May 29, 2018

CIO magazine on 'IT' challenges with ERP deployments

A recent analysis by a firm working to "bring jobs back to the U.S." reports that some manufacturing jobs are, indeed, returning to the United States---a net gain of more than 25,000 jobs in 2016; this, in spite of ongoing automation in sectors like automobile manufacturing, "electronic components and appliances."

To stay competitive, SMB-owners can benefit by implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) software,  like Microsoft Dynamics 365, to automate an array of processes, from planning and purchasing, to finance, marketing and sales.

At its core, an effectively deployed ERP network can provide solutions for the 'shop floor,' allowing authorized users to access data remotely through their mobile devices and tablets. Generally, this can create more opportunities, for example, for better collaboration among decision-makers.

Legacy programs in use by manufacturers, or distribution companies, often rely on an array of non-integrated programs to handle the majority of their processes. Unfortunately, this can mean using historic versus real-time data, and running multiple worksheets to generate financials.

What is the role of IT in implementing today's ERP software? CIO magazine points out the challenges IT faces in most any ERP deployment, and in migrating data from stand-alone computers:

"ERP vanquishes the old standalone computer systems in finance, HR, manufacturing and the warehouse and replaces them with a single, unified software program divided into modules that roughly approximate the old standalone systems. Finance, manufacturing and the warehouse all still get their own software, except now the software is linked together."

Today's ERP systems in the manufacturing sector, for example, also can use CRM tools to monitor customer interactions. In addition, this information can be integrated with orders, deliveries and service requests while gaining those all-important, customer insights---the kind that helps bolster the brand, tweak products and gain new customers. 

'Isolated,' and non-integrated files are a thing of the past with today's enterprise relationship management software: They combine business process with CRM capabilities.

Contact us for more information, and guidance, on the best ERP implementation for your business.