5 Ways ERP Automates or Streamlines Business Processes

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software integrates the applications and functions of your business into one cohesive data-sharing platform. All your vital systems are centralized, unlike disparate software solutions that work in silos and create inefficiencies such as redundant data entry, inaccurate data, bottlenecks, and lack of business performance visibility.

So how does having one centralized software solution with integrated applications and instant access to real-time data, with built-in artificial intelligence technologies benefit your business? We’re taking a deep dive into that question here.

Ways ERP automates or streamlines business processes #1: Automating manual tasks.

Manual tasks can consume much of your staff’s resources, and when you’re in competition with more streamlined businesses operating with effective ERP systems, you can’t afford to have your people wasting their time and talents. One of the keys to unlocking your business’ potential is unlocking the potential of your personnel. ERP does that by automating tasks, including the following:

• Locating information and forms
• Refilling inventory when it reaches preset levels.
• Organizing and tracking receivables
• Creating sales orders
• Coordinating intra-departmental workflows
• Emailing notices about product availability
• Sending out notices to shorten receivable cycles.

Ways ERP automates or streamlines business processes #2: Standardizing business processes and best practices.

Most business processes can be standardized according to industry best (most efficient) practices. ERP solutions designed for your specific industry have best practices and standard processes built in. Many can also be configured or customized to some degree to allow for your proprietary processes that you don’t want to change.

Standardizing according to industry best practices makes bringing new talent on board an easier proposition, since you won’t be training them on proprietary processes and systems. You simply hire for proficiency with your ERP solution and then plug-and-play your new employees.

Just as important, adopting an ERP solution with proven success in your industry allows your business to evolve organically with improving industry best practices. Your software vendor will make incremental changes as technology allows. Then they will inform and educate your staff about how those changes work in the system and how they provide a new level of operational efficiency, and those changes will be seamlessly implemented.

Ways ERP automates or streamlines business processes #3: Streamlining inter-departmental communication.

Some of the most inter-reliant departments are accounting, contact management, order processing, and inventory management and warehousing. An ERP solution reduces or eliminates the need for manual submission of data, emails, and phone calls, which are not only a waste of time, but lead to incorrect or conflicting data and resulting problems down the line. ERP systems sync accurate real-time data across all operating units, so that every employee has instant access to up-to-date information and forms.

Ways ERP automates or streamlines business processes #4: Deliver business-critical insights and forecasts.

Human brains can only process a limited amount of information, but machines can do much more with large amounts of data. ERP solutions for manufacturing provide data analytics tools, dashboard visualizations for an instant understanding of how a business unit is performing, and sophisticated demand forecasting and inventory management tools that can dramatically improve your cash flow.

Robust tracking and reporting tools enable your top executives and managers to understand business performance—and their own performance—down to granular details, and to communicate what matters most efficiently across your organization.

Ways ERP automates or streamlines business processes #5: Uncover marketing and ecommerce opportunities.

With all your business data centralized in a system with AI tools, your executives can quickly uncover customer, market, and industry trends that will lead to smarter decision-making. And if you have an integrated e-commerce platform, marketing managers can quickly understand customer online browsing and purchasing behaviors and optimize your website experience for customers. An integrated e-commerce module ensures that your website will continually meet or exceed user expectations, even as your best competitors raise the bar, and it won’t require any market research. Your user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) will evolve at the same rate as the industry’s top performers, without the need for you to allocate valuable personnel and slow your business down.

If your current processes are limiting your company’s potential, upgrading from an outdated legacy system or disparate software can unleash the capabilities of your decision-makers and your entire team. To learn more about how an ERP solution can automate or streamline your business processes, schedule a free consultation with one our ERP consultants.