ERP Selection Process - Intellectual Property from EAI

The following are typical physical deliverables of the SoftSelect ERP selection service

In addition to direct project support services, SoftSelect Intellectual Property (IP) is configured specifically for use on each project. This IP is a result of the 900 plus projects since 1996 and is key to delivering selection services with 30% to 50% less consulting support than if the IP was not present. The presence of the IP also increases:

• Increased project quality due to best practices being formalized
• Increased options for service delivery which save calendar time and travel expenses
• Opportunities for clients to participate in, and conduct, project duties.

SoftSelect IP used on a client project typically includes:

1. Methodology: SoftSelect proprietary methodology and related support materials (methodology manuals, tutorials, etc.). These comprehensive methods documents are an important element in preparing client project participants.
2. Internal project management methods/tools: To support selection projects our team uses the following SoftSelect proprietary tools:
   1. Approximately 60 internal procedure sets, which have evolved over the 900 plus projects. To be most useful this comprehensive insight had to be formalized in procedure sets and are used throughout the project by the SoftSelect Methodology Expert assigned to the client project.
   2. Communication email templates for use in coordinating activities and disseminating information with the project lead, project team, and software vendors.
   3. Training webinar materials that provide focused insights and important information at critical points in the selection process.
   4. Online project collaboration and management framework (not EAI IP, however the project template for this planning is controlled by EAI).
3. Selection project tools: Tools include the business process interview planning tool-set, business process boundary analysis tool and model template, ERP software candidate evaluation and scoring tools, ERP license cost model, ERP project resource and cash flow model, and other selection tools.
4. Discovery management tool-set: This software tool provides the structure to capture and organize client discovery in a single location that is organized to facilitate searches, organizational and subject groupings, review planning, and presentation. This structure has the added benefit in that it can be used to support the implementation effort.
5. Software product research and insight: The SoftSelect business unit of Engleman Associates, Inc. maintains quantitative and qualitative information on a comprehensive database of ERP software packages for the North American business market. This includes relevant pure-play cloud ERP offerings. This storehouse of information supports building valuable confidence in a software candidate list by the buying company. Employing the same methods and experience used to develop and maintain the ERP database, our firm can develop candidate software package lists for any software product category that exists.
6. ERP reseller insight: Many ERP software are sold through a network of resellers that also offer ERP implementation services. SoftSelect has significant insight on resellers of relevant ERP which includes information on the reseller’s: (1) Experience in the industry and size of the prospective buyer, (2) Consultant bench strength, (3) Ability to help the ERP seller be motivated to meet the SoftSelect ERP license and maintenance cost objectives, (4) Implementation approach that has appropriate flexibility to adapt to a buyer that wants to more firmly control the implementation.
7. ERP software vendor influence: Engleman Associates, Inc. has spent years developing professional relationships that garner respect and influence with relevant ERP vendors. This arms-length relationship is leveraged to achieve lower license fees and much better contract terms for clients. Engleman Associates, Inc. has no financial relationship with any ERP vendor.
8. ERP license/maintenance contract objectives: These contract objectives have been built and tuned over hundreds of projects. When significantly achieved with an ERP seller, these contract objectives greatly improve the buyer’s control in the commercial relationship. This control means costs savings over time and less stress on the buyer. ERP sellers agree to such comprehensive contract changes because of: (1) SoftSelect’s track record of achieving such terms and conditions, and (2) SoftSelect’s project execution methods that help sellers understand they need to cooperate to win.
9. Implementation service cost and terms control process: SoftSelect has (1) proven and documented services objectives to achieve with candidate implementers, and (2) established methods to achieve these objectives. These objectives significantly increase the buyer’s control in the commercial relationship, which greatly removes illegitimate implementation costs and buyer frustration.