Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a software system that integrates the entire core processes needed to run a company. In a nutshell, ERP makes managing your business much easier. A typical organisation has many departments or business units that communicate and exchange data with each other. The success of any organisation lies in its effective communication and data exchange within these departments as well as associated third parties such as vendors and customers. To compete in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, companies need to transform into intelligent enterprises and this where ERP can play a major role.

Many small businesses start out using a variety of simple, standalone disparate tools to manage different processes within their business. For example, some of these tools may include Excel spreadsheets to track inventory, QuickBooks to keep track of financial information, and perhaps even a hard copy order book that takes a customer order and the details of the customer. These simple disparate processes and tools may work at a push most of the time for a small company, but as the business grows, managing such disparate applications can get messy and time-consuming and the chances are your employees are spending too much time inputting duplicate or inconsistent data entries into separate systems. These disparate information systems are developed individually over time and can be numerous in a company and can result in difficulties and incredibly inefficiencies for any company to handle. Disparate systems can lead to inconsistencies, inaccurate data, and duplication of data – and a lack of timely information – can lead to customer dissatisfaction, loss of sales, and damage to a company’s reputation – not to mention a mismanaged inventory of materials and labour.

Better information flow, such as a centralized system of information, and data management that your business teams can share, will enable your business teams to do their jobs more efficiently. It’s that simple. That is essentially what ERP is. It is a centralized system of information and data management that is shared with various departments, with departments having access to information about other departments or business units. It eliminates the duplication, discontinuity, and redundancy in data, providing accurate information across all departments in real-time.

Enterprise resource planning is good for business and the benefits of ERP are immense. It positions your company to make faster decisions, embrace new opportunities, streamline, better handle payroll, improve inventory management, increase customer satisfaction, and drive profitable growth.

An ERP system is typically made up of several software modules that talk to each other and share a database of your company’s information. Each software module focuses on one business area such as sales, finance, inventory, or logistics. As each ERP module is connected to and shares a common database, different business units such as the sales team or marketing department can then work from data and treat it as a single source of accurate information – thus facilitating correct fact-based decisions and improving the flow of information across an organization, its efficiency, and overall productivity.

Many ERP systems include advanced analytics capabilities that help you spot new sales channels and revenue streams. It frees up time and also provides the metrics you need to make profitable adjustments. It can help you run smarter and leaner operations and identify cost centers in your organisation and improved profitability metrics.

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning software is highly attractive to both large and small businesses. Cloud ERP allows users to access ERP software over the internet. It gives companies access to their business-critical applications at any time from any location through an internet-connected device. Cloud ERP is particularly valuable to small and medium-sized businesses because it provides access to full-function applications at a reasonable price without a substantial upfront expenditure for hardware and software. Cloud ERP is smart and adaptable, fast, and affordable, and is secure and reliable.

At endeavit, we can help you utilize the latest ERP tools and software to become more efficient. We utilize SAP, a multinational software corporation that makes enterprise software, to bring you some of the best enterprise resource planning possible. We can help you enable ERP in the cloud for cost-effectiveness. Our approach to ERP and expertise will help you understand your business better and streamline your business processes to make you a more efficient, high performing, and nimble operating company.