If you're looking for a competitive edge, innovation is the name of the game. You hear about it a lot, but how does a company become innovative? Whether it's by developing a new product or improving on an existing process, innovation can take many forms. As a manufacturer, an enterprise resource planning system can help get your team to the next level as innovators. 

Automation
One of the most important ways that ERP business management software helps businesses innovate is by taking repetitive tasks out of their hands so they can focus on more important work. If you're still using a legacy system, or a series of spreadsheets, your team is spending a significant chunk of its time filling out the same fields and forms, again and again. By automating simple tasks like this, ERP gives your team more time to develop new products and implement new processes. Stop filling out spreadsheets and start innovating. 

Customization
ERP software is a mature technology, but don't let that make you think it's old. ERP has evolved over the years and adapted to help businesses in new ways, taking advantage of exciting new technologies such as cloud computing and mobile devices. A modular ERP program such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV can grow with your business, and you can add more features when you need them. ERP also integrates very well with other technologies such as CRM software, so there's no need to throw out all of your old systems and start from scratch. 

Harnessing data
Two major trends are changing the ways businesses run: Big Data and the Internet of Things. With Big Data, enterprises have access to more information than ever before, allowing them unprecedented business intelligence. With the Internet of Things, manufacturers are able to attach connected sensors to their equipment, giving them a full view of the workflow with real-time information.

ERP software allows enterprises to take advantage of both of these trends, through gathering and delivering superior data. With a modern ERP solution, businesses can harness important data to improve processes and make smart decisions. Whether it's through improved forecasting and demand planning, or providing real-time information for decision making, the right business management software solutions can help your team capture important data and use it more effectively. 

What you need from your ERP software
In order to take full advantage of ERP's capabilities to foster innovation, you need the right ERP. Here are some characteristics to look for when considering an ERP system: 

• Cost effective: In a CIO Review interview, William Dyer noted in regards to cost effectiveness, "it is important to stay correctly positioned within the technological curve. You can't be so far in front that everything is bleeding edge, and yet you also can't be so far behind that comfort or stability is the only consideration." 
• Agile: An ERP solution that fosters innovation is one that is modular, like Microsoft Dynamics NAV. You can use the systems you need, and add more functionality as your enterprise grows or shifts. 
• Responsive: No one should be implementing ERP just for the sake of it. The software needs to provide value by streamlining operations and boosting productivity. Your ERP system should connect with every facet of your business instead of acting as a standalone tool. That way, it can provide the most services for the best value.

At Accent Software, we understand the importance of smart software software for manufacturing. That's why we help businesses implement Microsoft Dynamics NAV to boost productivity and foster innovation. If your legacy system isn't cutting it, contact us to see the difference a modern business management software solution can make.