Small business manufacturers and distributors generally want the same basic functional features in an ERP system, such as order management, inventory control, warehouse management, purchasing, manufacturing, financials, CRM, and business intelligence.
That being said, many small businesses also question how they can take advantage of an ERP software solution's complete set of functionality given their relatively limited internal resources and their desire to complete ERP implementation in a timely, cost-effective manner.
Given small businesses' relative limitations in both financial and human capital, can small businesses take advantage of the complete set of software functionality inherent in their ERP system while still completing ERP implementation in a relatively short time frame? The answer is, Yes! However, the degree to which small businesses can achieve ROI from ERP implementation can largely depend on the implementation methodology of their ERP vendor.
When going through ERP implementation, a small business should work closely with its project manager in determining the core functions, rules, and processes that the system must deliver by the project go-live date.
At the conclusion of the implementation process, the business must be able to perform all necessary transactions in the manufacturing or distribution software system to conduct business on a daily basis in a manner that is faster, easier, more cost-effective, etc.
than prior to implementation.
The business, should, in turn, begin to realize a return on its ERP investment.
That being said, what happens to the small business and its use of the ERP system following software implementation depends on the level of involvement of the ERP vendor and the software vendor's plan to "roll out" or implement additional software functionality in the months following the implementation project.
The ERP vendor's project management and implementation team should continue to work with the small business in developing a post-go-live plan to roll out additional software functionality after software implementation to allow the small business to continue to realize a return on its ERP software investment.
This plan could include leveraging features in the ERP system such as wireless warehouse management for RF and barcode-scanning to streamline warehouse operations and reduce costs or the ERP system's project accounting capabilities to gain visibility to the true cost of manufactured items at a very detailed level.
There is thousands of features and functions in an ERP system that a the business can take advantage of.
If and when the small business takes advantage of such features, however, depends on the implementation methodology of the ERP vendor.
If the software vendor has a history of working closely with its small business clients in developing plans to leverage additional functionality in the ERP system, the small business will be in a position to realize a return on its ERP investment in the months and years following software implementation.
That being said, many small businesses also question how they can take advantage of an ERP software solution's complete set of functionality given their relatively limited internal resources and their desire to complete ERP implementation in a timely, cost-effective manner.
Given small businesses' relative limitations in both financial and human capital, can small businesses take advantage of the complete set of software functionality inherent in their ERP system while still completing ERP implementation in a relatively short time frame? The answer is, Yes! However, the degree to which small businesses can achieve ROI from ERP implementation can largely depend on the implementation methodology of their ERP vendor.
When going through ERP implementation, a small business should work closely with its project manager in determining the core functions, rules, and processes that the system must deliver by the project go-live date.
At the conclusion of the implementation process, the business must be able to perform all necessary transactions in the manufacturing or distribution software system to conduct business on a daily basis in a manner that is faster, easier, more cost-effective, etc.
than prior to implementation.
The business, should, in turn, begin to realize a return on its ERP investment.
That being said, what happens to the small business and its use of the ERP system following software implementation depends on the level of involvement of the ERP vendor and the software vendor's plan to "roll out" or implement additional software functionality in the months following the implementation project.
The ERP vendor's project management and implementation team should continue to work with the small business in developing a post-go-live plan to roll out additional software functionality after software implementation to allow the small business to continue to realize a return on its ERP software investment.
This plan could include leveraging features in the ERP system such as wireless warehouse management for RF and barcode-scanning to streamline warehouse operations and reduce costs or the ERP system's project accounting capabilities to gain visibility to the true cost of manufactured items at a very detailed level.
There is thousands of features and functions in an ERP system that a the business can take advantage of.
If and when the small business takes advantage of such features, however, depends on the implementation methodology of the ERP vendor.
If the software vendor has a history of working closely with its small business clients in developing plans to leverage additional functionality in the ERP system, the small business will be in a position to realize a return on its ERP investment in the months and years following software implementation.