Your Complete Reference Guide to Enterprise Software Selection

Software Selection Introduction

You're looking for the enterprise software solution that's right for you.

But if you're like most buyers of enterprise systems, enterprise software selection is not what you do for a living—whether it's enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence (BI), or any other enterprise application.

We can help you separate enterprise software selection facts from the guff.

After all, your top business concerns are not necessarily shared by the hundreds of software vendors competing for your time, your resources, and your money.

Browse our free articles on how to manage your enterprise software selection, including how-to guides and in-depth information on every step of the selection process.

And get free access to tools and resources.

Why is it all here? Because we're an impartial advocate for buyers of enterprise software. That's our mission.

Now let us help you focus on yours.

Software Selection Centers

Accounting Software (ERP for SMB) Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Performance Management (BPM) Business Intelligence (BI) Business Performance Management (BPM) Business Process Management (BPM) Content Management System (CMS) Document Management Systems Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECM) Web Content Management Systems Customer Care and Billing (CC&B) CC&B for Telecommunications Industries Customer Relationship Management (CRM) CRM for Financial and Insurance Markets Enterprise Marketing Management (EMM) Sales Force Automation (SFA) Incentive and Compensation Management Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Discrete Manufacturing (ERP) Engineer-to-Order (ETO ERP) ERP - Distribution ERP for Mill-based and Material Converting Environments ERP for Services (Non-manufacturing) Mining Industry (ERP & CMMS) Mixed-Mode Manufacturing (ERP) Process Manufacturing (ERP) Financial Software Health Informatics Laboratory Information System Pharmacy Management Human Resources Management System (HRMS) Incentive and Compensation Management

Information Security Software Firewall Learning Management System (LMS) Linux, FOSS, and IT Services Outsourcing Outsourcing, Applications Software Outsourcing, IT Infrastructure Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Core PLM for Discrete Industries Core PLM for Process Industries Product Development and Portfolio Management Regulatory and Compliance Project Portfolio Management (PPM) PPM for Internal Departments PPM for Professional Services Automation Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System Retail System Merchandising Systems Point of Sale (POS) Systems Software Development Tools Software Test Tools Supply Chain Management (SCM) Demand Management Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Supply Chain Event Management Supply Chain Optimization Transportation Management Systems Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

Top

Software Selection Checklist

  Get the software selection checklist in Excel format Software Selection Checklist

The following is a TEC approved software selection checklist for use in all software selection projects including: ERP, CRM, SCM, PLM, BI, Accounting. The software selection checklist is a matrix, presented here to show you where the software selection report is vital and can save you days in your software selection process. Whether your industry is Aerospace to Wholesale you'll find the software selection checklist is a handy little software selection tool and is well complimented by the software selection report in helping you select the right product for your company's needs.

Software Selection Checklist (Basic)
Checklist for Ensuring a Successful Software Selection
PART 1 Planning Phase: Identify your needs
Define your software selection initiatives
1	Prepare your business case for the acquisition of enterprise software
2	Obtain executive approval for the project
Expand your needs and translate them into requirements
3	Identify your stakeholders
4	Interview your stakeholders
5	Gather and prioritize your requirements
6	Create a working document defining all of your requirements
PART 2 Evaluation Phase: Evaluate potential software solutions against your requirements
Perform market assessment to identify potential software solutions
7	Research possible software solutions
8	Identify the relevant software solutions (ie. Using the Software Selection Report)
9	Eliminate the unsuitable software solutions to create your long list of possible software solutions
10	Issue a request for information (RFI) to the long list of vendors
11	Gather responses from vendors
Evaluate the software solution provider responses against your requirements
12	Build a decision matrix
13	Rate each software solution against your requirements
14	Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each software solution
15	Rank the software solutions and keep the best-match options (this becomes your shortlist)
16	Notify all rejected vendors
17	Handle any disputes
18	Issue a request for proposal (RFP) to your shortlist of vendors
19	Create a demonstration script
20	Invite vendors on-site to show them your environment and current system
21	Invite vendors to do an on-site demonstration of their software solution
22	Rate the demonstrations
23	Gather RFP proposals (including quotes) from vendors
24	Revisit analyses (see step 12-15)
PART 3 Selection Phase: Compare software solutions and select the best-matching option
Compare your shortlist of software solutions and select the one that best matches your needs
25	Select the software solution that best fits your needs
26	Obtain final approval
27	Notify all rejected vendors
28	Handle any disputes
29	Notify the winning vendor
30	Negotiate the contract
31	Sign the contract
32	Prepare for implementation

Top

TEC's Software Selection Media Center

Software Selection Related White Papers

Aplicor Inc. - 5-step CRM Software Selection Guide: A Pragmatist ... by Aplicor Inc. Industry: Finance and Insurance,Information,Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services ... 5-Step Crm Software Selection Guide: A Pragmatist’s Guide to Crm Software Selections by Aplicor Inc. ... http://whitepapers.technologyevaluation.com/view_document/6649/5-step-... - 6k - 2008-10-28 TSI - Transforming Solutions Inc. - Software Evaluation, Selection ... by TSI - Transforming Solutions Inc. Industry: Computer Systems Design and Related Services,Food Services and Drinking Places,Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing,Hospitals,Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods,Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries,Oil and Gas Extraction,Paper Manufacturing,Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing,Primary Meta ... Software Evaluation, Selection, and Contract Negotiation by TSI - Transforming Solutions Inc. ... Releated Categories: Decision Making, Software Selection. ... http:/.../6422/Software-Evaluation-Selection-and-Contract-Negotiation.html - 8k - 2008-10-28 Cognos, an IBM Company - Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting ... by Cognos, an IBM Company Industry: ... Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting Software Evaluation and Selection Guide by Cognos, an IBM Company. ... http://whitepapers.technologyevaluation.com/view_document/8699/Plannin... - 6k - 2008-10-28

Top

Software Selection Articles

How to Kill Your Software Selection Project in 10 Very Easy Steps ... ... Want to become an oft-cited statistic in software selection horror stories? ... Want to find out how a real software selection tool works? ... blog.technologyevaluation.com/.../ - 39k - 2007-12-06 Software Selection, Mafia-style » The TEC Blog ... enterprise software. Which led me to wonder just how the Mafia would go about the enterprise software selection process. Happily, we ... blog.technologyevaluation.com/.../05/14/software-selection-mafia-style/ - 39k - 2008-05-14 Software Selection Horoscopes for January 2008 » The TEC Blog ... If you read between the lines, you’ll find useful tips about the software selection process, and links to valuable software evaluation resources. ... blog.technologyevaluation.com/.../ - 40k - 2007-12-31

Top

Accounting Software Selection Vendors

TEC: Accounting Software Evaluation Center ... Compare and evaluate accounting software products and vendors using impartial online resources from Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC). ... http://accounting.technologyevaluation.com/index.asp - 48k - 2007-11-26 Accounting and Financial Management - Vars ... Accounting and Financial Management - Vars. Learn more About IT (PTY) Ltd. About IT (PTY) Ltd Overview. About IT (PTY) Ltd consists ... http:/.../vars/cat/87113/Accounting-and-Financial-Management.html - 38k - 2008-11-20 Accounting and Financial Management - Consultants ... Accounting and Financial Management - Consultants. Learn more 4TechWork. ... Learn more. Category: Consultant. Learn more Accounting Solutions Direct. ... http:/.../consultants/cat/87113/Accounting-and-Financial-Management.html - 101k - 2008-11-20

Top

Accounting Software Selection RFI's

Accounting (ERP for SMB) Software Evaluation Reports ... Compiere ERP/CRM by ComPiere; Coss / ACCPAC Enterprise Edition by COSS Systems; Coss Systems Inc. by COSS Systems; Cougar Mountain Accounting by Cougar Mountain ... http://rfp.technologyevaluation.com/rfi.asp?modelid=174&catid=SMBE - 31k - 2007-12-04 Accounting Software (ERP for SMB) Software Evaluation Reports ... RFI Categories: Accounting Software; BI and BPM; Business Process Management; CMS; CRM; EAM; ERP; Financial Software; HRMS; Information Security; Learning Management ... http://rfp.technologyevaluation.com/rfi.asp?catid=SMBE - 24k - 2007-12-04 Software Evaluation Reports By Categories ... for those researching an ERP system suitable ... Job and Project Costing, Multinational Accounting, Manufacturing, Inventory ... Customer Relationship Management (CRM). ... http://rfp.technologyevaluation.com/rfi.asp?catid=-1 - 52k - 2007-12-04

Top

Software Selection Related Pages

TEC: Enterprise Software Selection (TEC) Technology Evaluation Centers offers enterprise software purchasers impartial and up to date information on software vendors and product capabilities. http:/.../software-selection-process/Software-Service-Selection/index.asp - 16k - 2008-01-16 TEC: Enterprise Software Selection (TEC) Technology Evaluation Centers offers enterprise software purchasers impartial and up to date information on software vendors and product capabilities. http:/.../software-selection-process/Software-Service-Evaluation/index.asp - 20k - 2008-01-16 TEC: Enterprise Software Selection (TEC) Technology Evaluation Centers offers enterprise software purchasers impartial and up to date information on software vendors and product capabilities. http:/.../products/software-selection-process/Comparing-Needs/index.asp - 21k - 2008-01-16

Top