What is Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP?

The three-letter acronym ERP has become, and continues to be, increasingly significant to industry. So what is it and what’s its USP?

It stands for Enterprise Resource Planning – if you didn’t already know, and is essentially powerful database software that helps companies to manage multiple business processes, maximise operational efficiency and thus make better decisions faster.

With rapid innovations in automation and process instrumentation, increasingly streamlined distribution processes and growing executive demands for shorter and more responsive supply chains; manufacturers are turning to ERP in ever-increasing numbers.

The benefits of Enterprise Resource Planning

The core benefit is having a powerful, responsive tool to manage information systems – from supply chain, inventory and production management through to sales, HR and finance – at your fingertips to maximise efficiency from the plant floor to the boardroom.

ERP for the Process Industry…

Already you can start to see clear benefits for the Process Industry. Couple that with the growing shift towards cloud-based ERP – a fully integrated web-based solution that is agile enough to evolve and constantly improve – and the ERP fanfare gets louder.

Critically, process industry businesses require specialist systems from ERP providers that can claim genuine industry-gained knowledge and experience if they’re to hand over their logistics to the brave new world of ERP software solutions.

ERP systems for smaller Process Industry manufacturers and suppliers

It all sounds great but that’s for the big boys. Smaller process industry manufacturers like us don’t need it” some might think. Well, that’s not strictly true on either counts. Because ERP providers offer plenty of scope for smaller process industry businesses with minimal capital outlays; (thanks to zero costly hardware requirement), those agile software adaptations and affordable subscription fees.

In real terms, that allows process industry businesses of all sizes to streamline their operations.

Cloud-based ERP

Cloud bases ERP systems permit access to critical operational information anytime, anywhere to improve decision making and response times. It also allows businesses to easily adapt to fluctuating demands and pressures such as new manufacturing methods, changing customer requirements and evolving business strategies. At the very least, ERP could prove invaluable for optimizing inventory and production resources to squeeze out every fractional gain in output.