ERP Consulting

Why Fixed-Bid ERP Implementations Are Unrealistic: Insights from Engleman Associates, Inc.

by

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI), we’ve guided over 1,000 ERP projects since 1996, delivering practical, buyer-focused advice. In our latest ERP Now video, “Why a Fixed Bid ERP Implementation Is Pure Fantasy,” we address the misconception that ERP implementations can be accurately quoted upfront.

ERP projects are inherently complex, with unpredictable variables—unique business challenges, unforeseen obstacles, and evolving requirements—that make fixed bids unreliable. Like an uncharted expedition, the true scope and cost of an ERP implementation only become clear as the project unfolds. Vendors offering fixed bids may use them as a tactic to secure contracts, leaving buyers to face inevitable cost overruns.

The key to controlling costs and achieving successful outcomes lies with the buyer. Effective planning, disciplined execution, and proactive management are critical. Our new video explains why fixed bids are impractical and offers insights into how buyers can take charge of their ERP journey.

Watch the full video for actionable advice drawn from decades of experience.

See on Linked-in.

For more strategies on managing ERP implementations, explore our ERP Now video series linked in the video description. Contact EAI for expert guidance tailored to your ERP needs.

Understanding Cloud ERP Application Speed Issues: Insights from Engleman Associates, Inc.

by

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI), we bring over 1,000 ERP projects of experience since 1996 to provide buyers with actionable insights. In our latest ERP Now video, “Cloud ERP Application Speed Issues for Users,” founder Mark Engleman addresses a critical concern: the potential for significant speed issues in Cloud ERP applications and the limited control buyers have to resolve them.

While Cloud ERP vendors often emphasize uptime guarantees (e.g., 99.9%), these metrics rarely address application speed—the responsiveness users experience when entering data, running reports, or managing workflows. EAI’s analysis highlights two key factors related to ERP speed: (1) IT infrastructure that may cause issues that are out of the firm control of the ERP sellers, and (2) the seller’s internal calculation for spending as little as they can to reasonably deliver the ERP application remotely.

Watch the full video to learn more about Cloud ERP speed issues and why sellers of ERP are ultimately not very concerned.

For additional resources, explore our ERP Now video series here.
See this post on Linked-in here.
Stay informed and contact EAI for expert guidance on your next ERP project.

cloud erp speed

How AI Can Help Fix One-Sided ERP Contracts: New Video from Engleman Associates

by

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI), we’ve guided over 1,000 ERP projects since 1996, giving us deep insight into the challenges IT professionals and executives face when navigating enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects. One critical issue is the imbalance in ERP vendor contracts, which always favor the vendor and expose buyers to significant risks. Our latest video, “How AI Can Help Fix One-Sided ERP Contracts,” presented by EAI founder Mark Engleman, addresses can significantly contribute to solving this problem.

In this concise, under-three-minute video, Mark explains how to properly prompt modern AI tools to significantly speed to process to fix unfair commercial terms. By analyzing vendor terms—often scattered across multiple documents—AI can quickly identify one-sided clauses, highlight risks, and propose balanced language. This process saves hours of manual review and equips your team to negotiate fairer terms with confidence. The video also includes a template AI prompt, available in the YouTube description, to help you get started.

While AI is a powerful tool for contract analysis, it has limitations in the broader ERP selection process—a topic we explore in another video linked in the description.

Watch the embedded video to learn how AI can transform your ERP contract negotiations. View on Linked-in.

For more expert insights on ERP strategies, visit our YouTube channel or explore our resources. Have questions? Contact us directly or leave a comment on the video—we’re here to help.

Announcing Our New Educational Video on Mastering ERP Implementations

by

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI), we are excited to share our latest educational resource: a video titled "Controlling ERP Implementations: Key Factors for Project Excellence." This video, now available in our YouTube library, is designed to guide IT professionals and executives through the critical elements of successful ERP implementation projects.

ERP implementations are complex, and while the concepts behind project excellence are straightforward, their execution often falls short. Our video outlines ten essential Project Excellence Factors that can make the difference between a struggling project and a highly successful one. These factors are:

  1. Strong, Resolute Leadership: Effective leadership to navigate challenges and drive progress.
  2. Pre-implementation Planning: Critical groundwork to set a solid foundation.
  3. Skilled and Resourced Team: A capable team with the right expertise and mindset.
  4. Clearly Defined Scope: Tight scope control to minimize risks and maintain focus.
  5. Agile Project Management: Flexible, iterative approaches to adapt to evolving needs.
  6. Sustained Pace and Continuity: Consistent momentum to avoid costly delays.
  7. Informed Process and Metrics Design: Thoughtful design to address complex influencers.
  8. Effective Use of ERP Tools: Leveraging native ERP tools to meet business objectives.
  9. Adaptation to Native ERP: Embracing standard functionality with robust change management.
  10. Strategic Commercial Terms: Favorable agreements with vendors to optimize costs and outcomes.

This video provides practical insights into applying these factors to achieve sustainable, high-quality results in ERP implementations. Whether you’re an IT leader or a C-suite executive, this resource will equip you with a clear framework for project success.

Watch the video to learn more.

Stay tuned for more educational resources from EAI as we continue to drill into the realities of controlling ERP project costs, risks, and achieving superior results in support of enterprise business processes.

erp implementation control

Can AI Simplify Your ERP Selection? Insights from Engleman Associates, Inc.

by

At Engleman Associates, Inc. (EAI), we’ve guided over 1,000 ERP projects since 1996, always prioritizing the buyer’s perspective. In our latest ERP Now video, “Can AI Help You Choose the Right ERP?”, we explore how artificial intelligence can assist in selecting or optimizing an ERP system—and where it falls short.

AI can be a useful starting point when quality data is available. For instance, it can identify ERP systems commonly used by specific industries or highlight problematic vendor contract terms when prompted correctly (see full list below of ways AI greatly helps). However, the ERP landscape is complex, with challenges like vendor misinformation, biased analyst reports, and unclear buyer requirements. These abstract variances limit AI’s ability to provide tailored, reliable recommendations.

Successful ERP selection still demands skilled buyer-seller interaction to define functional scope, rigorously test critical features, negotiate favorable terms, and choose implementers with proven expertise. At EAI, we specialize in navigating these complexities to deliver solutions that align with your business needs.

Watch the full video below to learn more about leveraging AI effectively in your ERP journey and discover practical insights from our decades of experience.

View on Linked-in

For additional resources, explore our ERP Now video series linked in the video description. Stay informed and contact EAI for expert guidance on your next ERP project.

How AI Helps

AI significantly enhances EAI ERP advisory services by providing deep insights and accelerating key activities in ERP selection and implementation control. Effective use of AI requires precise, informed queries, with results typically validated and augmented by tactical follow-up queries, and by other information sources. Below are the key areas where AI is applied in EAI ERP advisory services:

  • Generating Long List ERP Candidates: AI rapidly identifies potential ERP systems (or other business applications) based on client size, industry requirements, and system capabilities, creating an initial pool of candidate ERP. The results are cross referenced to the EAI ERP database and a final long list is generated.
  • Developing Functional Requirements for ERP Selection and Planning: AI assists in defining detailed, relevant functional requirements to screen ERP candidates and support pre-implementation planning, which can greatly improve alignment with business objectives.
  • Identifying and Screening ERP Resellers, Implementers, and Consultants: AI locates and evaluates ERP resellers, implementers, and independent consultants with specific ERP expertise, streamlining the selection of qualified partners.
  • Enhancing ERP Access Cost Control: AI helps articulate clear cost control objectives to vendors, facilitating negotiations and reducing barriers to achieving cost-effective ERP access and implementation. This again is highly dependent on proper AI inquiries.
  • Highlighting and Addressing Commercial Terms Conflicts: AI identifies default commercial terms in ERP contracts that conflict with objectives for buyer cost and commercial control, proposing precise language to address these issues. These objectives are designed by EAI, place appropriate and firm control in the hands of buyers, and this approach makes vendors directly confront various conflicts.
  • Accelerating Implementer Onboarding with Company Insights: AI leverages selected data from company discovery to quickly familiarize implementer personnel with the client’s operations, reducing the need for extensive new business process interviews.
  • Streamlining Business Process Discovery and Metrics Design: AI organizes and makes visible critical insights from the business process discovery phase, supporting effective business process and metrics design during ERP implementation.