Free Resource
ERP Selection Checklist for Retail
Most retail ERP selections fail not because the wrong platform was chosen — but because the evaluation process was incomplete, integrations were underestimated, or the organization was not ready to execute what it selected.
This checklist covers 60+ specific questions across business readiness, integration surface area, vendor evaluation, organizational readiness, and program governance. Built from direct experience running retail ERP programs.
Download checklist (PDF)No email required. Direct download.
What's covered
- Part 1 — Business readiness — strategic clarity, process ownership, and data readiness before you issue an RFP
- Part 2 — Integration surface area — systems inventory and integration architecture questions vendors won't ask
- Part 3 — Vendor evaluation criteria — functional fit, implementation risk, TCO, and lock-in considerations
- Part 4 — Organizational readiness — sponsorship, governance, and change management
- Part 5 — Program structure — fixed scope, acceptance criteria, and vendor accountability
Why most ERP evaluations produce the wrong answer
Vendors run RFP processes that are designed to surface the information vendors want to share — not the information you need to make a decision. Integration complexity is underestimated. Organizational readiness is assumed. Total cost of ownership is calculated over three years on a best-case scenario.
This checklist gives you the questions to ask before the vendor selection process starts — and throughout it. It was developed from direct experience leading retail ERP programs at scale, where the decisions made during vendor selection determined whether the program succeeded or failed two years later.
About the author
Morris Stern is a technology modernization consultant and former VP of Retail Systems at Ashley Global Retail, where he led ERP migrations, store systems transformation across 300+ locations, and unified commerce programs supporting ~$3B in annual revenue.
Learn more about Morris →Also available
Retail Technology Pilot Playbook
How to structure pilots that produce decisions — not just delay.
Also available
Technology Modernization Readiness Assessment
A self-scoring diagnostic across five readiness dimensions.
Need independent advisory on an ERP selection?
Morris works with retail technology leaders to structure vendor evaluations, review proposals, and provide independent oversight — without vendor alignment.
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