As a business owner in a digital world, you need to invest in technological tools that can optimize your daily operations and thereby improve your profit margins. Otherwise, you’ll eventually be left behind by your competitors or overwhelmed by the increasingly rapid and numerous changes in the industry.
Fortunately, there are plenty of digital solutions that you can choose from to address your company’s unique needs. One of them is enterprise resource planning, or ERP, software. This type of program is designed to simplify supply chain operations, finance, human resources, and other business processes related to warehouse productivity. However, you might wonder if getting an ERP might be redundant when you already have a warehouse management system (WMS) in place.
The answer is, of course, a yes. In fact, ERP and your WMS will actually complement each other, resulting in even better performance for your business. Here are some of the things you should take note of:
Better Inventory Management
An ERP system can do a lot to augment your existing WMS. Aside from the usual tracking features, you can also enable the records automation. This improves the visibility and traceability of your stocks, which minimizes the risk of losing items in the process of acquiring, releasing, and sometimes recalling them.
ERP also gives you access to real-time data so that you can create more accurate forecasts and plan your orders accordingly. This is crucial for products that can’t be stored in a warehouse for a prolonged period, such as organic products that have shorter shelf lives. Finally, getting an ERP for your warehouse management can help you with stock movement, in relation to factors such as staff availability, shipping schedules, and equipment.
Stronger Data Accuracy and Security
One of the most crucial things that a business should invest in is information security. There’s a lot that can be gained from insights gleaned from your company’s internal data, so it’s best to ensure that the information you’re handling is complete and accurate. An effective ERP system helps minimize errors through automation, as well as updates information in real-time so that you’re always kept apprise of the current stock numbers and can make appropriate adjustments as necessary.
Through an ERP specifically designed to work with a WMS, you can also create different user access levels. These allow only specific individuals to access certain types and amounts of data, increasing accountability and decreasing the risk of theft or data breaches.
Improved Customer Service
No matter the type and size of your business, customer service should always be one of your priorities. Aside from having a direct impact on your profits, customer service also affects how the public and potential partners see your business. In short, you need to put in every effort to ensure a stellar experience so that it reflects upon your organization.
By streamlining processes under an ERP system, you’ll have an easier time fulfilling unique customer needs. This helps boost customer satisfaction, which in turn influences loyalty and even brand advocacy. ERP can also help you identify service errors and customer pain points much faster and address them accordingly.
Increased Mobility and Accessibility
With ERP software, you can consolidate all your company’s data in an accessible but highly secure space. If anyone needs any piece of information at any time, certain setups that utilize cloud ERP can easily allow them to do so wherever they may be. This makes your business more flexible, as well as more suited for collaboration.
Mobility also means you can reduce communication issues. If a request comes in through the system, the concerned team member can view and approve it immediately. This minimizes the back-and-forth that often bogs down productivity.
Easier Handling of Multiple Facilities
For larger businesses that manage more than one warehouse, it can be difficult to keep up with the supply chain. Without the proper tools, it’s easy to make mistakes or miss out on crucial information. With ERP platforms, you can create a centralized view of each warehouse’s operations. This way, it’s easier to keep track of every detail you need to monitor.
At the same time, ERP software can also help you generate accurate reports. Many of these are necessary for supply and demand forecasts, as well as for resolving any issues or disruptions you may have in the warehouse.
Other benefits and improvements you can enjoy by using ERP with your current WMS include:
- Customization options, so that you can pick the modules and features that suit your needs best
- Lower operating expenses, especially with the reduction of data errors and redundancy
- Improved staff morale and productivity
ERP is, obviously, something you need to spend some money on and learn how to use. However, considering all the ways it can improve your current system, it’s definitely worth your investment. The most important thing is to determine your needs first so you can pick a product with features and scalability options that are perfect for your business.
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