Running your business feels like a juggling act sometimes, doesn't it?
You have to track inventory, manage finances, handle customer information, and keep your team in sync — while making decisions that will help your company grow.
All these pieces of your operation often run on separate software systems that don't communicate with each other. That can cost you money due to mistakes and lots of wasted staff time.
You know you’re missing opportunities to get ahead.
This is when an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform can pilot a turnaround. A good ERP implementation can give you the seamless solution you need to reach your full business potential.
Read on to discover if an ERP platform is right for your business:
- What is Enterprise Resource Planning?
- How an ERP Platform Can Help Your Business
- Types of ERP Platforms
- ERP Implementation: Dream or Nightmare?
- Top ERP Platforms
- 5 Things to Look for in an ERP Platform and ERP Partner
- Is an ERP Platform Right for Your Business?
- The Launchpad to ERP Success
What is Enterprise Resource Planning?
An ERP platform acts as your business's central hub — like the command bridge of a spaceship, where every control you need is within easy reach.
ERP software consolidates all your business processes — accounting, inventory, sales, purchasing, and more — into one integrated system that shares a common database.
Before switching to an ERP platform, most businesses start out using separate software for different functions. You use one program to track orders for sales, but you use a different tool for financial reports. All your data gets trapped in digital silos. If you’re using pen and paper or spreadsheets for some records, the barriers multiply!
An ERP system tears down these invisible walls. When a sales rep enters a new order in the system, your warehouse staff immediately sees what products need to be shipped, your accounting team can generate an invoice, and your purchasing department knows when to reorder supplies. Everyone is now working from the same information source.
This shared data approach will jettison all duplicate work and vaporize your errors. You have one source of reliable information that everyone in your organization can access in real time.
How an ERP Platform Can Help Your Business
Adding an ERP platform to your business can transform your operations in these key ways:
Work smarter, not harder
Think about how many hours your team spends manually entering the same data into different systems or creating spreadsheets. ERP platforms automate these repetitive tasks, which means your employees can focus on work that actually helps grow your business. I worked with one company that had three employees whose only role was manual data entry. After a successful ERP platform implementation, all three were reassigned to more strategic, value-adding positions. The automation eliminated tedious tasks without any job losses, allowing the company to better align its workforce with its growth goals.
Make more informed business decisions
You can't make smart choices without seeing the full picture. An ERP system provides real-time snapshots of your business performance through easy-to-read dashboards and reports. You'll spot trends and identify growth opportunities much faster than before.
Keep your customers smiling
With an ERP platform, when someone calls with a question about their order, your team can instantly access everything that customer needs. Access their purchase history, payment status or shipping details — without transferring them or putting them on hold to dig through files.
Watch your bottom line
Businesses often see significant returns from their ERP implementation. ERP efficiency can reduce inventory costs, lower operating expenses, and improve productivity.
Types of ERP Platforms
Two useful ways to think about ERP models are by how they are deployed and by their industry fit.
ERP Systems by Deployment Model
1. Cloud-Based ERP Platform
These systems are hosted on the software publishers' servers or private cloud servers, and you access them through your web browser. You typically pay a monthly subscription fee rather than purchasing licenses outright.
Cloud ERP is known for:
- Lower upfront costs
- Regular automatic updates
- Scalability and remote accessibility
2. On-Premises ERP Platform
These systems are installed on your company’s own servers. You buy the software licenses upfront, and your team takes responsibility for the hardware, maintenance, and security.
On-premises ERP systems require:
- Higher upfront software and hardware investment
- In-house IT support for maintenance, upgrades, and security
- Full control over the infrastructure
3. Hybrid ERP Platform
A combination of both on-premises and cloud-based components. Some functions may run in the cloud while others remain on-prem.
ERP Systems by Industry Fit
Industry-Specific ERP Platform
Tailored to meet the needs of specific industries like:
- Manufacturing (e.g., BOMs, shop floor control)
- Construction (e.g., job costing, project billing)
- Retail/eCommerce (e.g., POS integration, multi-channel inventory)
- Healthcare or Professional Services
These platforms often come with built-in functionality, workflows, and compliance tools unique to those verticals, reducing the need for heavy customization.
ERP Implementation: Dream or Nightmare?
Industry research shows that 33% of ERP projects go over budget, sometimes overrunning their projected timelines by months. But this doesn't mean you should pass up the major benefits of an ERP system. You just need to choose an implementation partner with a proven track record and cost guarantee.
Successful implementation requires a partner with technical know-how, supportive training, and clear communication. Working with an experienced implementation partner is the rocket fuel you need to get a strong ERP liftoff.
Top ERP Platforms
The market offers many ERP options for small and midsized businesses. Here are some leading platforms:
- Acumatica: Known for its flexible pricing model and strong capabilities across the range of operational functions
- NetSuite: A popular cloud-based system offering comprehensive ERP functionality and good scalability
- SAP Business One: A robust solution from one of the original ERP developers, sized for smaller businesses
5 Things to Look for in an ERP Platform and ERP Partner
Here are the must-haves from your software and your ERP partner:
1. Easy to use
Is the ERP platform’s user interface intuitive? The most powerful system in the world is worthless if your team finds it frustrating to use.
2. Support when you need it
What kind of training, setup help, and ongoing support does your ERP partner provide? Will they be there when you hit roadblocks?
3. Rapid implementation
An unskilled ERP implementation can take far longer than you had hoped. Make sure your implementation partner prioritizes rapid deployment. Data shows that NPS scores plummet in companies that spend longer than 6-9 months implementing an ERP system. No one is happy when it takes that long, AND the company is not realizing the value of their investment.
4. Room to grow
Will the system expand with your business? Can you easily add users, functionality, or locations as you grow without doubling your technology costs?
5. Accurate cost picture
Look beyond the initial price tag to understand ongoing costs for maintenance, updates, support, and personalizations. An implementation partner with a flat monthly fee will keep you from facing unexpected costs.
Is an ERP Platform Right for Your Business?
While ERP platforms offer tremendous benefits, they're not necessarily right for every business. Consider an ERP platform if:
- You're struggling with manual processes and duplicate data entry across systems.
- It’s hard to get accurate, real-time information about all aspects of your business.
- Information silos are slowing you down, causing mistakes and frustration.
- You've outgrown your basic accounting software or spreadsheets.
- You're aiming for significant growth in the next few years.
The Launchpad to ERP Success
An ERP system isn't just another piece of software — it's a powerful turnkey solution that can transform your business by bringing together all your essential functions.
The right ERP platform gives you clarity across your entire operation, helping you serve customers better and scale up rapidly when you need to.
But technology is only part of the solution. You also need an experienced ERP partner. That partner will understand your business challenges, help you train your team, and continue to support you as your needs evolve.
With an expert implementation from Stellar One, an ERP platform can become the foundation of your business success for years to come.
If you think your business is ready to realize the benefits of an ERP platform, check out our free trial.
To learn more about how to evaluate ERP software, download our free resource: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to ERP Platforms.
