ERP Implementation Benefits

Too often, manufacturers and distributors stick to dated practices and technology just out of habit. However, most of these businesses experience delays and mistakes that they brush off as inevitable. Worse, they eventually realize that they are slipping further and further behind the competition.

The truth is that the processes and software that businesses have utilized for decades aren’t working anymore. Even if operations seem to be moving smoothly, opportunities are falling through the cracks. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is just the solution these companies need to break old habits, transform their business and discover prospects they never knew were possible. Check out the five ways that an ERP implementation can advance your company.

1. Streamlined Business Processes

Panorama’s 2018 ERP Report found that the number one reason manufacturers implement ERP systems is to improve business performance. ERP empowers businesses to enact automated workflows throughout their enterprise. This results in faster, more accurate operations.

One of the many factors that lead manufacturers to choose Epicor® ERP services is its over 45 years in business as an ERP vendor for manufacturers. Epicor® understands the importance of streamlining manufacturing processes and designs its solutions to do just that. Epicor® connects an array of modules into one cohesive system. That means the data you need for supply chain management, planning and scheduling, accounting and more stay in a single place.

2. Up-to-Date Data

Do you currently have any employees wasting hours manually inputting data? Have you ever incurred errors because of mistakenly entered information or lack of real-time insight? With ERP, these problems are in the past. Data becomes automatically updated throughout the system, meaning employees can now dedicate more attention to revenue-building tasks.

Plus, this insight proves critical both for smarter decision making and detecting problems. Let’s say a machine isn’t working fast enough. Epicor®’s machine learning technology will detect this dip in performance and alert users before it becomes a problem that puts your supply chain at risk. BI tools, predictive analytics features and other functions can also provide users with a deeper understanding of their business, enabling them to catch areas in need of improvement and plan for continued success.

3. Greater Transparency

Companies that continue to rely on Excel spreadsheets or even sticky notes to organize data and tasks are at a disadvantage when it comes to gathering insights and collaborating. Data maintained using these methods can’t be easily consolidated or shared. That leaves information in departmental silos. ERP coalesces all this data into one place, allowing users to access the same information.

In addition, Epicor®’s user-friendly dashboards enable employees to view data easily. They can search for any information and configure their interface to show their most important charts and tables on their homepage. No more losing track of data or struggling to decipher someone else’s notes—Epicor® makes collaboration and drilling into reports simple.

4. Better Customer Experiences

Businesses don’t tend to think of enterprise resource planning software as providing the tools to improve customer experiences. However, nothing derails the customer journey more than an incorrect order, lack of timely information or inadequate products. A well-implemented ERP instance can ensure the customer journey goes smoothly.

Orders can be tracked, information is received in near real time and sophisticated demand planning and quality management tools enable manufacturers to churn out superior products that meet customer needs. When integrated with customer relationship management (CRM) software, your solution can deliver even more insights to enable personalized, responsive customer service.

5. Business Growth

Business leaders are always looking to expand their enterprise. ERP software provides robust features that help users seize opportunities without incurring too much risk. Epicor®’s forecasting solutions use historical data and sophisticated predictive analytics tools to transform even the largest databases into meaningful reports. Epicor® also maps geographical and seasonal trends over an extended period to support accurate demand planning. Using the Epicor® Global Business Management Suite, businesses can manage multiple currencies and maintain control over locations across the globe. With these tools, you can plan for your company’s future.

Wrap Up

As great as these advantages sound, our expert ERP consultants know that taking the step towards implementing new software can be intimidating, especially when the marketplace seems to be changing every day. That’s why it’s important to partner with a consulting firm that can keep up with the pace and guide clients to software success.

In Datix’s 20 years of ERP experience, we’ve helped clients improve their business practices because of our ERP prowess and commitment to innovation. Unity, pre-built ERP integration platform, connects Epicor® with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce CRM. We also offer BI, cloud hosting, disaster recovery and eCommerce solutions, making us a one-stop shop for enterprise software.

Take your business to the next level. Contact Datix today to start your ERP journey!