8 tips to get more value from your ERP system

Every merchant knows that taking on an ERP system is a big investment. The best ERP systems can help you make better decisions every day, simplifying processes and driving productivity and profitability. But how do you make sure you’re getting as much value as possible from your system? Here are our top tips!

1. Make the most of training

During the implementation phase your staff should be given plenty of training so everyone is comfortable using the new system. However, it’s impossible to take everything in at once – when you’re trying to get to grips with the basics, you won’t be able to fully take on board the more advanced functions, so talk to your supplier about staggering the training so it’s not all delivered in one bewildering chunk.

You may also find that there are additional learning resources to back up the initial training, such as how-to videos or posts that you can access online. Again, talk to your supplier to find out what additional resources are provided to support your staff, and don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something – that’s what your supplier is there for!

2. Customise your KPIs

ERP systems are powerful and contain a huge amount of information; and that can be overwhelming. Make sure you customise your dashboard so you’re seeing the most relevant and important metrics for YOUR role. It’s great being able to dive into the detail of every department but trying to keep on top of all of it, all the time, will be a distraction and will not let you focus on the most important areas.

3. Audit your processes to find efficiencies

Developing scalable, efficient processes is an area where your ERP system can deliver huge value, so it’s really worth taking some time to assess how you’re doing things now. Your ERP system will be invaluable in planning and implementing efficient new ways of working, with consistencies and integrations across the business that will really pay off in terms of both time and money savings.

4. Set up alerts, automation and safety nets

Credit controls, margin protection, automated invoicing and much, much more – your ERP system is there to work for you. Get to grips with all the alerts and in-built safety nets you can put in place to help your team work safely and confidently, all while keeping a focused eye on the bottom line.

5. Use the analytics and reporting features to get under the skin of your business

Chances are you won’t appreciate in the first three months quite how much your system is capable of, so it’s really worth digging into the analytics and reporting functions once you’ve mastered the basics. The intelligent insights your system can deliver can transform decision making and productivity, and help you understand all the moving parts better.

For example, when you know which customers are actually costing you money rather than making it, which suppliers consistently miss delivery dates and which products would actually sell better in a different format, you can really start to make those meaningful judgement calls that deliver better value across the board.

6. Integrate with other platforms

The beauty of modern software systems is their interoperability, or in other words, how easily they can integrate with other systems. So you can link with existing financials packages like Sage or Xero, add PIMs or an eCommerce platform, and make sure the whole network is integrated to ensure consistency and great communication across every business function.

7. Play around with it!

Don’t be afraid to play with your system and really get to know what it’s capable of. If in doubt, ask for more training, use the online resources or call the helpdesk and ask. Your system is there as a tool to help you, so it really pays to take the time to get to know it.

8. USE IT!

That sounds obvious, but if everyone across your business is hooked up to the same system, the quality, accuracy and consistency of information across the business will be better. When everyone finds a system easy to use, more people will use it more often for more things, and the quality of information therefore continues to improve. The more you and your people put in, the better the system gets! If you’ve got everyone from yard to board room on the same system, chance are you’ll have incredible control and visibility across the entire business, allowing you to make faster decisions confidently, and offer enhanced service capability.

As we said, an ERP system is a big investment and you need to know you’re getting good return on your investment. The best systems should be able to not just pay for themselves but actively add value back into the business, so if that’s not happening, talk to your supplier. They should be able to help you and your workforce. And don’t forget, new features are being designed and added all the time so again, if you have a bright idea for a feature that you think would make life even easier – just ask!

If you’d like to try our digital ERP system Merchanter for yourself, just register here and we’ll send you login details for our online demo system. We can give you a guided demo if you like, but it’s so so simple, we think you can work it out!