ERP VISIONS BLOG

The ERP Visions Blog is published by John Hannan LLC, your independent ERP advocate with more than two decades of hands-on experience. We bring an operations-first, vendor-neutral perspective and deep knowledge of 40+ ERP platforms to help leaders make better decisions. Here you’ll find practical guidance on software selection, implementation and change management, vendor and partner management, and turning ERP strategy into day-to-day execution. We share real-world lessons, tools, and stories from manufacturing, distribution, life sciences and technology sectors so you can avoid common pitfalls and move your ERP program from visions to reality.

Featured Posts

John Hannan walking a manufacturing shop floor during an ERP requirements session, reviewing a process checklist on a tablet.

Mid-Market Manufacturing ERP Software Selection Guide 2026

Software Selection

John Hannan

9 min read

ERP software selection and implementation challenges for growing manufacturers and distributors

Software Selection

John Hannan

4 min read

12 must‑have capabilities in 2026 for a CDMO ERP selection

Solution Architecture

John Hannan

6 min read

2 3 4

Distribution

ERP software selection and implementation challenges for growing manufacturers and distributors

Growing manufacturers and distributors often discover that ERP risk is created long before go-live. This article breaks down the most common failure points in ERP software selection and implementation and explains how leaders can pressure-test assumptions, protect scope, and build a system foundation that supports scalable operations.

Software Selection

John Hannan

4 min read

Industrial distribution ERP software selection: shortlist & scorecard

Industrial distribution ERP is won and lost on rebates/SPAs, pricing matrices, WMS depth, and EDI—not glossy demos. This guide shows how to build a defensible shortlist using a weighted scorecard that grades vendors on counter sales, chargebacks, landed cost & container management, inventory accuracy (RF/barcoding), and integration to TMS and EDI (850/855/856/810/846). Use our demo script, scoring model, and contract guardrails to align stakeholders fast and choose a platform

Distribution

John Hannan

5 min read

A warehouse worker using his ERP's mobile app to finalize shipping.

Distribution ERP Selection - A Playbook for Real‑World Distributors

Choosing a distribution ERP means testing real workflows—pricing, rebates, transfers, WMS/TMS, drop-ship, EDI—not just features. This playbook walks distributors through process-based evaluation, weighted scorecards, data migration pitfalls, demo scripts, and KPIs that expose the real differences between platforms. A practical guide for multi-branch and value-add distributors selecting their next ERP.

Software Selection

John Hannan

5 min read

Warehouse workers using scanners to replenish inventory

Choosing an ERP Implementation Partner for Distribution

ERP software fit is only part of the decision. Industrial distributors should also evaluate whether the implementation partner can prove its experience with pricing, rebates, WMS, EDI, branch operations, data migration, testing, and go-live readiness.

Software Selection

John Hannan

5 min read