Software selection consulting

Software selection consulting – guaranteed neutral and independent!

Digitalization means converting analog processes into digital processes. That’s why software selection is one of the most central and critical points!

Whether you want to implement a new DMS, CRM, ERP, FIN, MES, TMS, WMS, BI, etc., there are countless risks that can jeopardize the project or, in the worst case, even cause it to fail.

As a strong partner, we support you throughout the entire software selection process and represent your interests.

Our approach model – software selection process

After the project description, the potential and process analysis, we have already developed a solid framework with many criteria to tackle software selection in the next step.

The software selection process starts with creating the requirements specification; you can find an article by us on this topic here . With the completed requirements specification, a project description and a requirements catalog should now be created, making it easier for software vendors to understand the project.

This also allows you to compare the different software solutions with each other in a targeted way.

Market analysis and market research

In this step, we rely on the IT-Matchmaker ®. The database now includes 1,600+ different software solutions and 1,100+ software vendors with their own profiles, as well as 16,000+ reference projects.

The profile includes:

• References
• Contacts
• Technologies
• Features and lots of exclusive information

that you gain access to through us.

Every customer receives their own account and can also do their own research.

We stand for 100% transparency and neutrality! We do not favor any software or any company listed on the platform.

We don’t make recommendations; we help you make a well-founded decision.

You can find more information about the IT-Matchmaker ® business model here.

What happens next?

The IT-Matchmaker ® is not only used for market analysis; it also offers other time-saving and useful functions for your project.

We handle the entire tendering process via the platform, manage offers from the selected software vendors, and obtain valuable comparison data. The biggest challenge in software selection is the lack of comparability—if you rely only on Google ®, vendors’ marketing, recommendations from other companies or business partners, or non-neutral consultants.

Trust is good—checking based on numbers, data, facts, and individual criteria—is better!

You receive a Top 20 report of the vendors to be evaluated, including a comparative analysis with charts showing how well your requirements are covered, as well as a company analysis.

So why do we still need software selection consulting with all this information?

Based on our experience from 65+ digitalization projects, we know which points customers often neglect, forget, or assess incorrectly.

These are precisely the points that often cause costs to explode later on or AFTER the new software has been implemented—and you still don’t achieve the goals you set. We are also the interface between the software vendor and you.

Don’t underestimate the time required for communication that comes with such a large project.

We support you with:

• Schedule control and monitoring – project delays are frustrating!
• Accurate cost breakdowns – we uncover hidden costs!
• Quote comparisons – you have an overview at all times
• Contract analysis – contracts must only include what was actually agreed.

With our approach, we minimize your project risk together and maximize your added value.

Cost-benefit analysis – the 10-year calculation

As a customer, you benefit from our pre-built checklists and standardized analysis methods as the project progresses.

We create a 10-year cost calculation for every offer received. We take into account factors such as initial costs, expenses, development days, workshops, updates, training and hardware costs, and many more—including the associated internal costs.

The results of the 10-year calculation now allow well-founded statements about the quality of the different offers and help prepare a decision.

However, the software selection process is not yet complete.

Workshops – this is where the wheat is separated from the chaff!

Of course, we now want to see the software live and in action!

For this purpose, we set up workshops together with you and invite the best software vendors. The workshop is used to show and map YOUR processes in the software . Costs and analyses are important for a decision, but usability, process coverage, adaptability, and the ability to implement it in your company are just as important.

As consultants, we plan and moderate these workshops, answer questions from the software companies, and document the performance delivered by the presenting vendors.

Here, too, you benefit from our checklists for evaluating workshops, which we also create for participants via an online platform.

By the end of the workshops, we have a very good impression of what the software can do and whether it fits your processes!

Together with the evaluation of the software vendor’s presenting staff, the implementation methodology presented, and the project tools, we now have the basis to make the decision for the finalist after a final tendering round.

Contract negotiation – the successful end of the software selection is near!

The excitement is high, the decision has been made—now just quickly sign the contract …

Don’t be fooled!

Don’t forget: in contract negotiations, you are dealing with a large, experienced company. As your partner, we point out potential pitfalls and risks that are (or could be) hidden in the contract!

We make sure that contract components are properly taken into account.

These include:

You now have a better insight into our approach to software selection consulting. Book an appointment now for the free initial consultation, or feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.