5 Things Your ERP Is Currently Lacking

With the manufacturing industry seeking new ways to bolster their margins ERP has now become a prerequisite. With need-based subscription by ERP software solution providers like INECTA Food across all scales can afford and leverage ERP software. However, does your ERP have what it takes to make your company the next big thing? Can your ERP system fulfil your quest for profit by reaching your standard performance from your current actual performance? 

ERP is a must have however even within different ERP solutions one must look for certain standard features which are key to a company’s supply chain such as:  

With regulation companies breathing down the neck of manufacturers across several industries, quality control is now the only means to survive. An ERP software must bring to the table the following:

1. QC tests with accepted tolerance values 
2. Sample checks at warehouse and production floor 
3. Quality checks at various stages of production 
4. Quality control dashboard and management across smart devices 
5. Inspection plans and checklists are a must in the ERP system
    
   II. Purchasing

One of the most complicated operations in the manufacturing domain is the purchasing process. For elevating  purchase operations is a significant mountain to climb. An ERP software must bring to the table a functionality to conduct purchases with ease via the following:

1. Purchase Dashboard

This feature enables manufacturers to check inventory at all times and executes purchase orders at the same time killing two birds with one stone

2. Landing cost mechanism

Landing cost allocation is done by volume, unit and weight 

3. Material requirement planning (MRP) is a must have for manufacturers seeking efficiency

1. Rebate Management 
2. Blanket and Contract orders
    
   III. Warehouse Management System (WMS) 

Storage and its related adversities are no news to the manufacturing industry. With delays leading to expired and stale products, recalls are a given in the manufacturing domain. An ERP system has to solve this issue by providing an integrated warehouse management system (WMS). Through this system information can be stored and accessed at all times. Some of the salient features of WMS a manufacturer must seek are as follows:

1. Alignment with RF/RFID/ smart can guns
2. Traceability across the warehouse
3. Integration with TMS
4. Catchweight management 
5. Scale integration 
    
   IV. Finance and Reporting 

A business’s finances and reporting capabilities form the pillars around which all numbers such as targets and profits are formulated. Unlike manual labour which is error prone, with ERP these capabilities are automated thus removing any errors and doing it rather speedily making it both effective and efficient. 

To speak volumes of how ERP helps in finance and reporting let’s look at the set benefits it brings to the table:  

1. Accurate cash flow predictions
2. Cost accounting
3. Multi currencies multi entities consolidated reporting
4. Budget management and payroll integration
5. Fixed asset management 
6. Access reports everywhere
7. Schedule and send reports automatically 
   
   V. Transportation Management System

Historically transportation has proven to be quite a hurdle for manufacturers globally. Owing to the heavy costs incurred and the number of stakeholders involved delays are inevitable and result in delays and customer dissatisfaction. An ERP software must have in its Arsenal a transport management system with live tracking mechanism. Through this all stakeholders involved must be able to access and track the product at all times when in transit to ensure deadlines are set and met accordingly and delays are avoided hence resulting in customer satisfaction. 

Hence as a business entity getting an ERP solution is not the end of the road. Businesses must ensure the ERP solution they bring onboard brings the above features along with it by doing their homework and figuring out what needs and gaps they have and then ensuring their ERP solution fills these gaps. Complacency and inefficiency are the two primary reasons for business downfall and an ERP solution without these features is nothing but inefficient.