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by Mary Brandel, Contributing Editor Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 10:45:00 AM   | Abstract: | Interested in insights that will help you to whittle down a field of potential vendor candidates to a select few? Read on ... |
Selecting a new software system can be a time-consuming, politicized, and expensive endeavor. And since it's not something most small- and medium-size manufacturers often do, it's also an unfamiliar process with not a lot of comfort zone. After clarifying your business priorities and requirements, the first step is whittling down your field of vendors from five to 10 candidates to a short list of three to five. That means clarifying what functionality you really want and then determining how well available software meets those needs, without being swayed by what vendors would like to sell you. "You buy a system once every six to 10 years, but these guys are selling systems every day of the week," says Bob Anderson, vice president of small and midsize applications at Gartner Inc. in Stamford, Conn. "They know how to sell to you better than you know how to buy from them." [Click to continue] |