(Last Updated On: January 24, 2024)

If you own or run a small or medium-sized business (SMB), you know that the better you are now at business, the more clients you have, and the more items or services you sell, the more complicated day-to-day operations can become.

ERP, or enterprise resource planning, is a piece of software that allows businesses to manage different business operations from a single location. Accounting, logistics, inventory tracking, human resources, and other areas are all possible. Building an ERP system enables businesses to manage the complete business process chain.

What is ERP?

ERP is a software system that assists you in running your complete organization. An ERP, at its heart, automates company activities and gives insights and internal controls by utilizing a central database that receives inputs from departments such as accounting, operations, management of supply chains, sales, marketing, and HR.

For a variety of reasons, the prospect of selecting, building, and deploying an ERP system is intimidating, since the risks appear to exceed the advantages. Let’s look at 5 ideas for small businesses on how to use an ERP system for improved operational management.

Define your desired outcomes

Using a new ERP system brings an excellent chance to leverage advanced data analytics and simulations, such as digital threads or technologies, to predict future requirements and concerns.

When many businesses decide to install ERP, they don’t know exactly what they want at the conclusion of the process. Another significant danger that many business owners confront when installing ERP systems is the inability to affect the company’s bottom line.

We recommend that you understand your situation, what you do, what you really want to accomplish, map out your process, and decide where you want to go. Begin by establishing the project’s scope. Pay attention to unique processes and needs.

Utilize Cloud ERP system

Adopting a cloud ERP for small businesses can help to optimize company operations and the flow of incoming information. According to Statista’s worldwide 2019 study, 37% of respondents utilize on-premise ERP software implementation in their business.

Furthermore, a cloud update can make it simpler to integrate various platforms, such as firm financial apps and data source systems, allowing for the easier building of dashboards that give at-a-glance information.

Cloud-based solutions are safer, more dependable, and more rapid than on-premise alternatives. It can also help you save money by reducing the need to operate and upgrade your system, freeing up resources for other vital tasks.

Cloud-based ERP solutions are more scalable and easier to adopt than on-premise systems. They automatically download and install updated fixes and updates. Not only that, but it is also cost-effective since it eliminates the need for hardware installation.

Additionally, they prove to be cost-effective by eliminating the necessity for hardware installation. For cutting-edge cloud-based ERP software solutions, consider exploring Discovery Solutions to enhance the efficiency of your business operations.

Prioritize the user experience

As you decide which ERP system to utilize and plan the installation phase, make sure consumers are aware of the new capabilities and how they will benefit them. This will help to encourage people to participate completely in the digital transformation shift.

It is critical to assess not just the software itself, but also the ease with which end users can grasp and use the new technologies. The last thing you want to do is launch software that eventually turns off and becomes something they avoid using unless absolutely necessary.

Evaluate the vendor’s templates, online help, training materials, communities, and forums. What does onboarding entail? Is there a self-service option available so that end-users may get up and running without the need for IT intervention?

Automate routine duties

The automation functionality of an ERP system is one of the finest methods to assist small businesses in improving their operations. By automating your company routines and procedures, you can constantly maintain important information up to date, which is extremely beneficial for inventory management, order fulfillment, and order status tracking.

Furthermore, the ERP system centralizes your data, making it easily available to all members of the business at any time. And you can even also automate daily reports, freeing up your time to focus on more complex jobs that robotic systems cannot handle.

While ERP systems have gotten increasingly automated and robotic over time, their end-users are still people who must be able to conduct a wide range of ERP-related jobs. Regular training is the most effective approach to guarantee that everyone understands how to use the ERP system.

Use agile and low-code technologies

Because of the way they were created, ERP systems are sometimes regarded as inflexible monoliths that cannot be changed at the speed of business. Companies may modify that with the current transition to agile software development and the wider democratization of IT allowed by developments such as low-code or no-code development environments.

Furthermore, with low-code and no-code solutions, businesses may securely change business operations at the edges without affecting the main ERP system.

Bottom line

ERP solutions let firms gather, store, handle, and analyze data. Data can refer to anything linked to business operations. You will most certainly encounter several hurdles if you do not have a thorough concept and expertise of it.

Finally, it is critical to track the progress of your ERP goals over time. However, with everyone’s combined work and support, fantastic outcomes are probable.