Why Cloud ERP is Critical for Wholesale Distributors, Manufacturers

Why Cloud ERP is Critical for Wholesale Distributors, Manufacturers

Today’s manufacturers and wholesale distributors are experiencing a change in their industry and business procedures, and they have to change their ERP software system to keep pace in an ultra-competitive marketplace. Changing ERP methodologies and IT frameworks means taking the time to comprehend existing business processes and re-engineering them for better effectiveness and ideal efficiency.
Important steps to take before selecting another ERP system or modernizing your current solution:
  • Adjust ERP project objectives to match business objectives. Time after time, a wholesaler or manufacturer concentrates selecting another ERP solution as opposed to on outlining what that framework ought to do and how well it backs the organization’s core business procedures. That won’t facilitate a successful ERP system. Rather, examine existing business processes and how they can be optimized.
  • Examine your existing processes and map them out. Discover if they overlap, produce duplicate information, create bottlenecks or wasted effort, avert great customer service, or if they just take longer than they ought to.
  • Analyze your business processes against industry-standard best practices. Outline the best practices for accounting, CRM, ecommerce, and supply chain management.
  • Create a plan for how your company’s processes should work and what is needed of an ERP solution to implement optimized business practices. By seeing how the business ought to be changed – how information should stream, what division should be communicating which information to different departments, and where data can be brought together and centralized, businesses can redesign their procedures to be more efficient, making the ideal objectives for your ERP project, alongside a practical budget, programming requirements, and a timeline for completion.
The ERP RFP
When creating the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an ERP software purchase, companies should incorporate all of the business and IT requirements. Those are:
  • All standard ERP components – e.g. ERP, CRM, financials, production and HR – integrated into the software platform, with support for different needs or requirements like ecommerce, logistics, inventory, and business intelligence.
  • A software solution that incorporates all industry best practices for different types of security, business regulations and consumer protection laws.
  • Customization capability and accompanying modules to extend your ERP system to meet unique requirements. Additionally consider the amount expertise that is required to tweak the application. When its all said and done, there’s an major difference between requiring a $100,000 a year Java engineer and essentially putting existing staff through essential training.
  • In the cloud. A cloud-based solution, like Netsuite ERP, empowers businesses to change and alter their applications to meet unique needs. The single code base that a cloud-based solution can add makes it much easier to include additional functionality and integrate supporting applications. It also facilitates a standard set of business practices and information management throughout your organization, saving money on IT and upgrade costs.
How would you know beyond any doubt if your provider truly offers cloud solutions or if they’re simply putting on a show? Search for an active 3rd party application marketplace with many apps (more than a dozen) and solid customer reviews on those applications. A strong 3rd party marketplace demonstrates the provider is truly committing time and dollars to cloud development. Additionally, check if the provider tests and guarantees its partners to create applications on its cloud platform.
Get to Know Your Solution Provider. You will likely discover a few ERP providers who can address your specific industry needs. Your ERP provider will be – or ought to be – providing specialized training, technical support, consulting, and customization. Take time to visit them at trade-shows, go to their sessions at local business gatherings, follow them on online networks, and get in-touch with existing clients that work in your industry. Having the right ERP provider as your long-term business partner will be critical in successfully implementing your new ERP solution.