There are a lot of
ERP solutions available in the market, but not all of them can be the right
choice for you. You have to think diligently and chalk out a list of problem
areas specific to your domain and industry before making the final purchase
decision.
Traditionally, ERP solutions were built, keeping in
mind the needs and requirements of a wide range of industries. During the
implementation process, the IT team would conduct a rigorous study of the
client’s specific challenges and then decide the features of the ERP system.
Generic ERPs were
costly to purchase, difficult to implement, and required a whole team of IT
specialists to maintain and update. It is why most companies took a
considerable amount of time before going forward with the final implementation.
As time progressed,
technology evolved. Today, ERP software provides industry-specific solutions,
thereby saving time and money in the long run. The plus point of industry-specific
ERP software is that businesses no longer require IT specialists to configure
it as per the industry’s needs. Also, it takes care of all business processes
with minimal or no customization required.
Research also
indicates the same. A recent survey of over 200 business executives reveals
that they require ERP software specifically built to deliver solutions
particular to their industry.
With improvements
in cloud technology and their easy integration with ERP systems,
industry-specific ERP software is gaining momentum. In 2018 alone, cloud-based
ERP systems had a 20.7% enterprise application growth rate. Leading research
institute Forrester has estimated that by 2020, the cloud subscriptions for
business applications will account for $170 billion in revenue.
Let’s see some benefits of the industry-specific ERP software and why companies invest significant time and money.
1. Minimal implementation cost
Generic ERP
solutions entail huge costs. Apart from the significant license fee, companies
have to pay for features that they may never use. Consider a company that
specializes in providing excellent customer service on behalf of its clients.
Seeing an increase in work, it decides to implement a generic ERP solution.
What benefit will it gain from features specifically meant to help sales,
marketing, and supply chain departments? On the contrary, it can save a massive
amount of time and implementation cost with an industry-specific ERP solution
solely built to assist support agents.
2. Reduced implementation time
An industry-specific ERP software will already have many built-in business-critical functions that will significantly reduce the implementation time. It also allows for essential integrations to other necessary software such as Finance and Account Management, Supply Chain Management, Retail Management, Customer Service, Business Intelligence, and Field Service Management. Such instant API connections will further pull down the implementation cost.
3. Cheaper maintenance costs
The best thing
about an industry-specific ERP solution is that you can readily take help from
domain experts in your field. They will identify problems, diagnose
bottlenecks, and eliminate errors as soon as they encounter them. This strategy
will help you get quick solutions and will significantly lower your maintenance
costs.
Why is an industry-specific ERP solution better than
a generic one?
There is no doubt
that generic ERP solutions provide a wide array of functionalities that can
simultaneously support multiple operations. But not many companies need all
those functionalities. They require help in a few areas and would prefer to pay
only for them. Customizing generic ERP solutions is a costly affair, and quite
often, it doesn’t attune to the company’s goals and objectives. In contrast, an
industry-specific ERP software provides an all-encompassing solution that
requires low cost and less time to implement.
Another vital
feature of industry-specific ERP software is that it is truly customer-centric.
It is designed keeping in mind the end user’s demands and needs. All the
elements — including monitoring, functional control, process orientation,
action on customer feedback, customer segmentation, forecasting sales trends to
name a few — are designed to provide better control and resolve the industry’s
specific challenges.
Further, it helps
companies to gain visibility in their processes and determine the problem
areas. This activity prevents manufacturing quality from falling and puts an
end to delivery delays.
For the business to
make profits and outperform its competitors, it has to ascertain customers’
needs and fulfill their desire. It’s also critical to fix competitive product
prices and maintain adequate stocks and supplies of essential goods. An
industry-specific ERP software will help you locate the exact pain-areas and
provide to-the-point solutions.
For instance, of
the many leading ERP solutions, Sage X3 ERP software is designed specifically
for the Pharmaceutical industry. It is designed to provide pin-point solutions
for supply chain management inefficiencies, strict regulatory compliances, and
rigorous quality assurances faced by Pharma companies to operate efficiently.
It streamlines daily tasks, allows data sharing across the organization,
maintains a consistent chart of accounts, and enables all business stakeholders
to work as a cohesive unit.
Takeaway
As a leading
manufacturer, you should lay out a detailed plan before making the final
purchase. The three points that top the list should be — smooth implementation,
a minimal investment of time and money, and easy maintenance.
If you are planning
to invest in an ERP solution, keep your mind open. A generic ERP software is
not explicitly bad, but it may fall short of providing industry-specific
solutions. On the contrary, it can be customized to offer a wide range of
functions that cater to multiple industries’ needs.
The final decision
rests upon your shoulders.
Industry-specific
ERP software is gaining wide recognition because of its ability to provide
pinpoint solutions. It is more affordable, is easier to maintain and upgrade,
and requires relatively less implementation time. Thus, it can give you the
necessary impetus to grow quickly in less time.
The post Why is Important for Businesses to Opt for Industry-Specific ERP Software? appeared first on ERP News.