You’re Ready for an ERP, Now What?

Get these individuals around the table to ensure buy-in across the organization.  

You’re a janitorial or security contractor, and you’ve decided you need to do something to take your business to the next level. You’ve done your research, and you’re confident that an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution is what you need. Your next step is determining who you need to have around the table in order to decide which ERP solution is right for your janitorial or cleaning business. No matter the size of your organization, it’s important to have the right individuals involved when evaluating a software solution that impacts your entire business. Consider including the following types of people — and their specific needs — in the process.

Technical Stakeholder

This person cares about the security and feasibility of the software. They want to know what’s required to implement the solution from a technology perspective. They’ll want data around information security, data privacy and downtime. This could be an IT director, systems engineer or an outside IT representative.

Operational Stakeholder

This person cares about how the solution is used in day-to-day processes because they’re one of the end users. They want to find a system that solves their existing needs while also creating more efficiency for the future. They’ll want robust scheduling for work and people, and field-based tools to help them do their job on the go. This could be a COO, controller, human resources manager or operations manager.

Financial Stakeholder

This person cares about the cost and overall budget because they write the checks. They want to know how an ERP is going to help the company grow to the next level and be more profitable. They’ll want deep financial reporting capabilities and job costing so they can pinpoint profitability to the job level. This could be the owner, president, CEO, CFO or controller.

Bonus Stakeholder: True End Users

Don’t forget about the true end users like your guards and cleaners. While they might not have a voice in the software selection process, they’re the ones who will use it daily and it’s important to have their buy-in from the beginning to ensure its success. They’ll want a system that’s intuitive and easy to use. They also want increased visibility into schedules, job details and site requirements.

If you’re looking for even more information to help you through your ERP decision making process, download our Definitive ERP Guide.