Understanding the Risks of Cloud ERP Vendor Failure

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI) we are committed to providing IT professionals and business executives with clear, experience-based insights into enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. In our latest educational video, “What if the Cloud ERP Vendor Fails,” Mark Engleman addresses a critical yet often overlooked risk of cloud-based ERP systems: the potential failure of the vendor. This article and video are based on expertise gained in over 25 years and 1,000 ERP projects at EAI.

Cloud ERP is frequently marketed as a seamless, service-oriented solution. However, its accessibility hinges entirely on the vendor’s operational stability. No company is immune to failure, and cloud ERP vendors are no exception. When internal mismanagement or external pressures overwhelm a vendor, the result can be sudden insolvency—often with minimal warning. This leaves users without access to a mission-critical system that can take a year or more to replace, potentially disrupting operations and supply chains on a broad scale.

In this concise video, we explore the mechanics of such failures, the absence of advance notice, and the severe implications for businesses left without a failover plan. We also highlight why relying solely on a vendor-controlled system without a robust recovery strategy is a risky proposition.

Watch the video to gain a deeper understanding of this critical issue.
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Why Cloud ERP Without Local Failover Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen

Introduces “The ERP Boundary”

We’re pleased to share a new educational video, The ERP Boundary, now available for IT personnel and executives engaged in ERP initiatives. Led by industry expert Mark Engleman, this concise video draws on insights from over 1,000 ERP projects since 1996 to address a critical yet often overlooked aspect of ERP planning: defining the appropriate scope of business processes an ERP system should support.

The video introduces the concept of the “ERP Boundary,” which outlines the footprint of business processes an ERP should encompass. Represented visually by a diagram (the orange boundary shown below), this boundary is essential for aligning ERP capabilities with organizational needs. Failing to define it accurately can lead to errors in ERP selection, unnecessary costs, and implementation challenges.

EABS-ERP Boundary-20250125

To establish an effective ERP Boundary, the video recommends evaluating:

  • General functional capabilities of current market ERP generally suitable for the buyer.
  • The complexity of the buyer’s business processes.
  • The buyer’s existing business applications.

As these factors evolve, the ERP Boundary should be reassessed to inform future decisions. Watch the video for a clear overview:

ERP Boundary
ERP Boundary

Summary video
on The ERP Boundary.

Comprehensive video
on The ERP Boundary.

Explores Paying for ERP at Go-Live

We’re excited to announce a new educational video, Pay for ERP at Go-Live—When It Delivers Value, now available for IT personnel and executives involved in ERP projects. This concise video, led by industry expert Mark Engleman, challenges the conventional ERP payment model and offers practical strategies for aligning costs with value delivery.
Drawing on insights from over 1,000 ERP projects since 1996, the video examines why vendors typically require substantial license fees at the purchase decision, often a year or more before the system goes live. Unlike physical products with high production costs, ERP software incurs minimal vendor costs per instance, yet buyers bear significant upfront expenses for a system that delivers no value until implementation is complete.

The video highlights two primary reasons for this “pay-up-front” model—vendor cash flow and buyer lock-in—neither of which prioritizes the buyer’s interests. It then proposes actionable alternatives:

  • Conducting preparatory implementation work without requiring the ERP system.
  • Negotiating deferred payment terms, allowing buyers to halt projects without further license costs.
  • Starting with limited ERP access and scaling closer to go-live.

These approaches reduce upfront costs, keep vendors engaged throughout implementation, and preserve flexibility for unexpected changes, such as a company sale.

This buyer-centric payment model offers a logical path forward and could reshape industry standards. Watch the video to learn more.

Pay for ERP at go live
Pay for ERP at go live

Summary video
on Pay for ERP at Go-Live.

Comprehensive video
on Pay for ERP at Go-Live.