Small and Medium Business Adopting ERP Solutions

Adopting ERP Solutions Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), also often referred to as small and midsize businesses (SMBs),

Adopting ERP Solutions

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), also often referred to as small and midsize businesses (SMBs), have a tremendous advantage over larger enterprises and many don’t even know it. Because of SMEs’ energy and agility, they are more able to adapt to changes in the marketplace, implementing and adopting ERP solutions and emerging technologies to give them an operational advantage over larger enterprises.

SMEs are not subject to the same bureaucratic processes that corporations and other large enterprises have adopted over the years. Winning customers over with a more modern sensibility and customer-centric approach, SMEs can perform when they need to and turn on a dime when the market demands it. With larger enterprises, the adage of a big ship taking longer to steer fits appropriately alongside industry examples. Their size makes them far more able to weather storms, but less capable of maneuvering. Therefore, SMEs should be adopting ERP solutions and modern automation tools to make their jobs easier now, before their current systems are outgrown at a time when operations can’t afford to be put on hold for implementation.

an image of disorganized wooden drawers.

The Transition To Effective ERP Solutions Only Gets More Complicated And Costly As Your Enterprise Grows.

Implementing these time and resource-saving tools enables SMEs to compete at an accelerated rate. Critical as they may be, the computer systems and software needed to run a successful enterprise of any size are often overlooked components. Amalgamated systems, pieced together from a large swath of vendors, may work for a business at one time and place, but eventually, a unified system is necessary to ensure productivity and survivability as an enterprise grows in tandem with its customer base. Employing these solutions will reduce wasted labor and streamline efforts, allowing departments to work together with the same data, rather than against each other in siloed systems.

Defining Processes With ERP Systems

There will come a time when the c-suite or upper-level management will identify the need to implement an ERP system. Initially serving enterprises as a financial visibility tool, ERP systems have grown to encompass so much more. Now businesses can implement systems that grow alongside their business with modular capabilities that allow them to implement beyond the core system functionalities. A good ERP system will provide data storage and visibility, manufacturing execution, supply chain management, human capital management, and a quote-to-cash process that takes minutes compared to the antiquated manual approach of the sales cycle. These are just a few of the core competencies of a modern ERP, add to that mobile capability and cloud agility and workforces can utilize these powerful systems remotely or on-site from the shop floor to the boardroom to ensure their operations are running as smoothly as they can.

Cleaning Up The Clutter

SMEs are known for being a medley of paper systems and software applications that allow them to operate with a separate solution for each need. As different departments operate within their systems, they are missing out on the benefits of sharing data with other components of the business operations. Synchronized communication and data visibility cut down on operational lag that results from data being strewn about. Your company’s IT department probably knows the scope of servers, databases, and operating system hindrances as a result. By implementing an effective ERP solution, your business can more appropriately connect its people, processes, and systems to ensure vital data is stowed, prepared, and available in real time.

an image of a cleaning crew sweeping into a dust pan.

Get Rid Of The Clutter. The New Broom Of ERP Sweeps Clean.

Managing Human Processes Using Automation and ERP

Like most SMEs, the workforce is always pushed to perform on a lean pool of resources. It’s not inherently a bad way of operating, but when vital people fall ill, take their vacation time, or up and leave at a crucial time, likely, their work can’t be taken up quickly by someone else because of poorly organized systems that make their core processes and the associated data systems available. When these processes are confined to spreadsheets, the task of making sense of it all when critical personnel is absent becomes an even larger hurdle. Getting rid of the manual calculations associated with data input and output through the business’ many systems. ERP addresses this by taking over the mundane and repetitive calculations required, effectively ending the need for relying on less robust solutions, like Excel.

Man stacking a tower of wood blocks with human silhouettes, human resources and management concept.

Human Capital Management Is Much Easier With The Tools Provided By ERP Solutions.

The Data You Need, Now

With size comes a divide in how the way upper management interacts with the workforce. As the distance between management and day-to-day operations increases, ERP bridges the gap with increased visibility. Reposting becomes the window through which management sees the company’s performance. ERP systems are especially suited to deliver quality reporting for accurate performance data today and accurate forecasting tomorrow and beyond. Beyond boilerplate standards, adopting ERP solutions can deliver custom reports based on the data points managers want to see in any given instance. Consultants and developers can assist in further enhancing customizations within ERP systems.

a photo of charts and graphs on a tablet with printed data sheets on a table.

Get The Data You Need To Refine Processes And Increase Production In Real-Time With ERP.

Outpace The Race

With the time invested in reporting brought down significantly through effective ERP solutions, the error-prone and time-consuming task of data entry and location becomes a less obtrusive task. Businesses can more easily scale at pace with the industry as a result. The dependable routine that effective ERP solutions provide offers financial reporting and processes that companies can rely on as they grow. dependable systems and accurate automation through ERP systems enable expansion and additional staff to be brought on and up to speed, faster.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm specializing in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.

Sean Balogh

About Sean Balogh

A marketing professional working hard to deliver relevant and engaging content to audiences in education, technology, and manufacturing.