How Manufacturers can use ERP to Gain Competitive Advantage
Posted on: June 6, 2016 | By: Craig Thompson | QAD Business Process
Every business hopes to receive some turnaround on their ERP investment. The name of the game is to make more money and trump your competitors, but in an era where just about everyone has an ERP system, standing out against the competition can be tough. If you're looking to gain a competitive advantage in your respective industry, QAD's innovative ERP software can help.
- Pick the right ERP system for Your company
Despite the fact that many ERP solutions cover a lot of the same core functions, there are some differences to take note of that differ from industry to industry. It is crucial for your newly implemented ERP software to be industry specific to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. If you were in the business of manufacturing, you would never tell a professional service firm how to do business. The same goes for ERP systems. Just because everyone else is working from the cloud doesn't mean that it's best for your business, and vice versa. Picking the right ERP software has everything to do with picking the right partner so that your organization has the constant support and training that you need to be sure your needs are being met.
- Don't waste money on customizations that won't help you grow
While it may be tempting to go ahead and customize every aspect of your new system, first consider if these system customizations are really going to make a difference in how you do business. Customizing little things that don't give you an advantage isn't as necessary as using your customizations to fit areas that do. That being said, don't be completely stingy with customizations either. There is great value to be found in customizing ERP. If your business has come up with a unique process that allows you to outshine your competitors, that is when you should customize your ERP fit your model. Thoughtfully differentiating between the two will save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
- Take Advantage of Your ERP's Predictive Capabilities
The use of real time analytics can be a great advantage for businesses using ERP software. This automated software enhances preventative maintenance and detects potential failure before the problem arises. Something that competitors without advanced ERP systems will continue to struggle with. Your ERP's predictive capabilities can allow users to pinpoint the location of potential errors so that you can eliminate the problem right off the bat. Thanks to many ERP and IoT collaborations, error can be essentially eliminated thanks to smart technology. Don't get set behind by silly errors and mistakes, and use ERP to keep you ahead of the competition.
- Improve Planning, Scheduling and Execution:
ERP systems like QAD have highly advanced manufacturing and planning modules that support the entire range of production methods from beginning to end. Execution modules give decision makers full access to data collection options and quality measures, while the scheduling module provides easy to read visuals of master schedules so that your planners can make accurate “what-if” scenarios accordingly. Meeting demand and rerouting potentially conflicting schedules only enhances conflict and error prevention, helping you focus on the bigger picture. In a world where good and bad reviews can make or break a company via the internet in just a click of a button, it's important to make sure that your ERP software works for you and not against you. Standing out against your competitors can be easy with ERP.
Gaining an advantage over your competition is as easy as finding the right ERP software and implementing it in a way that serves you best. For more information on how QAD could be the next best step to help your company gain a competitive advantage, contact Logan Consulting your Chicago based QAD partner for a consultation.