3 strategies for negotiating cloud SLAs

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Businesses in the market for cloud-based or hybrid-cloud manufacturing ERP software must wade through copious paperwork during the vendor selection process. From product specs to system training manuals, internal information technology personnel are tasked with reviewing countless documents. However, none are more important than service-level agreements. These contracts articulate vendor service expectations and establish baseline ERP performance metrics.

With this in mind, carefully review each SLA you encounter. When it comes time to make a final decision and ultimately negotiate your terms, follow these strategies:

Integrate SLA review into vendor selection
Many organizations wait until after they have selected a vendor to consider the SLA and start negotiating. Unfortunately, this tactic rarely produces favorable results, as these documents are fairly iron-clad, with most vendors using industry-standard contract terms and service commitments. It's best to consider the SLA during the opening evaluations, Information Week reported. After all, these contracts dictate essential system operations and go hand-in-hand with the actual software.

As you screen vendors, ask for copies of their SLAs. This will not only help you to grasp the breadth of services each prospective solution provider offers but also lend you leverage and make it possible for you to negotiate more favorable service terms.

"If you are able to say that competitors are providing this SLA clause and you can demonstrate why it's important to you, it goes a long way in creating a strong argument," David Snead, an attorney and SLA expert based in Washington D.C., explained in an interview with Information Week.

When negotiating SLAs, look at the specifics. When negotiating SLAs, look at the specifics.

Move past uptime
IT experts young and old often fixate on uptime and downtime stipulations within SLA agreements. Of course, this makes sense to some degree – most manufacturing ERP software solutions are only as effective as the networks that support them. However, connectivity isn't everything, TechTarget reported. SLAs address a whole host of equally essential terms and services. For instance, most include extensive sections devoted solely to system repair stipulations. Look over this language and make sure your vendors categorize technical issues by severity and offer corresponding mean repair times. Additionally, it's best for software providers to offer more immediate repair services to essential system users.

"It is important to recognize that you have some users who are more important than others," William Corrington, federal director at the Cloud Security Alliance in Washington D.C., told TechTarget. "The vendor needs to understand who these folks are, by name or title, and the vendor has to understand that they need to meet the right SLAs."

Review the language regarding data security and confidentiality as well. Vendors should offer some sort of encryption services, according ERP Software Blog. Of course, these security protocols should fall in line with your own organizational bylaws governing the use of customer and essential business data.

"You may negotiate an ideal SLA but that doesn't mean your manufacturing ERP software will run uninterrupted for eternity."

Depending on your industry, you may be required to comply with one or several federal regulations mandating data confidentiality. If this is indeed the case, make sure prospective vendors are in compliance with these laws.

Focus on the details
Most manufacturing ERP software providers are more than happy to offer broad language ensuring service excellence. Of course, these oblique promises mean little when things live and issues arise. So, as you look over vendor SLAs, focus on the details. Do the stated uptime guarantees meet your expectations? Is there a detailed escalation path for serious service interruptions? Is the credit system fair? Concern yourself with these specific variables.

While navigating this process, remember that SLAs don't dictate system performance. You may masterfully negotiate an ideal SLA but that doesn't mean your manufacturing ERP software will run uninterrupted for eternity. You and your vendor share responsibility for system continuity.

ERP security strategies you need to know

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Last year, hackers executed attacks against more than 1,000 organizations and looted over 700 million records, according to the data security firm Gemalto. Of course, as technology improves, these attacks will only become more frequent, as cyberthieves develop new methods for invading secured servers and stealing essential business information. With this in mind, enterprises using manufacturing ERP software must take steps to secure their data as best they can.

If you're interested in ramping up your security protocols to ward off hackers, review these essential ERP security strategies:

Classify your data
In most cases, cyberthieves target only valuable information. For instance, the intruders that invaded the servers at the file-sharing giant Dropbox back in 2012 went directly after user account information, Motherboard reported. Chances are, these hackers passed up all sorts of non-essential data to reach the 60 million user credentials they eventually released for public consumption. So, before you start developing a security strategy for your ERP, review your digital assets and assign them security levels. You first want to focus your attention on data that, if compromised, could do immediate harm to you, your vendors and customers, ERP Software Blog advised.

Once you understand just how valuable your information is, you can craft tailored security protocols to fit specific assets.

Build an airtight plan
Effective ERP security plans cover a number of essential areas. Internal system access is often a primary concern for organizations with such software, Deloitte found. When you consider the available information on the subject, this makes perfect sense. Data security experts estimate that individuals with system access are responsible for more than 40 percent of all data breaches, according to Info Security.

To protect yourself against internal data mismanagement – both intentional and unintentional – institute a strict, role-based permissions scheme. This way, only the most trusted and savvy system users can directly access essential business data. Additionally, you will want to pair this with a change management plan that includes instructions on how to revoke access to users who have resigned or been terminated. You don't want disgruntled workers walking out the door with active ERP credentials.

Of course, no matter what protocols you put in place, breaches are still possible and you must be prepared handle them. If you're working with an on-premise solution, draft incident reports and response procedures and develop an in-depth emergency response plan. Conversely, if you have cloud-based manufacturing ERP software, you will need to collaborate with your vendor and review the services they offer.

You must secure your manufacturing ERP software to keep safe precious company data.You must secure your manufacturing ERP software to keep safe precious company data.

Don't forget mobile
In the event that you have an ERP solution with mobile capabilities, you will need to develop data security protocols to address device use and offsite access. To start, figure out how you plan to manage and track devices. Organizations big and small lose company-owned devices regularly and, on occasion, these lost smartphones and tablets end up in the hands of hackers, Information Week reported. You can avoid this situation by carefully tracking your devices, especially when users leave the company. If you have a bring-your-own-device policy in place, you will need to organize a system for wiping company data from devices owned by departing personnel.

Give employees best-practices for keeping their equipment secure as well. For instance, advise them how to identify questionable apps that could be fronts for data-extracting Trojan horse viruses. Of course, ask them to stick to common, web-based software stores like the Android Marketplace and iTunes.

Document everything
After you've developed your ERP security plan, document it. This strategy must outlast the administrators and users it serves, so avoid relying on corporate oral history. Instead, put together an editable online portal that includes all of your security protocols and give every employee in your organization access.

Empower your personnel
When it comes to enterprise data security, policies are only as effective as the their practitioners. In short, your employees need to know a thing or two about protecting the company data they access. With this in mind, organize some training to address key topics such as how to draft a secure password.

"Reusing an existing password is never smart."

These credentials are the first line of defense against data-hungry hackers and must be built to stand up to decryption tools that can formulate thousands of guesses in seconds. Effective passwords are usually on the long side and contain an array of evenly dispersed special characters, Wired reported. It's also important that you advise employees to create unique passwords for their ERP accounts. Reusing an existing password is never smart and can result in multiple accounts being compromised.

With these ERP security strategies, you can keep out the cyberthieves and keep the executives in the C-suite happy.

How to provide ERP training that sticks

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ERP adopters often consider training as an afterthought. Some distribute hastily-crafted internal documents detailing key system features or dispatch information technology staff on a case-by-case basis. Others hold general training sessions that cover common workflows or simply leave employees to explore new solutions, sans supervision.

As you can imagine, these instructional approaches rarely give end-users the knowledge they need to maximize their ERP systems and ultimately lay the groundwork low return on investment or complete adoption failure.

"Making sure employees have a chance to become comfortable with the new system before it goes live will do wonders for your chances at ERP success," Kevin Herrig, CEO and president of the enterprise technology consulting firm GSI, summarized in an interview with CIO. "If you don't make training and frequent communication with users a top priority, you will end up owning a very expensive version of Excel."

Obviously, you want to avoid such a situation and design a training program that helps employees leverage your new system to achieve transformative results. Look over these essential ERP training tips to get started:

You should develop a multi-step ERP training program for your employees.You should develop a multi-step ERP training program for your employees.

Take your time
The most effective employee training programs are intense and time-consuming, so be prepared to reserve ample company time for your ERP training efforts. Of course, if you consider your situation, it makes perfect sense. By adopting a new ERP system, you're effectively initiating a cultural shift within your workplace, according to Panorama Consulting Solutions. To ease the transition, develop a multi-step training program that not only addresses new system features but also demonstrates how the solution fits into preexisting workflows and furthers overarching business objectives. Pair live sessions with reference documents that allow employees to resolve issues on their own.

Most experts suggest deploying the program as much as 60 days prior to your official rollout.

Offer tailored training
One-size-fits-all ERP training rarely works, as different employees use the system in different ways. Instead, design tailored training sessions and materials that offer personnel personalized instructions on how to navigate your solution, consulting firm Deloitte advised.

Before you start gathering resources and drafting documents, survey your employees to get a grasp on their computer skill levels. This way, you can identify workers who might require extra attention and design modules that meet their needs ahead of time. Once you've done this, craft role-based training to address different workflows. Additionally, consider offering diverse instructional methods.

For instance, forego run-of-the-mill conference room sessions and organize some self-study options. Or, if you want to experiment, try gamified training. Many organizations, both established and up-and-coming, have adopted such programs and found great success, Entrepreneur reported. Generally, these courses add an element of fun and help employees better absorb information.

"Many companies appoint "super users" to lead in-house ERP training programs."

Harness internal and external resources
Many companies appoint "super users" to lead in-house ERP training programs, Training magazine discovered. This approach can save you money but it requires a lot of planning, as these internal ERP champions often need training themselves. Plus, there are more practical pitfalls that come with this methodology. For instance, super users may have the system skills to offer advice but might like the communication skills to deliver it correctly to less technically-inclined employees. 

If you foresee these issues, you may want to contract out to an external training consultant. These individuals can help you plan your training ahead of time or come to the rescue if you're having instructional problems post-rollout.

With these strategies, you can conceive an effective training program that will empower your employees, giving them the knowledge they need to navigate your new ERP software and catalyze bottom-line-bolstering change.

4 ERP maintenance and support strategies you need to know

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When reviewing vendor ERP offerings, many manufacturers focus solely on system features and fail to consider equally important variables such as maintenance and support. Of course, this approach can set the stage for costly post-implementation problems. To avoid these issues, pinpoint software providers with robust maintenance and support services and take internal steps to make sure your solution is updated and your employees know how to unlock its full potential.

Lay the groundwork for support success
Once you've selected a vendor with a solution that meets your current and future organizational needs, take a close look at the post-adoption offerings within the service-level agreement. First, see how long they plan to support your solution. Many adopters in the manufacturing industry find that longer service contracts yield more discounts and are generally more cost-effective, TechTarget reported. Then, move onto the specifics.

Most vendors offer a variety of ongoing professional services to clients in need of ERP updates and support. These are billed on an hourly basis. Luckily, most vendors are willing to negotiate the rates but make sure these services fit your expectations before discussing money. Additionally, dive into the minutiae and work with your solution providers to define essential service-related metrics.

"What is considered a severe issue? A non-critical issue? You need a common understanding. It's not that you want the SLA there so you can hit your vendor over head with it, or if you have a penalty clause so you can extract money by triggering a penalty – you want to avoid having to trigger a penalty clause," Howard Kiewe, a senior researcher at the Info-Tech Research Group, explained in an interview with TechTarget.

Manufacturing ERP solutions are only as effective as the maintenance and support services that accompany them.Manufacturing ERP solutions are only as effective as the maintenance and support services that accompany them.

Consider third-party support
If you're unsatisfied with the maintenance and support services your vendor offers, consider contracting a third-party to take over these tasks, Enterprise Apps Today suggested. In recent years, many adopters have turned to these companies, looking to trim costs or maintain highly customized systems with components that vendors simply won't support. Of course, there are drawbacks to this approach.

For instance, these third-party service providers are required by law to respect the rights of original equipment manufacturers but some don't. If you're considering this approach, be sure to get assurance from your third-party support provider that they are adhering to intellectual property laws. To do this, request internal audit results or write an indemnity clause into your SLA. Of course, you could avoid this situation altogether by finding a third-party service provider that's willing to partner with your vendor.

Develop a long-term maintenance and support strategy
In addition to securing actual maintenance and support services, develop an internal strategy for supporting your solution, CIO advised. Manufacturers that fail to develop and implement such plans often find themselves overspending on support or, even worse, working with outdated or broken software.

"Customers not conducting preventative maintenance are not taking full advantage of their ERP investment and their maintenance dollars," Marco Valencia, vice president of cloud management and company innovation at SAP, told the magazine. "By not applying maintenance, their systems will quickly become obsolete (from a technical perspective) as will their business processes."

When putting together your strategy, be sure to forecast organizational changes and plan system maintenance to support these shifts. Additionally, keep your vendor or third-party maintenance and support provider updated to ensure that they are prepared to lend a hand when changes are necessary.

"To achieve system continuity, you should provide ongoing to training programs for end-users."

Provide ongoing staff training
To unlock the full potential of your manufacturing ERP and achieve system continuity, you should provide ongoing to training programs for end-users, ERP Focus suggested. This will improve employee efficiency and make it easier for you to fix system issues, as well-trained users can spot problems and report them. 

As you develop your employee ERP training program, include employee protocols for escalating platform issues or requesting support. You don't want your users sending trouble tickets to vendors when they could instead contact the internal information technology staff.

3 common ERP implementation errors to avoid

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Implementing manufacturing ERP software is a complicated process with myriad pitfalls. Unfortunately, many manufacturers fall victim to these hazards, adopting inadequate solutions that fail to meet project goals.

ERP failure rates have steadily risen over the last five years, according to research from Panorama Consulting Solutions. In 2014, more than 20 percent of implementers deemed their adoption attempts failures. Even those that manage to rollout new software saw fewer benefits than they had anticipated.

In most cases, serious missteps normally precipitate such situations. As you set out on your ERP journey, be sure to familiarize yourself with some of these common errors and try to avoid them at all costs.

Ineffective planning
Organizations often set the groundwork for failure with poor planning, TechTarget reported. ERP software experts uniformly agree that potential adopters must first carefully evaluate their operational needs and assess essential technology infrastructure via exhaustive internal audits. Yet, many skip this step completely, choosing to forge ahead with little idea of what they actually need, CIO reported.

"This often leads to confusion down the road because they might not fully understand their current processes and how to evolve them to maximize business benefits and efficiencies," Erik Kaas, vice president of product management for mid-market ERP products at a leading software vendor, told the magazine.

You can easily avoid this situation by properly evaluating your processes and pinpointing trouble spots that might improve with a little ERP automation. Using this information, you can create a required features list and research solutions with a firm grasp on your specific software needs.

Adopting impactful manufacturing ERP software is possible if you avoid these common pitfalls.Adopting impactful manufacturing ERP software is possible if you avoid these common pitfalls.

Poor change management
In 2014, technology consulting company Deloitte asked over 1,200 chief information officers from companies across the globe to identify key ERP implementation roadblocks. More than 80 percent cited internal resistance to change as the biggest barrier. This response came as no surprise to seasoned information technology professionals.

Employees often resist such shifts, as most don't particularly enjoy learning new systems and reshaping their usual workflows. Unfortunately, many organizations fail to address this issue and simply drop new systems into the laps of their workers, expecting them to innately understand their benefits and happily accept the change. In most cases, employees begrudgingly adopt the new software but fail to unlock its full potential. And, sometimes, widespread resistance forces companies to completely abandon newly implemented ERP platforms.

Again, this easy to avoid. After sketching out an implementation strategy, share it with your employees and gather their input. By engaging them in the process, you can build support early and possibly develop some internal product champions. Additionally, be sure to explicitly outline the overarching business goals the system will address. Employees need to understand how the ERP will tangibly improve operations and the company, as a whole.

Of course, spend considerable time developing a customized training plan for end-users. You can't expect your employees to pick the new system without assistance.

Inaccurate cost and resource estimation
More than half of implementers go over budget, according to Panorama Consulting Solutions. Most often, this occurs because they underestimate the costs in the first place. The average ERP implementation costs $6.1 million and takes almost 16 months to complete.

"Formulate a realistic budget that includes sections for post-rollout support and maintenance."

So, formulate a realistic budget that includes sections for post-rollout support and maintenance, expenses that many organizations fail to consider. Additionally, once you've developed a project scope and started the implementation process in earnest, avoid altering project goals or tacking on new objectives. This will increase costs and most likely put you over budget.

With these common pitfalls in mind, carefully plan the implementation process for your new manufacturing ERP software and stay vigilant as things move forward. Though the odds are stacked against you, adopting an impactful, bottom-line altering manufacturing software solution is possible.

Making a difference with automation

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Manufacturers are always looking out for new ways to improve their bottom line and optimize processes. One of the many ways that enterprise resource planning software can modernize manufacturing is through automation. As ERP business management software is a central hub of information for the company, every department has access to the same up-to-date info, and that info can be used to initiate set procedures as soon as they're needed. 

Accounts payable and receivable
Managing all of the invoices for a growing enterprise can be a challenge. There's a great deal of paperwork to go through, and it's all very time-sensitive. A lot of this work is redundant, and that's where the automation comes in. The automation tools from ERP business accounting systems can generate and process these invoices automatically. Not only does this reduce the chance of human error and get it completed faster, but it also allows the AP and AR teams to focus on the most pressing issues. Automated job costing also makes it easier for accounting to track costs, leading to greater transparency and forecasting. 

"For a growing company, automation makes a huge difference."

Quality control
Poor quality control can lead to poor products, so it's important to pay attention to. However, it can also be time-consuming without automation. Manufacturing machinery can be implemented with sensors that detect faults automatically and, along with your ERP manufacturing software, automatically change the process to correct the issue. This reduces the time for employees to personally check products, and the machinery can be set to exact specifications to the order, which is automatically generated through the ERP. 

Production and job scheduling
Couple this with automation, and you have a well-oiled machine that is processing orders quickly and updating customer information. Automated production helps to boost efficiency throughout the supply chain by reducing inefficiencies. Automated job scheduling can also keep production on schedule, beginning production when it's needed and not a moment too soon (or too late). 

Overall, by implementing a robust ERP solution that uses automation, your manufacturing enterprise can enjoy significant improvements in quality, speed, efficiency and reduced costs. For a growing company, all of those factors make a huge difference and can set you apart from your competition. 

Automation can create new opportunities at your manufacturing company, and the Accent team is here to help you get the most out of it! We're proud Microsoft partners, and we help small and medium-sized businesses use Microsoft Dynamics NAV for their business intelligence and automation. Contact us to learn more about the many ways our team of experts can help.

Why your accountants will love ERP software

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Every company needs to follow good accounting practices. This is necessary not only to meet financial regulations, but also in order to have a firm understanding of cash flow, inventory and overall financial health of the enterprise. Smart accounting software helps these companies operate more efficiently, adhere to regulations and provide up-to-date information for quick decision making. A modern enterprise resource planning system includes these powerful financial tools.

Your accounting team will love your new ERP software for a variety of reasons: 

Automating invoices
When a company grows, creating and sending invoices becomes an increasingly complex and time-consuming feat. This is because the number of employees, vendors and partners grows as well. ERP manufacturing accounting software is able to automate the invoicing process, allowing these actions to be completed in a fraction of the time and with superior accuracy. This frees up time and resources to focus on more pressing concerns. Improving the invoicing process means issuing payments faster to keep vendors happy and increase cash flows. 

"ERP cost accounting software allows manufacturers to report and track job costs."

Adhering to regulations
In order to meet financial regulations, it's important to monitor activities throughout the company. Many companies that rely on legacy systems have problems with this because it's difficult to get information from different departments, and the information they are able to acquire is often set to different standards. A robust business management software solution such as ERP allows for standardization of data across the whole company, acting as a central hub of information. This makes monitoring financial information and complying with regulations far easier. 

Reporting costs
As always, ERP software lets users manage costs and operate more efficiently. ERP cost accounting software allows manufacturers to more accurately report and track all job costs. This powerful job costing software also allows them to determine the returns on these investments. 

Recognizing revenue
Revenue recognition is a strategy in which a company shows revenue when it's earned, rather than when it's actually collected. This can improve cash flow for growing companies that run a lean operation. The financial accounting module of a modern ERP program allows for this type of flexibility, while still adhering to accepted accounting principles. 

Is your legacy software having trouble keeping up? Accent Software can help your enterprise implement a modern, cloud-based manufacturing job costing software that will enhance information access, automate time-consuming tasks and foster flexibility for your financial reporting. The Accent team will be with you every step of the way, from prepping to implementation to troubleshooting. Contact us to learn more.

Process synchronization drives growth in ERP market

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Business management software that used to coordinate back-office functions has evolved into a larger role of integrating and synchronizing business processes throughout the value chain. In a soon-to-be-released report on the global enterprise resource planning market, Zion Market Research is predicting growth through 2020. This success comes on the heels of an increased focus on data collection for improved strategic analysis. With more business intelligence, companies need more sophisticated tools to manage this information in order to optimize processes. 

Even though it's a mature technology, the ERP of today is very different from its predecessors. Modern manufacturing ERP software connects workers with valuable data on mobile devices all over the world, and provides full visibility of critical activities. 

A central point of information
Business models need to be able to change rapidly in order to meet new demands. This flexibility requires business processes that can be synchronized with one another as part of an integrated system. This need for flexibility and synchronization makes ERP a very valuable tool for optimizing process efficiency.

The ERP market is expected to continue growing. The ERP market is expected to continue growing.

Ability to add modules as needed
ERP software is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and every ERP program is different just like every business is different. Rather than purchase a huge suite of features just to use one or two portions of it, enterprises have the option of adding as little of or as much of the functionality they need. The modular nature of ERP gives an enterprise the freedom to implement portions as needed, including functions serving inventory management, production, accounting and sales. 

Opportunities in the cloud
One of the most exciting new trends in the market has been cloud-based ERP software. Embracing cloud technology has added new functionality and flexibility to ERP platforms. The elasticity of cloud software is a more cost-effective option for growing businesses. Rather than investing in the hardware to host the system on-site, enterprises using cloud ERP pay a flat rate for the software and the hosting is handled by dedicated experts, freeing workers up for more important day-to-day tasks. 

ERP continues to change and grow with the times, and today more than every it's an incredible important tool for streamlining operations. Whether it's used as cost accounting software, inventory management software or manufacturing scheduling, this helpful, sophisticated tool continues to improve processes and synchronize information for businesses. 

ERP software is the essential tool for improving every step of the value chain. Our team can get you started with a robust ERP program, helping you every step of the way from training to implementation to ongoing customization. If your company is ready to take the next step, contact Accent Software today!

Use cloud ERP for better decision making

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The leaders of a manufacturing enterprise have to make important decisions every day in order to keep production on point. A robust, cloud-based ERP platform that's made for manufacturing can help ensure you have what you need in order to make the right moves. Manufacturing business software can provide you and your team with the real-time information they need to make the right decisions.

Cloud-based business management software can help your enterprise decision making in a number of ways:

Visibility over operations
In order to make the best decisions, you need to know what's going on. Cloud ERP gives managers full visibility over production, allowing you to make quick decisions whenever something arises. Any bottlenecks or inefficiencies in your workflows are easily identified, so they can be corrected. 

"Cloud ERP gives managers full visibility over production."

An end-to-end solution like cloud manufacturing ERP software allows for better operational decision making by providing all of the relevant information that's needed, whenever it's needed. And as a central platform for this information, the company-wide data integrity is improved as well. 

Real-time information for real-time answers
Business moves fast, and companies that can adapt quickly are the ones who will thrive. With a cloud ERP solution, your team is able to access the important data on their mobile devices, whether they're on the road or on the manufacturing floor. This allows for quick decision making, improved communication and business agility. 

If your enterprise is ready to take the next step, Accent Software can help! We work with growing companies to implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV, a flexible cloud ERP system that helps manufacturers operate efficiently and make quick decisions using real-time data. Our team has been helping small businesses implement this robust program 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.

Stay lean with cloud ERP

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As a growing manufacturing, you need to be able to do more with less. That means eliminating waste and promoting lean policies. The best way to keep your workflow efficient while enjoying full visibility of your supply chain is with cloud-based enterprise resource planning software. 

For many manufacturers, their on-premise legacy system could be dragging down productivity and growth. The lack of customization makes it challenging to streamline production, and a lack of remote access can hinder accurate data analysis. A modern, cloud-based ERP solution can help your manufacturing company embrace a lean initiative to operate more efficiently. 

Free yourself from the IT infrastructure
Cloud computing allows for more sustainable growth, by taking hardware management out of the equation. Rather than having to maintain and upgrade your on-site equipment as your business grows, a cloud ERP provider manages those details for you, providing the most up-to-date technology for you while your team can focus on more important tasks. Cloud ERP has a lower cost of entry, because your enterprise doesn't need to invest in expensive hardware. Just implement the system and go. 

"Embrace a lean initiative to operate more efficiently."

Find the best fit
Cloud ERP is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The beauty of this technology is its flexibility and customization. Adopt the modules that work for your team, and add more when you need them. Stay lean when necessary and don't worry about investing in a larger ERP than you need.

See commercial impact
Lean manufacturing software solutions make every part of the production process visible, because every part counts. This business management software identifies every process in your workflow and reflects their impacts on financials. Increased visibility lets your team see inefficiencies in your IT infrastructure as well as your manufacturing, and correct them. 

Integrate your silos
Many legacy systems don't integrate communications and data collection between departments. This lack of integration can lead to "silos" between departments and redundant or missing information. Cloud ERP can integrate with existing applications, remove the need to manually input data and improve overall data quality. Cloud ERP serves your whole enterprise, including remote employees. 

Is your company read for lean, smart growth? Accent Software can help! We work with growing companies to implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV, a flexible cloud ERP system that helps manufacturers operate efficiently and make quick decisions with accurate, real-time data. Our team has been helping small and medium-sized manufacturers implement this robust program for over 15 years. Contact Accent Software to learn more about this business management software and the many ways your team will be thankful for it.