What is ERP and how does it work – Updated Guide 2022
Being a business owner, you should always find out the options which help you work more efficiently and smoothly. Enterprise Resource Planning, commonly known as the ERP systems is a more efficient way of handling your business. It takes down the overhead cost to a bare minimum while simultaneously increasing the business’ efficiency to its fullest. Since one of the major goals of business owners is to run their business efficiently at the lowest cost, therefore, ERP is the best solution. Thus, let’s understand ERP in detail.
Definition of ERP and its full-form
The full form of ERP is Enterprise Resource Planning. It is a management software that helps run businesses smoothly simply by automating all the routine procedures. All business-related data related to sales, inventory, human resources, finances, etc are stored in one place. It makes tracking the growth more convenient as you can get real-time updates and have a bigger picture in front of you. It also makes it easier to rectify mistakes and improve business strategies for better business growth.
What is it and how does it work?
You must be intrigued about finding more related to ERP and how it works. It is indeed the best way to improve a business’s efficiency and profit scale. It is basically a business procedure managing software that collects and sorts data in one place. It improves the quality of operations company-wide since you get complete control of your resources. You wouldn’t require multiple apps to manage your operations, and everything will be in one place through ERP systems.
However, it is important to invest in a trusted and reputable ERP system to get maximum efficiency. It would be an investment to have your operations automated and get in-depth insights. There are multiple tools and features in an ERP system to analyze reports and metrics of different departments in a company. Since the resources used are considerably reduced, efficiency improves ten folds and there is no compromise on the quality and performance of the business. These resources include staff, time, money, raw materials, etc. The ERP reports and metrics help in showing you a clear picture of how the resources get utilized. Eventually, it helps in understanding the usage of resources and how they can be improvised. It gets easier to figure out the areas that need more attention and effort. At the end, when all the data is in one place, a lot of time is saved which can be invested in improving the business strategies.
Benefits for startups, organizations, and SMEs
As discussed previously, ERP helps in making businesses more efficient with reduced costs and resources. It does not affect the quality or progress and therefore, business owners can pay attention to the business strategies. They get more time to focus on introducing new strategies which will be beneficial and more profitable. Therefore, you must invest in a good ERP system for the automation of your business. There are different types of ERP systems, and you must choose the one suitable for your industry. Following are the benefits which you will find in every system.
Convenient interface
ERP systems gather all the data in one place and business owners can easily use it from anywhere in the world. If you have your company headquarters in one city and factories in another, you can easily integrate into the system and keep a check. It will save your cost of hiring supervising staff to give you reports. The user interface of ERP systems is quite straightforward and anyone can operate it. You don’t need any professional to use the system.
Improved data analytics
ERP systems use Business Intelligence tools to collect data, make reports, and perform an overall analysis of the business. These are AI tools and hence 100% accurate. It will help you to understand your business’ performance better and focus on areas that need improvement.
Smooth inter-communication
Since all the departments are in one place with ERP systems, there is no chance left of human error or miscommunication. You don’t have to switch between various apps to communicate with various departments and therefore, there is no room for mistakes. All the departments are available in one place and can be easily monitored there.
Unmatched data security
With all the benefits and convenience of digitalization, there are some drawbacks as well. Cyber security is the major concern of the digital era. Businesses must invest their time and money in top-notch security systems to protect their online data. ERP systems help in protecting all your data and important document as it is stored all in one place and multiple software don’t have access to it. It reduces the risk of data theft or cyber attack.
Customized features
If you are unable to find an ERP system according to your requirements, you can get a customized system as well. There are many custom options as well in which you can integrate the features you need and like.
Various features of ERP
Following are the different features of an ERP system. Your business can avail the feature required.
Accounting
All the financial data is stored and secured in one place. Starting from the raw material purchase slips to product delivery and payroll etc.
Ecommerce and web
Online sales must be dealt with separately from the physical store. This feature helps in keeping a record of sales and performance of online stores specifically.
Human resources
Through this feature, you can manage your employees easily. Their attendance, payroll expense, recruitment, and individual performance can be handled in one place.
Inventory bookkeeping
Inventory management is a tricky job and requires full attention. ERP systems make it easier and more accurate. Automated monitoring of the warehouse ensures a smooth delivery process.
Project management
There is a project management tool that helps the stakeholders and employees to communicate effectively. It helps both parties to stay on the same page regarding any particular project without any communication gap.
CRM and marketing
Customers are the most valuable asset of any business. The CRM and marketing features allow customers to engage with the company through various means. It could be social media, search engines, or emails. Customer engagement and active response from the company build a positive brand image.
ERP systems are one of the greatest inventions of the digital world. It is especially beneficial for organizations, startups, and SMEs since their profit margin increases. Moreover, due to AI technology and automation, there is no room for error left. Hence, it saves the business from any sort of loss in the future.
