The no nonsense guide to buying an ERP system
Buying an ERP is one of the biggest technology decisions your business will make. This guide helps you ask the right questions, avoid the common traps, and choose a system that actually fits.
Eight chapters that take the guesswork out of buying an ERP
From knowing when to upgrade to comparing vendor proposals, this guide covers the entire buying journey.
- 1
How to know when you have outgrown your current system
The signs that your accounting software or legacy ERP is holding your business back. If month end takes more than a week, that is one of them.
- 2
ERP vs accounting software. What is the difference and when do you need to upgrade
MYOB and Xero are great tools, but they are not ERP systems. We explain when your business needs more than accounting and what a full ERP like Business Central actually gives you.
- 3
The questions to ask every ERP vendor (and the answers to watch out for)
Twenty questions that will tell you more about a vendor in thirty minutes than a three hour demo will. We include the red flag answers to listen for.
- 4
Fixed price vs time and materials. Why it matters
Most ERP vendors quote time and materials, which means you carry all the risk. We explain why fixed price projects exist and when they make sense.
- 5
How to compare ERP proposals without getting confused
ERP proposals are notoriously hard to compare. Different scopes, different assumptions, different pricing models. We give you a framework that makes comparison straightforward.
- 6
Implementation timelines. What is realistic
Anyone who promises a full ERP in six weeks is not being honest. We share realistic timelines based on hundreds of projects across manufacturing, distribution, and food and beverage.
- 7
The hidden costs nobody tells you about
Data migration, integrations, training, customisation, change management. These costs add up fast and most proposals do not include them. We list everything you should budget for.
- 8
A vendor evaluation scorecard you can use
A structured scorecard that lets you rate and rank vendors across the criteria that actually matter. Print it, share it with your team, and use it in your next vendor meeting.
Written for the people making the decisions
CFOs and Finance Leaders
Who need to build the business case and understand total cost of ownership.
Operations Managers
Who are living with the daily pain of a system that no longer fits.
Business Owners
Who want to make an informed decision without relying entirely on vendor pitches.
Get the guide
The no nonsense guide to buying an ERP system
This guide is built from the questions we get asked in every sales conversation. What should I budget? How long will it take? How do I know if a vendor is being straight with me? We answer all of them honestly.
- 8 chapters of practical buying advice
- Vendor evaluation scorecard included
- Written by the Equerra team
Written by the Equerra team. 80+ years of combined Dynamics 365 experience.
Common questions about this guide
Is this guide free?
Yes, completely free. We created it because buying an ERP should not require an MBA to understand. The more informed you are, the better decisions you will make.
Do I need to give my email?
Yes, we use your email to send you the guide. That is all. No automated sequences, no sales calls. If you want to talk to us after reading it, you can reach us through our contact page.
Who wrote this guide?
The Equerra consulting team. We have delivered ERP implementations for businesses across New Zealand and Australia, from small manufacturers to large food and beverage operations. This guide is based on what we have learned from those projects.
Want to talk to a real person instead?
We have helped dozens of businesses through the ERP buying process. Book a call and we will give you an honest assessment of your options.