How do you choose an ERP software? One advice is to choose software that’s customized for your particular industry. So if your small business involves manufacturing then you’ll want manufacturing ERP software solutions for SME. You may also want to get more specific programs depending on what kinds of products you manufacture, whether you make car parts or snacks.
Here are some other factors you should consider when making your choice for your ERP software
Easy Access
Where is the ERP installed? In some cases, you’ll want the program on your in-house computer so you can make sure that only authorized people can access your data.
But you may want to use a web-based cloud ERP solution on a remote server instead. This is particularly helpful when you have sales people in the field who need access to your ERP information while on the go.
Compatibility with Your Existing Software
When you get a new ERP system installed, you’re basically putting all your other systems into a unified managed stream. This means you need to make sure that your current software can be integrated into your new ERP system, or else you need to replace that component to something that’s compatible with your ERP.
If your other systems aren’t properly integrated, then data won’t flow as quickly and you risk getting inaccurate information into your system. That’s why you need to make sure your current system and software can integrate with the ERP solution you obtain
Shortening the Learning Curve
Your new ERP system is supposed to help your business by making everything run more efficiently. It can save you a lot of time and effort, and you save money in the long run.
But you need to make sure that your team can actually use your ERP software. This means you need to spare some time for training your people to use your new program so that you can get optimized results.
It does help if you already have some people who have some prior knowledge of a particular ERP system. They can then shorten the training time for themselves and help train the others as well.
Check the Price
This may seem obvious, but let’s not overlook the range of your budget. Not every small business has a large budget for ERP solutions. But the price tag you need to consider isn’t just the price of the ERP software. You also need to factor in the costs of the implementation and integration.
Some ERP solutions are more expensive because they offer more features. Check for features that you really need, so that you can avoid paying a higher price for features you don’t really use anyway.
Features
The ERP software should be able to give you features that you need. These can include:
- Product engineering for saving time and reducing data entry
- Inventory control so you don’t have shortages
- Project management intuitive purchasing
- Customer management features that help you provide accurate quotes
- Tracking warranties
- Employee management
- Production planning
- Accounting
- Sales CRM
- Business analytics
- Track employee performance
Updates
Optimizing the benefits from your ERP system requires that you’re getting the latest version of the software. Older versions may be more vulnerable to hacks, or they can cause errors and malfunctions in your business processes.
So how does your software update? Is it easy? If it takes a lot of time and you need to pay for the services of a consultant when you update the ERP software, then that can cost your business a lot of money on the end.