Ensuring ERP success depends as much on your implementation partner as it does on the ERP solution itself. The team guiding your ERP implementation must also have the resources, expertise, and capacity to support your business goals over the long term.
When it comes to finding the right ERP partner, size matters—but that doesn’t have to mean “bigger is better.” Long-term ERP success isn’t about choosing the biggest firm but finding one that perfectly fits your business’s unique needs and growth plans.
This blog will explore the advantages of having an experienced ERP implementation partner with coast-to-coast reach and capacity. We’ll also discuss determining if a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) and implementation partner is the right fit for your business.
Finding the Sweet Spot Between Scale and Personal Touch
Choosing the right-sized ERP implementation partner depends significantly on your company’s size and growth aspirations. Choosing a firm that’s too large for your needs may result in wasted expenses while going too small can put up barriers to your long-term ERP strategies and goals:
- Nationwide firms typically operate across multiple states or provinces and have team members distributed across the country. This wide reach allows them to provide support wherever your business operates today and in the future.
- In contrast, smaller boutique firms generally operate within a limited geographical area, often within a single state or a few neighboring states, providing localized expertise. They also often specialize in certain niche industries and use cases.
Smaller companies might find a local boutique ERP firm a more budget-friendly option. For example, a local art supply shop with a single location might benefit more from a regional firm than a large-scale company planning to expand across the state or country. However, if that shop’s owners have plans to open multiple locations or expand their eCommerce business, they would eventually need the resources, reach, and expertise of a larger ERP consultancy. Larger implementation partners have the benefit of having worked with a diverse cross-section of clients, including market leaders who you likely count as your competition, and have accumulated a wealth of industry best practices over time that you can leverage to avoid common pitfalls as you scale and grow.
When is a Nationwide ERP Consulting Firm Right for You?
Organizations with multiple locations and facilities across various geographies, such as a national manufacturer with a broad distribution network, would benefit from a nationwide consulting firm. These businesses require an ERP implementation partner capable of handling increased data volume, a higher number of users, complex transactions, and integrations with other core systems, which a smaller boutique firm likely wouldn’t be able to provide. A larger, more experienced consultancy would be better equipped to accommodate this growth and maximize technology investments in the long term.
Nationwide consulting firms often have a more extensive pool of experts, including solution architects, developers, project leaders, and customer support staff. This diversity of expertise helps ensure that any challenge can be met with the right knowledge and experience. With team members spread across the country, they can provide consistent support wherever your business operates, which is essential for companies with operations in multiple locations that need uniformity in their ERP implementation.
Ensuring Scalability from the Start
While smaller ERP consulting firms can be excellent, and the rise of remote work has made it possible for these firms to play on a broader stage, companies seeking ERP scalability should consider partnering with a consulting firm that has a continental reach. Without access to a coast-to-coast team and capacity, companies may risk facing limitations in resources, geographical support, and expertise.
A nationwide firm can offer the breadth of experience, and the extensive network required to support a growing business, ensuring that your ERP system can seamlessly accommodate new locations, increased data volumes, and complex integrations as your company expands. Ultimately, partnering with a nationwide firm helps avoid potential bottlenecks and ensures a smoother, more efficient path to achieving your growth objectives.
NexTec ERP Scalability and Expertise
Finding the right partner to support your ERP system is crucial—you need a partner with the capacity to deliver services regardless of your size, industry, or location, but not so large that they lose the personal touch. At NexTec Group, we balance being one of the largest ERP consultancies with maintaining a strong client focus, working with clients to develop a strategic plan that aligns with their current needs and plans for growth.
As one of North America’s largest and most experienced technology consulting firms, we specialize in industry-specific solutions for companies in manufacturing, food and beverage, construction, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, professional services, and more. We serve clients in over 40 states and five Canadian provinces with team members spanning coast to coast, allowing us to offer unmatched resources and experience. At the same time, we’re not so massive that our clients get lost in the shuffle. Instead, we focus on maintaining strong, personal connections with each of our clients, ensuring that their unique needs are always understood and prioritized.
ERP implementations aren’t a one-time, “one-and-done” event. They require ongoing optimization, integration with new applications, and adaptation to meet changing requirements. Going live with an ERP system is just the beginning—your ERP software’s long-term value and effectiveness hinge as much on the quality of your implementation partner as it does on the solution itself.
Read Our eBook
Want to know more about how to know which ERP implementation partner can help your business meet its ERP goals? Read our eBook for helpful tips to ensure ERP implementation success and red flags to look out for in your search.
For more information about implementing the right ERP software for your company, or if you have questions, contact us at info@nextechgroup.com or fill out our contact form.