-scale distribution business. Be sure the software you’re choosing has been successful for organizations similar to yours.

6. Are there any “surprises” with pricing?

How is the pricing structured? Will you pay monthly per user? Are there different user types at different price points? Will you need to pay extra for additional applications or maintenance? Are upgrades included? Perform a cost analysis to make sure your solution offers the best possible ROI.

7. What level of mobility will you have? 

A cloud ERP solution should offer secure 24/7/365 mobile access, with powerful and intuitive user interfaces. Although most cloud solutions offer some form of mobile access, the ease of use and extent of mobile functionality can vary considerably.

8. How secure is the provider’s cloud? 

Robust security is absolutely critical to the success of your business and something that can vary widely between cloud providers. Make sure your cloud hosting provider provides state-of-the-art security for your data. Additionally, the solution you choose should offer user-based security controls, create an obvious audit trail, and allow alerts to be set for suspicious user activities.

9. Is the ERP publisher committed to ongoing innovation?

Does the cloud ERP solution include regular updates? Is the software provider investing significant money and resources into ongoing development of new features? You want your new cloud solution to keep up with the latest technology innovations so your business can stay ahead of the curve for years to come.

9. Can you test it before you buy it?

Before purchasing any ERP solution, your implementation partner should provide your business with significant opportunities to view, test drive, and explore the solutions you’re considering. Whether it is a free trial or, if unavailable, personal demonstrations—be sure to see the solution in action before you make a decision.

Would you like to talk to an expert?

Here at OTT, Inc., we believe in helping businesses achieve measurable outcomes from their technology solutions. Our proven 5-step methodology, the Trusted Partner Path, starts with helping you ask the right questions in order to find the best-fitting solution for your business. Contact us today to discuss your business challenges and explore your goals for the future.