Online ERP
October 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under ERP Selection
Small businesses who cannot afford to invest a lot of money in an ERP software solution now have the option to choose online ERP. Often much easier to implement, there is no hardware or software to install and there is no complex IT infrastructure to worry about. It all works all online. Normally subscription based it does not require a lot of up front capital. You can have small business online ERP up and running within a short period of time.
Traditional ERP packages can take months to get up and running, often requiring teams of consultants and expensive training programmes. Online ERP is cost efficient and because it is web based, it is available to everyone in every office of your business, no matter where they are located. Because it is pay as you go, your organization can add and subtract users as needed. As your company grows, an online ERP system grows with you, without the need for expensive upgrades or additional hardware.
Providers of Online ERP will take care of security giving small businesses the benefits of all of the current technology, expertise in networking and up to date security infrastructure. All of your data – CRM, reports, inventory, accounts etc. – will be backed up on a regular basis and network redundancy methods are in place to make sure that service is continuous.
Small businesses can often try out online ERP systems allowing them to see how it will work without having to invest a lot of money. Many small businesses will find the benefits of an online system very appealing. It is the obvious way to streamline your company’s business processes and improve performance without going over budget.
Tips on ERP Selection
October 16, 2009 by admin
Filed under ERP Selection
There are many reasons why small businesses decide to change from their existing software to a more sophisticated ERP system. Small business can quickly outgrow the software they start out with, simple tasks can become overly time consuming, duplicate data entry is often required and internal business processes can become inefficient and impractical. That coupled with a lack of visibility of business operations and finances can soon lead to a lack of control.
Further growth without employing more and more staff becomes impossible. What is needed is one system to run the entire business and provide real-time access to sales patterns, product availability, cash flow etc. What is needed is small business ERP.
When a small business elects to purchase a new ERP system, it should not settle for anything less than what other larger organizations would find acceptable. There is no point in moving forward with an ERP software vendor who does not offer a complete solution that includes accounting, inventory management, purchasing, order entry, customer relationship management etc.
During ERP selection you should take into consideration both existing and future software requirements. The small business should ask ERP software vendors to describe the scalability of their proposed software solutions. It is vital the software selected will provide the business with an opportunity for growth. Remember your ERP selection is for today, tomorrow, and beyond.
In addition to the software functionality, the selection should also be based on a software solution that is platform independent. By selecting an ERP solution that is platform independent, the small business does not need to worry about becoming locked in to or outgrowing a particular operating platform. An online solution where updates and new functionality are automatically and seamlessly applied can also save future expense on upgrades or expensive add-ons.
Another important consideration is ease of deployment. A solution that can be easily implemented, is easy to use and learn will mean less expense on consultancy and training.
The advantage to small businesses who adopt ERP early is that they can select an affordable ‘out of the box’ ERP solution which they can grow into – using new areas of functionality as the need arises.
We want to hear about your experiences. Please post your comments or suggestions or post a review under our ERP review category.
