Software Identification & Evaluation Process Overview

Advisory Services: Technology Solutions

Cherry Bekaert’s Technology Solutions Group (“TSG”) possesses a broad base of hands-on experience with a wide array of accounting and enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) brands and systems that are intended to meet the business process support requirements of organizations of all shapes and sizes, from small commercial and nonprofit entities to the largest global enterprises.

Your software identification and evaluation project begins by first meticulously architecting and mapping your preferred business process model. Taking such an approach helps us collaboratively identify opportunities to extricate unnecessary time, effort, cost, and waste from the current underlying business processes.

From that point, you select the activities and deliverables where you could use some assistance to plan and execute a software identification and evaluation process that ultimately arrives at the best software for your business. It’s a great way to combine the intimate knowledge your leadership and users have of your organization’s business and financial operations with the familiarity and understanding Cherry Bekaert’s business and software analysts have of the software market and viable software options.

You may choose from the services and deliverables defined below based on how you want to work with Cherry Bekaert’s Technology Solutions Group and what you need to accomplish most.

Determining the NeedBusiness Process Review

Understand and document your preferred business process model and the specifications and functional requirements

of associated software. (If previously performed, a Business Process Requirements Assessment (“BPRA”) may be available

to provide input to this step.)

Technology Stack Definition We work with you to determine the preferred software

technology stack and software architecture (client/server, web-based, mobile application components, etc.).

Software Residency & Access Ascertain preferred software hosting and delivery model

(on-premises servers, public cloud, private cloud, hybrid, etc.).

Software Search We research the market and engage appropriate

software suppliers with commercial-off-the-shelf (“COTS”) solutions that are a good fit for the functional

requirements of the business.

Organizations generally have two choices when it comes to searching the market for new software. The first choice is for an organization to identify on its own the software brands and products that are most likely to address its business process support requirements. The organization’s representatives who are authorized to research and select new software will find themselves interfacing directly with the software suppliers and resellers. The challenge with this approach is that each supplier or reseller is affiliated with a particular brand or category of software. They are usually incentivized to promote and sell their particular software, even when it may not be an ideal fit.

The second choice is to secure the services of an experienced software selection consultant to help filter, sort and prioritize the many software options available on the market today. Generally speaking, having a third-party consultant with nothing to gain from choosing one brand of software over another helps improve the objectivity and quality of the final software decision.

Solution ValidationOn-site Discovery Sessions

Once the software supplier semi-finalists are confirmed, TSG will invite them to an on-site discovery session to validate findings documented in the BPRA and interact with you

and your team, so that all technical and functional software requirements can be validated and clarified.

Workflow Template TSG will help you assimilate a set of representative

data and business process workflows so that semifinalists can construct and deliver a comprehensive software

demonstration tailored to your business.

On-site Software Demonstrations Software semi-finalists will conduct tailored software

demonstrations. After the demonstrations, TSG will work with you to select one or two finalists.

Vendor Selection & Contract ExecutionReference Calls and VisitsTSG will execute reference calls on your behalf and can accompany you on user visits to meet one or more of the reference organizations for each finalist. The purpose of the user visits is to see how the software is being used in the daily routine of the business.

Software ConfigurationWe work with you and finalists to determine the software applications or modules you’ll need.

Proposal ReviewTSG will work with you to secure and review priced proposals so you can make an intelligent and informed software selection based upon software completeness, fit, configuration, support, and price.

Implementation TeamWe will participate with you in interviewing your selected vendor’s project managers and consultants to identify and assemble the preferred implementation team.

Commercial ArrangementTSG works on your behalf to negotiate the commercial transaction between you and your software supplier. If needed, we can also research and secure appropriate financing or leasing options if you prefer to pay for your new software over time.

Competitive Solutions AnalysisSoftware Demonstrations

TSG consultants will schedule remote software demonstrations with each candidate software supplier. TSG representatives

(along with client representatives) will audit the demonstrations and provide feedback after each.

Fit/Gap Analysis Compare candidate software applications against the published software functional requirements specifications. TSG will grade the candidate solutions and publish the results of the Fit/Gap

Analysis. The Fit/Gap Analysis results will reveal the 2 or 3 candidate solutions that are the best fit for the business.

Software Reference Check We will secure references and perform reference checks with semifinalists. Depending on how the reference check process

goes, you may decide to eliminate or add one or more candidates.

Now that you’ve chosen the right software for your organization, do you know the best way to implement it? Consider taking the next step with TSG to provide an Independent Verification and Validation (“IV&V”) of the software implementation planning and execution process, including a Go-Live Readiness Assessment (“GLRA”) that maximizes the opportunity for the successful launch and operation of your new software suite.

Let us be your guide forward

cbh.com

Toby Stansell Managing Director, Technology Solutions

tstansell@cbh.com

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