What Is an ERP System and How Can It Help Your Business?

Whether you’re the owner of an up-and-coming startup or the CEO of a growing enterprise, you may have heard about an ERP system and how it’s supposedly one of the best things you can invest in for business growth. But what is it, really, and how does it work? Moreover, is it something that only enterprises can only use, or is it something that smaller businesses can benefit from as well?

If you’re curious to the answers of those questions and want to learn more, then read on as we delve into this strategical business tool and how it can help your business. We’ll also be discussing why you should also use SAP Business One as your ERP software.

What is ERP?

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. It’s a catch-all term for a system of integrated computer programs that work together to make the various functions of a business work more smoothly. These functions can range from product planning and manufacturing to service/product delivery, marketing, sales, and more. By integrating ERP software into these business functions, you’ll find that they’ll be carried out much more quickly and efficiently, as well as having fewer error incidents and delays.

How does ERP work to make business functions more efficient?

There are many types and brands of ERP software available commercially today, so it’s only logical that one system may work quite differently from the other. However, in a general sense, an ERP system works by facilitating the immediate transfer of information between the employees performing specific business functions. This greatly improves how the function in question is carried out, making it more efficient. It also helps to drastically reduce the errors that usually arises in the performance of the error when it’s done without the help of an ERP system.

To illustrate this a bit better, let’s go ahead and take product shipping as a business function. When a business ships its product to a buyer, information about the product is usually logged for inventory and logistics purposes. This information is either logged manually or into a computer data archive. The product is then hauled off by truck to its destination. If the delivery is successful, then the buyer is made to sign forms saying that the product was in fact received in good order, while also settling any pending payment issues. The home office is contacted about the successful delivery, and the transaction is considered completed.

From here, we can already see areas of inefficiencies that can be mitigated with having an ERP system. For one, an ERP system can help facilitate an on-the-moment delivery tracking system, allowing both the buyer and the seller to see exactly where the product is at any point in time. This tracking helps the business keep tabs on the delivery crew and easily check for any delays and inefficiencies. It also gives the buyer a sense of reassurance and peace of mind, knowing that he can check up on the state and location of the products he paid for.

Besides this, an ERP system would also allow the information about the shipment to be accessible to the other function teams inside the business. For example, the inventory team can check up on the shipments and immediately discover that a certain amount of product has been shipped out. This tells them that they need to inform the manufacturing team to make more product, as well as for them to order more raw material from their supplies. The result is that the product stock is quickly and adequately replenished, preventing any out-of-stock situation that could easily irritate customers.

These two powerful examples are only scratching the surface of what a robust ERP system can do for your business. With ERP able to automate and improve other work processes such as sales management, marketing, product planning and so on, any business owner—regardless of business size or industry—would be foolish to pass up on the growth opportunity that this remarkable tool can bring them.

What is SAP Business One?

SAP Business One is an ERP solution that’s made by SAP AG, one of the biggest software companies in the world. SAP AG is known for their robust and powerful ERP solutions that have proven to be integral to the ongoing success of many multimillion-dollar companies and enterprises. As they saw that smaller companies too can benefit from having an ERP system designed specifically for smaller companies, SAP AG decided an entirely new ERP system especially designed for them. This new ERP would sport their signature ERP quality and reliability while not being as expensive to procure as their enterprise-sized offerings.  Thus, SAP Business One was born.

By choosing to go with SAP Business One, you too can enjoy all the benefits of having a world-class ERP system integrated into your business infrastructure without having to fork over a bank-breaking amount of money. With such powerful features and functionality at your command, your business will be on the fast track to growth and success.

Let ANSI Information Systems, Inc. Revitalize Your Business with SAP Business One

Don’t delay. Contact us now here at ANSI Information Systems, Inc. and we’ll work closely with you on how to best include this powerful tool into your business arsenal, as well as see if it’s the right fit for you.