Investing in an ERP mismatch is ultimately a waste of time, effort, and, of course, money. If your business can select the best ERP for your manufacturing enterprise right from the start, there will be no backtracking or scrambling to fix preventable mistakes. Instead, you can get to work immediately, instantly benefiting from all that a functional ERP has to offer.
Simply put, we believe that the best ERPs for manufacturing have manufacturing as their core focus. Manufacturing is a complex industry with unique needs and challenges that differ from other industries and enterprises. What works well in the healthcare or finance industries, for example, will likely not be the best ERP for manufacturing. That’s why it’s so important to understand what makes an ERP well-suited for this type of business.
When you’re armed with knowledge and resources in how and what to think about when considering the best ERP for manufacturing, your company can stay one step ahead of the competition–by making the right choice the first time around. When you’re working to find your ERP, keep the following in mind.
Industry-Specific Qualities
There are two main routes you can take in choosing an ERP. The first is to buy into a generalized ERP system and then customizing it to fit the needs of your industry and company. Or, you can invest in an industry-specific ERP, with the tools, modules, and functionality commonly used in companies like yours, already built-in to the system.
In our experience in helping companies choose and implement the right ERPs, we know there’s no need to try to mold your business to a general ERP when you can use an ERP that is built explicitly for your business. Areas like manufacturing capacity, regulatory compliance, and supply chain management cannot be easily replicated in general ERP systems.
References and Reviews from Other Manufacturers
Of course, your business wants to differentiate itself from the competition, but that doesn’t mean you should automatically turn away from the same ERPs they have used. People within the industry know what has worked well for them and what has failed. By checking out customer reviews and references, ideally from a non-corporate affiliated website, you can get a better understanding of the real-life advantages and pitfalls of particular ERP systems.
Pay attention to why people particularly liked or disliked an ERP system. Your idea of what you need as the best ERP for manufacturing might differ from others. Don’t necessarily discount a program without looking at the reasoning behind negative reviews.
Vendor Support
There is no need to figure out ERP systems alone, especially when it comes to training and implementation. The best ERP for manufacturing comes with the support your organization needs to make your ERP investment work for you. Check out our article, Why Choose Infor as Your Manufacturing ERP System, to learn more about our recommendation for the best manufacturing ERP, including the support your organization will receive.
Decision Resources, Inc. is here to help you choose the best ERP for your manufacturing enterprise. Our experienced and knowledgeable team is looking forward to learning more about your needs and helping you make the best decision. Call us at 412-562-9660 or email info@decision.com.
