Company administrators and directors often feel like an "octopus", having to manage dozens of processes at the same time, jumping from one platform to another and another. Many businesses in the world manage their management through different software and nothing bad happens, it works for them. But as the company grows, the general picture can become complex and unsustainable, appearing operational failures, but also dissatisfaction in customers and employees due to poor service.
Being able to manage all the aspects of a company in a single platform would be the most ideal, with the possibility of quickly accessing the accounting system, jumping to the inventory part and finally reviewing the sales and customers section. All this and more can be achieved with the implementation of an ERP software in your company.
Let's start by defining what an ERP software is
Do not be suspicious, it is not an "invention" brought from another planet: its acronym stands for Enterprise Resource Planning in English, which translates into a planning and management platform for business resources. With an ERP software you can manage and monitor every aspect that makes up your company, without wasting time going from one software to another to get the information you need.
“ERP software unify a large number of business processes and enable the flow of data between them. By collecting transactional data shared by an organization from various sources, ERP systems eliminate data duplication and provide data integrity with a single source of truth", explains Oracle, one of the partners we work with.
What is an ERP software used for in a company? Our partner explains that they are essential “to manage thousands of businesses of all sizes and all industries. For these companies, the ERP is as important as the electricity that keeps the lights on”.
Main functionalities of an ERP software
There are different ERP software in the IT industry, such as the one offered by Odoo, ERPNext and Oracle, but most of the ones that exist share many of the functionalities they have.
Integrates easily
Undoubtedly, one of the ERP software characteristics most valued by companies in the broad integration capacity it has. Nothing compares to being able to integrate several applications and modules, which synchronize and work like a kind of gear. "Through the same database, the ERP system collects, stores and analyzes data across all departments", adds an article from the Select Hub portal.
Real-time monitoring of operations
This point is linked to the previous one: as this ERP system unifies the workflow of all the departments of a company, everything is connected and operations can be monitored realistically, according to an article in the CIO business magazine. For example, when a customer places an order, all at once the CRM connects to the inventory to validate the availability of the product. By confirming this information, the date available for delivery of the order is validated with the distribution department. And all these operations carried out on the same platform.
"Consistent" user interface
The best thing about ERP software is that its graphical user interface stands out for being consistent. There are many platforms, yes, but most have a consistent design that allows the user to manage the system easily and quickly, regardless of the updates that are installed. This is positive since the company saves budget by not having to invest in new team training and productivity is kept intact, since the team will not have to get used to a new system from scratch, with the complexities that this implies.
Keys for the search and implementation of an ERP software
An ERP in the cloud or local?
Perhaps the first thing you should decide is whether you want to implement an ERP software hosted in the cloud or locally. One of the important differences between the two options is the investment, since the cloud system can be cheaper. "A local system requires you to create a server infrastructure, which is quite expensive", alerts the Business Tech portal.
Type of license
The license to choose is also another important detail to consider, since it directly affects the investment. In general, there are ERP softwares that offer a monthly subscription model that can be more accessible in case your current budget is limited. You can also agree to pay a single license, much more expensive, but it would be a single payment.
Flexible and scalable
When implementing an ERP software, you have to think ahead, not just in the present. The platform you choose must be flexible to adjust to the current requirements of your company, it is true, but it must also be scalable so that it can grow as your business prospers and evolves over time.
Now that you know what an ERP is and what are the keys to choosing the most appropriate one for your company, we invite you to contact us to explain how this technological solution can enhance your company. Let's talk!
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