Effective enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions will meet the specific business needs of your company. They will preferably be written to best suit your company's industry so that you are not required to go through the time-consuming and costly process of designing a custom solution.

Of course, purchasing an ERP application is only half the battle. Without a well-designed implementation plan ERP cannot successfully empower your company. Here are a few tips to help you achieve ERP project management success:

Focus on critical requirements: While every part of business functionality is important, you will be hard-pressed to find a solution that meets every one of your requirements. For this reason it's important to focus on critical functions that drive your business. Which profit drivers are necessary? Which customer requirements are imperative for success? It is easy to get lost in the ERP implementation process when you're focused on too many prerequisites.

Consider the top line: Bottom line improvements are undoubtedly important but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the top line when implementing ERP. Successful deployments offer the opportunity to enhance revenues and gross margins, as well as net profits. Look for features and functions that have the potential to streamline processes that affect your top line.

Engage the business: ERP will affect your organization from top to bottom. This means that it is essential that everyone in the business be included in the implementation lifecycle. Volunteers that represent the business — preferably from each department — should be part of everything from vendor selection to scripted demos.

Is your business looking to upgrade or implement an entirely new system? At Accent Software we have the tools and the expertise to help you select the perfect business management software for your company.