SAP Business One is one of the leading ERP solutions for small-medium-sized businesses. When you decide to license and implement SAP Business One, you may be overwhelmed by which Business One partner to choose.
To make that job easier, we have created this guide to help you understand what to look for and how to choose the best SAP Business One partner for your next ERP initiative.
What is SAP Business One?
SAP Business One is a powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that offers a complete solution for small and medium businesses. SAP Business One combines financials, inventory, purchasing, sales and marketing, and business intelligence features into a single integrated suite to help you manage your business better.
The software works best for retail, wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, and professional services.
SAP B1 is designed for FDI, MNC Subsidiaries, SME+ that need a company-wide solution to manage all facets of the business while also improving productivity and efficiency. It is highly customizable, and you can add custom applications or integrations to extend the functionality to fit your specific business needs.
What to look for in an SAP partner
SAP Business One is licensed and implemented exclusively through authorized SAP Business One Channel Partners, like ICC - the first and only SAP Business One Innovation Strategic Partner in Vietnam. Your SAP Partner will provide the SAP Business One licenses, implementation/hosting services, and support packages to ensure you get the most out of your investment.
When choosing an SAP Business One partner, it is important to consider their level of experience (certifications), industry expertise, and ability to provide comprehensive services (technical vs. functional).
An experienced SAP partner will deeply understand SAP B1 ERP and how it can be used and tailored to meet your specific business requirements.
Expertise
The most crucial element of finding the right partner is choosing one with the proper expertise in your industry or who has worked on other migrations with companies like yours. Ask for references and follow up with them to see how things went from start to finish.
Not only are you relying on this solution provider to determine the best ERP solution for your organization, but you also want them to be able to offer business insights based on experience helping similar companies grow.
Select a solution provider with many years of experience tightly integrated with SAP to offer you cutting-edge upgrades, expert advice, and development options based on relevant experience.
Culture Fit
Another essential aspect of finding the right partner is choosing one that understands your people and its mission.
Cultural fit is just as important as expertise when evaluating possible solution providers.
ERP initiatives are fraught with unexpected challenges. Having a team that is equally committed to your causes and people will ensure success at the time of go-live and will likely make the project a more enjoyable experience. Long-Term Support
Where your company is today is not where it will be in the future. Select an ERP solutions partner who can grow along with you and consistently add value throughout the lifecycle of your ERP usage. A great analogy is not just preparing for the wedding (the ERP go-live) but the marriage (everyday use of SAP B1).
Customization/Personalization
Most customers require some level of customization of B1 features. Often, solution providers have developed unique options that extend the functionality of Business One and offer industry-specific integrations that you would not find anywhere else.
Ensure your selected SAP partner has sufficient knowledge and resources to help you extend and customize the use of Business One for your particular GAPs and use cases.
Minimizing Downtime
Deploying SAP B1 upgrades is not to be taken lightly. You want experts who can minimize any downtime and avoid issues with customizations breaking. A good solution provider will have a proactive plan that includes testing and resolving any problems before an upgrade occurs.
Test Drive
Many SAP partners will put together a test drive demo to see exactly how your business will work within the system and give you a sense of your future state while taking advantage of industry best practices. This step is critical because it lets you thoroughly see the ERP system before pulling the trigger on an expensive ERP engagement. Schedule your demo with ICC today.
How to go about finding the best SAP partner for your business
Choosing a partner to help you implement and manage your SAP Business One system is crucial. Not all partners are created equal, and you must do your homework to find the best fit for your business. Here are a few things to remember as you search for the perfect partner. First, consider the size of the partner's organization. A larger partner may have more resources to devote to your project, but a smaller partner may be more agile and responsive to your needs. Striking the right balance is critical to your ERP success. Second, ask about the partner's experience with SAP Business One. You'll want to work with a team with extensive software knowledge and can provide expert guidance throughout the implementation process. Finally, be sure to enquire about the partner's SLAs. You'll want to choose a partner that will be there for you long after go-live, providing ongoing support and training as needed. By taking the time to find the right SAP Business One partner, you can ensure a successful implementation and a lasting partnership.
Questions to ask potential SAP Business One partners
Deciding to switch to SAP Business One is a big decision for any business. Not only is it a significant financial investment, but it also requires a high level of commitment from everyone involved. As such, it's important to carefully research potential partners and ask the right questions before making a final decision.
Here are four crucial questions to ask potential SAP Business One consultants:
What experience do you have with implementing SAP Business One? Ideally, you want to work with a consultant who has extensive experience with the software and can provide references from satisfied clients.
What kind of support do you offer after implementation? Once SAP Business One is up and running, you'll likely need ongoing support to ensure smooth operation. Find out what support services the consultant offers and whether they guarantee timely responses to help requests.
What are your project management processes? Knowing how the consultant plans and executes projects is important to gauge whether they fit your business well. Ask about their project management methodology and determine whether they're comfortable working with tight deadlines and changing requirements.
What are your fees? Be sure to get a detailed breakdown of the consultant's fees so everything runs smoothly down the road. Ask about discounts for longer-term contracts and determine whether they offer payment plans to spread out the cost of implementation.
Asking these four questions will help you narrow down the field of potential partners and choose the best SAP Business One consultant for your business.
Tips for ensuring success when implementing SAP Business One
SAP Business One is a powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that can streamline business processes and improve efficiency. However, implementing SAP Business One can be a complex and daunting task. Here are some tips for ensuring a successful SAP Business One implementation:
Define your goals and objectives. What do you hope to achieve by implementing SAP Business One? Be as specific as possible.
Choose the right implementation partner. SAP Business One is a complex system, so choosing an implementation partner with experience and expertise is important.
Plan for training and change management. SAP Business One will require user training, so plan for this. Change management is also essential to ensure that employees adopt the new system.
Manage expectations. SAP Business One can do a lot, but managing expectations and setting realistic goals is important. Otherwise, you may be disappointed with the results of your implementation.
Ensure your SAP Business One partner has partnerships with solutions you may need in the future, such as an integrated hub.
Following these tips will help to ensure a successful SAP Business One implementation.
How can we help?
If you're looking for an SAP partner, it's important to find the right one. Not all partners are created equal, and not every business suits every partner. By asking the right questions and researching, you can find the best SAP partner for your company and improve your business operations. Ready to find your perfect SAP Business One partner? Get your SAP Business One estimate now.
