HOW ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SOFTWARE (ERP) CAN HELP TAKE PRESSURE OFF MANAGEMENT AND MAKE BUSINESS MORE EFFICIENT

ERP Software …

Summer can be challenging for business because it often forces companies to run in an organised and productive manner with a reduced workforce. How can businesses maintain a consistent service with inconsistent resources? Here, you will learn how a modern business management tool, namely ERP software, can help solve this problem, improve communication and increase efficiencies.

Holiday periods give business managers time to reflect (if only!) on how much an organisation depends on the availability of individual, reliable personnel. Apart from the issues around planning, questions that concern managers of all sizes of business often come into focus, namely:

1. Is there a system that produces current insights into how each department is performing?
2. Can we improve communication between the various business units?
3. Is there a way to enable the company rely less on manual, inefficient processes?
4. Are Excel spreadsheets the best way to extract crucial information from company data?
5. Can stand-alone departmental monthly reports be replaced with systematic overviews in order to obtain important business metrics?
6. Could the number of days that staff spend preparing for audits be reduced?

Be glad to know that ‘yes’ is the answer to all of the above!

The solution centres on two key areas common to all businesses, namely planning and cooperation. The most efficient and robust business management system is one where planning and cooperation are built into the fabric of the business. In other words, automated.

Standard business activities, such as supply chain management, purchasing, customer relations management, financials, manufacturing functions, credit control and more, need not be manual or stand-alone.

This modern approach to business management is called enterprise resource planning or ERP, which is an umbrella term used to describe the linking of all the entities concerned with planning, managing, controlling, and accounting in an organisation. In an ERP software solution, the business management tools or modules, are linked together on a single platform, allowing communication and data to flow freely between them.

As ERP software becomes more necessary to meet the challenges of business today, note that it is not the size of the company that determines if an ERP solution is required. To run a small or medium sized enterprise requires most of the same basic functions as needed for a larger company. As the company grows, additional ERP modules are linked on as necessary.

ERP software modules fit seamlessly together allowing full collaboration across the organisation.

As the concept of ERP software may be one you are only vaguely familiar with, we have decided to provide you below with some points to consider if you decide to go down the route of using ERP to run your business.

Read on, an ERP solution could be the parachute your business has been waiting for!

What is the advantage of ERP software over traditional business management software?

The major advantage is that it facilitates the flow of information and streamlines business processes. Unnecessary steps and manual tasks are eliminated or reduced, leading to more effective communication between departments, accelerated business processes and improved efficiencies overall. It equips management with detailed, up to date information.

What is the most important aspect of an ERP software system?

In one word, it is flexibility. A flexible ERP system is one that can grow and adapt to handle your changing business requirements and new industry regulations. It should be fully customisable and with the possibility of linking seamlessly to key business systems.

How can you afford the cost of implementing a company-wide software system?

The cost of implementing an ERP software solution is recouped with the subsequent improvements in efficiencies. The merit of a flexible ERP solution is that it can be expanded, allowing for it to be phased in incrementally.

Is it an enormous task to implement ERP in an older company?

Once the supplier goes through the step of becoming familiar with the processes and systems within an organisation, ERP software can be phased in gradually. The perception of how difficult it is to use the new system depends on the understanding employees have of how to use the system. Staff training and support is critical, so using a supplier that you can work with and trust is critical to the success of the implementation.

ERP software suppliers work closely with business managers to assemble and configure the appropriate ERP modules for each business. The table below shows a selection of the range of ERP modules currently available.

Having spent four decades in the business of helping companies get the most from their resources, MCS is well equipped to guide your organisation to your vision of success.

For a FREE review of your current business management software contact MCS InTegrated Solutions.

If you choose to employ ERP software, our team will work with you to identify, deploy and support an ERP system uniquely designed to future-proof your business.