Software Selection

Selecting the right software systems for your business is one of the most important decisions you will make. It is critical to find system(s) that meets your needs today within your budget, while also containing capabilities to facilitate your company’s growth and evolution. Brave River has the experience to efficiently guide you and your team through the entire evaluation, selection, and implementation phases of a selection project. Information Technology selections are unique, and the process can be daunting without an experienced partner…So, don’t go it alone!

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What To Look For In A Software Selection Consultant

Independence & Objectivity

When you select a consultant to guide a software selection engagement, you want someone that is totally unbiased and unaffiliated with any potential software vendors. Brave River is totally independent, we don't have reseller relationships with any ERP or other business software venders. That means we only have your best interests in mind. We will provide you with our honest assessment of potential solutions. We will conduct a rigorous evaluation of each vendor including criteria such as systems functionality, product / technology roadmaps, and the stability of the software vendor.

Methodology

While every company’s needs are different, the process we follow with each client is not. We have a tried-and-true repeatable methodology that we have honed over the last 20 years. The process encompasses requirements definition, business process review, vendor / product evaluation, due diligence, negotiation, and implementation planning. Our consultants will help you to organize your team, narrow down the field of potential vendors / software products, create and distribute an RFP or RFI, organize the evaluation and demonstration process, and ultimately select the best system for your organization.

Implementation Support

During the course of the software selection process, we become extremely knowledgeable about your company and what makes you unique. We also truly become a part of your team. So often, our job is not finished once you've selected the new system. Our clients frequently ask us to continue in some capacity into the implementation. We have joined our client teams as Project Directors, Project Managers, or a technical team member helping with data migration, process documentation, or the QA / system validation before going live. Regardless of the role we play, our continued involvement can help with change management as you transition from the selection process into the mission critical implementation.

Our Software Selection Experience

Let our knowledgable team of consultants take the stress out of selecting a new system. We have assisted numerous businesses select software for specific departments and/or for the entire company. While we are totally independent, our exposure to numerous software vendors and products allow us to quickly select potential vendors and weed out those that should not be included in the evaluation. Our consultants have experience selecting and implementing various types of software, from ERPs, CRMs, MESs, and accounting systems, to asset management, fundraising, and eProcurement programs.

Here are just a few specific examples of systems we've worked with in the past:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Salesforce
Microsoft Dynamics AX
Syspro
Sage
Infor Syteline
Infor A+
SAP
SAP Business One
Oracle ERP
IBS
Global Shop
TGI Enterprise
Netsuite

Accounting

Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics SL
Quickbooks
Blackbaud

Manufacturing Execution Software (MES)

Infor Fourth Shift
Majiq Elixir

Human Resources Management (HRM)

Peoplesoft

The Brave River Blueprint

Discovery

The first step in the process is to gather system requirements. We will conduct a review to gain a comprehensive understanding your company's processes. We will identify workflow inefficiencies, as well as your strategic goals and objectives. This will ensure we choose a system that will streamline your operations, and continue to do so in the future.
Identify Vendors

Based on the information we gather, we create a list of 4-6 vendors we think will be a good fit. We then draft either a request for proposal (RFP) or request for information (RFI) and distribute it to those companies.
Vender Review

We assess potential vendors using a comprehensive grading system, allowing us to compare the solutions based on the criteria that is most relevant to your business. After the evaluation phase, we will schedule guided product demonstrations from 2 - 3 vendors.
Due Diligence

Prior to making any final decisions, we will work with you to thoroughly evaluate the vendor. Steps may include site visits to the vendor, an implementation partner as well as client reference checks. We will want to review pertinent topics such as their service, support, and their track record for performing projects relative to timelines and proposed budget.
Contract Negotiations

Software contracts are unique and complex. Our team has experience evaluating contracts and software and services proposals as a precursor to a full legal review.