According to Software Advice’s Enterprise Resource Planning BuyerView 2015Report: “Two-thirds of businesses seeking an ERP system have never used an ERP system before; Fifty-nine percent cite the need to improve integration of data between business processes; and forty-seven percent cite the need to improve their CRM as a reason for purchasing an ERP system.”

Every business is different and there’s never going to be one clear-cut signal that says “You need an ERP system now!” However, if you can relate to any (or all) of the above, it might be time to consider investing in an ERP. If you’ve recently asked yourself “Should I invest in an ERP system?” keep reading to discover five important signals that it’s time to start shopping for an ERP.

• You Have A Lot Of Different Software For A Lot Of Different Things
  Take a minute to think about how employees in your business track, record, and process information. Does the accounting staff use one form of software for receivables and payables while the sales team uses another form of software for custom orders?
  
  When front- and back-end systems are running separately it can create mayhem in places where things are supposed to be operating smoothly. Integration apps can help you take advantage of your ERP software and connect all of your front- and back-end system information together so that each business function relies on a single database. ERP software helps your staff make better decisions, frees up space and helps your business grow.

• The Customer Experience And Sales Are Suffering
  As your company grows, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face is inventory management. Ensuring that the correct amount of products is in the correct location at the correct time is a vital part of business operations.
  
  When customer, sales, and inventory data are maintained separately it can result in serious problems across your company. For example: a customer calls to check on the status of an order and your employees can’t track it – they can’t see if it’s been shipped or if it’s even in stock – and you’ve suddenly developed a reputation for poor service and reliability. But with an ERP system, it’s no problem for your sales reps to answer customer questions and help you build a positive reputation instead of a negative one.

• It’s Not Easy To Access Your Business Information
  If someone came up to you and asked you what your average sales margin is, how long would it take you to answer? What about if they wanted to know about key performance metrics? If you still rely on spreadsheets and siloed systems, it would probably take a while, right?
  
  We live and work in a fast-paced world and customers and potential clients don’t want to wait “a while” for information. They want answers now, and if you can’t provide them, they’re going to move on to someone who can. This means your employees need instant access to important data. ERP systems make this possible.

• IT Management Is A Nightmare
  Having multiple systems across your business can result in complex and time-consuming IT management. Customizing, integrating, and maintaining these systems with patches and upgrades can come out on the pricey side and take up valuable time that should be invested elsewhere.
  
  ERP technology has introduced simplicity and agility in place of ineffective systems that respond to the rapidly changing needs of your business. Selecting cloud-based solutions is critical for changing the way your business operates and simplifying IT management.

• Accounting Takes Too Long
  This is often what drives a business to start considering ERP software. If your team is relying on paper-based sales orders and invoices take a minute to reflect on how time-consuming that is. Now consider the fact that an ERP system can handle those tasks almost instantaneously.
  
  An ERP system will free up your accounting team to be more productive and deliver critical reports as needed. No delays. No frustration. Just smooth business operation.

Once you’ve decided to invest in an ERP system–like SYSPRO or Sage X3 for example–Commercient can help you with improving your CRM experience by integrating your data between both your ERP and CRM systems with our SYNC app. To learn more about our SYNC for Salesforce and the multiple ERP systems we have experience with you can check out our listing on the Salesforce AppExchange.

SYNC is also available in the Sage Marketplace and SYSPRO AppStore.