While on-premise enterprise resource planning is still the more commonly used business management software, cloud ERP is taking great strides. Over the last few years we've seen cloud ERP adoption growing and beginning to take a decent amount of the ERP market, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The many benefits of cloud ERP include lower implementation costs, improved scalability and more mobile capabilities. 

Two-tier strategies
One of the ways that cloud computing can help enterprises is as part of a two-tier system. An enterprise can keep some ERP functions on-premise, while performing other functions through a cloud ERP vendor. An enterprise running a legacy ERP that would be hard to transfer to a cloud platform would be a good candidate for two-tiered ERP. Similar to the hybrid cloud, tiered ERP allows more control over what data is stored onsite and what is stored in the cloud. 

Small business tools
Implementing cloud-based business management software solutions can be more challenging for larger enterprises. Bigger companies tend to have more established legacy systems that are engrained in every facet of their business processes. Their complex IT infrastructure makes moving to the cloud a far greater challenge.

Cloud ERP implementation is much easier for small to medium businesses, Eric Kimberling of Panorama Consulting told Enterprise Apps Today. Smaller businesses "are more likely to gravitate toward the cloud because they don't have as mature business processes that are difficult to change to fit the software," he added. Cloud ERP also provides more freedom to scale quickly: small businesses don't need to worry about upgrading their hardware as they grow their customer bases with cloud ERP. 

Manufacturing mobility
For manufacturers, the more complex their supply chain, the more they can benefit from ERP mobility. While on-premise ERP can help boost production scale, cloud ERP's mobile capabilities help manufacturers get products to market faster and provide better service to partners and customers. Louis Columbus of Forbes called cloud ERP "one of the onramps for new business models now and in the future." Manufacturing business software should help growing enterprises take advantage of the mobile workforce trends. 

If your enterprise needs to take the next step, we can help! We help growing companies implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV, a flexible, agile ERP system that helps manufacturers operate efficiently and make quick decisions using real-time data. Accent Software's team has been helping small businesses implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV for over 15 years. Contact us to learn more about this business management software, and the many ways your team will be thankful for it.