Navigating a complex ERP landscape: expert selection advice

Are you facing the choice of a new ERP system? Competition in the ERP market remains fierce, and every platform promises the ultimate solution. A wrong move can delay your digital transformation by months and cost thousands of euros. So, how do you make a choice that truly fits your organization?

During the annual Cegeka Advisory Event, we sat down with independent ERP selection experts from Dot to Dot, TriFinance, and Horsum. Their advice? Don't start with the technology, start with your business goals. An ERP system is not an end in itself, but a means to strengthen your processes and make them future-proof.

From reports to reality

Many organizations begin their search with industry reports like the Gartner Magic Quadrant or the Forrester Wave. According to these analyses, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and SAP are among the leading solutions in the cloud ERP segment. For small and medium-sized enterprises, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Odoo are popular choices due to their flexibility and modular structure.

However, a word of caution: these reports only provide a general overview. They say very little about which solution actually fits your organization. For that, you need to look deeper.

Four factors that determine your choice

According to selection experts, these are the most critical factors to consider:

1. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Not just license costs, but also implementation, maintenance, and future expansions.

2. Functionality and scalability: Can the system grow with your organization? How flexible is it when processes change?

3. Ecosystem and integrations: How well does the ERP connect to your existing applications and future technology? Look at the broader ecosystem (standard connectors, APIs, marketplace apps), extensibility (low-code/no-code), and governance (security, compliance, lifecycle management).

4. Local support and industry knowledge: Does the vendor have expertise in your specific sector, and is there support available in your region?

AI in ERP: from hype to impact

One trend you cannot ignore is AI. According to Gartner, by 2026, over 30% of companies will utilize AI agents within their ERP systems. But AI is not a goal in itself; it is a tool to make processes smarter, faster, and more scalable.

The experts advise starting small:

• Begin with integrated AI functionalities already within your ERP system.

• Focus on data quality.

• Ensure people remain "in the lead." AI enhances capabilities but does not replace them.

Looking for a practical guide to successfully position AI in your technology landscape? Download Integrated AI: The New Standard for Efficiency and discover how data, technology, and people form the foundation for AI success.

Your next step?

Ready to get started? Download the free ERP Selection Guide and discover step-by-step how to choose the right platform.

👉 Download the ERP Selection Guide