Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are a tool for businesses that allow you to manage organisational data and information from a central hub, as well as automating and simplifying a variety of other business processes. By integrating ERP solutions into your business operations, you’ll be able to monitor, organise and analyse multiple business functions, such as finance, accounting, communication, project management and much more.
As a business grows, owners will notice a need for innovative, supportive and easy-to-use digital solutions to help you keep up with your growing business activities and processes. ERP solutions can offer so many benefits to new or established businesses, but this article is about how integrating your ERP software can provide better access, fuller data and optimised day-to-day activities.
Here are 5 key benefits of integrating an ERP solution into your overall business operations:
Centralised Data Access
The benefits of integrating an ERP solution can extend to almost any part of your business operations. The most important feature of an ERP system that supports your organisation is the centralised data access that comes with it. Most businesses struggle with coordinating, sharing and managing information that comes from different departments; an integrated ERP solution helps owners solve this problem.
When your data’s being collected and stored in a centralised hub, every department and every employee will have direct access to that information. By no longer relying on manual data requests or transfers, your company can increase its productivity and efficiency, while promoting companywide collaboration and teamwork.
Increasing Productivity and Automating Processes
ERP systems give you the opportunity to automate a variety of processes throughout your business. This is one of the most prominent features of an ERP solution because automating business processes, like data entry, financial analysis or factory floor management, opens up time and resources for other priorities.
Automating data entry will also reduce the potential for numerical errors or duplicate information that are always possible when inputted by a human. These errors can accumulate over time and have a severe impact on your available data. Automation improves productivity by collecting and providing accessible, accurate and up-to-date information, as well as strategic operational support.
Improving Customer Service
Integrating ERP software into your business processes allows your employees to manage customer service inquiries more effectively. By having easy access to all operational data, customer service agents are capable of addressing the actual problem with real-time data and accurate customer histories. Better information, a holistic service approach and systemwide data accessibility support complete and efficient customer services.
Customer retention is a critical part of growing your business. When your customer service agents handle requests with greater accuracy, effectiveness and care, new customers are more likely to be retained or leave positive reviews. A company that grows their customer retention rates and improve their service delivery will always have an advantage over their competitors.
Actionable Insights
In addition to the incredible monitoring accuracy and data accessibility, businesses can benefit from a variety of actionable insights. These insights allow owners to improve their efficiency and streamline processes through multiple smaller interventions that combine to enhance productivity overall. High quality data will make your business reporting more accurate and financial information more representative of your company’s position.
ERP solutions are designed to collect real-time and usable data that are analysed and interpreted to determine these aforementioned actionable insights. Better access to information and more accurate data collection gives employees the opportunity to make more informed business decisions and provide better services to your clients. Use these actionable insights to save time and money by making the right decision, first time.
Enhance Visualisation and Interfacing
The final benefit of integrating ERP solutions that this article will address are the amazing advancements in the visualisation, interfacing and accessibility of digital information. Companywide connectivity between departments and online access to real-time data affords your employees the opportunity to see the bigger picture.
Each member of the workforce should be able to view and interact with their business’s most important information. Visualising the workflow across each component of your production process will allow you to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks and weak-performing sections of your business. An ERP system provides better visibility and refined interfacing with digital data, which helps identify new strategies that are easily implementable across the business and its workforce.
Final Thoughts
There is no question that integrating an ERP solution into your business will improve operational performance across the organisation. However, there are a few key areas in which ERP systems are most capable of benefitting companies. In particular, you’re able to improve data accuracy, streamline business processes, automate multiple tasks and access all of your information from a centralised hub. Identify existing weaknesses – or take advantage of new opportunities – as they arise and make positive changes for the future of your business.
For South African businesses that are looking to integrate world-class ERP solutions into their daily operations, look no further than Lorge. We offer ERP consulting services that include the selection, implementation, training and support of your new ERP system – and helping ensure that your business processes are optimised.
