"This case demonstrates why it's important for vendors to set expectations up-front with clients as to what it means to be an early customer, and why it's important for customers to be clear about their requirements," he said.

"The challenge is that the customer's expectations and requirements may continue to change in the middle of implementation and sometimes those requirements may not be met," Wang added. "The bottom line is if you go in early on a new product, get signed assurances that the use cases and business processes you seek to support will be delivered."

A spokesman for Lawson declined comment beyond the company's court filing.

Lawson is far from the only ERP vendor to end up in court with customers over problems with a project, with , both facing recent actions.

ERP projects in general are complex affairs fraught with the potential for cost overruns and missed goals, given the crucial roles vendors, systems integrators and customers must each play for them to be successful.