Questions CFOs Should Ask Before Buying SAP Solution

  • 24 August 2015
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There are many people who contribute to the decision making process of investing in a SAP solution for their organization.There was a time when only few members of the management held a major role in deciding when they would implement an ERP system and which one would they be implementing. But that has been slowly changing. According to SAP partners in India, of late chief financial officers have also been actively participating in deciding the same. CFOs are becoming more involved with different facets of organizational processes and IT.

Whenever a new system is being considered, different members from the management ask different questions that seem relevant to them. Introduction of an ERP system is no different, and with CFO actively stepping in the arena there are certain questions that every CFO should ask before taking the plunge. These questions will help them reach a conclusive decision and make a better choice.

  • Will the SAP solution help save any money?

A CFO would primarily think about financials before anything else, understandably so. Therefore when decisions about SAP implementation are on, they should not only consider the expenses that would be incurred during and after installation, but also whether the solution will save them any money post installation or not. Fortunately, ERP solutions streamline processes that eventually save resources and time, which further translate into saved money. Moreover, it doesn’t need any additional hardware for installation. Since inventory management, billings, customer service and communication become smoother, the benefits exceed beyond saving money.

  • How would IT be affected by cloud ERP?

ERP system improves operation of various organization processes and simplifies them. IT is one such department that will be affected in different ways with ERP system in the picture. CFOs should consider all the ways ERP would influence IT and how the role of involved staff will change. SAP Business One implementation partners in India state that with the inclusion of cloud ERP, administrative work and help-desk calls reduce significantly. This allows the IT team to focus on critical matters and help in improving business operations. If the ERP system doesn’t relieve the IT department by any percentage, other SAP solutions should be considered.

  • Will reporting system improve?

CFOs understand the importance of reporting to any business. They are always looking for improving reporting methods and how it would in turn benefit different departments of the company. SAP partners in India advise CFOs to ensure that specific reporting needs of different departments are catered by the selected ERP system. If the solution puts a restriction on the number of reports that can be generated in a specific period of time or does not provide the format as required by the company or locks away certain reports until a fee is paid, then it would be better for the company to start looking for another system. Ensure that no aspect of any process or task is compromised by the ERP system.

  • What would be the cost of ERP maintenance?

Once everyone is happy with the chosen SAP solution with what all it can accomplish and the way it would bring various improvements in the organization, the focal question should be how the business will handle its maintenance. Every solution has different configurations designed as per companies’ requirements, so it would be wise of CFOs to check details of the upgrading systems, training requirements and other details. If maintenance requires additional staff or expenses, it will cut into your bank accounts. This means that probably the chosen solution isn’t the best option after all. Time to look at other options and select the next best one.

SAP Business One implementation partners in India are appreciating CFOs stepping in and being a part of this process. The importance of their role in any business cannot be questioned and their contributions and insights would greatly make any ERP purchase decision. Once all the nitty-gritties are handled and satisfactory answers are achieved, succeeding steps can be taken without any worries and ensure that it is implemented successfully.

Nidhi Batra

About the author

Nidhi Batra is a marketing and brand communication professional with 10 years of experience working in the dynamic B2B marketing environment. She strategizes, writes, reviews a variety of content for demand generation and sales support activities. Having a Master’s in English from Delhi University, she knows how to navigate her readers on insightful journeys with her SAP published blogs and thought leadership content.