Here’s an often overlooked factor in ERP software selection, and it’s got nothing to do with ERP functions or features:

Personality.

That’s right, personality. No, I’m not talking about the personality of your presumptive ERP systems (see also: pathetic fallacy).

Nor am I talking exclusively about the personality of the ERP vendor sales reps, say, or of the software demo team.

I’m talking about the vendor’s corporate personality (or corporate culture) as a whole.

For example, some ERP vendors are perceived as being arrogant. Some are perceived as being consummately professional, if a little unfriendly. Some are perceived as being just a bit, well, quirky. I’m not mentioning any names, you’ll notice. That’s because I like my lifestyle. It’s a quiet, lawsuit-free lifestyle.