When choosing an enterprise resource planning solution, you're going to need to decide between cloud and on-premise solutions. While some businesses may consider on-site ERP a more familiar solution, cloud-based ERP is a business management software solution that provides more benefit over the long-term. 

Preparing for future growth
As cloud ERP is hosted through a third-party provider, your enterprise doesn't need to invest in all of the additional hardware. The cloud provider manages the server equipment.

Reducing the IT infrastructure investment not only cuts many costs, but it also provides scalability. With a cloud ERP solution, it's easier to add new users and new functionalities without needing to upgrade hardware. As your business grows, your ERP software can scale up with you. 

No business can expect to stay stagnant and continue to be successful. Smart, sustainable growth is key, and cloud-based manufacturing software fosters this growth by letting you focus on your business, while your cloud provider focuses on hardware. 

Promoting collaboration
By allowing team members to access ERP functions from their mobile devices, cloud computing is promoting increased productivity and improved collaboration. Cloud ERP makes it easier for partners to share data in real-time, helping to streamline the entire supply chain. In addition, a mobile workforce is more agile. By accessing business intelligence through mobile ERP tools, today's workers are able to adapt faster to market changes, and be better prepared for future challenges. 

Providing security
While some may still harbor some reservations about the cloud over security reasons, modern cloud providers boast robust security features. As Martin Hill wrote for IT Pro Portal, "where security once implied locking the server room door and forcing people to use long passwords, today it means hardened electronic operating environments." Today, enterprise security is all about access, not location. 

As David Linthicum notes at Tech Target, today's cloud IT has shown to be more secure than traditional IT, thanks to more advanced tools that focus on accessibility over location. The idea that cloud computing is less secure is a myth these days. A cloud-based ERP platform is better-prepared to manage access, and can monitor security features while you take care of growing your business. 

For a powerful, cloud-based ERP solution built for manufactures, Microsoft Dynamics NAV meets all your needs. At Accent Software, we help growing businesses implement Dynamics NAV because we understand the importance of scalable, flexible manufacturing software. If your legacy system isn't built for the future, contact us to see the difference a modern ERP system can make.