How to shortlist ERP vendors in two weeks
A plain checklist for the first, most expensive decision. · 2 min read
Most ERP selections drag on for months because teams compare everything at once. You don't need to. You need a short list of three that genuinely fit, and two weeks is enough to get there.
Week one: write down what can't change
List the five or six things that would make a system a non-starter: industry regulation, multi-entity or multi-currency needs, how you invoice, how you make or ship things, and where your data must live. Those constraints rule out most of the market before you talk to a single salesperson.
Then size yourself honestly: number of users, legal entities, transactions per month, and the systems the ERP must talk to. Vendors segment their products by these numbers, so they decide which tier you belong in.
Week two: talk to people who run it
Use the directory to find vendors in your category, then ask each for two customer references of your size in your industry. Ask those references what the first year cost compared to the quote, and what they would configure differently. Post the question in Discussions too; practitioners answer more candidly than references do.
What to avoid
- Scripted demos you didn't write. Send your own three scenarios instead.
- Choosing the partner after the software. The implementation team matters as much as the product.
- Counting features. Count the processes you can run without customisation.