ERP modules for small and mid-range business management are becoming more accessible and affordable than ever before, while also expanding in capabilities and flexibility. Ongoing increases in scaled, upgrade ready features are putting powerful ERP modules within reach of businesses with restrictive technology budgets and limited tolerance for risk. What does this mean for your small business? It means that for a limited cost, in some cases a small monthly fee, you can take advantage of software product suites and applications that can help you control a diverse range of back office management functions. ERP modules are available that can help you handle supply chain management, inventory control, accounting, payroll, human resource management and customer relationship management. These ERP modules can help you free your employees from isolated outmoded software platforms and unify all of your back office operations onto a single streamlined system. Depending on your needs and budget resources, you can make use of an in house hardware system to run your various ERP modules, or you can take advantage of services offered by hosting solutions and remote applications providers. These intermediary companies can allow you to obtain the full benefits of ERP integration while sidestepping the cost of system ownership and maintenance. For a simple monthly fee, you can obtain access to ERP modules that can allow your employees to do more with less and help your company survive and thrive during even the most challenging business climates.

ERP Modules

ERP Modules for Smaller Business Management

To determine which ERP modules and service options are right for you, you may want to begin by conducting a thorough evaluation of your current software system capabilities. Examine all of your workflows to find out where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and then create a detailed needs assessment based on your findings. ERP modules often provide the most value to companies with a strong manufacturing and distribution requirement or a heavy reliance on customer relationship management or complex scheduling. ERP modules are increasingly popular among software managers in fields like pharmaceuticals, apparel, food and beverage distribution, electronics manufacturing and construction.

There are several converging factors that can explain the shift in the ERP market landscape that’s bringing ERP modules rapidly within reach for smaller business enterprises. When the first early erp systems appeared in the manufacturing market in the late 1980s, they revolutionized productivity and efficiency on factory shop floors, since they allowed multiple departments to run the same standardized applications and share access to collective databases. These systems improved functionality company- wide, but they were very cumbersome and expensive. So for many years, they remained out of reach to all but the largest fortune five hundred level firms with the most flexible technology budgets. The popularity of ERP modules rose quickly and remained high among these firms, so providers could afford to ignore rising demand at smaller business levels. This began to change after the arrival of the new millennium, when high budget demand finally began to cool. Since about 2005, providers have been working to scale and customize ERP modules in order to make them more appealing to smaller business clients.  

Written by :

Amy Cruz