The Financial Benefits of ERP Software

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ERP software has become a standard in the manufacturing industry, streamlining and automating numerous responsibilities that once fell upon the shoulders of employees. Manufacturing software provides employees with "the tools they need to succeed," while also saving them time with other tasks, both of which ultimately increase productivity.

But what are the cost benefits of manufacturing software? Why should you make the investment in a place like Accent Software to install, train employees for, and support the upkeep of your ERP software?

The numbers are clear. As outlined in this study by Aberdeen Group, "it isn't even a question." On average, companies utilizing ERP software experience a 13 percent reduction in operating costs, a 10 percent reduction in administrative costs, and an 11 percent reduction in inventory, resulting in company-wide savings that hold obvious advantages towards future growth.

Accent Software has the personnel and tools needed to make the transition into becoming an ERP-utilizing manufacturer an easy one. Our company has more than 15 years of relevant industry experience to draw upon to pinpoint your specific business management software needs and address them in as expeditious and productive a manner as possible. And we don't just leave you cold turkey, either. After the installation, our on-going support team makes sure that your software is doing its job and that your employees are well-trained in its usage.

To put it simply, the question isn't whether you can afford to make the change to an ERP-based management system. As this article in ERP Software Blog states, "The question you need to ask yourself as a business owner is how can you afford not to make this step?"

ERP For Specialized Manufacturing Processes

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As domestic industry looks to expand, the enterprises that invariably fuel that growth seek worthy investments for new developments. A multitude of factors influence project planning. Among them are state tax policies, regulation, workforce availability and industrial capacity. Southwire Company's decision to expand its operations into Indiana highlight the state's ability to provide resources as well as a business climate that attracts investment capital.

Southwire Company is a Georgia-based wire and cable manufacturer. The business gained a regional presence upon its acquisition of Coleman Cable in February of 2014. Building an additional facility in Bremen demonstrates the company's desire to benefit from Indiana's manufacturing economy instead of expanding operations in Illinois where Coleman is headquartered.

Stu Thorn, President and CEO of Southwire spoke to the impact he believes the Bremen facility will have on business.

"We now are working together to position ourselves at the forefront of the wire and cable industry, while continuing to provide world-class service to our customers. With its central local and the availability of resources and skilled labor, Bremen provides a perfect focal point for that growth." he said.

Specialized wire and cable manufacturing diversifies this sector of the Hoosier economy. Engineering and manufacturing have become a huge part of the state's culture, encouraged by academic initiatives and state policy making. This focus provides prospective investors with a labor resource that can achieve complex manufacturing processes.

Many of those processes are enabled by manufacturing software that can automate processes so that they can be performed more efficiently. Implementing these business management solutions if an imperative component of ERP.

ERP is a cornerstone of successful manufacturing enterprises that can facilitate efficient business management. Accent Software, Inc. provides specialized manufacturing software solutions for businesses that seek to enter into Indiana's thriving economy. By implementing this essential component of ERP, manufacturers have the ability to compete in growing domestic marketplaces.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Takes To The Cloud

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Microsoft Dynamics NAV has been a resource for enterprises that look to implement efficient ERP. Since its inception, the enterprise software has become an industry standard. To continue that success, Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 will enter into a new realm: the cloud.

The latest edition of Microsoft Dynamics NAV was released in October as an on-premise software. Before the month could conclude, Microsoft announced that RoseASP would host a cloud platform which would make new features of the ERP application available remotely.

The move to cloud has a multitude of benefits. By running cloud based ERP applications remotely, data can be processed at a more agile pace that invariably improves operational efficiency. Having access to data across different facets of an enterprise streamlines decision making to sustain productivity. Data centers that host these remotely accessible ERP applications have that benefit over conventional, on-premise software.

Linda Rose is the founder and CEO of RoseASP. She spoke to the benefits of making Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 accessible through the cloud.

"The added agility and functionality of Dynamics NAV 2015 will greatly improve the Dynamics user experience and we are looking forward to working closely with our Partners to deliver the solution to new customers and existing customers who choose to upgrade their NAV systems." she said, painting an optimistic picture of the new partnership.

As cloud platforms become increasingly capable of rapid data analysis, their impact on ERP is greater. Customers who seek to implement Dynamics NAV 2015 on-premise or through the cloud should find a trusted Microsoft business partner. Accent Software, Inc. has achieved that merit but gaining an expertise of the ERP software. That insight is a particularly valuable resource for enterprises who seek to improve their ERP.

Cloud-based ERP systems contributing to manufacturing growth

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As this blog has noted, the U.S. manufacturing industry is on a steady road to recovery after some lean years. Between 1998 and 2008, the United States lost 51,000 manufacturing plants and 6 million jobs to offshoring, especially to China. But since 2010 more than 200 companies have returned Stateside, including both American companies like Caterpillar Inc. and General Electric and foreign corporations like Siemens and Toyota. This "re-shoring" process has contributed to four straight years of manufacturing job growth, the longest such stretch in a quarter of a century.

Among the factors that are convincing companies to return to the U.S. are rising wages in China and the decreasing price of natural gas in America, but a Manufacturing.net article suggests another reason: the growing adoption of cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, which make it much easier for manufacturers to coordinate operations across different departments and even on different continents.

And cloud ERP solutions are not just for large multinational enterprises. Any manufacturer can benefit from allowing salespeople and other remote workers to access its ERP system from the field. A good ERP platform unifies every step of a company's processes to optimize interdepartmental collaboration, and cloud deployment extends that benefit to employees who are away from headquarters, providing them with all the information they need to carry out their jobs in the field.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is one of the most popular business management software solutions for small and medium-sized companies. It is ideal for manufacturers because it tracks inventory, job costs and scheduling, and it's the perfect solution for SMBs because it can be adapted to businesses' specific needs and upgraded as they grow.

Survey shows importance of ERP for businesses worldwide

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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.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV continues to be at the forefront of manufacturing ERP software.

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For manufacturing enterprises, having ERP that fits their subjective needs is an imperative business management strategy. Specified manufacturing processes make cost reduction strategies and responding to customer demand a very nuanced project. By having business management software that has the capability to balance their unique needs, a manufacturer is able to operate more profitably.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV offers manufacturing enterprises the opportunity to implement software that can accelerate the productivity of their operations. By providing solutions for supply chain management, finance, manufacturing resource planning, human resources and operations management the totality of a manufacturer's ERP can be address by a singular business management software solution.

Another step in implementing ERP that can improve manufacturing output is finding  trusted counsel to rely upon while formulating business strategies. By finding a Microsoft Business Solutions Partner, a manufacturing enterprise can implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV by relying upon vendors that possess expert experience about the ERP software. Combining software expertise with a knowledge of a given marketplace enhances the improvements that Microsoft Dynamics NAV can have on a manufacturer's operations.

Manufacturing enterprises in search of ERP solutions in the state of Indiana have access to a trusted Microsoft Business Solutions Partner with an intimate understanding of the Hoosier State's manufacturing sector. Accent Software, Inc. is that resource for more than 130 companies within Indiana's economic marketplace.

For the last 15 years, enterprises within Indiana have benefited from the industry expertise that Accent Software, Inc. possesses. Employees of Accent Software possess a thorough understanding of Microsoft Dynamics NAV. That understanding has been gained over a decade of experience implementing the the business management software solution.

By implementing Microsoft Dynamics NAV, manufacturers improve their ability to operate efficiently as ERP solutions streamline the manufacturing process. Accent Software, Inc. brings that ability to businesses in the state of Indiana.

Are you properly measuring ERP value?

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Like most business investments, the success of an ERP implementation project is measured by its ROI. This makes sense, particularly in an increasingly uncertain economic climate where the wrong financial decision can have a catastrophic impact on the long-term viability of an organization. However, the way in which the value of ERP systems is measured might be wrong, and it may be causing more companies to deem their respective projects as failures, even if that's not the case.

While ROI is the bottom line for just about everybody, how businesses get to determining if they received a positive return on investment can vary. For some companies, measuring the wrong aspects of their operations can lead to inaccurate assessments. 

This was brought up in a recent Supply Demand Chain Executive article, which asserted that the reason over half of ERP projects are deemed "unsuccessful" is because they aren't being properly measured. Brian Dunn, the article's author, said that companies need to construct better ways to measure ERP project success, but part of the problem is that many of these measurements may not be required to associate with ERP.

"The reality is that the major value drivers behind ERP to date are more easily tied to fundamental business-led initiatives, such as a change in the go-to-market strategy, a move to shared services or changes to how the supply chain is managed," Dunn wrote. "The ongoing debate is usually around whether or not these had been truly ERP-enabled (read: ERP required), or if the business could have pursued these initiatives independently of ERP."

Businesses need to evaluate their specific needs prior to selecting an ERP solution. Working with a business management software provider can help with this effort. 

Business management software helps integrate analytics in manufacturing sector

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Business intelligence is at the top of the list for IT investments for many manufacturers, but integrating advanced analytics with legacy systems is somewhat complicated. In order to ease this transition and simplify the approach to leveraging BI for improvements in manufacturing, firms are turning to their ERP systems and business management software solutions to align new and old for maximum effect.

According to Automation World, the benefits of business intelligence in the manufacturing industry boil down to cost efficiency. A primary reduction of operating costs will enhance operations, free up resources for further improvements and provider flexibility in work processes. More money to work with means an easier time adopting future technologies and trends.

The advantages manufacturing ERP software provide lie in data availability and access. By improving these two factors, firms will have an easier time implementing analytics, developing insights and reports and turning that data into a valuable resource in their operations. The idea is that increased availability of data will drive its use in more complex ways to deliver value and reduce problems in other areas. From flagging key data sets for future consideration to improving collaboration over reports, businesses will be able to assess their resources and analyze cost and value of any process or change. If a firm wants to invest in new machinery or replace an entire process with a more up-to-date technology, it will be able to assess the financial risks easily and determine the best value for the company as a whole.

Optimizing business accounting systems will provide additional benefits as well, which will add up over time. The combination of business intelligence platforms with ERP solutions will drive many manufacturers into the next stage of business evolution while boosting their ability to adapt to future trends as well. However, these advantages don't come without challenges.

In order to truly embrace business intelligence solutions and leverage them in the manufacturing sector, firms have to align their data to new processes. Simply investing in high-quality ERP software isn't enough — companies need to leverage it in the right ways. This will lend itself toward advanced data analytics and improved utilization.

ERP software serves another purpose in developing stronger business intelligence practices as well. For most companies, it allows for advanced reporting on data before it even enters the BI platform. improved organization of data sets in accounting, inventory management and other key processes will translate into stronger relationships between these departments, the back office and the actual production floor. In turn, firms will be able to embrace productivity improving solutions as well — such as automation — with ease.

The key is to invest in the right manufacturing software in the first place. By aligning operational needs with high-quality ERP solutions, a company can improve its back office, data management and related resources in ways that will align operations for future growth and set a higher standard of operations as a whole.

User experience the new priority in ERP solutions

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As manufacturing de-silos its back office operations using new and improved software, a user-centric ERP model is taking center stage for more firms. According to ITWeb, this change is being influenced by the high influx of social, mobile, cloud and information management trends entering manufacturing business software.

The news source recently spoke with Jeremy Waterman, and industry expert from Sage, who explained that as manufacturing ERP software has evolved from the 70's and 80's, few vendors have overhauled their solutions. New client/server user interfaces and web-based solutions have been integrated, but the foundation of these solutions is still the same. Waterman states that companies need to consider ERP solutions where the user experience is the center of the design.

"We know that increased competition is forcing every business to be unique and different. So how do businesses increase the relevance of ERP solutions, and how do they use ERP as a foundation for innovation and differentiation? Mobility and cloud are disruptive forces in the market today and the Web has completely disrupted the value chain. Markets are transforming, and organizations have the choice to disrupt or be disrupted. Reacting responsibly to the disruption by investing in purposeful innovation, where customers have flexibility and choice, will give your business a competitive edge," Waterman said.

As the ERP market is disrupted, many firms will have a choice — sink or swim. By adopting high-quality business management software solutions that enable a more user-focused experience, manufacturers can re-center their back office workflows around the tools their employees actually want to use, rather than ones that simply get the job done. This will boost productivity and efficiency while increasing the overall quality of work as well.

Cloud ERP strategies overtaking industry

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Just a few years ago, the cloud was becoming popular for edge-of-enterprise services, but today more manufactures than ever before are embracing it for core functions, from accounting to inventory management system software. According to Forbes, this is a sign of the serious nature of cloud integration.

Despite this growing adoption, many cloud-based manufacturing software systems are in early stages. Companies are making initial forays into cloud solutions and ERP as a Service, but the speed of this integration rate is what has some experts anticipating a complete migration in the near future.

"When it comes to cloud ERP, we are definitely seeing a lot more use cases being available, and fundamentally we are seeing a lot more desire from the end user community to take on cloud ERP as an entirely complete solution, or as discreet bits of functionality," said Chris Pang, an analyst with Gartner, according to the news source.

A recent study by Unisphere Research found that 39 percent of firms are already deploying cloud solutions to handle their business accounting systems, while 40 percent have moved their human resources solutions to the cloud as well. About 13 percent have moved supply chain management and demand planning to private cloud solutions.

Pang noted that this movement to the cloud isn't localized to larger enterprises either, but manufacturers of all sizes, up the "slope of enlightenment," as he put it.

While these adoption trends are already in full swing, it is important for firms to ensure they are investing in the right manufacturing ERP software for their needs. These tools will need to support cloud integration while taking advantage of the flexibility and scalability of cloud platforms.