Page 173 - DCAP302_ENTERPRISE_RESOURCE_PLANNING

Unit 9: ERP Vendors, Consultants and Users

To successfully carry out the designing and implementation of the whole project, ERP vendors notes
needs a group of people with definite roles. (e.g. team of consultants, in-house team, users and
so on). These people helps organization to follow a standard approach or methodology of ERP
implementation.
9.1 vendors

Vendors are the people who have developed the ERP software’s. These people have invested
huge amount of time and efforts in research and development to create the software solutions.
The ERP vendors spend billions of rupees in research to come-up with innovations that make the
package more efficient, flexible and easy to implement and use.

9.1.1 role of vendors

Along with development and research, the vendors are also responsible for upgradations in
the technology. The vendors constantly upgrade their products to become best and latest in
advancements of technology.
The vendor has to play various roles from designing till implementation of the project. The
responsibilities of vendors are being changed in various situations. The various responsibilities
of the ERP vendors are enlisted below.
1. The vendor should supply the product and its documentation as soon as the contract is
signed. Only then the software is delivered and company develop its training and testing
environment for the implementation. For fixing any problem in implementation, a vendor
should have license officer who should interact with the implementation team.
2. The another role or responsibility of a vendor is as a trainer – to offer initial training for
company’s key users. This informs the users how the package works and what are the
major components, how the data and information flows across the system, what is flexible
and what’s not, what can be configured and what cannot, what are the limitations, what
are the strengths and weaknesses, what can be customized and what should not and so
on.

3. The vendors also support the project functions and must exercise the quality control
when product is implemented. If the implementation fails, most of blame will fall on the
vendors.
4. On the other hand, providing this support means, more satisfied the client, improved
goodwill and good reference.

5. Vendors should continue to participate in all phases of implementation of a project, mostly
in an advisory capacity; addressing specific technical questions about technology and
product offered.

Rather than these responsibilities, vendors should also involve in customizing the product
filling the gaps between package and actual business and offer the guarantee of customization.
It will be able to benefit from the future software solutions improvements introduced growth
improvements introduced by the vendors.

9.1.2 tips for erp vendor selection

Most of the ERP software vendors in the market are busy promoting their product. Some of
them can also provide efficient software solution. Nevertheless, it is challenging to decide
which software is apt for efficient and dependable ERP software system. Moreover, there are
innumerable vendors in the market, which makes the task Spartan. The company needs a vendor
qualifying all the parameters from service to cost.

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