Today, companies and public organizations face high demands for automation. Existing information systems need to be upgraded or replaced.
Identifying and selecting the right software solution is critical after defining the problem.
For example, a local utility company in southern Germany requires a Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) software.
They aim to implement a systematic and objective supplier management tool as part of their IT infrastructure. The goal is to optimize their supply chain, enabling a transparent comparison across all suppliers.
This project involves weighing economic, technical, and eco-social factors.
The utility company currently collaborates with over a thousand suppliers, with all information stored in their central ERP system (SAP).
Until now, supplier selection has been based on current financial offers and the intuition of decision-makers, with no formal documentation.
Key supplier data is collected in various locations, making it difficult to analyze and create a unified strategy.
They are looking for a system that can manage these business relationships comprehensively and pull necessary data from the SAP ERP system.
The company has provided an initial overview of its requirements for the software search and plans to develop a detailed specification sheet later, followed by an official request for proposals.
The primary requirements include:
The SoftGuide research team used its internal database, containing tens of thousands of software solutions, and conducted an internet search to identify new solutions.
In addition to the 8 potentially suitable options in the software guide, 17 other relevant systems were found in the database and online.
An initial comparison has been made to eliminate less suitable options.
SoftGuide staff also published a request for proposals so additional vendors with matching solutions could join the process.
SoftGuide contacted vendors of the shortlisted solutions, inquiring about feature coverage, the possibility of implementing missing functions through customization, and the projected costs over the next 5 years. The utility company received all relevant information, enabling them to reach out to the selected vendors for further information.
Typically, the utility company will create a shortlist and arrange for demonstrations of the solutions before making a final decision.