How many ERP vendors should I shortlist?

Three is usually enough. Fewer gives you no comparison, and more makes demos hard to compare and slows the decision.

Should I choose the cheapest cloud ERP?

Not on price alone. A cheaper system that needs heavy customisation or that staff do not use will cost more in the end. Compare total three-year cost and industry fit together.

How long should the ERP selection take?

For an SME, a few weeks is enough: one week to prepare, two to three for demos and one to compare quotes and check references.

What is the biggest mistake when choosing ERP?

Choosing from a generic demo. Always ask the vendor to show your own process, with your items and a real order, before deciding.

What does Pinakexa Systems do?

We build web-app software that replaces registers and Excel sheets, starting with manufacturers such as textile and tea units. We also build custom software, mobile apps and websites for growing businesses.

Is Pinakexa right for a small business?

Yes. We focus on small and mid-size businesses. You can start with one or two modules, such as stock and billing, and add more only when you need them.

Do I need to install anything or buy servers?

No. Pinakexa runs in the web browser on any phone, tablet or computer. We host it securely in the cloud, so there is no server to buy or maintain.

Can it match the way my business works?

Yes. We start by understanding your process. Then we set up your items, parties, fields, approvals and print formats, so your team does not have to change how it works.

Will it handle GST invoices and reports?

Yes. You can create GST-ready tax invoices, delivery challans and the summaries your accountant needs. E-invoice and e-way bill integration depends on your setup. Your CA still files your returns.

How long does it take to go live, and who trains my team?

It depends on the modules you choose and the data we move from Excel. After the discovery call we give you a written plan and timeline. Training for your team is part of every rollout.

How much does it cost?

Price depends on the modules, the number of users and any custom work. After a free demo we send a clear written quote, with no hidden charges.

Is my data safe, and who owns it?

Your data belongs to you. It is sent over secure HTTPS, access is controlled by user roles, and backups are taken regularly. You can ask for a full export of your data at any time.

How to Choose Cloud ERP Vendors in India: 25 Questions

The best way to evaluate cloud ERP vendors in India is to test them on your own process, not on their sample company. Shortlist vendors who already work in your industry, give each one the same real order to run through in the demo, and score them on industry fit, GST compliance, ease of use on a phone, data ownership, support and three-year cost. The 25 questions below make that comparison fair.

Before the first demo

Write down your five biggest daily problems in one page.
Pick one real order and follow it from enquiry to payment on paper.
Name an internal owner for the ERP project.
Decide which two or three modules must go live first.

Industry fit (questions 1–5)

Which businesses in our industry use your ERP today, and can we speak to one?
Can you show our real order flow, using our items and units, in the demo?
Which of our industry reports are standard, and which need customisation?
How do you handle our special processes, such as job work, batches, lots or wastage?
Who on your team understands our industry, and will they work on our rollout?

GST and compliance (questions 6–9)

Can you generate e-invoices and e-way bills directly from the ERP?
How do you handle job-work challans and ITC-04 details?
Can we export GSTR-1 data and reconcile purchases with GSTR-2B?
Is there an edit log of every change that cannot be switched off?

Ease of use (questions 10–13)

Can a supervisor enter production on a phone in under a minute?
What does the owner's dashboard show, and can we change it?
How many clicks does it take to create an invoice from an order?
Is training included for every team, and in which languages?

Data, security and Tally (questions 14–18)

Where is our data stored, and how often is it backed up?
Can we set roles so each user sees only what they need?
Do we own our data, and how do we export all of it?
Can you import our masters and opening balances from Tally and Excel?
Can the ERP sync with Tally if we keep our books there?

Support and rollout (questions 19–22)

What does the rollout plan look like, week by week?
Who is our main contact, and how quickly do you respond to issues?
Is support available locally or on-site if needed?
How are new features and updates delivered, and do they break our setup?

Cost and contract (questions 23–25)

What is the total three-year cost, with one-time and recurring items listed separately?
How are shop-floor users charged, and how much can the price rise at renewal?
What are the notice period and exit terms?

A simple scoring sheet

Area	Weight	Vendor A	Vendor B	Vendor C
Industry fit	30%
Ease of use on the shop floor	20%
GST and compliance	15%
Support and rollout plan	15%
Three-year cost	15%
Data ownership and security	5%

Score each vendor out of 10 per area, multiply by the weight and add up. Adjust the weights to your priorities, but keep industry fit high. It decides whether your staff will actually use the system.

Next steps

Pinakexa is happy to be evaluated with this list. Bring a real order to our demo and we will run it through the system for your industry. Read the complete guide to cloud ERP software for Indian industries, our ERP implementation plan for SMEs, or book a free demo.

How to evaluate cloud ERP vendors in India: 25 questions to ask

Before the first demo

Industry fit (questions 1–5)

GST and compliance (questions 6–9)

Ease of use (questions 10–13)

Data, security and Tally (questions 14–18)

Support and rollout (questions 19–22)

Cost and contract (questions 23–25)

A simple scoring sheet

Next steps

Common questions

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