In this episode, Cat introduces Stephanie Forbes on the show. Stephanie is a seasoned executive with over two decades of industry experience in business risk management and supply chain. Stephanie's extensive experience includes successful leadership in teams, projects, and programs. Committed to advancing the supply chain profession. Stephanie shares insights through speaking engagements, mentoring, and leveraging her extensive network. The episode explores the importance of crafting a Request for Proposal (RFP) for ERP implementation, focusing on contract considerations. Episode highlights:   Contract Considerations - Stephanie outlines a four-step approach: start with the end date commitment, define the best scope, balance cost, quality, and schedule, and identify business systems and processes. - Discussion on potential pitfalls, unexpected change orders, and the significance of well-defined scope and balance.   Data Ownership and Privacy - Stephanie emphasizes the importance of intellectual property and confidentiality in ERP contracts. - Detailed exploration of data ownership, potential breaches, and confidentiality considerations, especially when data resides in a SaaS provider's cloud.   Time Management in Contracts - The impact of aggressive schedules, concrete milestones, and the ability to enforce time-related clauses. - Discussion on the significance of time in ERP contracts, introducing the concept of "time is of the essence."   Compensation and Metrics - Stephanie provides insights into compensation structures in ERP contracts, including time and materials, deliverable-driven models, and bundled payments. - The importance of tying compensation to specific outcomes, such as successful User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and defining metrics for success in various ERP project phases. Contract/RFP Considerations - Exploration of key factors in crafting contracts/RFPs, including dates, cost, and balancing quality with cost and time frame. Discussion on the challenges of setting a fixed date regardless of cost and the importance of realistic expectations. - Recommendations on understanding and defining scope to ensure more accurate pricing. People Processes and Systems - Emphasis on analyzing organizational metrics, such as cost of goods sold, to determine ERP requirements. - Consideration of strategic growth and alignment of ERP implementation with future organizational goals. - Insight into the importance of integrating people, processes, and systems in a strategic roadmap for successful ERP implementations.   Environmental Impact and ESG: - Brief mention of the upcoming webinar on Scope 3 and its impact on small and medium businesses in the environmental space. Connection between ESG reporting, supply chain, and ERP systems for comprehensive organizational management.   Stephanie emphasizes the need for foresight and strategic planning to navigate the complexities of ERP implementations. Tune in to the next episode as the conversation continues, shifting focus to the critical role of people and data in the ERP landscape. Get more of Stephanie’s insights in her upcoming webinars: Webinar #1 GHG Accounting & Management for SMEs https://eco.ca/online-training/guide-to-climate-action-by-small-and-medium-enterprises-webinar-series/ Date: February 21, from 1:15 PM – 2:30 PM MT Description: In-depth explanation of GHG management along with challenges/trends in data collection and a walk-through of the customized GHG Excel tool. Topics Covered: Brief on Climate Change Greenhouse Gas Protocol – Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions Data Collection Methodology Calculation Methodology – Activity data, Emission factors, Global Warming Potential Absolutes Emissions and emissions intensity Target Setting – Emission reduction & Net Zero targets Webinar #2 Implementation strategies for emission reduction for SME