As a business owner an ERP system will take your business to the next level. It will take all your current business flows and transforms them into a single process. Majority of ERP systems have already been pre-developed to fit the standard business prototype but can be modified to better fit your business needs. Once you have the ERP system in place, you will have access to all the right tools to remain highly competitive in the marketplace and become more efficient. Implementing an ERP system for your business can be highly profitable in the long run and can assist your company in becoming more scalable for future growth. Here are three reasons why you should implement an ERP system:

Reason One: Streamlined Processes

Once your ERP system has been implemented, all of your department’s processes streamlined. These faster and simpler working methods will increase employee efficient and in return, create a stronger business model. Also, room for human error decreases significantly when an ERP system is in place. As multiple departments, work as one, the business can now develop and grow into something bigger than it was before.

Reason Two: Customer Service

View our free webinars Sign up for WebSan University Take our FREE ERP Assessment

When selecting a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, one of the first considerations to make is whether to go hosted (on the cloud) or on-premise. Although both types have their advantages and disadvantages, it’s worth taking a closer look and offering points of consideration to make the software selection process less daunting. Software Advice, an advisory firm that helps buyers select ERP software, conducted research to create a comprehensive guide to help buyers determine the best type of software needed for their organization, with findings compiled in this article.

The biggest difference between the two types of systems is cloud-based software is hosted on the vendor’s servers and accessed through a Web browser, while on-premise software is installed locally, on a company’s own computers and servers. Although over time, both systems’ cost tend to converge, cloud-based software is priced under a monthly or annual subscription basis, while on-premise software is usually priced under a one-time perpetual license fee.

Some advantages of cloud-based ERP software include its shorter implementation time, great stability with frequent updates from the vendor and no additional hardware investments. On the other hand, some disadvantages of this type of system are its less customizable functionalities and an organization’s possible less peace of mind that comes with data security being in the vendor’s hands.

On the other end of the spectrum, on-premise ERP systems are known to be more customizable and offer greater control over data. However, the implementation process can take longer and organizations have to pay associated hardware and IT costs. Organizations will find that cloud-based ERP systems are more mobile-friendly compared to their on-premise counterpart. 

Download Free Dynamics ERP Demo

Cloud ERP Gains Ground

The cloud has been advancing steadily into the enterprise over the past years. However, many ERP users are still hesitant to move their business into the cloud.

As SaaS ERP emerges, enterprises seem to eagerly cloud-enabling their offerings. In the meantime, new organizations come on stage claiming their offerings are "true cloud" or "more cloud" than others. Thus, there is nowadays a misunderstanding in the market about what is considered as a "real cloud" solution, which makes the buying decision even more difficult for potential customers.

"As companies that have not traditionally been cloud ERP clients turn to the cloud, competition in the market will increase," said Andrew King, Managing Director of WebSan Solutions Inc. "This will require customers to carefully evaluate cloud ERP vendors across specific industry benchmarks before purchasing a new cloud solution."

Business Intelligence

In 2014 Business Intelligence will be a must, since large and small organizations continue to look towards BI tools in order to benefit from data and maximize their investments in Enterprise Resource Planning solutions. Users are constantly looking for accurate and comprehensive information through visually appealing dashboards. In turn, by having real –time access to relevant data, companies can use this information proactively to make business decisions more effectively.

There are several different elements that need to be well thought-out in order to receive a good ERP quote. Enterprise Resource Planning by definition is a system that integrates information across a company using services such as: finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales, customer relationship management (CRM) and more. You want to make sure that you get a quote that’s in your budget, but you don’t want to sacrifice the essentials to stay within your budget either. Make some room in your budget for fluctuation and negotiation to ensure that you get the best quote.

Modules

There are a number of modules that are offered in an ERP system, it’s up to you to choose which ones best fit your company. For example if you are a consulting company maybe you only need CRM, Finance and the Sales module. Save money on modules that you don’t need and get the one’s that you do need. You have the option of getting standard or advanced modules. Advanced modules offer more variety of features but are usually used for larger businesses. There needs to be research done to explore what particular capabilities you need.

Number of Users

The number of user’s plays an important role when determining the price. It is important to have a firm estimate of the amount of user’s that you need. Plan in advance to avoid unanticipated cost and to get a more accurate quote.

Move to the cloud or stay on premise? What do you choose? Some firms are very skeptical about moving to the cloud while others welcome it. If you are a company that thinks it’s time for a change, then using Hosted ERP System will be for you. Read the following list that I wrote about benefits of Hosted ERP System below:

• Do you prefer to pay for what you use? Hosted Dynamics GP uses a subscription-based licensing model, where you pay for the number of user licenses.
• Trying to keep your cost low? Licensing fees are very predictable and can be known in advance.
• Looking to get a quick start on things? Hosted Dynamic GP guarantees faster deployment and implementation than choosing to be on premise.
• Do you want to save energy costs?  You don’t have to have a server; you just need an internet connection.
• Still want to be in control of your data and business? Don’t worry, you also have 24/7 access to your data. You have the options of adding and removing users if you choose.

Are you still undecided? If you want to learn more information about Hosted Dynamics GP, visit our website www.websan.com At WebSan Solutions Inc. we help you unlock your systems potential.

By: Natalie Williams, Marketing Coordinator, WebSan Solutions Inc., a Canadian Certified Microsoft Dynamics Partner

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Consultant is either a contract employee or an employee that’s part of a company that is hired to do either of the following: implement, upgrade or support an ERP system.

The main function of the ERP consultant is to help organizations move to ERP software. A successful ERP consultant is able to adjust to a client business process, to determine where ERP systems would be most useful.

ERP Consultants relevant fields of study are information technology, business information systems or management information systems. You have the option of letting a consultant help out with the full implementation of an ERP project, from matching your business requirements with the right software to managing change within the organization as a result of the software.

You know you have a good consultant when he/she is capable of communicating with users at all levels of the organization.

If you are looking for an ERP Consultant, contact WebSan Solutions Inc. we've got the experience and expertise you need to help lead you in the right direction. We ensure your new integrated ERP system will meet all your management, reporting, financial and accounting needs while also helping you to streamline processes and improve your overall business.