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