Even after you’ve identified what seems to be a viable cloud ERP solution for your company, be aware that not all cloud solutions are created equal. Many fall short by not offering a feature or characteristic that’s easy to overlook.
Here are eight things your cloud ERP solution must offer:
1. Full functionality and reporting offered on common mobile devices as well as on the desktop.
Don’t settle for one of the many solutions that only offer a scaled-down app for mobile users.
2. Personalization.
You should be free to customize your dashboards, reports, and workspaces to the needs and preferences of your workforce.
3. Full integration of spreadsheets, data services, apps, and equipment.
Your cloud ERP solution should “meet you where you’re at” by allowing you to connect all your current tools to the system. Don’t settle for a solution that will force you to rekey years of data before you move forward.
4. Software that was built using modern, commonly available tools and standards.
If the vendor is not clear about how the software was written, what tools were used, how it will be customized, and how it will be integrated with other cloud systems, then you can assume they’re not using current techniques, software tools, and standards.
5. The ability to pay by resource usage, not by the user.
Most ERP software vendors charge you extra for every user you add to
the system. This is particularly unfair to companies with distribution operations, which often need to add large numbers of occasional users to their systems. Look for a vendor that only charges for the computing power you actually use, regardless of your number of users.
6. Industry-standard security.
Your vendor must protect your data in a data center that meets the highest data and access security requirements. It should be a large, well-known facility that has the necessary resources for load balancing, backup and recovery, and security.
7. Deployment options.
For many, deploying ERP in the cloud and letting their vendor host it is the most cost-effective and secure option. But your company may be different. If so, look for a vendor that also gives you the option of deploying on your own servers.
8. Easy upgrades.
Legacy software was painful and costly to upgrade because you had to rewrite all your customizations for the newest version of the software. A good cloud solution will upgrade quickly and easily without disruption to your business. In fact, in a true cloud SaaS model, the software provider handles all of that for you.