A global survey of over 1,500 business professionals across 10 countries has provided some valuable insights into how businesses use enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, what benefits they gain from it and what improvement they would like to see in the future.

Eighty percent of respondents called ERP critical to their business, but half would like to see significant improvements to their performance. When asked which specific areas should be addressed, the two most common answers were responsiveness and ease of access. Users want enhanced performance from their ERP, with ease of deployment, improved access to information and scalability among their top concerns.

The interviewees were also asked about their preferences regarding cloud migration. Only 20 percent said they would prefer to continue to invest in strictly on-premises systems, with 64 percent favoring cloud or, at least, hybrid cloud deployment.

As the official press release notes, "cloud ERP doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Flexibility in deployment models, including a hybrid cloud/on-premise deployment option, should be a natural progression for ERP vendors. As ERP is a vital strategic platform to help businesses adapt and respond to changing business demands, organizations need greater performance from their ERP systems, or risk getting outflanked by their competitors."

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is specifically designed to be flexible, with cloud and on-site deployment options available. It also addresses many of the concerns mentioned in the survey, notably adaptability. Microsoft Dynamics NAV is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses because it can be scaled to the needs and capabilities of each company. As such, it is the ideal software for manufacturing businesses, who can use it to track every step of the production process, from inventory planning to distribution.