ERP Software for Small Business

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At the end of the 20th century, massive automation of business processes began to occur: PCs quickly spread and contributed to the development of programs for financial and accounting, electronic document management, and checking the functioning of machinery and equipment. The difference in the principles of doing business was not only in converting information into digital form but also in the emergence of new methods for analyzing and exchanging data, combining initially different types of information.

The result of it was the opportunity to see the entire processes of the enterprise and to analyze the functioning of its specific operations (production, warehouse, accounting). Such a way of doing business was named ERP, and the software used for this purpose is defined as the EPR-system.

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. In simple words, this is a human resource management system used in small, medium, and large enterprises with elaborate production, extensive branch network, a wide range of products, and increased warehouse operations volume, such as NetSuite or SAP: https://light-it.net/blog/netsuite-vs-sap-differences-and-alternatives/

The main advantage of the ERP system is that it allows you to combine several tasks: you can simultaneously plan and account for funds and track their movement, form the cost price, and evaluate labor productivity at the enterprise. Moreover, all processes become transparent.

What Are The Essential Functions of ERP Systems?

ERP is a product initially created, on the one hand, for scalability, and on the other, to provide maximum capabilities. The implementation of any ERP system allows you to get certain advantages and features.

ERP software can provide and simplify:

Unification of all business processes according to uniform rules within one system
Prompt receipt of the information on all aspects of the company's activities
Planning and control of the organization's activities (short-term and long-term plans of various departments)
Data Protection. Users of the ERP system can be grouped. Separate access categories can be created for each of these groups. Moreover, all operations performed by any of the users can be tracked and verified.
Improving interaction. With an ERP system, the results of the activities of each department are apparent, which allows enhancing the interaction between them.

As a result, the efficiency of business management and its competitiveness increase.

The system is also convenient because it can be implemented in parts (modules), for example, by automating production first and then the work with personnel. A set of modules covers almost all areas of activity, which allows you to automate nearly all business processes.

That is why ERP systems are a great solution when you need more than just accounting tools and deep financial analytics, and enterprise forecasting.

Top Three ERP Systems for Small Businesses

SAP Business One

SAP Business One is a business management solution that will grow with your business and will help to increase control over an SMB enterprise or a large corporation's subsidiary. It is a complex solution that has already been chosen by over 55,000 companies from 150 countries. It adjusts key processes from financial accountability and CRM to category management and acquisition.

The ERP Solution Allows:

Store all business information in one scalable system
Get answers to your most pressing questions with integrated BI tools
Access solution through an intuitive mobile app
On-premises or cloud deployment within 2-8 weeks

NetSuite

It is a system that offers everything in one powerful integrated solution — from customer relationship management (CRM), project management (PSA), enterprise resource management to e-commerce.

The system is modular, so you can use the full suite of business software or start with either NetSuite Financials modules or NetSuite CRM to add missing functionality. Also, NetSuite can include project control, resource management, project accounting, scheduling, and cost management.

You can find the following options in NetSuite Web Applications:

Audit trail of actions.
Cost management.
Expense reports.
Time management to track the time spent using a timer.
View, create and edit records.
Support for business actions (approval of orders, reports, conversion of estimates, acceptance of payments, invoicing.)
Synchronization of the main dashboard (with metrics and efficiency, "Trend charts," "Snapshots of reports.")
Management of completed operations.
Personalization of records.
Saved searches.

Acumatica

Acumatica provides General Business Edition that brings together all the key elements to move the business forward: Core Financials and Project Accounting, The Optional Customer Management, and Reporting and Business Intelligence.

A well-set manufacturing and distribution
A basic product management (PM) module to plan and track projects and tasks within a business.
Time and expense management is an easy-to-use feature.
Employee dashboards can be sent to employees via email to display events such as scheduled orders and appointments.
Route regulation and equipment maintenance are provided in separate modules.
Financial management system with CRM.
Sales Manager dashboard developed to enter leads, create bulk emails and complaints, and track contacts.

The optional Customer Management Suite allows automation of marketing and sales processes, as well as sales forecasting and analytics.

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