Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is invaluable to today's manufacturer, offering the ability to increase process efficiency across the board and optimize operations. For most manufacturers, this type of system is critical to survival in the current market, where competition is high and there are a number of regulatory standards to meet. Manufacturers must be consistently on top of their game to succeed in the industry.

However, there are many misconceptions that stand in the way of companies looking to implement their first ERP system or upgrade to a new software. These false impressions regarding the reality of ERP selection and implementation can cause manufacturers to avoid using the system altogether.

The first is that all ERP system implementations take years to complete, requiring serious downtime for the business. This is not necessarily true. While legacy systems, with numerous customizations, do carry a longer implementation time frame, newer software takes a very short time to implement. Older systems required functionality to be built in, which resulted in the need for in-depth consultancy and IT expertise for successful implementation. Today's ERP systems are built with manufacturers in mind, with exceptional capabilities right out of the box. The implementations for modern-day ERP can take as little as four months.

A second misconception involves ERP selection. Many manufacturers believe that they will need to buy different pieces of software from different vendors to achieve the functionality needed to run the business. Today, many ERP vendors offer single-source solutions that include hardware, software and professional services.

Understanding ERP and its benefits is a process. If you would like to learn more, contact Accent Software. We can guide you through the processes of getting to know manufacturing ERP software, selecting a solution that is right for your business and implementing the system.