Setting your enterprise on the path toward a digital transformation is an exciting project. The possibilities are endless. The potential for growth and a better, more streamlined business is rich with opportunities. At this stage, you have ideas for which Dynamics 365 platform might be a better fit for your business, whether that be Finance and Supply Chain Management or Business Central, and with the right D365 Partner, the best version of your business is around the corner. So how does a business select the right D365 Partner for its ERP project? It’s an important question because selecting the right consultants will ensure a successful implementation and potentially save your enterprise tens of thousands of dollars. As with most things, if you know the right questions to ask, it will help you find top-tier partners that can deliver results.
So, what’s a good ERP partner? It’s difficult to answer because it requires each company to identify what’s important to them and their business goals. Maybe they just want a systems integrator or a partner that can offer business guidance. Below are several key factors and considerations that will enable you to find the ideal D365 Partner.
Why Industry Experience Matters in ERP Implementation
When it comes to selecting the right D365 Partner to run your ERP project, one of the biggest factors is whether they have direct industry experience.
Say you’re a manufacturer of electronic components and deal with international vendors that come with varying regulations. ERP Partners with that specific experience will be able to ensure your implementation goes smoothly, offering tested solutions and recommendations to help streamline business processes based on their prior experience. Industry experience, most experts in ERP will say, is essential, and to go with an ERP partner that doesn’t have implementation experience directly relevant to your industry is a gamble.
Another factor regarding industry experience is how a consulting firm’s cross-industry experience can benefit your enterprise and ERP Project. While not the most important, it can be incredibly beneficial to choose an ERP Partner who has implemented technology in more than one industry. ERP Partners with this level of diverse experience can bring creative solutions, found in other industries, to complicated problems regarding supply chain security, warehousing and inventory reporting, alongside issues with financial reporting. Hiring an ERP partner who has experience in a complementary industry can lead to solutions that increase return on investment (ROI) and make the implementation process seamless.
The Importance of Full-Service ERP Implementation Partners
To find top-tier consultants, you want to find a full-service business and technology firm. These ERP Partners have developers who work closely with analysts, and Solution Architects who specialize in a powerful ERP platform, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, all under the same roof. This kind of partner is called a full-service consulting firm, meaning they have the capabilities of optimizing your business while integrating powerful technologies to help you capitalize on growth. The benefit is efficient, superb work.
Another factor regarding your D365 Partners is the depth of experience and knowledge the senior consultants have. Often consultants within top-tier consulting firms work together. They call on each other to solve difficult problems. Firms that have senior consultants with deep experience implementing a variety of ERP systems, not just Microsoft products, are extremely valuable. Selecting these partners, who deeply understand D365 alongside other ERP systems, ensures your consultants understand how to configure the technology to meet your business needs and save you resources with an optimized technology footprint.
Lastly, good ERP partners will ensure a senior consultant shepherd your ERP project through not only the planning and implementation stages but also with post go-live support. It goes without saying your ERP partners should have the depth of resources to handle the full extent of the project, offering rapid solutions and a team that can deliver the best version of your enterprise on time and within budget.
Balancing Cost and Quality in ERP Implementation
The cost of software and implementation is a major factor when undergoing an ERP Project. Often the upfront costs can overshadow the long-term benefits and cost savings of an expertly implemented ERP platform. Of course, the partner search should shoot for the best technology, efficiently and expertly implemented, and at the lowest cost for your business. However, because an ERP implementation is often a long-term project, the costs associated with it are even more important. It’s imperative to get as accurate a cost estimate as possible. The best way to get defined costs from potential ERP partners is by giving them a defined scope of the project before sending out an RFP (request for proposal). A project with a well-defined scope will enable consultants to give a defined cost and timeline. One way to do this is to acquire an IT Assessment before sending out an RFP. An IT Assessment will allow a third party to give you a defined report on the benefit of implementing an ERP system and the potential value your current systems are leaving on the table.
Lastly, you want to ensure the vendor can implement for the cost they’re proposing. So ask the ERP partners you’re interviewing if they’ve missed deadlines and how that impacted the ERP project’s costs. Do they have any clients that have needed to hire additional technology experts to finish the implementation? How have they ensured their project stays on track during their implementation? ERP partners should have methods, a depth of resources, and experience that enable them to successfully implement every time they take on a project.
Supporting Your Business During ERP Implementation
Upgrading your ERP system to a unified platform with potentially new ISVs can be incredibly stressful for your workforce. Beyond concerns regarding the use of the software, workers might be worried about their jobs. A consulting firm that understands the best pathways for change management can make or break an ERP implementation. The reason behind enhancing technology is to give your employees freedom from talent-wasting tasks. Through automation, these workers can focus on strategic work, enabling your company to capitalize on its growth and scale. This kind of guidance during implementation is invaluable and can set the tone for technology enhancement. Top-tier consulting firms work with your people to provide training and support, alongside robust standard operating procedure documentation to enable your employees to use the technology proficiently.
Customer Service Excellence in ERP Implementation
While the above considerations might be standard, with each consulting firm providing its own answers, there’s still the question of what separates top-tier consulting firms dedicated to service and solutions from firms that will come up short during the ERP Implementation. One of the reasons why selecting an ERP partner can be more difficult than selecting the software is because your business is entering a long-term relationship that will go beyond the software implementation and go-live.
One of these separating factors is customer service. You want your ERP partners to be available, answering your calls and emails promptly with consistent service that aligns with your expectations. This is often overlooked, but it happens that clients are disregarded post go-live and project completion. Their issues are put on the back burner. Top-tier Dynamics ERP Partners will have senior-level attention throughout, ready to answer your questions and concerns, providing enhancements and solutions until your business and technology are the best they can be.
All in all, weighing these considerations will lead to your ideal D365 partner!
Selecting a Dynamics 365 Partner is critical to your implementation’s success. Ensure you’re selecting the one that best aligns with your business goals and priorities. Choose partners that have experience in your industry, possessing the expertise to offer pathways to the best version of your business and the resources to bring that version to reality. When your team has weighed the necessary considerations, pull the trigger and begin the process. Rest assured that your D365 Partners are at work! Pain points and inefficiency are on the way out! Streamlined solutions and increased capacity are on the way in!
Consider Strategic Solutions NW for your Dynamics 365 implementation!
Strategic Solutions NW is a full-service business and technology consulting company headquartered in Beaverton, OR with clients around the world. We specialize in integrated software implementation and project recovery, approaching every solution through a business-wide lens. Our repertoire also includes creating and managing the accounting function for 500 million-dollar manufacturers, specialized forest product experience, and longstanding partnerships with a swathe of major software vendors. Led by three partners with decades of experience in software and business solutions, we approach each client with a long-term relationship in mind, providing continued support and communication beyond project completion. Book a Dynamics 365 consultation for a free optimization session.
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