NOT SURE WHAT AN ERP IS? LET US BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the consolidated process of gathering and organising business data through integrated software. ERP software includes applications for various business function optimisation. To understand how ERP solutions can benefit your business, it helps to get a better sense of what ERP is and how it works. Here's a short introduction to ERP and why everybody seems to like it.

ERP is designed to support all a company's departments with improved business processes. Think about all the different operations required to manage a business, including inventory and order control, production, sales, accounting, human resources, customer service and beyond. ERP software combines these different teams and processes into one complete structure at the simplest level, to streamline operations and information through the whole organisation. A centralised database that serves various functions used by separate business units is the core characteristic of all ERP systems. In practice, this suggests that staff in multiple departments may rely on the same data for their particular needs.

Any degree of coordinated reporting and automation is also provided by ERP software. ERP solutions allow employees to extract files from one system instead of managing different databases and spreadsheets that have to be manually combined to produce reports. For instance, the order processing department can handle orders more efficiently, with purchase orders instantly flowing into the financial system without any manual re-keying, the finance department can shut the books quicker. Other typical ERP features include a portal or dashboard to help employees to understand the success of the company based on the key metrics easily.

To meet individual requirements, there are many various forms of ERP tailored for many industries. Using industry-specific ERP is critical because, with needless functionality, the general ERP system can weigh you down. Manufacturers, for example, require raw material management software, whereas the higher education sector mostly requires scheduling resources for students, educators and staff. Although ERP with scheduling software is often required for a production facility, a school does not require ERP to handle raw materials. If your company invests in a general ERP full of features that you don't need, all you do is slow down your own resources and confuse employees.

Types of ERP

There are also different operational types of ERP software. On-site resource planning is installed directly on your devices. These systems are designed for organisations of all sizes, although they may be more suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. Open-source resource planning like any open-source software, allows you to inspect, adjust, and improve your ERP source code. Using an open-source ERP lets you customise your application to best suit your workplace. Any ERP Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) that is available via a cloud-based hosting service rather than on-site implementation is called cloud-based ERP. This option allows you to view data in real-time as long as you have access to the Internet and is ideal for large companies. It is also suitable for remote-working businesses with different locations that need to keep in coordination with each other. Enterprise resource planning solutions that incorporate on-site and cloud-based implementation are called hybrid.

Advantages of ERP

Enterprise resource management offers improved company results with great benefits. First and foremost, ERP offers workflow visibility and streamlining. Before ERP systems, communication between different workplaces took a lot of time and effort. If you wanted updates to a particular part of your company, you had to call or visit the site. Large companies in both national and international locations had to operate across time zones. And if there was a problem with one of your production partners overseas, it might drag back your whole company. Luckily, ERP systems have revolutionised workflow visibility. Now, even when you're in your headquarters, you can open a common database from your ERP suite to get real-time information of what's going in the business.

ERP applications use business intelligence (BI) software to offer data collection, analysis and reporting processes. There are several ways to evaluate data in real-time to make instant improvements to. Consequently, you can use historical data for business forecasting.

There's also a possibility to adjust data for personalised reports. Present these updates to crucial clients, corporate partners or the staff to keep everyone aware of key performance metrics.

Scheduling tools are widely versatile elements of ERP solutions. It is possible to coordinate when employees come in for shifts, when a product is shipped, and when the facilities are under maintenance. There's a possibility to arrange each scheduling in a single calendar so that all the teams and supply chain associates remain on the same page. 

The more divisions your organisation has, the more important it is to monitor internal communications to prevent errors. If the organisation has branches all over the world, you need a way for everyone to keep in touch through time zones and possibly language barriers. ERP collaboration tools arrange scanned documents, files, emails and more. There are also personalised channels for instant communication between the employees and partners.

Protecting your business from fraudulent practises is more critical than ever before. If your company operates online, you can be at risk. Real-time risk assessment systems built in ERP offer added protection for the business by running predictive checks and monitoring fraud. Besides, your business is processing a lot of confidential details. Using a single ERP device protects by having all the relevant documents and correspondence in one place. You will also reduce the replication of data by holding all the knowledge within a single coherent structure.

Is ERP suitable for your business?

The capabilities of ERP custom module implementations are evolving with modern technologies and could be easily adaptable to your business. The new developments include applications for artificial intelligence programming and the Internet of Things to fulfil your needs.   
Moreover, even though ERP stands for "enterprise," high-growth and mid-size businesses are now increasingly embracing ERP systems. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions—also referred to as cloud computing—have helped fuel this development. Cloud-based applications not only make ERP apps more affordable, but they also make it easy to incorporate and maintain. Perhaps more specifically, Cloud ERP allows real-time monitoring and BI, making them much more attractive to executives and employees requiring visibility into the business. As a result, businesses of all sizes and a wide variety of sectors are moving to cloud ERP solutions. When you look at the benefits of ERP, it's easy to see why it has become so successful and why it can continue to grow so quickly.

What ERP do we use?

UNBXD team uses ASANA, which is a software-as-a-service designed to improve team collaboration and work management. It helps teams manage projects and tasks in one tool. The team can create projects, assign work to teammates, specify deadlines and communicate about tasks with clients. It also includes reporting tools, file attachments, calendars, and more. Asana's open API provides a means to programmatically read data, input information into Asana, and create automation. This allows developers to build on the Asana platform and customise it to the unique way our team works.

How can UNBXD help you with implementing the ERP for your business?

Perhaps the best way an agency partner can make the ERP execution process as smooth as possible is to help you avoid a lot of the speed bumps that many companies face when they try to incorporate the system themselves. We can help you with identifying your pain points and setting up the objectives for the system. 

The ERP features must be synchronised with the company's specifications. UNBXD will help you with the demand list that’s based on your budget and core needs, achieving a smooth and hurdle less implementation of the ERP. It’s important to mention that we can assist in deciding what future requirements your company might have that system should accommodate. You don’t have to worry about data migration, employee training, customisation and testing. Our team will assist you in going live and starting organising all your plans and personnel, streamlining company processes comfortably.

If you are looking for assistance with ERP or large scale e-commerce development, get in touch with a member of the team today!