Selection — Why “Best Fit” Beats “Biggest Name” Every Time

This article is part of our 5-phase ERP series. If you missed the earlier installments, start with Phase 1 "Evaluation — Here's How Success Starts Before You Pick a Vendor" or check our the summary "Why Go-Live Isn’t the Finish Line — 5 Phases of ERP Success"  to see what the full road map looks like.

Phase 2: Selection

By the time you’ve completed the evaluation phase, you should have a clear, documented understanding of how your business operates and where it needs to evolve. That clarity is your compass for the next step: choosing the right ERP platform and partner. 

It sounds straightforward, but in reality, this is one of the most critical and most mishandled stages of ERP projects. Too many executives treat selection as a feature comparison exercise or a negotiation for the lowest upfront cost. In truth, a poor fit here will cost exponentially more down the line. 

What ERP Selection Is Really About 

ERP selection isn’t about finding the platform with the most features. It’s about finding the one that’s the best fit for your business today and the business you plan to be tomorrow. 

If your growth strategy involves rapid scaling, you need a system with flexible processes and room for complexity. If you’re in a highly repeatable, standardized environment, you may want to prioritize simplicity and automation. 

No matter your profile, there’s one universal truth: if you’re big enough to need an ERP, you’re unique enough to require customization, third-party tools, or both. The goal is to choose a platform that can accommodate those needs without becoming a Frankenstein of bolt-on workarounds. 

Choosing the Right Partner Matters Just as Much 

Selecting your ERP platform is only half the battle the partner you choose to implement it can make or break the project. 

From our perspective, two traits stand out above all else: honesty and experience. 

Honesty means: 

• They tell you when something isn’t a good idea 
• They educate you along the way so you understand the trade-offs of each decision 
• They recommend solutions that may actually reduce their own role in the project if it’s in your best interest 

If a prospective partner never says “no” or “here’s why that might not work,” that’s a red flag. 

Experience isn’t just about the number of ERP projects completed. The best consultants are those who’ve also worked in the industries they now serve. They understand not just how the system works, but how the business works, including the parts that happen outside of the ERP. This context allows them to design solutions that fit your operations, not just the software. 

Why This Matters to Executives 

From the CFO or CEO’s seat, the selection phase is about future-proofing. 

• The wrong platform leads to costly customizations, expensive integrations, or even a complete re-implementation in a few years 
• The wrong partner leads to overruns in time, budget, and trust 
• The right combination of both lays the groundwork for an ERP that scales with you, not against you 

What Happens When You Get It Wrong 

We’ve been called in to rescue implementations that were doomed from day one not because the client didn’t care, but because they chose the wrong fit. Common patterns include: 

• A system chosen for a different business model than the one they actually run 
• An implementor with no industry context, forcing “by the book” configurations that don’t match real workflows 
• Partners who default to costly development instead of exploring built-in capabilities or trusted third-party solutions 

In one extreme case, a client spent nearly three years in implementation purgatory before bringing us in. We had them live in three months but that turnaround came at the cost of years of wasted investment and team burnout. 

How to Stack the Odds in Your Favor 

• Use your Evaluation Phase findings as non-negotiable criteria for both platform and partner 
• Ask pointed questions about limitations, not just capabilities 
• Talk to more than one client reference, ideally in your industry 
• Look for partners who focus on outcomes, not just system setup 

Bottom Line for Leaders 

ERP selection is not a procurement exercise it’s a strategic decision that will shape your business operations for years to come. Get it right, and you’ll have a system and partner that evolve with you. Get it wrong, and you’ll be back at the starting line before you’ve even recouped your initial investment. 

If you’re already in the selection stage and want a second opinion before committing, we can help validate your requirements and vet potential fits. It’s a small step now that can save you years of rework later.