Small Business ERP Software

Jul 25, 2017

Small Business ERP Software Trends that May Benefit Your Business

 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has been around for a while, and new systems are developed all the time. Traditionally, these systems were the domain of companies and businesses with substantial financial resources, but new developments and trends have enabled small businesses to take advantage of the benefits associated with small business ERP software. It is more affordable than ever for a small business to implement a small business ERP system, helping them to run the business and its resources more effectively.

ERP takes many forms, but it can be defined as software that helps a business collect, interpret, and query historic and real-time data in different formats to draw conclusions about the business. It helps to automate back office functions, providing a better view of services, employees, tasks, and technology. It allows business managers to integrate information from different departments to form a holistic picture of their function. This allows them to streamline product planning and business development, improve manufacturing capabilities, and gain insights regarding marketing and sales – in a system with a central, easy-to-use interface.

Traditionally, ERP software was designed for large organisations with teams dedicated to enter, customise, and analyse the data, and to manage the system, the development, and upgrades. More recently, these systems have become more lightweight and can be effectively applied to small businesses. They can also be tailored to a particular business environment or industry.

The benefits of such an application is manifold, and can result in better productivity, increased or improved data flow, better collaboration and communication, increased definition and achievement of common goals, more creative problem-solving by employees, more autonomy, better motivation, reduced operational costs, and gaining useful business insights. Being able to see where the business is doing well and where attention is needed is a weapon in the arsenal of any business, and small business ERP software is increasingly being used to provide these insights. It also helps them to stand out from the competition because they can use their data to predict trends or new business directions that will improve its success.

 

New Trends in ERP

ERP was slow to change, but recent developments, especially in small business ERP, have unleashed new technology that provides a fundamental shift in ERP and the way it is used. New trends now allow for these systems to be used more creatively and effectively, which benefits the business as a whole.

 

  • Mobile small business ERP: Almost everyone owns a smartphone, and being able to view data in real time from anywhere can be a huge advantage. Mobile ERP can be viewed on a smartphone from any location with cellphone reception, and this means that business managers have access to the information they need, when they need it. ERP can be used to view reports, perform certain business processes, and view dashboards with valuable information.
  • Cloud-based ERP: Because cloud-based systems provide many benefits, the initial reluctance of business managers to base ERP in the cloud is fast disappearing. Cloud-based systems are secure, safe, and easily accessible from virtually any location. Business managers and employees can now embrace the cloud for their ERP systems in new ways.
  • Social ERP: The presence of social media in our lives is escalating daily, and new ways to tap into social media platforms for business benefit are being developed constantly. This also accounts for social ERP, which allows businesses to add social media packages to their ERP systems. The advantages of doing this are yet to be defined, but it is clear that ERP based on social media platforms may soon bring possibilities that were not previously considered.
  • Two-tier ERP: Usually, businesses tended to build a comprehensive ERP system that saw the organisation as a whole, and managed it as such. Following some big mistakes, two-tier ERP has emerged to allow businesses to get the best of both worlds. Two-tier ERP allows a business to run two ERP systems at the same time – one at corporate level and one at a subsidiary level. This, however, is not practical for small business ERP software systems, and there are lightweight small business applications that can be used effectively without having to resort to a two-tier approach.

 

If you would like to know more about how small business ERP software can help your business function better, give our experts at Lupus Consulting a call.

Warehouse Management Software

Jul 25, 2017

How Implementing Warehouse Management Software Can Benefit Your Business

 

No business can survive without effective systems and processes to manage it efficiently. Depending on the type of business, different systems and software can be used to manage the functions, productivity, tasks, employee information, warehouse data, and inventories. For businesses that work with warehouses, it is crucial to find the most suitable warehouse management software to help manage the various aspects of the warehouse more effectively.

 

What Is Warehouse Management Software?

The software forms part of a warehouse management system (WMS), which is an application used to support and manage the everyday functions and operations of a warehouse. It makes a variety of tasks easier and more effective, such as accurate reporting of the inventory, predictions about future orders, and the location of stock. Warehouse management systems may be implemented as a standalone solution or as a crucial part of an enterprise resource planning system (ERP).

 

Benefits of Warehouse Management Software

A WMS that is correctly formulated for your business environment can help your business in many ways:

  • Better management of labour: Your materials must be handled properly and if some materials require specific handling, it makes sense to use personnel that is versed in it. It may be helpful to pick stock differently or interweave stock to achieve the most efficient way of dealing with stock and labour. There are a lot of different combinations when it comes to picking and packing, and an effective WMS can help you to allocate these tasks in a combination that works best for your business.
  • Better relationships with suppliers and customers: It is crucial that your warehouse is run properly to minimise delivery errors and improve lead times, and for accurate orders. The correct orders must be delivered on time, and being able to take in stock immediately will benefit your suppliers. This means that your entire supply chain is managed better and everyone gets what they want at the time that they need it.
  • Reduced cost of operation: A good WMS will ensure that your perishable or expiring stock will be picked off first, and this reduces the chances of wasting stock by storing it for too long. It also helps to manage space better, and to allocate labour accordingly. Your WMS will be able to determine the best location for your stock and ensure that your warehouse space is used optimally.
  • Better planning: If you can ship orders correctly, you will not suffer repeat deliveries and stock corrections, which means that your delivery demand will be met efficiently. Your order rate will be higher and the system will be able to predict future demand by using the historic data.
  • Inventory is balanced: It is crucial that stock is stored in the correct environment and picked in the most effective order to reduce waste and stock expiring on the shelves. A good WMS will help you manage these processes much better and allow big savings.
  • Better security: Because workers must log in to their own user accounts to enter transactions, there is an audit trail when needed. This vastly reduces stock theft and other types of shrinkage that can be corrected through training.
  • Improved employee morale: Because warehouse management software provides structure and accountability, and simplifies otherwise complicated tasks, it can increase morale in the business, and motivate staff to work smarter rather than harder. If a staff member is clear on their responsibilities in the business, they can work more efficiently and with more accuracy and, as a result, become more autonomous. This boosts their sense of accomplishment and makes their work more enjoyable.
  • Improved transparency: Having access to real-time and historic data at all times improves the processes and leads to a more transparent way of working. It is also possible for employees to service customers better based on the real-time information they have access to, and this in turn leads to improved client support and better customer service.

 

While good warehouse management software can provide many benefits, it is crucial that you choose the correct WMS in order to get the best benefit and return on your investment. It usually means that you have to tap into the expertise of a professional in the field, such as Lupus Consulting. If you need information about warehouse management software as a standalone application, or as part of an enterprise management system, give our expert team a call today.