ERP Software

ERP Software for Distribution

Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, software is the term used for the IT tools that make a business operate seamlessly. These software systems are built to handle the operations of a company no matter how that business is structured. As a result, enterprise resource planning systems are able to automate and computerize the operations of any type of business.

Distribution software, specific for manufacturing companies, manages all the complex events that have to happen for a manufacturer to receive and process an order, manufacture a product, manage the supply chain, and then deliver the finished product to the customer. In other words, ERP Software for Distribution helps companies to manage both the internal and external resources of a company.

The best ERP Software for Distribution helps achieve tighter control over inventory and the entire distribution process. It offers integrated inventory control and an order processing system capable of tracing the movement of all inventory whether in or out of the physical business premises. This permits better dispersal of stock throughout the plant as well as the ability to restock inventory as soon as needed.

No company in today’s modern business climate is able to stay competitive without using ERP software so the market for good ERP software for distribution is huge. At the present time, though, vendors of ERP for Distribution are not plentiful. And, this is in direct contrast to what the market looked like about ten years ago.

In the late 1990’s vendors were fragmented. Numerous small vendors were trying to make a name or themselves, most focused on one or two product sectors. But this picture has drastically changed. In the past five years or so, software vendors such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft expanded their products in the distribution space. Lesser known names like Activant Solutions and Infor both entered the market by obtaining smaller distribution software providers.

Without a doubt, with all this consolidation, a certain level of sector-specific service has been sacrificed for more generic products. This has not been a welcome change for businesses that were used to vendors which specialized in their particular distribution segment. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that the consolidation has also brought benefits as the competition between the big players resulted in intensified research and development in this field. Consequently, better and more improved versions of ERP Software for Distribution continue to make their way into the market, and this can only prove to be a boon or distributors.

Written by :

Amy Cruz