Having the right implementation partner in your corner during an enterprise resource planning (ERP) project can mean the difference between a great outcome and a long, drawn-out process filled with challenges and unexpected surprises.
While it’s true that most software vendors provide at least some level of implementation support, most lack in-house expertise and industry experience to help you get the absolute most out of your technology investment. This is why credited implementation partners exist—to provide specialized expertise and guidance tailored to your company’s unique needs.
Oracle NetSuite Alliance Partner Program was put in place specifically to connect customers like you with a global network of trusted and vetted experts. These partners undergo rigorous training and certification to ensure they possess deep NetSuite product knowledge and implementation best practices.
“By choosing a NetSuite Alliance Partner, businesses gain access to a team dedicated to optimizing their ERP investment for maximum efficiency and growth,” says Drew Preiner, VP of sales at Vursor, a long-time NetSuite Alliance Partner that works with customers across all industry verticals. “We bring a wealth of experience in project management, change management and industry best practices to maximize your ROI and minimize disruption.”
The Danger of Picking the Wrong Partner
Many organizations assume that partnering with their software vendors for large platform implementations will suffice. These companies don’t understand the critical nuances of integrating complex systems into existing business operations, and they wind up underestimating the scope and complexity of the project, leading to:
- Project delays
- Budget overruns
- Disrupted workflows and inefficient daily operations
- Limited user adoption (lack of tailored training and change management hinders effective system utilization)
- Missed strategic opportunities
- A platform that never lives up to its potential
Now, software vendors of course understand their own products, but they don’t always have the contextual understanding of an organization’s unique workflows, organizational culture and specific requirements. By acting as a crucial bridge between the dealer and the software vendor, an implementation partner like Vursor helps transform the application’s capabilities into tangible business outcomes like:
- Streamlined, optimized business processes.
- Improved data accuracy
- Enhanced reporting capabilities
- Better employee productivity and efficiency
- Greater ROI on the tech investment
- Reduced implementation risk (i.e., failures, delays, etc.)
- A solution tailored precisely to your organization’s needs
And while you can’t always plan for every single challenge or potential disruption, the right implementation partner will help you address all contingencies and then minimize the impact of any “unknowns” that may arise.
“The right implementation partner will also offer high levels of support, training, project management skills and other strengths that will help you get the biggest bang for your technology buck,” Preiner explains. “It will also help mitigate implementation risk by anticipating integration challenges, developing tailored solutions and minimizing delays.”
6 Steps to Finding the Right Partner
Here at Vursor, we hear a lot of stories from companies who have attempted to put a new ERP in place without a dedicated implementation partner. Once we’re called upon to help “clean up the mess” so to speak, we can clearly see which shortcuts were taken, which issues were overlooked and the other steps that derailed the initial attempt.
The question is, how can you effectively evaluate and select the right partner for your specific situation? After all, most companies these days are pretty good at promoting themselves and their services, but not all of them actually live up to these expectations or stand behind their work. Here are six things that your ERP implementation partner should offer right out of the gate:
- A strong track record. Don’t just take their word for it. Request customer case studies, client testimonials and referrals. This will help you understand the provider’s past performance and client satisfaction rates. When you have real-world examples to refer to, you’ll get a clear picture of the company’s implementation approach, problem-solving skills and past project outcomes.
- Experience working with companies from your industry. Does the partner have a proven track record in your specific industry? Look for one that understands your firm’s unique challenges and offers tailored solutions to those problems. Deep industry knowledge translates into faster implementation, fewer disruptions, a sharing of “best practices” in your industry and other valuable wins.
- Customized, adaptable solutions to your biggest pain points. A new ERP is not a “one-size-fits-all” undertaking, and experienced implementation partners understand this. They’ll customize NetSuite to fit your specific requirements and tailor the ERP to your unique business processes with workflows, dashboards, reporting and other specific capabilities. By going beyond standard configurations to optimize workflows, dashboards and reporting, Vursor helps you get the very most out of your ERP investment over the long haul.
- Proactive guidance. The right partner will anticipate your needs and offer solutions before any minor issues can escalate into real problems. “A seasoned implementation partner acts as a strategic advisor, leveraging their experience to spot potential roadblocks and guide you through complex decisions,” says Preiner. “This foresight ensures a smoother, more efficient implementation journey, minimizing disruptions and maximizing long-term success.”
- Won’t disappear after your system goes live. Good implementation partners are there for the long haul, holding your hand not only during the pre-go-live and go-live stages, but also after the ERP is up and running. They’ll provide comprehensive training programs to ensure employees can effectively use NetSuite from day one—maximizing user adoption and proficiency—and handle troubleshooting, system updates, optimization and scalability guidance.
- Commits to your company’s long-term success. A new ERP is never a “set it and forget it” exercise, so make sure the partner you select provides ongoing support and strategic guidance to keep the ERP scaling and evolving along with your business needs and goals. When you implementation partner acts as a trusted advisor, you know it’s invested in your organization’s continuous improvement and long-term success with NetSuite.
Vursor - Your Trusted Partner
Choosing the right NetSuite partner means selecting a strategic ally invested in your long-term success. A competent partner offers invaluable expertise in NetSuite and your industry, ensuring a smooth, tailored implementation. Contact Vursor to start your implementation journey today.