How Long Does ERP Selection Take for a Mid-Sized Business?
ERP selection takes time because it is not just a software decision. It is a business decision that affects finance, operations, supply chain, inventory, manufacturing, warehousing, purchasing, sales, reporting, compliance, customer service, and executive visibility.
John Hannan
7 min read
10 ERP Software Selection Risks Leaders Should Never Ignore
ERP implementation failures are often blamed on poor training, weak adoption, or implementation execution. In reality, many ERP problems begin much earlier during software selection and generally do not usually appear at once. They tend to build throughout the process, starting with incomplete requirements, limited stakeholder involvement, and weak operational understanding. Those early gaps then influence vendor demonstrations, scoring, implementation planning, cost assumpti
John Hannan
10 min read
Mid-Market Manufacturing ERP Software Selection Guide 2026
How should a mid‑market manufacturer actually choose ERP? This 2026 field guide starts on the plant floor, turning routings, WIP, quality, and costing into clear selection criteria. Then it shows how to run scripted demos with your own jobs and items, use objective fit‑gap scoring, and avoid pitfalls like bad labor reporting, UoM conversions, and fragile scheduling. The goal is simple – pick a manufacturing ERP system that holds up under real load.
John Hannan
9 min read
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.
John Hannan
4 min read
12 must‑have capabilities in 2026 for a CDMO ERP selection
Based on our life sciences experience supporting outsourced operators, including contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMO) and contract research organizations (CRO), this guide summarizes the ERP software selection requirements vendors must prove, demo, and document.
John Hannan
6 min read
Understanding ERP Selection Roles: Perspective, Expertise, and Where Bias Can Influence Decisions
ERP can deliver meaningful business value, but the path to getting there is often more complex than leadership expects. One reason is that ERP decisions involve multiple participants with different expertise, responsibilities, and perspectives.
John Hannan
4 min read
Life Sciences ERP Software Selection 2026 Buyer’s Guide for validated environments (GxP‑ready)
Choosing ERP in a validated environment is different. This 2026 buyer’s guide shows how to evaluate life sciences ERP through a GxP lens—Part 11 e‑signatures, audit trails, QA release, lot/expiry traceability, and LIMS/QMS/EDMS integrations. Get selection criteria, a weighted scorecard, and five scripted demos to run with your data so your shortlist is CSV‑ready before contracts.
John Hannan
6 min read
A Practical ERP Software Selection Playbook for Confident, Defensible Decisions
Software selection becomes risky when decisions hinge on demos instead of evidence. This guide shows how to structure selection with clear criteria, weighted scorecards, scripted day-in-the-life demos, integration and data checks, and TCO analysis. Built from 25+ years of running selections across manufacturing, distribution, and life sciences, it’s a vendor-neutral playbook for confident and defensible decisions that hold up on go-live day.
John Hannan
7 min read
Considerations for Your Business When Selecting a New ERP System
Most organizations expect an ERP system to support the business for seven to ten years or longer, which makes the selection process a strategic decision rather than a simple software purchase.
John Hannan
9 min read
ERP Stakeholders and Their Role in Software Selection and Implementation
ERP touches the core of the business. When stakeholder input is too narrow, companies often select systems based on polished demonstrations, executive preference, vendor familiarity, or incomplete requirements.
John Hannan
9 min read
Understanding 21 CFR Part 11 Compliance when selecting a new ERP System
21 CFR Part 11 must provide complete documentation of process controls, record and data integrity safeguards, accuracy assurances, and user authentication and authorization processes.
John Hannan
4 min read