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Before you choose an ERP: seven questions to ask the vendor

Choosing an ERP isn't just buying software. You're picking a system that becomes part of how you run the company and handles your sales, inventory, accounting and operations data. So comparing systems on the demo or the feature count isn't enough. Before you sign with any vendor, ask these seven questions.

1. Which of my operations will it actually cover?

The first question should be about your business, not the module list in a brochure. Tell the vendor what you do and ask them to show how the system covers the operations that really happen: the sales cycle from order to invoice, purchasing and suppliers, inventory, accounting, manufacturing if you produce, and management reporting. What matters is seeing your real workflow inside the system, not a tour of features.

2. Who's responsible for the implementation?

Buying the system isn't the end of the project. Implementation is one of the most important stages. Ask: who gathers the requirements, who configures the system, who migrates the data, who tests the processes, who follows up with staff, and when is implementation considered done? A clear plan cuts down surprises after you sign.

3. Can it be customized and integrated?

Every company works a little differently. Ask plainly what can and can't be changed, and ask about integration if you run other systems like an online store or payment providers. The point is that customization serves a real need, not changing everything just because you can.

4. How will my old data move over?

This is one many people only think about after signing. If your data lives in Excel or an old system, ask: will it move, who prepares it, what can be migrated, does it need cleaning first, and is migration part of the implementation cost? Moving messy data into a new system without a review can carry the problem across instead of solving it.

5. What happens after go-live?

The day the system goes live doesn't mean the problems are over. Ask about support after launch, how you raise support requests, the expected response time, whether there's remote support, and whether extra training is available when needed. These are details to settle before you sign, not after.

6. How does training work?

Even the best system delivers little if the team can't use it. Ask about the training plan: is it everyone at once, or each department on its own processes? Is there documentation or material they can go back to afterward? And it helps to know who inside the company will follow usage in the first days.

7. What's the real total cost?

The monthly or yearly price isn't always the full cost. Ask about everything: license or subscription, implementation, customizations, integration, data migration, training, support, and any future fees. Ask for a quote that lays out the total cost of ownership as much as possible so the comparison is fair.

One more, important: show me the system on a scenario from my company

Instead of watching a general tour, hand the vendor a real scenario: "A customer ordered a product, it's out of stock, we need to buy it, then receive it and invoice the customer. Show me that journey end to end." If you run a factory, ask for a scenario from buying raw material to a finished product ready to sell. This shows whether the system actually fits how you work, instead of being dazzled by the feature count.

A successful ERP isn't the one with the most features. It's the one your company can actually use and build its day-to-day work on. IntagyaERP shapes the system around how each company works, and stays with you for the setup, the training and the support afterward.