We have selected screenshots of analogous menus within each software to demonstrate the visual elements and interface options for each software in this comparison. The special design considerations of a shop space or production line must be taken into consideration for any interface used there. This is especially true for shop floor control systems, as workers there may be in a loud environment, moving quickly, wearing PPE, or otherwise not optimally situated to use a traditional computer interface with a keyboard and mouse. Additionally, users who spend most of their working day using the system will appreciate software that is easy to use. Usability affects the efficiency of users working within the system, the ease with which the software can be implemented, and can reduce the costs associated with user errors. Usability, especially in enterprise software, is an often-overlooked but critically important aspect to consider during the purchasing process. Quality Alerts / Nonconformance Documents Maintenance Requests from Shop Floor Terminal Putaway Location By Size, Weight, & Capacityĭelivery Date Calculation (Backwards Scheduling) This can make a cloud solution a better choice for small and medium size businesses with less capital. When deploying a cloud-based software, there is no need for a local server or other network hardware as data is managed and processed on a secure off-site server which, depending on the size of the deployment, can significantly reduce the initial cost of a system.
Most major business software vendors, ERP or otherwise, have begun offering their locally installed products in a cloud-hosted version to provide additional flexibility.
In recent years there has been a trend in business software towards a software as a service (SaaS) model.
When dealing with vendors, it is therefore essential to accurately and completely communicate the needs of your organization to avoid finding out 6 months into implementation that the project isn’t feasible or that an unexpected and expensive custom development is required. The purchasing relationship is therefore tilted in favor of the vendor, with many vendors requiring hours of qualification before revealing crucial details such as features and pricing. Because the cost of implementing an ERP is so high, demanding a great deal of time and input from employees across your organization as well as potentially significant software licensing and consulting fees, there is tremendous pressure to get it right the first time.ĭespite these high stakes, most decision makers selecting and implementing ERP software will not do so more than a few times in their career.
Whether you are outgrowing entry-level software or replacing a legacy system, choosing an ERP that is a good fit for your company can have a strong impact on your future growth and pro tability.