ERP Evaluation Checklist - Page 1

ERP Evaluation
Checklist

Choosing the best ERP system to run your business is an important decision. You will feel its effects for many
years to come. With so many similar features, each software package may start to look like the last. So, how do
you separate out what’s important and what’s not? This tool can help.

First, decide which vendors you would like to compare (up to three). Put their names in the vendor spaces
along the top row of each table below. Then, set a priority level for each item. Finally, mark which vendor offers
each feature. If you need to add additional features, there’s blank space on the last page.

Once you complete the grid, you’ll see at a glance which vendor best meets your needs.

Usability/ProdUctivity
Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Intuitive Easy to learn and use.

N/A
Low
Medium
High
Available On Freedom to conduct business
Any Device outside the office. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Multi-Lingual Ability to adapt to each user’s
language preference.
N/A
Low
Medium
High
Multi-Currency Ability to conduct business
globally.
N/A
Low
Medium
High
Document Store key documents and track
Management the changes made to them. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Single Database Maintain a single version of the
truth—No duplicate data entry
needed. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Workflow Automate common tasks. Save
time and avoid data entry
mistakes. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Wikis Share information and company
documents with staff and external
partners. N/A
Low
Medium
High
 ERP Evaluation Checklist - Page 2

technology
Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

True Cloud Access all features through the

Internet using a standard
browser. No additional tools N/A
Low
Medium
High
required.
Responsive Interact with the software on any
Design device with a minimum amount
N/A
Low
Medium
High
of resizing, panning or scrolling.
Smart User Customize screens and
Interface dashboards without development
knowledge. Access important N/A
Low
Medium
High
areas with minimal clicks.
Customizable Adjust the system’s logic to meet
and Flexible your unique requirements. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Integration Connect to your other business
systems for better data integrity
and efficiency.
N/A
Low
Medium
High

Deployment Select on premise, cloud or hy-

Choice brid. Switch from one to another N/A
Low
Medium
High
as needed.
valUe
Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Scalable Accommodate shifts in

transaction volumes easily, add
users and computing resources N/A
Low
Medium
High
as your business grows.
Flexible Pricing Choose between subscription or
and perpetual licensing. Buy the
Licensing software upfront or spread the N/A
Low
Medium
High
cost out over its lifetime.
risk
Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Predictable Keep costs under control and

Costs avoid surprises.
N/A
Low
Medium
High
Partner with Take advantage of strong uptime
Global guarantees and state-of-the-art
Technology technology by choosing one of
Leaders the top cloud providers N/A
Low
Medium
High
(i.e. Microsoft AWS or IBM).
 ERP Evaluation Checklist - Page 3

risk (continUed)
Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Customer Talk to others who’ve walked in

References your shoes. Hear lessons learned.
N/A
Low
Medium
High
Avoid mistakes.
Strong Security Keep your data safe without
at No Additional overburdening your IT
Cost department. N/A
Low
Medium
High

User Access Choose who has access to what

Controls data to reduce the likelihood of a
costly breech. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Backup and Prepare for the worst and hope
Disaster for the best. Look for automatic
Recovery backups and other safeguards. N/A
Low
Medium
High

key FUnctionality For bUsinesses oF all tyPes

Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Financial Perform standard accounting

Management functions, including general
ledger, accounts receivable,
accounts payable, cash N/A
Low
Medium
High
management, tax management
and more.
Project Track resource utilization. Assign
Accounting expenses to the appropriate
project for accurate billing. N/A
Low
Medium
High

End to End Tear down silos. Give everyone

Integration access to the same up-to-date
information. N/A
Low
Medium
High

Backup and Prepare for the worst and hope

Disaster for the best. Look for automatic
Recovery backups and other safeguards. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Sales Create quotes, convert them to
Management sales orders, check
inventory availability, perform
credit checks, pick, ship, N/A
Low
Medium
High
invoice and collect payment.
Procurement Generate requisitions, get
Management approvals, convert them to
purchase orders, receive
inventory and invoice, match and N/A
Low
Medium
High
pay.
 ERP Evaluation Checklist - Page 4

key FUnctionality For bUsinesses oF all tyPes (continUed)

Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

Multi-Entity Manage multi-company,

multi-warehouse, international
companies, inter-company
N/A
Low
Medium
High
reconciliations and eliminations.
Industry Get industry specific features
Support without customization. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Strong Choose from a library of
Third-Party complementary products to
Support enhance and extend the system. N/A
Low
Medium
High

CRM Support Include your sales and marketing

teams. Get a 360° view of the
customer. N/A
Low
Medium
High
Business Move beyond spreadsheets to
Intelligence and understand what your financial
Reporting and customer data is telling you.
Create reports and access infor- N/A
Low
Medium
High
mation in real time.
Integrated Link Online orders to your ERP
E-Commerce and CRM. Track all sales and
manage inventory in real time.
Collect tax for multi-state sales N/A
Low
Medium
High
and more.

other key FeatUres imPortant to yoUr bUsiness

Feature Why it matters/What to look Priority Level Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
for?

N/A
Low
Medium
High

N/A
Low
Medium
High

N/A
Low
Medium
High

N/A
Low
Medium
High

N/A
Low
Medium
High